Patents by Inventor Wen-Yu Zhou

Wen-Yu 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).

  • Non-contact method and system for tire analysis
    Patent number: 7269997
    Abstract: A non-contact method and system for analyzing tire conditions. The system includes an emitter source for emitting radiation signals towards a tire having a treaded surface between two sidewalls. A detector is provided to receive signals reflected by the tire in response to the emitted radiation signals. A data processing system, coupled to the emitter source and the detector, obtains geometrical information, such as height, of a plurality points on the tire based on the signals received from the detector. The data processing system determines a condition of the tire by comparing geometrical information for a designated portion of the plurality points with other portion points on the tire. A color-coded surface profile showing a height distribution of the tire is also generated to assist diagnosis of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: James L. Dale, Jr., Wen Yu Zhou, Frederick J. Rogers
  • Method and apparatus for automotive rim edge analysis and corrective weight selection guide
    Patent number: 6983656
    Abstract: A method of determining a type of corrective weight for application to an edge of a rim of a wheel for correcting imbalance of the wheel, including measuring dimensions of an edge of a rim of a wheel to produce measured dimensions, comparing the measured dimensions to actual dimensions of different types of rim edges, determining a type of rim edge the wheel has based upon the comparison between the measured dimensions and the stored dimensions, and indicating a type of corrective weight appropriate for application to the edge of the rim of the wheel based upon the type of rim edge determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: William David Cullum, Wen-Yu Zhou, Frederick J. Rogers
  • Method and apparatus for automotive rim edge analysis and corrective weight selection guide
    Publication number: 20050132786
    Abstract: A method of determining a type of corrective weight for application to an edge of a rim of a wheel for correcting imbalance of the wheel, including measuring dimensions of an edge of a rim of a wheel to produce measured dimensions, comparing the measured dimensions to actual dimensions of different types of rim edges, determining a type of rim edge the wheel has based upon the comparison between the measured dimensions and the stored dimensions, and indicating a type of corrective weight appropriate for application to the edge of the rim of the wheel based upon the type of rim edge determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: SNAP-ON TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Cullum, Wen-Yu Zhou, Frederick Rogers