Patents by Inventor William R. Pooley

William R. Pooley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7161366
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for a probe tip contact for electrically coupling a substrate to a probe tip. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a wrap-around contact that is precision formed utilizing a hydroform tool and brazed to a surface of a substrate. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a contact flange, a mounting flange extending from a first edge of the contact flange in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the contact flange, and a substantially circular indentation formed in the contact flange adapted for accommodating movement of said probe tip relative to said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Herrick, James E. Spinar, Daniel R. Murphy, William R. Pooley
  • Patent number: 7056134
    Abstract: A attachable/detachable probing tip system (10) has a housing (12) that includes a probing tip mounting member (14) and opposing substantially orthogonal attachment (16, 18) arms extending from the probing tip mounting member. The attachment arms define an inner surface of the probing tip mounting member in which is disposed at least a first a non-compressive set, resilient member (56). First and second probing tips (42, 44) are disposed over the non-compressive, resilient member (56) and secured to the housing by latching means (60, 66, 92, 96, 100, 130). The attachable/detachable probing tip system allows mounting of the probing tips (42, 44) to probing contacts on a device under test without a probe body or probing tip member (38) being attached. The attachment arms (16, 18) allows a probe body or probing tip member (38) to be attached and detached to the probing tip system (10). The probing tip member (38) includes contact pins that engage contact areas (82, 82, 92) of the probing tips (42, 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim L. Martin, Marc A. Gessford, William R. Pooley, William Q. Law, Ira G. Pollock, William A. Hagerup
  • Patent number: 7017435
    Abstract: A hand-held probing adapter secures a measurement probing system having a probe body coupled to a probing tip member via at least a first coaxial cable. The adapter has a housing with an interior cavity exposed at opening in opposing ends of the housing. The housing has a first portion at one end of the interior cavity for receiving the probe body and a second portion at the other end of the cavity for receiving the probing tip member. The first portion of the housing has means for securing the probe body in the housing, such as rib and slot combination. The second portion also has means for securing the probe tip member in the housing, such as with a pin in the interior cavity of the housing engaging a slot in the probe tip member. A portion of the probe tip member is exposed at one of the openings in the housing. Compliant members disposed in the second portion of the interior cavity providing axial and lateral rotation movement of the probing tip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Pooley, Scott R. Ketterer, Alan R. Wright
  • Patent number: 6967473
    Abstract: An attachable/detachable variable spacing probing tip system has a housing that receives pivoting probing arms. Each probing arm has a support member and a probing arm portion of a flexible substrate having a conductive trace thereon. One end of each conductive trace is coupled to a probing contact and the other end coupled to an electrical contact pad on a electrical contact pad portion of the flexible substrate. Each of the probing arm portions has a generally S-shaped fold therein extending from the support members to the electrical contact portion of the flexible substrate. The housing includes means for pivoting the probing arms. The rear surface of the housing has a resilient member disposed therein. Latching means in the housing secures the electrical contact pad portion of the flexible substrate to the rear surface of the housing. Opposing attachment arms from a rear surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Reed, Jim L. Martin, William R. Pooley, William A. Hagerup
  • Patent number: 6468100
    Abstract: An electronic interconnect adapter for a bulkhead mounted high speed coaxial interconnect has a rotatable coupling bushing with a central bore. One side of the bushing has an axially extending flange disposed around the bore with the flange having a threaded interior surface that threadably mates with a threaded exterior surface of the female side of the coaxial interconnect. The opposite side of the bushing has an axially disposed cavity with a diameter greater than the central bore forming a shoulder within the cavity. A male side of the interconnect has a flange radially extending from a shield contact with a mating member extending through bore. A radial slot is formed in the cavity adjacent to the shoulder that receives a retaining member that captures the flange between the shoulder and the retaining member to secure the male side of the high speed coaxial interconnect to the coupling bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Meyer, William R. Pooley
  • Patent number: 6402549
    Abstract: An adapter for an electronic interconnect assembly has a high speed coaxial interconnect for a coaxial transmission line having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor. The coaxial interconnect has a male side and a female side, with the female side including a shield sleeve having a chamber that receives a male shield contact on the male side. The shield sleeve has a contact with a compliant portion that flexibly grips the male shield contact. A mechanical alignment facility portion selected from a pair of alignment facility portions including a closely mating pocket and body has one of the male side or female side of the coaxial interconnect. An electrical signal connector is electrically coupled to the selected male or female of the coaxial interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Ayres, William Q. Law, M. David Swafford, William R. Pooley
  • Patent number: 6402565
    Abstract: An electronic interconnect assembly has a high speed coaxial interconnect for a coaxial transmission line having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor. The coaxial interconnect has a male side and a female side, with the female side including a shield sleeve having a chamber that receives a male shield contact on the male side. The shield sleeve has a contact with a compliant portion that flexibly grips the male shield contact. A mechanical alignment facility includes a closely mating pocket and body, each attached to a respective male or female side of the interconnect. Additional data and power connectors may be included with the pocket and body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Pooley, Daniel J. Ayres, M. David Swafford, William Q. Law, Michael L. Kyle, J. Steven Lyford, Jonathan E. Myers, Mark W. Nightingale, Jerry R. Shane
  • Patent number: 6383031
    Abstract: A keyed electronic interconnect assembly has a high speed coaxial interconnect for a coaxial transmission line having a central signal conductor and a surrounding shield conductor. The coaxial interconnect has a male side and a female side, with the female side including a shield sleeve having a chamber that receives a male shield contact on the male side. The shield sleeve has a contact with a compliant portion that flexibly grips the male shield contact. A mechanical alignment facility includes a closely mating pocket and body, each attached to a respective male or female side of the interconnect. A keying arrangement having protrusion elements and aperture elements are included in the pocket and body to provide selective mating of the pocket and body. Additional data connectors may be included with the pocket and body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: William Q. Law, William R. Pooley, M. David Swafford
  • Patent number: 6170695
    Abstract: An electronic instrument with a housing having a front surface and a rear surface. A user interface is located on the front surface. A movable handle having a grip portion is connected to the housing and is movable between a first carrying position in which at least a portion of the grip is forward of the rear surface and a first stabilizing position in which at least a portion of the grip is rearward of the rear surface. The handle may movable to other stabilizing positions, and the housing may include a front prop to provide additional stability and alternative viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston S. Gabel, William R. Pooley, Brian G. Russell, Kenneth P. Dobyns
  • Patent number: 6140812
    Abstract: An electronic instrument includes a housing having opposed end surfaces each including a handle mount. A bail handle with an elongated middle portion has extending arms connected at opposite ends, and the arms have free ends for connection at the handle mounts. The handle pivots between a first stable position and a second stable position about a pivot axis passing through the handle mounts. A pair of detent mechanisms each have a first portion connected to the housing, and a second portion connected to the handle, and each detent mechanism includes a spring which urges the first and second portions toward each other along the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian G. Russell, Preston S. Gabel, William R. Pooley
  • Patent number: D413823
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Dobyns, William R. Pooley, Scott Ketterer