Patents by Inventor Zhaoyan Fan
Zhaoyan Fan 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: 9581560Abstract: A method for operating a sensor, including simultaneously exciting a first set of electrodes and sensing an output of each electrode of a second set of electrodes, storing output data corresponding to the output of each electrode of the second set of electrodes in a memory storage device, shifting at least one electrode from the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes and at least one electrode from the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes, and repeating the simultaneously exciting and sensing, the storing, and the shifting until an output data has been stored for each possible pair of electrodes in the first and second set of electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignees: The University of Conneticut, United Technologies CorporationInventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance L. Smith
-
Patent number: 9500540Abstract: A method of determining a spatial and temporal pressure distribution profile on an outer surface of a rotating apparatus includes producing one or more pressure indications in response to pressure applied to the outer surface of the rotating apparatus. The producing is carried out by a transducer assembly embedded within the rotating apparatus at a distance d from the outer surface of the rotating apparatus. The method further includes sampling, by an acquisition assembly, the one or more pressure indications from the transducer assembly and storing the sampled one or more pressure indications. The method also includes processing the one or more pressure indications to produce the pressure distribution profile describing the pressure applied to the outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: University of ConnecticutInventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, Jian Cao
-
Patent number: 9446544Abstract: In an injection molding process, it can be difficult to detect, in real time, process control variables such as pressure and temperature. Traditional temperature detectors and pressure sensors can be difficult to place in or near a mold cavity. An example embodiment of the present invention includes a self-powered multivariate sensor and uses acoustic transmission. The sensor may employ an infra-red thermal detector and pressure sensor and transmit coded representations of measurements acoustically via a body of the mold. From the temperature and pressure, melt velocity and melt viscosity of a compound in the mold can be determined with a high degree of accuracy by a processor internal to or external from the sensor. The example embodiment maintains structural integrity of the mold, provides a wireless self-powered sensor, and makes available sensing of properties of the viscous compound to enable injection molded parts production at a success rate exceeding 90%.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignees: University of Connecticut, University of MassachusettsInventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, David O. Kazmer
-
Publication number: 20150338364Abstract: A method for operating a sensor, including simultaneously exciting a first set of electrodes and sensing an output of each electrode of a second set of electrodes, storing output data corresponding to the output of each electrode of the second set of electrodes in a memory storage device, shifting at least one electrode from the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes and at least one electrode from the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes, and repeating the simultaneously exciting and sensing, the storing, and the shifting until an output data has been stored for each possible pair of electrodes in the first and second set of electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance W. Smith
-
Patent number: 9170224Abstract: A method for operating a sensor, including simultaneously exciting a first set of electrodes and sensing an output of each electrode of a second set of electrodes, storing output data corresponding to the output of each electrode of the second set of electrodes in a memory storage device, shifting at least one electrode from the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes and at least one electrode from the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes, and repeating the simultaneously exciting and sensing, the storing, and the shifting until an output data has been stored for each possible pair of electrodes in the first and second set of electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignees: The University of Connecticut, United Technologies CorporationInventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance L. Smith
-
Publication number: 20140260680Abstract: A method of determining a spatial and temporal pressure distribution profile on an outer surface of a rotating apparatus includes producing one or more pressure indications in response to pressure applied to the outer surface of the rotating apparatus. The producing is carried out by a transducer assembly embedded within the rotating apparatus at a distance d from the outer surface of the rotating apparatus. The method further includes sampling, by an acquisition assembly, the one or more pressure indications from the transducer assembly and storing the sampled one or more pressure indications. The method also includes processing the one or more pressure indications to produce the pressure distribution profile describing the pressure applied to the outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: University of ConnecticutInventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, Jian Cao
-
Patent number: 8762084Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel sensing technique, termed Multiple Excitation Capacitance Polling (MECaP), that improves the efficiency of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT). Unlike traditional alternating current techniques, where excitation signal is applied to an electrode one at a time, MECaP involves simultaneously applying multiple excitation signals, in a progressively increasing fashion, to multiple electrodes on an ECT sensor. The received signals are filtered or otherwise decomposed (e.g., Fourier transformed) into different components, and the individual components are used to generate an image of the article or substance disposed between the electrodes. Because multiple capacitances can be simultaneously measured as a consequence, scanning with MECaP can significantly increase the image scanning speed. For example, scanning with MECaP may enable frames rates of tens of kHz for imaging dynamic processes such as engine combustion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: The University of ConnecticutInventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan
-
Publication number: 20140118010Abstract: A method for operating a sensor, including simultaneously exciting a first set of electrodes and sensing an output of each electrode of a second set of electrodes, storing output data corresponding to the output of each electrode of the second set of electrodes in a memory storage device, shifting at least one electrode from the first set of electrodes to the second set of electrodes and at least one electrode from the second set of electrodes to the first set of electrodes, and repeating the simultaneously exciting and sensing, the storing, and the shifting until an output data has been stored for each possible pair of electrodes in the first and second set of electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance L. Smith
-
Publication number: 20130030723Abstract: In an injection molding process, it can be difficult to detect, in real time, process control variables such as pressure and temperature. Traditional temperature detectors and pressure sensors can be difficult to place in or near a mold cavity. An example embodiment of the present invention includes a self-powered multivariate sensor and uses acoustic transmission. The sensor may employ an infra-red thermal detector and pressure sensor and transmit coded representations of measurements acoustically via a body of the mold. From the temperature and pressure, melt velocity and melt viscosity of a compound in the mold can be determined with a high degree of accuracy by a processor internal to or external from the sensor. The example embodiment maintains structural integrity of the mold, provides a wireless self-powered sensor, and makes available sensing of properties of the viscous compound to enable injection molded parts production at a success rate exceeding 90%.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: University of ConnecticutInventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, David O. Kazmer
-
Publication number: 20100332170Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel sensing technique, termed Multiple Excitation Capacitance Polling (MECaP), that improves the efficiency of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT). Unlike traditional alternating current techniques, where excitation signal is applied to an electrode one at a time, MECaP involves simultaneously applying multiple excitation signals, in a progressively increasing fashion, to multiple electrodes on an ECT sensor. The received signals are filtered or otherwise decomposed (e.g., Fourier transformed) into different components, and the individual components are used to generate an image of the article or substance disposed between the electrodes. Because multiple capacitances can be simultaneously measured as a consequence, scanning with MECaP can significantly increase the image scanning speed. For example, scanning with MECaP may enable frames rates of tens of kHz for imaging dynamic processes such as engine combustion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan