Patents by Inventor Rui Zhou

Rui 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).

  • Publication number: 20200099169
    Abstract: Mechanisms that may help to secure connector inserts in place when they are plugged into a connector receptacle on an electronic device. One example may provide a connector receptacle having a friction mechanism to provide friction between a connector insert and a connector receptacle when the connector insert is inserted in the connector receptacle. Other examples may provide a connector receptacle having a locking mechanism to hinder or prevent extraction of a connector insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, Adam H. Herzog
  • Publication number: 20200099184
    Abstract: AC inlets that have a low profile, are able to withstand side-to-side and axial forces, and are readily manufactured. An example can provide an AC inlet having a low-profile by providing power and ground prongs where the power and ground prongs are attached to flanges that can extend laterally from a back end of each prong. This lateral distribution of power and ground can reduce a depth of the AC inlet and provide the AC inlet with a low profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sanju Bose, Rui Zhou, Mahmoud R. Amini, Richard P. Howarth
  • Publication number: 20200099181
    Abstract: Audio jacks and device enclosures that provide proper grounding, are readily reworkable, provide improved ventilation, and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. An example can include a device enclosure including an enclosure wall and a sleeve for an audio jack. The sleeve can connect to ground through various paths. The audio jack housing can be inserted in the sleeve and kept in place using a fastener. This arrangement can allow the audio jack to be readily reworkable. The sleeve can be narrow at the enclosure wall for improved ventilation and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, Ameya V. Nilkanth, James E. Harper, Mariel L. Lanas
  • Publication number: 20200099172
    Abstract: Conductive structures that can electrically connect connector receptacles to sections of a device enclosure. The conductive structures can include a compressible material. The compressible material can be at least partially covered with a conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Zhou, Mahmoud R. Amini, James E. Harper, Adam H. Herzog
  • Publication number: 20200099174
    Abstract: Connector receptacles and device enclosures that can provide proper grounding, improved ventilation, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. An example can include a device enclosure including an enclosure wall and sleeves for a number of connector receptacles. Each sleeve can electrically contact a shield of a corresponding connector receptacle via a conductive structure, such as a conductive gasket, to provide a good ground path. The sleeves can be narrow at the enclosure wall for improved ventilation and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartley K. Andre, Mahmoud R. Amini, Rui Zhou, James E. Harper, Houtan R. Farahani, Sung-Ho Tan, Mariel L. Lanas
  • Publication number: 20200011827
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. By disposing differential positive-negative electrode pair that include a first positive-negative electrode pair (4, 5, 6) and a second positive-negative electrode pair (11, 12, 13), and disposing a functional material layer (7, 8, 9) on the first positive-negative electrode pair (4, 5, 6), differential measurement is achieved, and thus the accuracy and sensitivity of the capacitive sensor are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Guofu ZHOU, Rui ZHOU, Jun LI, Qianling YE, Nicolaas De ROOIJ
  • Patent number: 10504656
    Abstract: A switched capacitive device includes a stationary portion including a plurality of first electrodes extending at least partially in a longitudinal dimension. Each first electrode has a first substantially active electrode volume. The device also includes a translatable portion including a plurality of second electrodes proximate the plurality of first electrodes. Each second electrode has a second substantially active electrode volume. The first active electrode volume is greater than the second active electrode volume. The second electrodes are translatable with respect to the first electrodes. The second electrodes extend at least partially in the longitudinal dimension. The first electrodes are configured to induce substantially linear motion of the second electrodes in the longitudinal dimension through the use of an electric field induced by at least a portion of the first electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stefan Grubic, Nathaniel Benedict Hawes, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Martin Kin-Fei Lee, Rui Zhou, Kevin Michael Grace, Qin Chen
  • Publication number: 20190369384
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drying-wetting separated filling method and a filling apparatus for an electrowetting display device. The filling method comprises filling a non-polar solution into pixel grids on a lower substrate of an electrowetting display device in air, and filling a polar solution to immediately cover the non-polar solution filled after filling the non-polar solution into the pixel grids. Compared with filling the non-polar solution into the polar solution, directly filling the non-polar solution in air has better filling uniformity, easier operation and control. With the method, the fillings of the polar solution and the non-polar solution are easy, having a higher filling efficiency, and no air bubble residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Guofu ZHOU, Rui ZHOU, Hongwei JIANG, Yuanyuan GUO
  • Patent number: 10439533
    Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a wind driven doubly fed induction generator having a stator and a rotor. The stator is configured to provide a medium voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert a low voltage alternating current power provided by the rotor to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Govardhan Ganireddy, Saurabh Shukla, Rajni Kant Burra, Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Rui Zhou, Rajib Datta, John Leo Bollenbecker
  • Patent number: 10436461
    Abstract: A dehumidifier includes a dehumidification system. The dehumidification system includes an air inlet, a cold energy storage, an evaporator, the cold energy storage, a condenser, and an air outlet for air to pass in sequence. The air inlet and the air outlet are disposed on a main body of the dehumidifier. The evaporator, the cold energy storage, and the condenser are fixedly mounted in the main body. The evaporator is used to cool the air so that moisture in the air is condensed into water droplets. A water tray is provided under the evaporator to collect the water droplets. The cold energy storage is disposed between the evaporator and the water tray for collecting the water droplets, absorbing cold energy and cooling the passing air. The condenser is used to heat the air to form dry air. The cold energy storage is to cool the air in advance, so that the moist and hot air becomes low-temperature and high-humidity air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NINGOBO FREE TRADE ZONE REFINE MOULD TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Rui Zhou
  • Patent number: 10428356
    Abstract: A bioconversion method of making vanillin including expressing VaoA gene in a mixture, expressing MtSAD1 gene in the mixture, feeding eugenol to the mixture, and converting ferulic acid to vanillin by incubating with a microbial Amycolalopsis sp. strain (Zhp06) and/or a recombinant E. coli strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: BGN TECH LLC
    Inventors: Rui Zhou, Xiaodan Yu
  • Publication number: 20190283889
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system includes at least one generator. The electric propulsion system also includes at least one drive engine coupled to the at least one generator. The electric propulsion system further includes at least one electrical device. The electric propulsion system also includes at least one battery integrated isolated power converter (BIIC), where the at least one generator and at least one of the at least one BIIC and the at least one electrical device are coupled, and where the at least one BIIC and the at least one electrical device are coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Dong Dong, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Rui Zhou, Hao Huang, Di Zhang
  • Patent number: 10418308
    Abstract: A system includes a heat sink, a semiconductor device, a layer of thermal interface material (TIM) disposed between the heat sink and the semiconductor device, and a fastener system that couples the semiconductor device, the layer of TIM, and the heat sink together. The TIM may facilitate dissipation of heat generated by the semiconductor device via the heat sink during operation of the semiconductor device. The fastener system includes a first Belleville-type washer configured to cooperate with the TIM, which flows when heated beyond a threshold temperature, to maintain a substantially constant coupling force between the semiconductor device and the heat sink during operation of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Jerome Grosskreuz, Rui Zhou, Kelly James Bronk, Jeremiah John Kopiness
  • Patent number: 10411473
    Abstract: Power converters for use in energy systems are included. For instance, an energy system can include an input power source configured to provide a low voltage direct current power. The energy system can include a power converter configured to convert the low voltage direct current power provided by the input power source to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an alternating current power system. The power converter can include a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Govardhan Ganireddy, Saurabh Shukla, Rajni Kant Burra, Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Rui Zhou, Rajib Datta, John Leo Bollenbecker
  • Publication number: 20190241074
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dual rail track system for independently moveable carts in an industrial control environment in which upper and lower rails of a track are substantially ā€œLā€ shaped to allow upper and lower groups of rollers of a cart to orthogonally contact the upper and lower rails, respectively, to provide vertical and horizontal control of the cart while in motion along the track. The shape of the rails and arrangement of the rollers, orthogonal with respect to the rails in vertical and horizontal planes, provides an efficient support system allowing high speed movement of carts, including through turns, with only two rails and with symmetric weight distribution of the cart. Flexible members provided with respect to each roller also provide resiliency to allow the rollers to adapt to variations in the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Ilya Gurevich, Paul J. Grosskreuz, Juan A. Fernandez, Rui Zhou
  • Patent number: 10374362
    Abstract: Connector receptacles having protective doors. A protective door can block a card, module, or connector insert from being inserted at an oblique angle to protect contacts in a connector receptacle from damage due to an improper insertion. The protective door can normally be closed in the absence of a card inserted in the connector receptacle. The door can be a front of a cam. A spring or magnet can bias the door in the closed position when no card is inserted. The door can be arranged to stay closed when a card is inserted at an oblique angle. When the card is inserted properly, the cam can rotate about an axis and the door can open allowing the card to access to the contacts of the connector receptacle. A second door in front of the protective door can be included to provide enhanced functionality and to provide a more uniform appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Rui Zhou, Mahmoud R. Amini, Daniele G. de Iuliis, James M. Jeon, Erik A. Gutfeldt
  • Patent number: 10351253
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system includes at least one generator. The electric propulsion system also includes at least one drive engine coupled to the at least one generator. The electric propulsion system further includes at least one electrical device. The electric propulsion system also includes at least one battery integrated isolated power converter (BIIC), where the at least one generator and at least one of the at least one BIIC and the at least one electrical device are coupled, and where the at least one BIIC and the at least one electrical device are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong Dong, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Rui Zhou, Hao Huang, Di Zhang
  • Patent number: 10295204
    Abstract: A dehumidizer includes an upper air passage, a lower air passage, a rotary heat storage device, an evaporator, a condenser, a motor, and a fan. The upper air passage and the lower air passage are separated by a partition, and the right end of the upper air passage has an air inlet, and the right end of the lower air passage has an air outlet, and the left end of the upper air passage and the left end of the lower air passage are communicated with each other. The upper end of the rotary heat storage device is disposed in the upper air passage, and the lower end of the rotary heat storage device is disposed in the lower air passage, and the motor drives the rotary heat storage device to rotate. The evaporator, condenser and fan are installed sequentially from left to right into the lower air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NINGBO FREE TRADE ZONE REFINE MOULD TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Rui Zhou
  • Patent number: 10256732
    Abstract: A medium voltage direct current (MVDC) collector system for renewable power generation facilities includes at least one renewable energy generation device. The MVDC collector system also includes at least one direct current (DC)-to-DC (DC/DC) power converter coupled to the at least one renewable energy generation device. The at least one DC/DC power converter is configured to shift a switching operation of the DC/DC power converter between full-wave conversion and half-wave conversion. The MVDC collector system further includes at least one controller coupled to the at least one DC/DC power converter. The at least one controller is configured to regulate shifting the switching operation of the at least one DC/DC power converter between full-wave conversion and half-wave conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rui Zhou, Luis Jose Garces, Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Ashraf Said Atalla
  • Patent number: 10243370
    Abstract: A system for integrating energy storage into a modular power converter includes at least one energy storage unit coupled to a first converter for converting a first direct current (DC) voltage of the at least one energy storage unit into a first high frequency alternating current (AC) voltage. At least three phase legs of the modular power converter generate three phase AC voltages. Each phase leg includes a plurality of switching modules connected in series. The switching modules have a plurality of fully controllable semiconductor switches, an energy storage device, and a second converter coupled to the respective energy storage device for converting a second DC voltage of the energy storage device into a second high frequency AC voltage. In the system, three similarly positioned switching modules of the three phase legs form one power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Luis Jose Garces, Rui Zhou, Zhi Zhou, Di Zhang