Patents by Inventor Tong Zhao

Tong 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).

  • Patent number: 9267085
    Abstract: A system for gasification of a solid powder is provided. The system comprises one or more conveying tanks configured to receive a solid powder and one or more solid pumps disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the one or more respective conveying tanks. The system further comprises a gasifier disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the one or more solid pumps. A conveyance unit and a method for conveyance and gasification of a solid powder are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mingmin Wang, Lishun Hu, Gang Liu, Ke Liu, Zhe Cui, Wei Chen, Jing Lv, Tong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9269380
    Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT); at least one cladding layer adjacent the NFT; and a carbon interlayer positioned between the NFT and the at least one cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Justin Glen Brons, Tong Zhao, Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9267831
    Abstract: A system for determining a real time solid flow rate of a solid-gas mixture is provided. The system includes multiple sensors, a data-fusion unit and an estimating unit. The sensors generate multiple measurement signals for obtaining at least two measured values of the real time solid flow rate. The data-fusion unit receives the measured values and establishes a state-space model based on the measured values. The estimating unit estimates the state-space model to generate an estimated value of the real time solid flow rate. A method for determining a real time solid flow rate of a solid-gas mixture is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xu Fu, Baoming Huang, Yao Chen, Tong Zhao, Zili Cai, Zhongzhi Hu
  • Patent number: 9251820
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed related to heat assisted magnetic recording. According to one embodiment, an apparatus that includes a heat sink region and a near field transducer region is disclosed. The near field transducer region is thermally coupled to the heat sink region. At least one of the heat sink region and the near field transducer region includes both an inner core and an outer shell. The inner core can be comprised of a non-plasmonic material and the outer shell can be comprised of a plasmonic material. In further embodiments, the inner core is comprised of a material having a relatively higher electron-phonon coupling constant and the outer shell is comprised of a material having a relatively lower electron-phonon coupling constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, John C. Duda, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9251837
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a near field transducer, the near field transducer including silver (Ag) and at least one other element or compound, wherein the at least one other element or compound is selected from: copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), gold (Au), zirconium (Zr), zirconium oxide (ZrO), platinum (Pt), geranium (Ge), nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), tantalum (Ta), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), iridium (Ir), titanium (Ti), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), silicon (Si), or combinations thereof oxides of V, Zr, Mg, calcium (Ca), Al, Ti, Si, cesium (Ce), yttrium (Y), Ta, W or thorium (Th), Co, or combinations thereof; or nitrides of Ta, Al, Ti, Si, indium (In), Fe, Zr, Cu, W, boron (B), halfnium (Hf), or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Meng Zhu, Tong Zhao, Steven C. Riemer, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9245573
    Abstract: A method including depositing a plasmonic material at a temperature of at least 150° C.; and forming at least a peg of a near field transducer (NFT) from the deposited plasmonic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sarbeswar Sahoo, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky
  • Publication number: 20150380020
    Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a disc and a peg, and the peg having an air bearing surface thereof; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least the air bearing surface of the peg, the adhesion layer including one or more of platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), yttrium (Y), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and scandium (Sc).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Andrew J. Boyne, Michael Allen Seigler, Sethuraman Jayashankar
  • Publication number: 20150380026
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manufacturing a magnetic recording sensor for use in a magnetic reader, such as a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) readers. The magnetic recording sensor can be manufactured by heating a substrate in a first chamber and depositing an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer on the heated substrate. Additionally, a first pinned layer is added onto the AFM layer, and the substrate is subsequently cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: YUANKAI ZHENG, QUNWEN LENG, TONG ZHAO, CHRISTIAN KAISER, ZHITAO DIAO, XIN JIANG
  • Patent number: 9224416
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a near field transducer, the near field transducer including an electrically conductive nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Sarbeswar Sahoo, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Amit Vasant Itagi
  • Patent number: 9218829
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT including a peg having five surfaces, the peg including a first material, the first material including gold (Au), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), or combinations thereof; an overlying structure; and at least one intermixing layer, positioned between the peg and the overlying structure, the at least one intermixing layer positioned on at least one of the five surfaces of the peg, the intermixing layer including at least the first material and a second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Patent number: 9214170
    Abstract: A high performance TMR sensor is fabricated by employing a free layer comprised of CoNiFeB or CoNiFeBM where M is V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, or Mo and the M content in the alloy is <10 atomic %. The free layer may have a FeCo/FeB/CoNiFeB, FeCo/CoFe/CoNiFeB, FeCo/CoFeB/CoNiFeB, or FeCo/CoNiFeB/CoFeB configuration. A CoNiFeBM layer may be formed by co-sputtering CoB with CoNiFeM. A 15 to 30% in improvement in TMR ratio over a conventional CoFe/NiFe free layer is achieved while maintaining low Hc and RA<3 ohm-um2. The CoNiFeB or CoNiFeBM layer has a magnetostriction (?) value between ?5×10?6 and 5×10?6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Chuan Wang, Tong Zhao, Min Li, Kunliang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150340052
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a disc and a peg, and the peg having five surfaces thereof; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least one of the five surfaces of the peg, the adhesion layer including one or more of the following: yttrium (Y), tin (Sn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), carbon (C), holmium (Ho), gallium (Ga), silver (Ag), ytterbium (Yb), chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), iridium (Ir), zirconium (Zr), yttrium (Y), scandium (Sc), cobalt (Co), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), palladium (Pd), titanium (Ti), rhenium (Re), osmium (Os), platinum (Pt), aluminum (Al), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), vanadium (V), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), hafnium (Hf), carbon (C), boron (B), holmium (Ho), antimony (Sb), gallium (Ga), manganese (Mn), silver (Ag), indium (In), bismuth (Bi), zinc (Zn), ytterbium (Yb), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Vijay Karthik Sankar, Tong Zhao, Yongjun Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Hui Brickner, Sarbeswar Sahoo
  • Patent number: 9153277
    Abstract: Near field transducers (NFTs) and devices that include a peg having an air bearing region and an opposing back region, the back region including a sacrificial structure, a disc having a first surface in contact with the peg, and a barrier structure, the barrier structure positioned between the opposing back region of the peg and the first surface of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky, Hui Brickner, Yi-Kuei Ryan Wu
  • Publication number: 20150277039
    Abstract: Waveguides that include a top cladding layer made of a material having an index of refraction n4; a core bilayer structure, the core bilayer structure including a lower index core layer having an index of refraction n3; and a higher index core layer having an index of refraction n1, wherein the higher index core layer includes TiO2 and one or more than one of Nb2O5, CeO2, Ta2O5, ZrO2, HfO2, Y2O3, Sc2O3, MgO, Al2O3 and SiO2, wherein the lower index core layer is adjacent the higher index core layer; a bottom cladding layer made of a material having an index of refraction n2, wherein the waveguide is configured with the higher index core layer of the core bilayer structure adjacent the top cladding layer and the lower index core layer of the core bilayer structure adjacent the bottom cladding layer, and wherein n4 is less than n3 and n1, and n2 is less than n3 and n1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyue Huang, Michael C. Kautzky, Tong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9147408
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manufacturing a magnetic recording sensor for use in a magnetic reader, such as a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) readers. The magnetic recording sensor can be manufactured by heating a substrate in a first chamber and depositing an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer on the heated substrate. Additionally, a first pinned layer is added onto the AFM layer, and the substrate is subsequently cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Yuankai Zheng, Qunwen Leng, Tong Zhao, Christian Kaiser, Zhitao Diao, Xin Jiang
  • Publication number: 20150255097
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed related to heat assisted magnetic recording. According to one embodiment, an apparatus that includes a heat sink region and a near field transducer region is disclosed. The near field transducer region is thermally coupled to the heat sink region. At least one of the heat sink region and the near field transducer region includes both an inner core and an outer shell. The inner core can be comprised of a non-plasmonic material and the outer shell can be comprised of a plasmonic material. In further embodiments, the inner core is comprised of a material having a relatively higher electron-phonon coupling constant and the outer shell is comprised of a material having a relatively lower electron-phonon coupling constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, John C. Duda, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9129620
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a disc and a peg, and the peg having an air bearing surface; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on the air bearing surface of the peg, the adhesion layer including one or more of the following: tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), yttrium (Y), vanadium (V), magnesium (Mg), cobalt (Co), tin (Sn), niobium (Nb), hafnium (Hf), and combinations thereof; tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, and combinations thereof; vanadium carbide (VC), tungsten carbide (WC), titanium carbide (TiC), chromium carbide (CrC), cobalt carbide (CoC), nickel carbide (NiC), yttrium carbide (YC), molybdenum carbide (MoC), and combinations thereof and titanium nitride (TiN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), hafnium nitride (HfN), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Andrew J. Boyne, Michael Allen Seigler, Sethuraman Jayashankar
  • Publication number: 20150249210
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a TMR sensor that includes a free layer having at least one B-containing (BC) layer made of CoFeB, CoFeBM, CoB, CoBM, or CoBLM, and a plurality of non-B containing (NBC) layers made of CoFe, CoFeM, or CoFeLM is disclosed where L and M are one of Ni, Ta, Ti, W, Zr, Hf, Tb, or Nb. In every embodiment, a NBC layer contacts the tunnel barrier and NBC layers each with a thickness from 2 to 8 Angstroms are formed in alternating fashion with one or more BC layers each 10 to 80 Angstroms thick. Total free layer thickness is <100 Angstroms. The TMR sensor may be annealed with a one step or two step process. The free layer configuration described herein enables a significant noise reduction (SNR enhancement) while realizing a high TMR ratio, low magnetostriction, low RA, and low Hc values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Hui-Chuan Wang, Yu-Chen Zhou, Min Li, Kunliang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150248902
    Abstract: A TMR sensor that includes a free layer having at least one B-containing (BC) layer made of CoFeB, CoFeBM, CoB, CoBM, or CoBLM, and a plurality of non-B containing (NBC) layers made of CoFe, CoFeM, or CoFeLM is disclosed where L and M are one of Ni, Ta, Ti, W, Zr, Hf, Tb, or Nb. One embodiment is represented by (NBC/BC)n where n?2. A second embodiment is represented by (NBC/BC)n/NBC where n?1. In every embodiment, a NBC layer contacts the tunnel barrier and NBC layers each with a thickness from 2 to 8 Angstroms are formed in alternating fashion with one or more BC layers each 10 to 80 Angstroms thick. Total free layer thickness is <100 Angstroms. The free layer configuration described herein enables a significant noise reduction (SNR enhancement) while realizing a high TMR ratio, low magnetostriction, low RA, and low Hc values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Hui-Chuan Wang, Yu-Chen Zhou, Min Li, Kunliang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9122280
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a dry feed system to convey a solid fuel includes multiple sensors, a pressurizing gas controller, at least one assistant gas controller and multiple gas valves. The sensors generate multiple measurement signals signifying characteristics of the dry feed system. The pressuring gas controller calculates a feed tank pressure bias or/and a pressuring gas flow bias based on a solid flow rate and generates a first control signal based on the pressure bias or/and the pressurizing gas flow bias. The assistant gas controller calculates an assistant gas bias based on a solid loading ratio and generates a second control signal based on the assistant gas bias. The gas valves are driven by the first or/and second control signals to regulate the solid fuel. A control method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xu Fu, Zhongzhi Hu, Tong Zhao, Zili Cai, Yao Chen, Baoming Huang, Wei Chen, Ke Liu