Patents by Inventor Wenwu Zhang

Wenwu Zhang 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: 8319146
    Abstract: A system for producing at least one trench to improve film cooling in a sample is provided. The system includes at least one laser source outputting at least one pulsed laser beam. The pulsed laser beam includes a pulse duration including a range less than about 50 ?s, an energy per pulse having a range less than about 0.1 Joule, and a repetition rate with a range greater than about 1000 Hz. The system also includes a control subsystem coupled to the laser source, the control subsystem configured to synchronize a position of the sample with the pulse duration and energy level in order to selectively remove at least one of a thermal barrier coating, a bondcoat and a substrate metal in the sample to form the at least one trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt, Magdi Naim Azer, Marshall Gordon Jones, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20120080414
    Abstract: A method for laser patterning a sample is presented. The method includes coating at least one side of a substrate to form a sample, where coating the at least one side of the substrate forms an interface between the coating and the at least one side of the substrate. Further, the method includes configuring a scanning pattern for patterning the sample. In addition, the method includes determining settings for one or more laser beams of a laser based on the configured scanning pattern. Moreover, the method includes focusing the one or more laser beams of the laser at or near a surface of the substrate by selecting a focal point of the one or more laser beams near the surface of the substrate and setting a scribe depth near the surface of the substrate. The method also includes patterning the sample based on the configured scanning pattern using the one or more laser beams to generate one or more pixelated devices from the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Christopher James Kapusta, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Kristian William Andreini, Vladimir A. Lobastov, Kristen Ann Wangerin, Jun Cui
  • Publication number: 20120074109
    Abstract: The present invention provides method of scribing a multilayer panel. The method comprises (a) providing a multilayer panel comprising a substrate layer, a transparent conductive layer disposed thereupon, a first semiconducting layer disposed upon the transparent conductive layer; (b) configuring the multilayer panel relative to a laser machining device, the machining device comprising a laser head and an optical sensor; (c) inducing a motion of the laser head relative to the multilayer panel such that a laser beam contacts the panel along a transverse line across the panel, the laser beam incident upon the panel having sufficient energy to ablate one or more layers of the multilayer panel within a zone irradiated by the laser beam irradiated to provide a scribed panel; (d) simultaneously irradiating the scribed panel with a first light source; and (e) detecting the light emerging from the scribed panel at the optical sensor in real time. Also provided is a system for scribing a multilayer panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Kevin George Harding, Marshall Gordon Jones, John Anthony DeLuca, Jonathan Mack Frey
  • Publication number: 20110185572
    Abstract: A process and system are provided for forming shaped air holes, such as for use in turbine blades. Aspects of the disclosure relate to forming shaped portions of air holes using a short pulse laser, forming a metered hole corresponding to each shaped portion, and separately finishing the shaped portion using a short-pulse laser. In other embodiments, the order of these operations may be varied, such as to form the shaped portions and to finish the shaped portions using the short-pulse laser prior to forming the corresponding metered holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bin Wei, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Kathleen Blanche Morey, Jane Marie Lipkin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt
  • Publication number: 20100282721
    Abstract: A system for producing at least one trench to improve film cooling in a sample is provided. The system includes at least one laser source outputting at least one pulsed laser beam. The pulsed laser beam includes a pulse duration including a range less than about 50 ?s, an energy per pulse having a range less than about 0.1 Joule, and a repetition rate with a range greater than about 1000 Hz. The system also includes a control subsystem coupled to the laser source, the control subsystem configured to synchronize a position of the sample with the pulse duration and energy level in order to selectively remove at least one of a thermal barrier coating, a bondcoat and a substrate metal in the sample to form the at least one trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt, Magdi Naim Azer, Marshall Gordon Jones, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Patent number: 7667157
    Abstract: A laser forming system includes a motion system. A mounting fixture is affixed to the motion system for supporting a workpiece. A plenum is affixed to the fixture for surrounding the workpiece. A gas supply is joined in flow communication with the plenum for channeling thereto an inert gas under pressure to fill the plenum. A laser is aligned with the plenum for projecting a laser beam at the workpiece for laser forming thereof inside the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, Brian Harlow Farrell
  • Patent number: 7412300
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more thermal forming treatments may be predicted to achieve a desired shape and/or microstructure in a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Peter Mika, Michael Evans Graham, Wenwu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080067159
    Abstract: A laser processing system includes a laser source configured to transmit a laser beam. A hollow focusing device is configured to focus the laser beam to a work piece. A pressure source is coupled to the hollow focusing device and configured to feed a pressurized liquid through the hollow focusing device. A liquid container is configured to receive a portion of the pressurized liquid from the hollow focusing device. The laser beam is transmitted through the pressurized liquid in the hollow focusing device to the work piece disposed in the portion of the pressurized liquid in the liquid container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Magdi Naim Azer, Marshall Gordon Jones, Leon Eric LaGalles, Clarence Albert Ash
  • Patent number: 7240532
    Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Peter Mika
  • Patent number: 7231798
    Abstract: A method for bending a tube in a pre-selected geometry includes deriving at least one processing parameter from the geometry, applying a thermal source circumferentially to the tube to heat the tube along at least one circumferentially directed path in accordance with the parameter and actively cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature. The applying and active cooling steps are alternately performed a number of times. A system for bending the tube includes a thermal source for heating at least one region along the path on the tube, a tube advancing module for advancing the tube, an active cooling module for cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature, a processing module to derive at least one processing parameter from the geometry and a control module configured to control the thermal source and active cooling module in accordance with the parameter. The alternate heating and cooling are performed a number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, David Peter Mika, Brian Harlow Farrell, Michael Evans Graham, Judson Sloan Marte, Magdi Naim Azer
  • Patent number: 7211763
    Abstract: A liquid core waveguide photon energy material processing system is provided. The system includes a photon energy source configured to generate a high intensity photon beam for material processing. The system also includes a liquid core waveguide configured to transmit the high intensity photon beam towards at least one object for material processing. The liquid core waveguide in-turn includes a liquid core having a first refractive index and a cladding element having a second refractive index and configured to guide the liquid core, wherein the first refractive index is higher than the second refractive index. The system further includes a liquid source configured to generate the liquid core. The liquid core includes a liquid solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wenwu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20070089476
    Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Mika
  • Publication number: 20070084839
    Abstract: Thermal forming systems and processes for actively cooling a workpiece during laser forming generally includes adapting a nozzle of the laser forming system to simultaneously form a liquid curtain about a gas channel, wherein thermal energy produced by the thermal forming system propagates through the gas channel and onto the workpiece
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Michael Graham, Marshall Jones
  • Publication number: 20070044874
    Abstract: A method for thermal forming includes determining a process window for initiating cooling, locally heating at least one region on a specimen to achieve a pre-selected geometry deformation, initiating active cooling of the heated region within the process window to control at least one material property of the specimen at the heated region and actively cooling the heated region to a pre-selected temperature. A system for thermal forming includes a thermal source for heating the region on the specimen to achieve a pre-selected geometry deformation, an active cooling module for cooling the region to a pre-selected temperature and a control module to control at least one of the thermal source and active cooling module in accordance with a process window to initiate active cooling to control at least one material property of the specimen at the heated region. The process window has an upper time limit for initiating cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Judson Marte, David Mika, Michael Graham, Marshall Jones, Brian Farrell
  • Publication number: 20070023944
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more thermal forming treatments may be predicted to achieve a desired shape and/or microstructure in a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: David Mika, Michael Graham, Wenwu Zhang
  • Patent number: 7162910
    Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Peter Mika
  • Publication number: 20060133752
    Abstract: Briefly in accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a liquid core waveguide photon energy material processing system. The system includes a photon energy source configured to generate a high intensity photon beam for material processing. The system also includes a liquid core waveguide configured to transmit the high intensity photon beam towards at least one object for material processing. The liquid core waveguide in-turn includes a liquid core having a first refractive index and a cladding element having a second refractive index and configured to guide the liquid core, wherein the first refractive index is higher than the second refractive index. The system further includes a liquid source configured to generate the liquid core. The liquid core includes a liquid solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventor: Wenwu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20060065651
    Abstract: A laser forming system includes a motion system. A mounting fixture is affixed to the motion system for supporting a workpiece. A plenum is affixed to the fixture for surrounding the workpiece. A gas supply is joined in flow communication with the plenum for channeling thereto an inert gas under pressure to fill the plenum. A laser is aligned with the plenum for projecting a laser beam at the workpiece for laser forming thereof inside the plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Jones, Brian Farrell
  • Publication number: 20060065035
    Abstract: A method for bending a tube in a pre-selected geometry includes deriving at least one processing parameter from the geometry, applying a thermal source circumferentially to the tube to heat the tube along at least one circumferentially directed path in accordance with the parameter and actively cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature. The applying and active cooling steps are alternately performed a number of times. A system for bending the tube includes a thermal source for heating at least one region along the path on the tube, a tube advancing module for advancing the tube, an active cooling module for cooling the tube to a pre-selected temperature, a processing module to derive at least one processing parameter from the geometry and a control module configured to control the thermal source and active cooling module in accordance with the parameter. The alternate heating and cooling are performed a number of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, David Peter Mika, Brian Harlow Farrell, Michael Evans Graham, Judson Sloan Marte, Magdi Naim Azer
  • Publication number: 20050284857
    Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Mika