Apparatus and methods for interfacing acoustic testing apparatus with acoustic probes and systems

• US 6,928,856 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Sonora Medical Systems, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Moore, G. Wayne, Gessert, James M., Phillips, William H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/982,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 73/18.2, 702/116, 381/58, 367/13, 324/686
• US Class Current: 73/1.82
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/30 Arrangements for calibrating or comparing, e.g. with standard objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5205 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for testing an acoustic device that has multiple transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical transmission signal is generated. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a first set of channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to one of a second set of channels through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch. The electrical transmission signal is transmitted to a selected transducing element. An electrical received signal is received from the acoustic device in response to the electrical transmission signal.

Claims

1. A method for testing a multiplexing acoustic probe having a plurality of transducing elements adapted for conversion between acoustic and electrical signals and a switch matrix adapted for mapping a plurality of switch-matrix channels to the plurality of transducing elements, wherein the plurality of switch-matrix channels is smaller in number than the plurality of transducing elements, the method comprising:

communicating an instruction for the switch matrix to adopt a specified state;

generating an electrical transmission signal;

transmitting the electrical transmission signal to one of a plurality of adapter channels through a relay element in accordance with a state of the relay element;

transmitting the electrical transmission signal from the one of the plurality of adapter channels to one of the plurality of switch-matrix channels;

transmitting the electrical transmission signal from the one of the plurality of switch-matrix channels to a selected transducing element; and

receiving an electrical received signal from the multiplexing acoustic in response to the electrical transmission signal.

2. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising providing power to the switch matrix.

3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein transmitting the electrical transmission signal from the one of the plurality of adapter channels to the one of the plurality of switch-matrix channels comprises transmitting the electrical transmission signal through a multichannel switch of an adapter in accordance with a state of the multichannel switch.

4. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising diagnosing operational characteristics of the selected transducing element from an amplitude of the electrical received signal.

5. The method recited in claim 4 further comprising:

generating a reference signal; and

determining a capacitance associated with the selected transducing element from the reference signal,

wherein diagnosing operational characteristics of the selected transducing element is further performed from the determined capacitance.

6. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising uniquely identifying the multiplexing probe from a plurality of electrical received signals.