Devices and methods for testing the operation of acoustic devices such as ultrasonic probes. The disclosed devices and methods identify failures of individual piezoelectric elements of various types of ultrasonic probes free of family-specific adapters to interface with such probes and free of acous
Devices and methods for testing the operation of acoustic devices such as ultrasonic probes. The disclosed devices and methods identify failures of individual piezoelectric elements of various types of ultrasonic probes free of family-specific adapters to interface with such probes and free of acoustic coupling fluids or the like to establish acoustic coupling with the probes. In one arrangement, a testing appliance is disclosed that includes a testing unit and first and second probes electrically connected thereto. After an operator has established electrical connections between the first probe and a first contact of a connector assembly of the acoustic probe and between the second probe and a ground return path of the connector assembly, the testing device may pass a current through an electric circuit between the first and second probes and determine one or more corresponding electrical quantities of the circuit for establishing statuses of the probe.
대표청구항▼
1. An appliance for testing the operation of an acoustic device that generates acoustic waves, the appliance comprising: a housing; circuitry disposed within the housing that is configured to determine one or more electrical quantities of an electrical circuit passing through a piezoelectric element
1. An appliance for testing the operation of an acoustic device that generates acoustic waves, the appliance comprising: a housing; circuitry disposed within the housing that is configured to determine one or more electrical quantities of an electrical circuit passing through a piezoelectric element of an acoustic device; a first probe electrically connected to the circuitry, wherein the first probe is electrically connectable to a contact of a contact array of the acoustic device that is electrically connected to the piezoelectric element via the electrical circuit; a second probe electrically connected to the circuitry, wherein the second probe is electrically connectable to a ground return path of the acoustic device via the electric circuit; and a display attached to the housing and in electrical communication with the circuitry, wherein the display is configured to present graphical images of the contact array and one or more values derived from the determined electrical quantities. 2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical quantities include an AC voltage and an AC current between the first and second probes. 3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the one or more values derived from the determined electrical quantities include at least one of capacitance or resistance between the first and second probes. 4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the circuitry uses the determined electrical quantities to determine a complex impedance between the first and second probes, and wherein the circuitry uses the determined complex impedance to determine the at least one of the capacitance or the resistance between the first and second probes. 5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the display presents graphical images of a first contact array of a first acoustic device and a second contact array of a second acoustic device different than the first acoustic device. 6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the display presents a graphical indication of a status of one or more piezoelectric elements of the acoustic device based on the determined electrical quantities. 7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the status is one of functioning at or above a threshold level of acceptability or not functioning above the threshold level of acceptability. 8. A method for use with the appliance of claim 1, the method comprising: presenting, on the display, a graphical representation of a contact array of a multi-contact connector of the acoustic device; modifying an appearance of a first contact of the contact array relative to another contact of the contact array on the display; determining, by the appliance, a value of at least one electrical quantity of an electrical circuit that passes through a first piezoelectric element of the acoustic device that is in direct electrical communication with the first contact; ascertaining, by the appliance based on the value of the at least one determined electrical quantity, a status of the acoustic device; and presenting, on the display, the status of the acoustic device. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one electrical quantity is an AC voltage and an AC current through the electrical circuit, and wherein the ascertaining step includes: deriving, by the appliance, at least one additional electrical quantity from the AC voltage and the AC current through the electrical circuit; and ascertaining, by the appliance based on the at least one additional quantity the status of the acoustic device. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one additional electrical quantity includes at least one of capacitance or resistance through the electrical circuit. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the deriving includes: determining, by the appliance using the AC voltage and the AC current through the electrical circuit, a complex impedance through the electrical circuit; anddetermining, by the appliance using the complex impedance through the electrical circuit, the at least one of the capacitance or resistance through the electrical circuit. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the ascertaining step includes: querying whether the value of the at least one additional electrical quantity is within a reference range of the additional electrical quantity;establishing that the status is a first status in response to the of the at least one additional electrical quantity being within the reference range of the additional electrical quantityestablishing that the status is a second status in response to the of the at least one additional electrical quantity not being within the reference range of the additional electrical quantity. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the status is the status of the first piezoelectric element. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first piezoelectric element is disposed on a transducer head of the acoustic device, and wherein the status is the status of a cable assembly that electrically connects the transducer head to the multi-contact connector. 15. The method of claim 8, wherein the presenting step includes: presenting a graphical representation of at least the first piezoelectric element; andmodifying an appearance of the graphical representation of at least the first piezoelectric element to indicate the status of the first piezoelectric element. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the presenting step includes presenting a graphical representation of a plurality of piezoelectric elements of the acoustic device, wherein the first piezoelectric element is one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. 17. The method of claim 8, further including: modifying an appearance of a second contact of the contact array relative to other contacts of the contact array on the display; determining, by the appliance, a value of at least one electrical quantity of an electrical circuit that passes through a second piezoelectric element of the acoustic device that is in direct electrical communication with the second contact; ascertaining, by the appliance based on the value of the at least one determined electrical quantity, a status of the acoustic device; and presenting, on the display, the status of the acoustic device. 18. The method of claim 8, wherein the acoustic device is a first acoustic device, and wherein the method further includes: presenting, on the display, a graphical representation of a contact array of a multi-contact connector of a second acoustic device, wherein the graphical representations of the contact array of the second acoustic device is different that the graphical representations of the contact array of the first acoustic device; modifying an appearance of a first contact of the contact array of the second acoustic device relative to other contacts of the contact array of the second acoustic device on the display; determining, by the appliance, a value of at least one electrical quantity of an electrical circuit that passes through a first piezoelectric element of the second acoustic device that is in direct electrical communication with the first contact of the second acoustic device; ascertaining, by the appliance based on the value of the at least one determined electrical quantity, a status of the second acoustic device; and presenting, on the display, the status of the second acoustic device. 19. The method of claim 8, further including before the determining step: sending an electric current through the electronic circuit. 20. A method for use with the appliance of claim 1, the method comprising: first receiving, from the display, a graphical indication of the contact array of the acoustic device to be tested, wherein the graphical indication of the contact array includes a graphical indication of a first contact of the contact array, and wherein the graphical indication of the first contact is different than the graphical indication of other contacts of the pin array; establishing a first electrical connection between the first probe of the appliance and the first contact of the acoustic device; establishing a second electrical connection between the second probe of the appliance and the ground return path of the acoustic device; and second receiving, from the display, in response to the established first and second electrical connections, a graphical indication of a status of the acoustic device. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second receiving step includes: receiving a graphical indication of a status of a first piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric element array of the acoustic device, wherein the first piezoelectric element is in direct electrical communication with the first contact. 22. The method of claim 21, further including after the second receiving step: third receiving, from the display, a graphical indication of a second contact of the contact array of the acoustic device; establishing a third electrical connection between the first probe of the appliance and the third contact of the acoustic device; establishing a fourth electrical connection between the second probe of the appliance and a ground lead of the acoustic device; and fourth receiving, from the display, in response to the established third and fourth electrical connections, a graphical indication of a status of a second piezoelectric element of the piezoelectric element array of the acoustic device, wherein the second piezoelectric element is in direct electrical communication with the second contact. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the second receiving step includes: receiving a graphical indication of a status of an electrical connection between a first piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric element array of the acoustic device and the first contact. 24. The method claim 20, further including before the first receiving step: inputting, into the appliance, information identifying the acoustic device to be tested, wherein the graphical indication of the contact array corresponds to the inputted identifying information. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the acoustic device is a first acoustic device, and wherein the method further includes after the second receiving step: inputting, into the appliance, information identifying a second acoustic device to be tested, wherein the second acoustic device is different than the first acoustic device;first receiving, from the display, a graphical indication of a contact array of the second acoustic device corresponding to the inputted identifying information, wherein the graphical indication of the contact array includes a graphical indication of a first contact of the contact array, and wherein the graphical indication of the first contact is different than the graphical indication of other contacts of the contact array;establishing a first electrical connection between the first probe of the appliance and the first contact of the second acoustic device;establishing a second electrical connection between the second probe of the appliance and a ground lead of the second acoustic device; andsecond receiving, from the display, in response to the established first and second electrical connections, a graphical indication of a status of the second acoustic device.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
Bates,Kenneth N., Acoustic wave imaging apparatus and method.
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