Patent ID: 8310229

Claim:
An eddy current array probe, comprising: a plurality of coils selectively operable as either generator coils or as sense coils, wherein the passage of a current through a generator coil is effective to induce eddy currents in a test object to thereby enable one or more of the sense coils to sense the eddy current; a signal processing element, which enables receipt of an excitation signal for the generator coils and which is operable to output a return signal from the sense coils; and a memory embedded in the array probe for storing a configuration of the coils as generator and sense coils for a plurality of time slots, wherein the memory is readable by the signal processing element to produce a firing sequence for the coils during the time slots, wherein the firing sequence includes a configuration for the coils enabling any coil or any number of coils to be configured as generator coils; and any other coil or any number of the coils to be configured as sense coils at any given time slot; and each coil to be operated with individual parameter settings; wherein, further in combination with an instrument operable and controllable by an operator, the signal processing element is coupled with the instrument, wherein the probe is configured to be selectively electronically coupled to, or separated from the instrument; wherein, the signal processing element is configured to provide to the memory the firing sequence, wherein the memory is readable and configured to be reprogrammed by the instrument.