Patents by Inventor Longyu Zhao
Longyu Zhao 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).
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Patent number: 11772906Abstract: A control system for an automated singulation system is provided. The control system detects a presence of a first item on a first conveyor and detects a presence of a second item on a second conveyor while the first item is present on the first conveyor. The second conveyor transfers items onto the first conveyor and is at a lower height than the second conveyor. The first conveyor is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the second conveyor. In response to detecting the presence of the second item, a location of the first item along a length of the first conveyor is determined. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are controlled based at least on the location of the first item.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Tri Minh Quach, Xujie Wang, Canaan Seaton, Joseph Eaton
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Patent number: 11691827Abstract: An automated system for singulating items is provided. The automated system includes a singulation apparatus. The singulation apparatus includes multiple conveyor modules and a vertical frame structure. Each of the multiple conveyor modules has an identical physical structure. The vertical frame structure provides multiple horizontal mounting locations, each at a different height along the vertical frame structure. Each of the conveyor modules is mounted to a different one of the multiple horizontal mounting locations.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Tri Minh Quach, Xujie Wang, Bryan Beard, John Swinford
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Patent number: 11480398Abstract: The present invention is directed to a manifold for directing cooling fluid and/or gas to a heat exchanger in a flow configuration designed to optimize heat transfer from the heat exchanger. The manifold can take many different forms such as a layered construction with distributed inlet paths, local outlet paths, a central collection changer and a path for fluid removal. The manifold can be formed from a metal, plastic, rubber, ceramic, or other heat resistant material known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art. The manifold can also be combined with any type of heat exchanger known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art to form a thermal management unit. To optimize overall properties such as low pressure drop, high heat transfer, and excellent temperature uniformity of the thermal management unit, the manifold can be graded, expanded and scaled as needed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Kevin J. Hemker, Timothy P. Weihs, Stephen Ryan, Longyu Zhao, Seunghyun Ha, Yong Zhang, James K. Guest
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Publication number: 20220089379Abstract: A control system for an automated singulation system is provided. The control system detects a presence of a first item on a first conveyor and detects a presence of a second item on a second conveyor while the first item is present on the first conveyor. The second conveyor transfers items onto the first conveyor and is at a lower height than the second conveyor. The first conveyor is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the second conveyor. In response to detecting the presence of the second item, a location of the first item along a length of the first conveyor is determined. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are controlled based at least on the location of the first item.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Longyu ZHAO, Tri Minh QUACH, Xujie WANG, Canaan SEATON, Joseph EATON
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Patent number: 11192726Abstract: A control system for an automated singulation system is provided. The control system detects a presence of a first item on a first conveyor and detects a presence of a second item on a second conveyor while the first item is present on the first conveyor. The second conveyor transfers items onto the first conveyor and is at a lower height than the second conveyor. The first conveyor is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the second conveyor. In response to detecting the presence of the second item, a location of the first item along a length of the first conveyor is determined. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are controlled based at least on the location of the first item.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Tri Minh Quach, Xujie Wang, Canaan Seaton, Joseph Eaton
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Patent number: 11104527Abstract: An apparatus for unloading tote contents is provided. The apparatus includes an arm assembly, a door assembly connected to the arm assembly, and first and second drivers configured to rotate the arm assembly and the door assembly about first and second axes, respectively. The arm assembly is configured to pick up a tote from a first conveyor belt. The door assembly is configured to secure at least one item within the tote and provide a ramp for unloading the at least one item from the tote onto a second conveyor belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Bob Samac, Xujie Wang
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Publication number: 20210155414Abstract: An automated system for singulating items is provided. The automated system includes a singulation apparatus. The singulation apparatus includes multiple conveyor modules and a vertical frame structure. Each of the multiple conveyor modules has an identical physical structure. The vertical frame structure provides multiple horizontal mounting locations, each at a different height along the vertical frame structure. Each of the conveyor modules is mounted to a different one of the multiple horizontal mounting locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Longyu ZHAO, Tri Minh QUACH, Xujie WANG, Bryan BEARD, John SWINFORD
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Patent number: 10982913Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices formed from three dimensional (3D) structures composed of wires, yarns of wires, or 3D printed structures. The devices of the present invention offer the potential for 3D structures with multiple properties optimized concurrently, using optimization within the 3D manufacturing constraints. The 3D structures of the present invention include multiple properties that are optimized for heat transfer applications. The present invention also includes the methods for optimization of the 3D woven lattices as well as methods of use of the 3D woven lattices in heat transfer applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, Saertex USA, LLCInventors: Kevin J. Hemker, Timothy P. Weihs, Stephen Ryan, Longyu Zhao, Seunghyun Ha, Yong Zhang, Sen Lin, James K. Guest, Keith Sharp
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Patent number: 10961060Abstract: An automated system for singulating items is provided. The automated system includes a singulation apparatus. The singulation apparatus includes multiple conveyor modules and a vertical frame structure. Each of the multiple conveyor modules has an identical physical structure. The vertical frame structure provides multiple horizontal mounting locations, each at a different height along the vertical frame structure. Each of the conveyor modules is mounted to a different one of the multiple horizontal mounting locations.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Tri Minh Quach, Xujie Wang, Bryan Beard, John Swinford
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Publication number: 20210002082Abstract: A control system for an automated singulation system is provided. The control system detects a presence of a first item on a first conveyor and detects a presence of a second item on a second conveyor while the first item is present on the first conveyor. The second conveyor transfers items onto the first conveyor and is at a lower height than the second conveyor. The first conveyor is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the second conveyor. In response to detecting the presence of the second item, a location of the first item along a length of the first conveyor is determined. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are controlled based at least on the location of the first item.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Longyu ZHAO, Tri Minh QUACH, Xujie WANG, Canaan SEATON, Joseph EATON
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Patent number: 10781053Abstract: A control system for an automated singulation system is provided. The control system detects a presence of a first item on a first conveyor and detects a presence of a second item on a second conveyor while the first item is present on the first conveyor. The second conveyor transfers items onto the first conveyor and is at a lower height than the second conveyor. The first conveyor is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the second conveyor. In response to detecting the presence of the second item, a location of the first item along a length of the first conveyor is determined. The first conveyor and the second conveyor are controlled based at least on the location of the first item.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Tri Minh Quach, Xujie Wang, Canaan Seaton, Joseph Eaton
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Patent number: 10315859Abstract: Singulation system may utilize various features to singulate items, e.g., which may be different sizes from one another. For example, a conveyor may advance items along the length of the conveyor, and paddles arranged for protruding over respective portions of the conveyor may be selectively positionable based on conditions (such as a size or a jammed state) of items detected as present on a relevant part of the conveyor. Additionally or alternatively, a first conveyor may advance items at a first speed and in a first direction to sequentially drop the items onto a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor, and the second conveyor may advance the received items at a second speed higher than the first speed and in a second direction different from the first direction, e.g., to increase space between items.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Longyu Zhao, Martin Peter Aalund, Stephanie Tomasetta
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Publication number: 20170023310Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices formed from three-dimensional (3D) structures composed of metallic, ceramic or polymeric wires or bundles and yarns of wires that are either solid or hollow like a tube. The devices of the present invention offer the potential for 3D structures with multiple properties optimized concurrently, in some cases using a topology optimization routine that includes the 3D manufacturing constraints. The properties can be optimized in different directions. The 3D structures of the present invention include multiple properties that are optimized for a range of different applications, including heat transfer. The present invention also includes the methods for optimization of the 3D structures as well as methods of use of the 3D structures in heat transfer applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Kevin J. Hemker, James K. Guest, Timothy P. Weihs, Stephen M. Ryan, Longyu Zhao, Seunghyun Ha, Yong Zhang, Stefan Szyniszewski, Sergey Kuznetsov
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Publication number: 20160363389Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices formed from three dimensional (3D) structures composed of wires, yarns of wires, or 3D printed structures. The devices of the present invention offer the potential for 3D structures with multiple properties optimized concurrently, using optimization within the 3D manufacturing constraints. The 3D structures of the present invention include multiple properties that are optimized for heat transfer applications. The present invention also includes the methods for optimization of the 3D woven lattices as well as methods of use of the 3D woven lattices in heat transfer applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Kevin J. Hemker, Timothy P. Weihs, Stephen Ryan, Longyu Zhao, Seunghyun Ha, Yong Zhang, Sen Lin, James K. Guest, Keith Sharp
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Publication number: 20160341495Abstract: The present invention is directed to a manifold for directing cooling fluid and/or gas to a heat exchanger in a flow configuration designed to optimize heat transfer from the heat exchanger. The manifold can take many different forms such as a layered construction with distributed inlet paths, local outlet paths, a central collection changer and a path for fluid removal. The manifold can be formed from a metal, plastic, rubber, ceramic, or other heat resistant material known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art. The manifold can also be combined with any type of heat exchanger known to or conceivable by one of skill in the art to form a thermal management unit. To optimize overall properties such as low pressure drop, high heat transfer, and excellent temperature uniformity of the thermal management unit, the manifold can be graded, expanded and scaled as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Kevin J. Hemker, Timothy P. Weihs, Stephen Ryan, Longyu Zhao, Seunghyun Ha, Yong Zhang, James K. Guest