Patents by Inventor Michael Zhou

Michael Zhou 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: 12287134
    Abstract: An icemaker includes a casing that receives water from a water supply and is in thermal communication with an evaporator of a sealed system that chills the casing to freeze the water. An auger is mounted within the interior volume and is rotatable to scrape the ice from the casing and urge it through an extruder to form nugget ice. A BLDC motor is mechanically coupled to the auger to selectively rotate the auger. A controller determines a target speed of the auger based at least in part on the ice production parameter, and operates the BLDC motor to rotate the auger at the target speed. The BLDC motor with the speed-closed control loop can provide the constant speed and enough torque to prevent the ice maker from freezing. The controller can adjust the PWM and the voltage will be adjusted slightly, then the torque will be adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Yayu Song, Bo Yan, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Jin Wu, Eddy Zhou, Shi Zhijun, Jason Jiang
  • Publication number: 20250067488
    Abstract: An icemaker includes a casing that receives water from a water supply and is in thermal communication with an evaporator of a sealed system that chills the casing to freeze the water. An auger is mounted within the interior volume and is rotatable to scrape the ice from the casing and urge it through an extruder to form nugget ice. A BLDC motor is mechanically coupled to the auger to selectively rotate the auger. A controller determines a target speed of the auger based at least in part on the ice production parameter, and operates the BLDC motor to rotate the auger at the target speed. The BLDC motor with the speed-closed control loop can provide the constant speed and enough torque to prevent the ice maker from freezing. The controller can adjust the PWM and the voltage will be adjusted slightly, then the torque will be adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Yayu Song, Bo Yan, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Jin Wu, Eddy Zhou, Shi Zhijun, Jason Jiang
  • Publication number: 20250069128
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for ranking entities provided in response to a search query by identifying one or more categorical identifiers based on a semantic similarity between a query embedding and a plurality of categorical description embeddings, generating a predicted distance preference for the search query based on a location associated with a querying user, identifying one or more entities based on the location associated with the querying user, the predicted distance preference, and entity activity data entries comprising a plurality of categorical descriptions matching the identified one or more categorical identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Ayush Tomar, Ketki Savle, Huzaifa Sial, Yizhao Ni, Cem Unsal, Vinit Garg, Michael Zhou
  • Patent number: 12188707
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a mold body defining an ice-making cavity. An evaporator is coupled to the mold body. The evaporator includes a cap positioned on the mold body such that an open end of the cap is positioned at the mold body. An inlet tube is mounted to the cap. An outlet tube is also mounted to the cap. An evaporation chamber is formed between the cap and the mold body. The inlet tube is configured for directing a flow of refrigerant into the evaporation chamber, and the outlet tube configured for directing the flow of refrigerant out of the evaporation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Wu, Bo Yan, Yayu Song, Eddy Zhou, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Zhijun Shi, Jason Jiang, Brent Junge, Justin Brown
  • Publication number: 20240183599
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a mold body defining an ice-making cavity. An evaporator is coupled to the mold body. The evaporator includes a cap positioned on the mold body such that an open end of the cap is positioned at the mold body. An inlet tube is mounted to the cap. An outlet tube is also mounted to the cap. An evaporation chamber is formed between the cap and the mold body. The inlet tube is configured for directing a flow of refrigerant into the evaporation chamber, and the outlet tube configured for directing the flow of refrigerant out of the evaporation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Jin Wu, Bo Yan, Yayu Song, Eddy Zhou, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Zhijun Shi, Jason Jiang, Brent Junge, Justin Brown
  • Patent number: 11920845
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold and a pump assembly for urging an ice-building spray into the ice mold to form an ice billet. A controller operates the pump assembly to provide the ice-building spray at a first flow rate until the ice billet reaches a predetermined thickness and then operates the pump assembly to provide the ice-building spray at a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Schiller, Adam Pusateri, Justin Tyler Brown, Brent Alden Junge, Jin Wu, Bo Yan, Yayu Song, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Eddy Zhou, Jason Jiang
  • Publication number: 20220349642
    Abstract: An electric ice press is provided herein and may be utilized to reshape an initial ice billet into a sculpted ice nugget. The electric ice press may include a mold body having a first mold segment and a second mold segment movable relative to each other. Each mold segment may define a heater cavity that is configured for receiving a ceramic annular heater for heating the mold body to form the sculpted ice nugget.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Bo Yan, Yayu Song, Jin Wu, Roy Teng, Michael Zhou, Jason Jiang, Eddy Zhou
  • Publication number: 20220349637
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold including two or more separable portions that collectively define one or more mold cavities. Each of the mold portions define a plurality of recessed passages that at least partially surround the mold cavity and are configured to receive evaporator conduit of a sealed refrigeration to cool the ice mold and facilitate formation of an ice billet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Roy Teng, Jin Wu, Yayu Song, Bo Yan, Michael Zhou, Jason Jiang, Eddy Zhou
  • Publication number: 20220299248
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes an ice mold and a pump assembly for urging an ice-building spray into the ice mold to form an ice billet. A controller operates the pump assembly to provide the ice-building spray at a first flow rate until the ice billet reaches a predetermined thickness and then operates the pump assembly to provide the ice-building spray at a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Schiller, Adam Pusateri, Justin Tyler Brown, Brent Alden Junge, Jin Wu, Bo Yan, Yayu Song, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng, Eddy Zhou, Jason Jiang
  • Patent number: 11002476
    Abstract: An ice maker may include an assembly frame, an ice tray, a cam, a splash cover, and a biasing spring. The ice tray may define a cell for receipt of water for freezing and may be rotatably attached to the assembly frame to rotate about an axial direction. The cam may be attached to the ice tray and extend along the axial direction. The splash cover may be slidably attached to the assembly frame in mechanical communication with the cam to move between an elevated position and a lowered position according to a rotational position of the cam. The biasing spring may be disposed on the splash cover and urge the splash cover to the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Yan, Daqing Gong, Eddy Zhou, Jason Jiang, Yayu Song, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng
  • Publication number: 20200309446
    Abstract: An ice maker may include an assembly frame, an ice tray, a cam, a splash cover, and a biasing spring. The ice tray may define a cell for receipt of water for freezing and may be rotatably attached to the assembly frame to rotate about an axial direction. The cam may be attached to the ice tray and extend along the axial direction. The splash cover may be slidably attached to the assembly frame in mechanical communication with the cam to move between an elevated position and a lowered position according to a rotational position of the cam. The biasing spring may be disposed on the splash cover and urge the splash cover to the lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Bo Yan, Daqing Gong, Eddy Zhou, Jason Jiang, Yayu Song, Michael Zhou, Roy Teng
  • Patent number: 10059018
    Abstract: A C-type tubing cutter is described that accommodates and cuts a range of tubing or workpiece sizes. The cutter includes a radially positionable roller carriage that can be selectively positioned in one of several predetermined positions corresponding to different tubing sizes. The cutter also includes a trigger that can be engaged with the roller carriage to lock the carriage in a desired position. Certain versions of the cutters also utilize arcuate slots or tracks along which a cutter wheel is positionable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ridge Tool Company
    Inventors: Michael Zhou, Frank Wu, Harald Krondorfer, Gina Hartman, Glen R. Chartier, Alex M. Cole, Richard R. Bowles, Ben Azzam, Adam Bird, Frederick D. Pond
  • Publication number: 20180194029
    Abstract: A C-type tubing cutter is described that accommodates and cuts a range of tubing or workpiece sizes. The cutter includes a radially positionable roller carriage that can be selectively positioned in one of several predetermined positions corresponding to different tubing sizes. The cutter also includes a trigger that can be engaged with the roller carriage to lock the carriage in a desired position. Certain versions of the cutters also utilize arcuate slots or tracks along which a cutter wheel is positionable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Zhou, Frank Wu, Harald Krondorfer, Gina Hartman, Glen R. Chartier, Alex M. Cole, Richard R. Bowles, Ben Azzam, Adam Bird, Frederick D. Pond
  • Publication number: 20060192221
    Abstract: Semiconductor packaging methods, systems and apparatus for semiconductor lasers to achieve high modulation bandwidth. Systems, methods and apparatus for minimizing the inductance of wire bond interconnects and impedance matching in a semiconductor laser package. Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring a photocurrent in order to provide automatic power control (APC) of a semiconductor laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Zhou, Die-Chi Sun, Kee-Sin Tan, Wenbin Jiang
  • Patent number: 7061949
    Abstract: Semiconductor packaging methods, systems and apparatus for semiconductor lasers to achieve high modulation bandwidth. Systems, methods and apparatus for minimizing the inductance of wire bond interconnects and impedance matching in a semiconductor laser package. Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring a photocurrent in order to provide automatic power control (APC) of a semiconductor laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Zhou, Die-Chi Sun, Kee-Sin Tan, Wenbin Jiang
  • Patent number: D737004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Russell, Clay Thompson, Chuanbo “Michael” Zhou, Zhongqiu “Waterman” Cao, Chris Morgan