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).
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Patent number: 8319146Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 5, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt, Magdi Naim Azer, Marshall Gordon Jones, Ching-Pang Lee
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Publication number: 20120080414Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Wenwu Zhang, Christopher James Kapusta, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Kristian William Andreini, Vladimir A. Lobastov, Kristen Ann Wangerin, Jun Cui
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Publication number: 20120074109Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Wenwu Zhang, Kevin George Harding, Marshall Gordon Jones, John Anthony DeLuca, Jonathan Mack Frey
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Publication number: 20110185572Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bin Wei, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Kathleen Blanche Morey, Jane Marie Lipkin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt
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Publication number: 20100282721Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt, Magdi Naim Azer, Marshall Gordon Jones, Ching-Pang Lee
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Patent number: 7667157Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, Brian Harlow Farrell
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Patent number: 7412300Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Peter Mika, Michael Evans Graham, Wenwu Zhang
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Publication number: 20080067159Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2006Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Wenwu Zhang, Magdi Naim Azer, Marshall Gordon Jones, Leon Eric LaGalles, Clarence Albert Ash
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Patent number: 7240532Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Peter Mika
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Patent number: 7231798Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, David Peter Mika, Brian Harlow Farrell, Michael Evans Graham, Judson Sloan Marte, Magdi Naim Azer
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Patent number: 7211763Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Wenwu Zhang
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Publication number: 20070089476Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Mika
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Publication number: 20070084839Abstract: 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 workpieceType: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2005Publication date: April 19, 2007Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Michael Graham, Marshall Jones
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Publication number: 20070044874Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2005Publication date: March 1, 2007Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Judson Marte, David Mika, Michael Graham, Marshall Jones, Brian Farrell
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Publication number: 20070023944Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: David Mika, Michael Graham, Wenwu Zhang
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Patent number: 7162910Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Peter Mika
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Publication number: 20060133752Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2004Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventor: Wenwu Zhang
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Publication number: 20060065651Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Jones, Brian Farrell
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Publication number: 20060065035Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, Marshall Gordon Jones, David Peter Mika, Brian Harlow Farrell, Michael Evans Graham, Judson Sloan Marte, Magdi Naim Azer
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Publication number: 20050284857Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Mika