Patents by Inventor John G. Torok

John G. Torok 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: 8992241
    Abstract: A flex circuit blind attachment apparatus is provided and includes a plate, a fastening member affixable to the plate and configured to draw the plate toward and away from a circuit board and jaws supportively disposed on the plate. The jaws are configured to be opened with the plate being drawn toward the circuit board such that a pin of a flex connector to be connected to the circuit board is released by the jaws following disconnection of the flex connector and the circuit board. The jaws are also configured to capture the pin with the plate being drawn away from the circuit board prior to connection of the flex connector and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Genest, John J. Loparco, John G. Torok, Wade White
  • Patent number: 8934222
    Abstract: An enhanced computer assembly and related method is provided that enables easy shipment and installation of such computing systems. In one embodiment a split top hat design is provided that can be removed. The removable split hat comprises a receiving member and an inner member that are secured to the frame in a manner that can be easily removed. In an alternate embodiment, a collapsible top hat is provided which adjusts the height of the assembly from a first to a second position. The collapsible feature has an upper portion that is connected to a plurality of pivoted side members that are capable of collapsing onto themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Kostenko, Steven C. McIntosh, Budy D. Notohardjono, John G. Torok, Howard P. Welz
  • Publication number: 20140322946
    Abstract: A flex circuit blind attachment apparatus is provided and includes a plate, a fastening member affixable to the plate and configured to draw the plate toward and away from a circuit board and jaws supportively disposed on the plate. The jaws are configured to be opened with the plate being drawn toward the circuit board such that a pin of a flex connector to be connected to the circuit board is released by the jaws following disconnection of the flex connector and the circuit board. The jaws are also configured to capture the pin with the plate being drawn away from the circuit board prior to connection of the flex connector and the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Robert R. Genest, John J. Loparco, John G. Torok, Wade White
  • Patent number: 8858250
    Abstract: A cable assembly structure, the structure including a connector having a connector body having a back end and a front end, a cam extending from and coupled to the back end of the connector body, a wire bundle extending from and coupled to the back end of the connector body; and a pair of guidance features extending from the front end of the connector body; and a receptacle having a receptacle body having a fixed end and an open end, and a pair of cam guides positioned on a top and a bottom surface of the receptacle. The cam is operable to couple the connector with the receptacle based on the guidance features aligning the connector with the receptacle, the cam guides being operable to receive the cam associated with the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Brodsky, Mark Garrison Clark, Eric James McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8738828
    Abstract: A system to operationally connect logic nodes may include an inter-nodal circuit to provide communications between any connected logic nodes. The system may also include a fabric bus that may be physically separate from the inter-nodal circuit, the fabric bus may provide logical connections restricted to any two connected logic nodes. The system may further include a clock circuit carried by the inter-nodal circuit that controls both the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8713228
    Abstract: A shared system to operationally connect logic nodes may include an inter-nodal circuit to provide communications between any connected logic nodes. The system may also include a fabric bus carried by the inter-nodal circuit, the fabric bus to provide logical connections to a first logic node and any other logic node. The system may further include a clock circuit carried by the inter-nodal circuit that controls both the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20140098482
    Abstract: A system to improve an in-line memory module may include an edging carried by the in-line memory module to stiffen, support, protect, and/or aid in handling the in-line memory module. The system may also include guide ribs carried by the edging to facilitate positioning of the in-line memory module during installation. In one embodiment, the system includes a heat spreader to aid in cooling a plurality of heat sources carried by the in-line memory module. The system may further include a compliant member to regulate the heat spreader's positioning relative to the plurality of heat sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Brandon, Shawn Canfield, David L. Edwards, Robert R. Genest, Randall G. Kemink, Robert K. Mullady, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20140080341
    Abstract: A cable assembly structure, the structure including a connector having a connector body having a back end and a front end, a cam extending from and coupled to the back end of the connector body, a wire bundle extending from and coupled to the back end of the connector body; and a pair of guidance features extending from the front end of the connector body; and a receptacle having a receptacle body having a fixed end and an open end, and a pair of cam guides positioned on a top and a bottom surface of the receptacle. The cam is operable to couple the connector with the receptacle based on the guidance features aligning the connector with the receptacle, the cam guides being operable to receive the cam associated with the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Louis Brodsky, Mark Garrison Clark, Eric James McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8597032
    Abstract: A system to mate electronic assemblies includes a computer backplane, and a first electronic interconnect carried by the computer backplane configured to operationally mate with a first electronic assembly. The system also includes a second electronic interconnect carried by the computer backplane that is physically separate from the first electronic interconnect, the second electronic interconnect configured to operationally mate with a second electronic assembly where the first electronic assembly and the second electronic assembly mate with the computer backplane at substantially a same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8589608
    Abstract: A system to mate logic nodes may include a connector to secure at least one of an inter-nodal circuit and a fabric bus, where the inter-nodal circuit provides communications between any connected logic nodes, and the fabric bus provides logical connections to a first logic node and any other logic node. The system may also include an element carried by the connector configured to provide an appropriate actuation force to mate the connector and at least one of the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8582297
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for cooling one or more devices through use of a cooling plate. An example system includes multiple heat generating devices coupled to a cooling plate, each through an individual thermal interface unit. The thermal interface unit includes a compressible solid pad with at least one surface having a plurality of projections carrying a flowable material. The thermal interface units are pressed between the heat generating devices and the cooling plate so that the flowable material is completely enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Edwards, Randall G. Kemink, David C. Olson, Katie L. Pizzolato, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20130279103
    Abstract: A multi-level interconnect apparatus includes a substrate including a substrate body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a processing unit disposed on the second side of the substrate body, a first input/output (I/O) unit disposed on the first side of the substrate body and configured to be electrically communicable with the processing unit along a thickness dimension of the substrate body and a second I/O unit disposed on the second side of the substrate body and configured to be electrically communicable with the processing unit along a planar dimension of the substrate body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wiren D. Becker, Alan F. Becker, William L. Brodsky, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20130027885
    Abstract: A multi-chip electronic module includes a circuit board having a first end portion, a second end portion, a first surface portion and an opposing second surface portion. A plurality of electronic components is mounted to the first surface portion of the circuit board. A heat spreader member is supported at the first surface portion of the circuit board. The heat spreader includes a body having a first end, a second end, a first surface and a second surface. The first end portion and first end define a fluid inlet, and the second end portion and second end define a fluid outlet. The second surface is in thermal contact with the plurality of electronic components. The heat spreader member and circuit board define an enclosed fluid duct having a plurality of substantially parallel flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: David L. Edwards, Randall G. Kemink, David C. Olson, Michael T. Peets, John G. Torok, Wade H. White
  • Publication number: 20120221762
    Abstract: A system to mate logic nodes may include a connector to secure at least one of an inter-nodal circuit and a fabric bus, where the inter-nodal circuit provides communications between any connected logic nodes, and the fabric bus provides logical connections to a first logic node and any other logic node. The system may also include an element carried by the connector configured to provide an appropriate actuation force to mate the connector and at least one of the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20120221761
    Abstract: A shared system to operationally connect logic nodes may include an inter-nodal circuit to provide communications between any connected logic nodes. The system may also include a fabric bus carried by the inter-nodal circuit, the fabric bus to provide logical connections to a first logic node and any other logic node. The system may further include a clock circuit carried by the inter-nodal circuit that controls both the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20120221760
    Abstract: A system to operationally connect logic nodes may include an inter-nodal circuit to provide communications between any connected logic nodes. The system may also include a fabric bus that may be physically separate from the inter-nodal circuit, the fabric bus may provide logical connections restricted to any two connected logic nodes. The system may further include a clock circuit carried by the inter-nodal circuit that controls both the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20120218698
    Abstract: A system to mate electronic assemblies may include a computer backplane, and a first electronic interconnect carried by the computer backplane configured to operationally mate with a first electronic assembly. The system may also include a second electronic interconnect carried by the computer backplane that is physically separate from the first electronic interconnect, the second electronic interconnect configured to operationally mate with a second electronic assembly where the first electronic assembly and the second electronic assembly mate with the computer backplane at substantially a same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8248805
    Abstract: A system to improve an in-line memory module may include an edging carried by the in-line memory module to stiffen, support, protect, and/or aid in handling the in-line memory module. The system may also include guide ribs carried by the edging to facilitate positioning of the in-line memory module during installation. In one embodiment, the system includes a heat spreader to aid in cooling a plurality of heat sources carried by the in-line memory module. The system may further include a compliant member to regulate the heat spreader's positioning relative to the plurality of heat sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Brandon, Shawn Canfield, David L. Edwards, Robert R. Genest, Randall G. Kemink, Robert K. Mullady, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20120200997
    Abstract: A system to improve an in-line memory module may include an edging carried by the in-line memory module to stiffen, support, protect, and/or aid in handling the in-line memory module. The system may also include guide ribs carried by the edging to facilitate positioning of the in-line memory module during installation. In one embodiment, the system includes a heat spreader to aid in cooling a plurality of heat sources carried by the in-line memory module. The system may further include a compliant member to regulate the heat spreader's positioning relative to the plurality of heat sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Brandon, Shawn Canfield, David L. Edwards, Robert R. Genest, Randall G. Kemink, Robert K. Mullady, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20120199333
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for cooling one or more devices through use of a cooling plate. An example system includes multiple heat generating devices coupled to a cooling plate, each through an individual thermal interface unit. The thermal interface unit includes a compressible solid pad with at least one surface having a plurality of projections carrying a flowable material. The thermal interface units are pressed between the heat generating devices and the cooling plate so that the flowable material is completely enclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Edwards, Randall G. Kemink, David C. Olson, Katie L. Pizzolato, John G. Torok