Patents by Inventor Fengfeng Tao

Fengfeng Tao 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: 9242927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process, novel process steps and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, in particular neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG JIUZHOU PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD, NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Guoliang Zhu, Desong Shi, Junhui Wei, Fengfeng Tao
  • Publication number: 20150341028
    Abstract: A gate drive unit includes a charging device, a switch, and a timing module. The charging device is conductively coupled with an electrical energy source and a power switch between the electric energy source and the charging device. The switch closes to transfer electrical energy from the energy source to the charging device. The timing module is configured to close the switch to direct the electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the charging device for a designated charging time period in order to charge the charging device with the electrical energy while the power switch is in an OFF state. The timing module opens the switch to cause the electrical energy stored in the charging device to be transferred out of the charging device in the form of a trigger current that is conducted to a gate terminal of the power switch to activate the power switch to an ON state from the OFF state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Ahmed Elasser, Mohammed Agamy, Patrick Kirlew
  • Publication number: 20150311708
    Abstract: A system and method for conditioning DC power received from hybrid DC power sources is disclosed. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a respective DC power source to selectively condition the output power generated thereby to a DC bus voltage. The power conversion circuit includes a switch arrangement and capacitors arranged to provide a charge balancing in the power conversion circuit. A controller in operable communication with the switch arrangement receives inputs on a DC bus voltage and at least one parameter related to operation of the DC power source, and determines an adjustable voltage to be output from the conversion circuit to the DC bus based on the received inputs. The controller then selectively controls operation of the switch arrangement in order to generate the determined adjustable voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Ahmed Elasser, Song Chi, Maja Harfman Todorovic
  • Publication number: 20150138859
    Abstract: A power conversion system is presented. The power conversion system includes a power converter. The power converter includes at least two circuits, where each of the at least two circuits includes two or more phase legs, where each of the two or more phase legs includes at least two semiconductor switches. Also, the at least two circuits includes an interphase reactor configured to couple one of the two or more phase legs to at least one other phase leg in the two or more phase legs. Moreover, the power conversion system includes a controller configured to obtain a switching pattern for each of the at least two semiconductor switches of the at least two circuits and selectively switch each of the at least two semiconductor switches based on the obtained switching pattern to reduce a common mode signal in the power conversion system. Method for power conversion is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rui Zhou, Luis Jose Garces, Fengfeng Tao, Maja Harfman Todorovic, Charles Michael Stephens, Lei Wang
  • Publication number: 20150131328
    Abstract: A power conversion system is presented. The system includes a power source coupled to a power converter and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a value of at least one parameter corresponding to the power source. Additionally, the controller is configured to provide a first portion of the at least one parameter to the power converter and modify an operating frequency of the power converter, duty ratio of the power converter, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the controller is configured to obtain an electrical quantity at an output of the power converter based on the modified operating frequency, the modified duty ratio, or a combination thereof. Also, the controller is configured to deliver a combination of the electrical quantity obtained at the output of the power converter and a second portion of the at least one parameter to a load. Method for converting power is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: General Eectric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Michael Joseph Schutten, Eladio Clemente Delgado, Luis Jose Garces, Rui Zhou, Xinhui Wu, Maja Harfman Todorovic, Lei Wang
  • Publication number: 20150023468
    Abstract: A portable x-ray system includes a light weight x-ray head including an x-ray tube and a high voltage (HV) tank, wherein the HV tank comprises a compact voltage multiplier configured to receive a low voltage signal and generate a high voltage signal based on the received low voltage signal. Also, the portable x-ray system includes a carrying case comprising low voltage power electronics coupled to the light weight x-ray head through a low voltage cable, and configured to send the low voltage signal to the light weight x-ray head. In addition, the low voltage power electronics is distributed in a predefined space in the carrying case in such a way that a weight of the light weight x-ray head is counter weighed by a weight of the low voltage power electronics to stabilize the portable x-ray system when the light weight x-ray head is rotated in one or more directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Yun Zou, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Fengfeng Tao, Xi Zhang, Timothy Powers, Thomas Edmund Sjoberg, Marc Weasler, Denis Perrillat-Amede
  • Patent number: 8923484
    Abstract: A motion correction system and method for motion correction for an x-ray tube is presented. One embodiment of the motion correction system includes a sensing unit coupled to an x-ray tube to determine a distance with which an impingement location of an electron beam generated by the x-ray tube deviates from a determined location due to motion of the x-ray tube. The motion correction system further includes a control unit coupled to the sensing unit to generate a control signal corresponding to the distance with which the impingement location of the electron beam deviates. Also, the motion correction system includes a deflection unit coupled to the control unit to steer the electron beam to the determined location based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yun Zou, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Fengfeng Tao, Timothy Powers, Thomas Edmund Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 8847631
    Abstract: A gate drive circuit includes an insulated gate semiconductor switch. A controlled current source is connected to the semiconductor switch gate terminal to provide a gate drive circuit that is responsive to recycled gate charge corresponding to an internal gate capacitance of the insulated gate semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, John Thomas Herbon
  • Publication number: 20140146585
    Abstract: A power converter is provided. The power converter includes a converter leg including switches for converting power. The power converter also includes a controller for switching the switches using a pulse width modulation technique. The power converter further includes an interface inductor coupled to the converter leg for avoiding a reverse recovery of current in the switches during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Maja Harfman Todorovic, Luis Jose Garces, Rui Zhou, Donald Gene Marabell, Robert Louis Steigerwald
  • Publication number: 20140142320
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process, novel process steps and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, in particular neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Guoliang Zhu, Desogn Shi, Junhui Wei, Fengfeng Tao
  • Publication number: 20140112449
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a predefined x-ray field is presented. Briefly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus includes a cathode unit configured to emit electrons within a vacuum chamber. The apparatus further includes an anode unit configured to generate x-rays when the emitted electrons impinge on a target surface of the anode unit. Also, the apparatus includes a collimating unit comprising a primary set of blades disposed in the vacuum chamber at a first distance from the anode unit for collimating the generated x-rays to provide the predefined x-ray field at a detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Yun Zou, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Mark Alan Frontera, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Fengfeng Tao, Xi Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140064456
    Abstract: A motion correction system and method for motion correction for an x-ray tube is presented. One embodiment of the motion correction system includes a sensing unit coupled to an x-ray tube to determine a distance with which an impingement location of an electron beam generated by the x-ray tube deviates from a determined location due to motion of the x-ray tube. The motion correction system further includes a control unit coupled to the sensing unit to generate a control signal corresponding to the distance with which the impingement location of the electron beam deviates. Also, the motion correction system includes a deflection unit coupled to the control unit to steer the electron beam to the determined location based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Yun Zou, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Fengfeng Tao, Timothy Powers, Thomas Edmund Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 8649188
    Abstract: A power generator includes one or more full bridge inverter modules coupled to a semiconductor opening switch (SOS) through an inductive resonant branch. Each module includes a plurality of switches that are switched in a fashion causing the one or more full bridge inverter modules to drive the semiconductor opening switch SOS through the resonant circuit to generate pulses to a load connected in parallel with the SOS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, John Thomas Herbon
  • Publication number: 20130322602
    Abstract: An x-ray tube is presented. One embodiment of the x-ray tube includes a cathode unit configured to emit electrons. The x-ray tube further includes an anode unit positioned to receive the emitted electrons, wherein the anode unit includes a base having a target surface configured to generate x-rays when the emitted electrons impinge on the target surface. Also, the anode unit includes a first shielding unit enclosing the base to attenuate at least a first portion of the generated x-rays within the anode unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xi Zhang, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Fengfeng Tao, Yun Zou
  • Patent number: 8523115
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and program product and methods for controlling boundary layer flow across an aerodynamic structure which can produce separate regions of flow structures at different strengths by means of dielectric-barrier-discharge (DBD) type plasmas, are provided. An example of such apparatus provides plasma regions that are capable of being individually controlled by voltage and/or frequency, and modulated for the purposes of flow control. The apparatus includes an electrode assembly fitted with electrodes on either side of a dielectric such that different electrode geometries and arrangements create isolated regions of plasmas which results in separate regions of flow structures. These regions may be further controlled and modulated by the use of electronic-switching to produce irregularly shaped flow structures and strengths including those having a primarily vertical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine Anne Essenhigh, Fengfeng Tao, Grover Andrew Bennett, Matthew Boespflug, Robert C. Murray, Seyed Gholani Saddoughi
  • Publication number: 20130172572
    Abstract: A novel process, novel process steps and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, in particular neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Guoliang Zhu, Desong Shi, Junhui Wei, Fengfeng Tao
  • Publication number: 20130162322
    Abstract: A gate drive circuit includes an insulated gate semiconductor switch. A controlled current source is connected to the semiconductor switch gate terminal to provide a gate drive circuit that is responsive to recycled gate charge corresponding to an internal gate capacitance of the insulated gate semiconductor switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, John Thomas Herbon
  • Publication number: 20130107590
    Abstract: A power generator includes one or more full bridge inverter modules coupled to a semiconductor opening switch (SOS) through an inductive resonant branch. Each module includes a plurality of switches that are switched in a fashion causing the one or more full bridge inverter modules to drive the semiconductor opening switch SOS through the resonant circuit to generate pulses to a load connected in parallel with the SOS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi, John Thomas Herbon
  • Patent number: 8421419
    Abstract: A power converter utilizes one or more nonlinear composite film capacitors constructed solely of polymer anti-ferroelectric (AFE) particle composites and configured as DC-link bus capacitors providing an energy buffer to reduce DC-link voltage ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fengfeng Tao, Yang Cao, Daniel Qi Tan
  • Publication number: 20120193483
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and program product and methods for controlling boundary layer flow across an aerodynamic structure which can produce separate regions of flow structures at different strengths by means of dielectric-barrier-discharge (DBD) type plasmas, are provided. An example of such apparatus provides plasma regions that are capable of being individually controlled by voltage and/or frequency, and modulated for the purposes of flow control. The apparatus includes an electrode assembly fitted with electrodes on either side of a dielectric such that different electrode geometries and arrangements create isolated regions of plasmas which results in separate regions of flow structures. These regions may be further controlled and modulated by the use of electronic-switching to produce irregularly shaped flow structures and strengths including those having a primarily vertical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katherine Anne Essenhigh, Fengfeng Tao, Grover Andrew Bennett, Matthew Boespflug, Robert C. Murray, Seyed Gholami Saddoughi