Patents Examined by Chris Q Liu
  • Patent number: 11958128
    Abstract: A laser apparatus includes a laser oscillator; an acousto-optic modulation unit including a first acousto-optic modulator that diffracts a laser beam from the laser oscillator when a first ultrasonic wave is applied and a second acousto-optic modulator that diffracts a higher order beam output from the first acousto-optic modulator when a second ultrasonic wave is applied; and an amplifier that amplifies the laser beam from the acousto-optic modulation unit, a propagation direction of the first ultrasonic wave relative to a diffracted direction of the higher order beam emitted from the first acousto-optic modulator and a propagation direction of the second ultrasonic wave relative to a diffracted direction of a higher order beam emitted from the second acousto-optic modulator being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Funaoka, Tatsuya Yamamoto, Yuzuru Tadokoro, Masayuki Saiki, Hiromasa Mihara, Yoshiharu Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 11946647
    Abstract: An electric range is provided that may include a case; at least one fan configured to cool an inside of the case; at least one first through hole formed on a lower surface of the case and configured to supply air to the at least one fan; and a first cover disposed to encircle the at least one first through hole outside of the lower surface of the case and having a plurality of first slits. The first cover may prevent a foreign substance from contacting the at least one fan. The foreign substance may be an end portion of a user's body, for example, a user's finger. The at least one fan may have no structure for preventing contact of a foreign substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinwoo Park, Junghyeon Cho
  • Patent number: 11945047
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing system and its methods. The system includes a material conveyor, an energy source, and a micro-forging device. The material conveyor is configured to convey material. The energy source is configured to direct an energy beam toward the material, the energy beam fuses at least a portion of the material to form a solidified portion. The micro-forging device is movable along with the material conveyor for forging the solidified portion, wherein the micro-forging device comprises a first forging hammer and a second forging hammer, the first forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a first deformation, and the second forging hammer is configured to impact the solidified portion to generate a second deformation greater than the first deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zirong Zhai, Dalong Zhong, Yingna Wu, Bin Wei, Yong Yang, Xiaobin Chen
  • Patent number: 11945050
    Abstract: Provided is an electrode sheet manufacturing apparatus that forms an electrode sheet by cutting a sheet stack including an electrode composite material layer and a separator provided on the electrode composite material layer. The electrode sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a laser irradiation device that irradiates the sheet stack with a first laser beam having a wavelength to be absorbed by the separator and a second laser beam having a wavelength to be absorbed by the electrode composite material layer, and a controller that controls driving of the laser irradiation device. The controller moves an irradiation position of the first laser beam relative to the sheet stack and moves an irradiation position of the second laser beam so as to follow a track of the irradiation position of the first laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11938561
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes a light source configured to emit laser light; a power supply configured to supply a current to the light source; a deflection unit on an optical path of the laser light and including an optical element configured to change an amount of transmission of the laser light to deflect at least a part of the laser light; an optical separation unit on the optical path of the laser light and being configured to shield higher-order light included in the laser light and deflected by the optical element in the deflection unit, and transmit zero-order light that is included in the laser light and passes through the deflection unit; and a signal synchronization unit configured to control the power supply to selectively turn the current on or off in synchronization with a timing at which the higher-order light is deflected by the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Izuru Nakai, Takaaki Kassai, Takayuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11925995
    Abstract: A component loading-welding system for welding a component panel to a vehicle body panel includes a rotation portion body having first and second opposing sides. The first opposing side is coupled to a robot arm. A picking device is installed in the rotation portion body and is configured to hold and release the component panel. A vehicle body pressurizing tip is installed in the rotation portion body. A pressurizing portion body is rotatably installed at the second opposing side of the rotation portion body. A pin clamp is installed in the pressurizing portion body and is configured to clamp the component panel. A component pressurizing tip is installed in the pressurizing portion body and is configured to apply pressure to the component panel. A multi point projection welding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11911849
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a laser peening processing apparatus includes: a laser oscillator; and a nozzle. The laser oscillator oscillates a laser light. The nozzle focuses the laser light and irradiates a surface to be processed of a workpiece with the focused laser light while flowing a liquid toward the surface to be processed. A straightening part that straightens a flow of the liquid is disposed on the nozzle. Furthermore, according to one implementation, a laser peening processing method includes: oscillating a laser light; manufacturing a product or a semi-product by focusing the laser light and irradiating a surface to be processed of a workpiece with the focused laser light toward while flowing a liquid on the surface; and straightening the liquid using a straightening structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mayu Nakano
  • Patent number: 11911836
    Abstract: A structural joint between two components of metal material is obtained by carrying out an electrical resistance welding spot between said components and subsequently performing a step of applying a cladding of metal material by an additive manufacturing technology. In one example, after a first step of applying a coarse base cladding, a second step of applying a fine cladding is carried out, again by additive manufacturing technology. The fine cladding can include a distribution of stiffening micro-ribs above the base cladding. The same method can also be applied to a single sheet metal component, rather than to a welded joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Daniele Pullini, Massimo Cucco, Gabriele Ciaccio, Fabio D'Aiuto, Michele Maria Tedesco
  • Patent number: 11904547
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include providing a powder bed and directing a shaped laser beam pulse train consisting of one or more pulses and having a flux greater than 20 kW/cm2 at a defined two dimensional region of the powder bed. This minimizes adverse laser plasma effects during the process of melting and fusing powder within the defined two dimensional region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Seurat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Bayramian, James A. DeMuth, Ning Duanmu, Yiyu Shen
  • Patent number: 11910513
    Abstract: An electronic vaporization device with activation protection is provided. The electronic vaporization device includes a heater for heating a vaporizable material and a compartment housing the vaporizable material, said compartment being thermally connected to the heater. The electronic vaporization device further includes a power source providing electric power to the heater, said electric power being converted to thermal power. The electronic vaporization device further includes two or more contact points disposed on the outside surface of the electronic vaporization device. The electric power is provided when the two or more contact points are physically connected to an object having a resistance within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GEEK VAPE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenlong Lu, Xianghui Wang, Renjie Gao
  • Patent number: 11897052
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus 100 for machining a workpiece with a laser beam 101 coupled into a fluid jet. The apparatus 100 comprises a laser unit 101a for providing the laser beam 101, a nozzle unit 102 with an aperture 102a for producing the fluid jet, and an optical unit 103 configured to provide the laser beam 101 from the laser unit 101a onto the nozzle unit 102. Further, the apparatus 100 comprises a control unit 104 configured to control 108, 110 the optical unit 103 and/or nozzle unit 102 to change a point of incidence 109 of the laser beam 101 on the nozzle unit 102. The apparatus 100 also comprises a sensing unit 105 configured to sense laser light 106 reflected from a surface 102b of the nozzle unit 102 and produce a sensing signal 107 based on the sensed reflected laser light 106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: SYNOVA S.A., Makino Milling Machine Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Philippe Mazouer, Max Epple, Hyuk Kim, Helgi Diehl, Bernold Richerzhagen
  • Patent number: 11897054
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to laser welding methods, monitoring methods, and monitoring systems for a secondary battery. A laser welding method for a secondary battery includes performing laser welding on a positive electrode base having a thin-film shape in which a plurality of positive electrode base tabs are formed at a side, a negative electrode base having a thin-film shape in which a plurality of negative electrode base tabs are formed at a side, and a thin-film multi-tab to be joined to each of the positive electrode base and the negative electrode base, a welded portion in which the multi-tab is welded with the positive electrode base and the negative electrode base being melting-joined by using a laser such that a plurality of welding spots is formed on the welded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Roh, Sang Hyun Ryu, Myung Jun Park, Seong Bae An, Yong Gyu An, Hee Dong Jung, Jin Gyu Heo
  • Patent number: 11845149
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power that alternates between at least a hotter and a colder process is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Lyco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Schuh, Robert R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 11826854
    Abstract: An apparatus for 3D laser printing and a method for fusing a metal material with control of a melt pool on a substrate are provided. The apparatus contains a metal wire or powder feed unit and a plurality of laser sources symmetrically arranged on the surface of an imaginary hemisphere. Each laser source contains a laser with a laser beam focusing lens that focuses the laser beam in a focal point at a given distance from the focusing lens. The laser source is also provided with CPU/GPU-controlled devices for independently shifting each laser or a group of lasers along the optical axis and/or for tilting the lasers relative to the longitudinal axis of the source housing so that heating or fusing can be performed by placing the focal points of the lasers selectively at any point of the material or on a substrate for forming and controlling the melt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: John Mehmet Ulgar Dogru, Anton Vedeshin
  • Patent number: 11832356
    Abstract: A heater for use in fluid immersion heating includes a plurality of resistive heating elements, and a plurality sets of power pins electrically connected to the plurality of heating elements. Each set of power pins includes a first power pin made of a first conductive material, and a second power pin made of a second conductive material that is dissimilar from the first conductive material of the first power pin. The first power pin is electrically connected to the second power pin to form a junction. The second power pin is electrically connected to the corresponding resistive heating element. The junctions between the first power pins and the second power pins are disposed at different heights in order to sense a level of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jack Reynolds, Louis P. Steinhauser, Jake Spooler, William Bohlinger
  • Patent number: 11825566
    Abstract: The e-vaping cartridge includes a first tube extending in a longitudinal direction, the first tube defining a first channel with a first end and a second end, a heater traversing a portion of the first end of the first channel, the heater being configured to heat a pre-vapor formulation to form a vapor, and a hydrogel spaced apart from the second end of the first channel, the hydrogel being a colloidal dispersion including at least one first flavorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Shaoyong Yu, Raymond W. Lau, Pauline Marcq
  • Patent number: 11806805
    Abstract: A object cutting method includes a first step of attaching an expandable sheet to a front surface or a back surface of a object, a second step of irradiating the object with a laser light along a line to cut to form a modified region, and expanding the expandable sheet to divide at least a part of the object into a plurality of chips and to form a gap that exists between the chips and extends to a side surface crossing the front surface and the back surface of the object, a third step of, after the second step, filling the gap with a resin from an outer edge portion including the side surface of the object, a fourth step of, after the third step, curing and shrinking the resin, and a fifth step of, after the fourth step, taking out the chips from the expandable sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Kyoritsu Chemical & Co., Ltd., HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Mikiharu Kuchiki, Hidefumi Kinda, Daisuke Kurita, Takeshi Sakamoto, Takafumi Ogiwara, Yuta Kondoh, Naoki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 11801571
    Abstract: A laser processing device for processing shielded conductors includes a processing chamber configured to process an end portion of a shielded conductor disposed therein using laser radiation. The processing chamber has a housing defining an opening. In a processing position of the laser processing device, the end portion of the shielded conductor is inserted along an insertion axis into the opening and extends into the processing chamber. A gripping device is configured to fix the shielded conductor in the opening in the processing position of the laser processing device. In the processing position of the laser processing device, the gripping device is positioned at the housing without contact therebetween. The gripping device includes a first projection portion which extends at least partially into the opening along the insertion axis in the processing position of the laser processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MD ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventor: Benedikt Strauss
  • Patent number: 11805575
    Abstract: An induction hob device includes at least one cooktop, at least one first coil, at least one second coil, and a control unit. The first coil and the second coil are displaced relative to each other at least in a direction perpendicular to the cooktop. In order to improve an efficiency, the control unit is configured to at least temporarily operate the first coil and the second coil simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Jesus Acero Acero, Claudio Carretero Chamarro, Sergio Llorente Gil, Ignacio Lope Moratilla, Daniel Palacios Tomas
  • Patent number: 11794277
    Abstract: A mechanism for detecting the inside of a workpiece includes a wavelength delaying unit for outputting each pulse of a pulsed laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator with time differences imparted to respective wavelengths, and a ring generating unit for generating a ring-shaped pulsed laser beam from the pulsed laser beam with the time differences imparted to the respective wavelengths and diffracting the ring-shaped pulsed laser beam into ring-shaped laser beams ranging from small to large at the respective wavelengths. When the ring-shaped laser beams with the time differences imparted to the respective wavelengths are applied to the workpiece, they produce an interference wave of ultrasonic waves in the workpiece, and vibrations are produced at a position where the interference wave of the ultrasonic waves is converged. A laser beam is applied to an upper surface of the workpiece at a position aligned with the center of the vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji Nomaru