Patents by Inventor Chie-Ying Lee

Chie-Ying Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12365744
    Abstract: System for and method of producing a pure starch slurry and alcohol by using combined corn wet and dry milling processes. A simple and lower cost process to obtain starch inside floury endosperm is provided. The starch can be highly purified to meet green technology process needs. The remaining starch inside the corn kernels can be used as feedstock for alcohol production and to produce valuable co-products such as oil and various animal feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12351852
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12264294
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20250043030
    Abstract: System for and method of producing a pure starch slurry and alcohol by using combined corn wet and dry milling processes. A simple and lower cost process to obtain starch inside floury endosperm is provided. The starch can be highly purified to meet green technology process needs. The remaining starch inside the corn kernels can be used as feedstock for alcohol production and to produce valuable co-products such as oil and various animal feeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20240417761
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20240352377
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12084707
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12065513
    Abstract: System for and method of producing a pure starch slurry and alcohol by using combined corn wet and dry milling processes. A simple and lower cost process to obtain starch inside floury endosperm is provided. The starch can be highly purified to meet green technology process needs. The remaining starch inside the corn kernels can be used as feedstock for alcohol production and to produce valuable co-products such as oil and various animal feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12031105
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20230406963
    Abstract: System for and method of producing a pure starch slurry and alcohol by using combined corn wet and dry milling processes. A simple and lower cost process to obtain starch inside floury endosperm is provided. The starch can be highly purified to meet green technology process needs. The remaining starch inside the corn kernels can be used as feedstock for alcohol production and to produce valuable co-products such as oil and various animal feeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20230285979
    Abstract: This novel corn milling process includes a continuous steeping step, early separation of easy-to-access starch (e.g., starch in the floury endosperm part of a corn kernel), fine milling to secure germ protein without the use of solvents or heat, and performing a phase separation to collect the product of fermentation. The continuous steeping process uses a continuous steeping tank. The steeping liquid, which includes probiotics, flows in from the bottom of the tank in a countercurrent flow. Other features include efficiently producing high purity starch or sugar using the starch in the floury endosperm of the corn kernel, producing alcohols such as ethanol and butanol that can be used as sustainable aviation fuel or feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel, and producing a high protein animal feed product that includes yeast and germ protein without using toxic solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20230277956
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a two-step liquefication (e.g., using a high (>23 Be) and a low Be (<5 Be) liquid media) process in a dry milling process/plant. The dry milling process comprises liquifying starch from milled corns making a liquefied starch slurry in a first liquefication tank having a slurry >23 Be, performing a first solid/liquid separation using a first paddle screen after the liquifying starch, soaking, cooking, or degrading protein in a second liquefication tank with a slurry <5 Be, and performing a second solid/liquid separation using a second paddle screen after the soaking, cooking, or degrading protein in a second liquefication tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20230272437
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11680278
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11623966
    Abstract: A novel dry mill process for producing pure starch, which can be used as a feed stock for bio tech processes. Corn feedstock is sent through a particle size reduction device, such as a hammer mill, to produce corn flour. The corn flour is screened into a small particle portion (which mainly contains “free” starch from the floury endosperm) and a larger particle portion (which mainly comprises the horny endosperm, germ pericarp and tip cap). The small particle potion is sent to a liquefication and a saccharification process to produce high Be corn syrup. A mud phase (mixture of oil, germ, and any light solid) is centrifuged. The light phase is sent to precoat drum filtration to produce clean corn syrup. Further, a novel wet mill process to produce starch and alcohol is disclosed. A three-section paddle screen can be used to separate starch from grit and fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20230100325
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11603507
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Publication number: 20220348969
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11427839
    Abstract: Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Lee Tech LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11427784
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee