Patents by Inventor Tzehin Lee

Tzehin Lee 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).

  • Vibration assisted machining system with stacked actuators
    Patent number: 7687975
    Abstract: A vibration assisted machining (VAM) system, including: a frame; a vibration element mechanically coupled to the frame; a cutting tool holder connected to the vibration element; and a workpiece holder coupled to the frame. The vibration element includes a first piezoelectric (PZT) actuator and a second PZT actuator, which are adapted to generate a substantially elliptical tool path in a vibration plane of the VAM system. The VAM system also includes a third PZT actuator coupled between the frame and either the vibration element or the workpiece holder. This third PZT actuator is coupled to the frame such that its polarization axis is substantially in the vibration plane and substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the VAM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tzehin Lee, Jon Ethington
  • VIBRATION ASSISTED MACHINING SYSTEM WITH STACKED ACTUATORS
    Publication number: 20080238255
    Abstract: A vibration assisted machining (VAM) system, including: a frame; a vibration element mechanically coupled to the frame; a cutting tool holder connected to the vibration element; and a workpiece holder coupled to the frame. The vibration element includes a first piezoelectric (PZT) actuator and a second PZT actuator, which are adapted to generate a substantially elliptical tool path in a vibration plane of the VAM system. The VAM system also includes a third PZT actuator coupled between the frame and either the vibration element or the workpiece holder. This third PZT actuator is coupled to the frame such that its polarization axis is substantially in the vibration plane and substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the VAM system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TZEHIN LEE, JON ETHINGTON