Ultrasound device testing
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsNickolas Markoff, Christopher M. Cone
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Abstract
Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for the assessment of acousto-electrical probes, such as their connections (e.g., transducer leads) and their response characteristics. An example method of determining a capacitance capability of an electrical lead for an ultrasound device includes discharging stored capacitance of the electrical lead; applying power to the electrical lead; during applying power to the electrical lead, counting clock cycles from a microprocessor; comparing a electrical lead voltage to a reference voltage; stopping counting clock cycles when the electrical lead voltage passes the reference voltage; and processing a number of counted clock cycles, in response to stopping the counting clock cycles to determine a capacitance of the electrical lead.
Claims4
A method of determining a capacitance capability of an electrical lead in an ultrasound device, the method including:
- discharging stored capacitance of the electrical lead;
- applying power to the electrical lead;
- during said applying power to the electrical lead, counting clock cycles from a microprocessor;
- comparing an electrical lead voltage to a reference voltage;
- stopping said counting clock cycles when the electrical lead voltage passes the reference voltage;
- in response to stopping said counting clock cycles, processing a number of counted clock cycles, and a resistance associated with the electrical lead to determine a capacitance of the electrical lead;
- characterizing the electrical lead based on the determination of the capacitance of the electrical lead;
- outputting the characterization of the electrical lead for the ultrasound device;
- and
- providing a connection for the electrical lead based on the characterization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.