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: 9581560
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: The University of Conneticut, United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance L. Smith
  • Patent number: 9500540
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, Jian Cao
  • Patent number: 9446544
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, David O. Kazmer
  • Publication number: 20150338364
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance W. Smith
  • Patent number: 9170224
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: The University of Connecticut, United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140260680
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, Jian Cao
  • Patent number: 8762084
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan
  • Publication number: 20140118010
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhaoyan Fan, Robert X. Gao, Jeffery A. Lovett, Lance L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130030723
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan, David O. Kazmer
  • Publication number: 20100332170
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Robert X. Gao, Zhaoyan Fan