Patents by Inventor Bill Jacobsen

Bill Jacobsen 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: 7952231
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a supplemental power system which may operate in conjunction with a power supply to provide supplemental power to a load. Supplemental power system may include a power storage device, a boost converter and a power storage charger. Supplemental power system may supply extra power required for a storage system load at startup whereby the power supply system may be sized for steady state operation of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen, Roshan Thakur
  • Patent number: 7802121
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing auxiliary power during a power interruption. An auxiliary power system of the present invention may be added to a power supply to provide auxiliary power during a power dip or power interruption to the power supply. The auxiliary power system may include a power storage device and a power storage charger which is powered by the power supply when power is supplied to the power supply. The power storage charger may charge the power storage device. The auxiliary power system may include a boost converter to provide a constant output voltage during a power interruption. A boost converter may also increase the output voltage supplied by the power storage device suitable for a load receiving power from the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 7639520
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for efficiently converting an alternating current (AC) supply to a direct current (DC) output. A power supply in accordance with the present invention may employ variable frequency constant on-time converters whereby switching losses of the converters are approximately proportional with a switching frequency, causing the power supply to be more efficient at light loads. Additionally, a power supply in accordance with the present invention may include multiple-phase converters in which each phase is designed for operation at a fraction of the total maximum load for the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 7436200
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for testing a power supply. A power supply testing apparatus may include a remote load which may sink an adjustable amount of current with an adjustable slew rate and may test the response of the power supply to determine its operability with a dynamic load. Additionally, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the testing apparatus may source an adjustable amount of current with an adjustable slew rate to the output of a power supply. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the testing apparatus may include an adjustable current sink and adjustable current source with an adjustable slew rate. The power supply testing apparatus of the present invention may be implemented with standard circuit components on a circuit board and thus provide a small form factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Jacobsen, Zoltan Zansky, Thomas Holland
  • Patent number: 7312962
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for preventing an output of current greater than a desired amount for a redundant power supply system. In an embodiment of the present invention, redundant power supplies may be shut down when the sum of the output currents from the redundant power supplies is greater than a specified maximum current for a single power supply. Additionally, if a power supply should operate outside of desired voltage and current specifications, the power supply may be disabled while the method and system of the present invention monitor the output current of a redundant power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen, Bob Schmiedeskamp
  • Patent number: 7034413
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for supplementing power when a power supply has a power failure. An amount of inrush current produced upon resumption of input power is reduced. Supplemental power circuitry may include a rechargeable battery that may supply power during a power failure without generating a large inrush current when input power is regained. The period of time supplemental power may be provided is also increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 6930869
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for preventing voltage spike feedback with switched inductive loads connected to isolated redundant power supplies. A voltage clamp circuit of the present invention may clamp the voltage spikes caused by inductive loads within a power supply system to a safe voltage level. When the common output voltage of the redundant power supplies becomes too large, the voltage clamp circuit of the present invention may clamp the common output voltage to a safe voltage level at or slightly above the higher voltage of the parallel connected power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Network Appliance Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 6693784
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for actively limiting transient voltages across a voltage bus. Circuitry coupled to a bus may adjust the voltage level of a bus to a voltage within a desired range when transient voltages cause the voltage level on the bus to fall outside of a desired range. Circuitry of the present invention may include active elements that may adjust a voltage level of a bus in a rapid fashion. Additionally, use of the circuitry of the present invention reduces the cost and design limitations associated with stabilizing buses by solely using multiple low ESR/ESL capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoltan Zansky, Bill Jacobsen