Patents by Inventor Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr.

Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr. 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: 9282675
    Abstract: A heat sink and method of fabrication are provided for removing heat from an electronic component(s). The heat sink includes a heat sink base and frame. The base has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and includes a base surface configured to couple to the electronic component to facilitate removal of heat. The frame has a second CTE, and is configured to constrain the base surface in opposing relation to the electronic component, wherein the first CTE is greater than the second CTE. At least one of the heat sink base or frame is configured so that heating of the heat sink base results in a compressive force at the base surface of the heat sink base towards the electronic component that facilitates heat transfer from the electronic component. A thermal interface material is disposed between the base surface and the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons, Prabjit Singh
  • Patent number: 9282678
    Abstract: Cooled electronic systems and cooling methods are provided, wherein a field-replaceable bank of electronic components is cooled by an apparatus which includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the electronic components, a fluid disposed within the compartment, and a heat sink associated with the electronic system. The field-replaceable bank extends, in part, through the enclosure to facilitate operative docking of the electronic components into, for instance, one or more respective receiving sockets of the electronic system. The electronic components of the field-replaceable bank are, at least partially, immersed within the fluid to facilitate immersion-cooling of the components, and the heat sink is configured and disposed to physically couple to the enclosure and facilitates rejection of heat from the fluid disposed within the compartment when the field-replaceable bank of electronic components is operatively inserted into the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Publication number: 20160059367
    Abstract: Conduit connectors for liquid manifolds and methods of fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, a conduit connector is integrated, at least in part, within a liquid manifold, and includes a conduit-receiving opening or socket and at least one releasable retention component. The conduit-receiving opening is disposed within the liquid manifold and in fluid communication with at least one liquid-carrying channel of the liquid manifold. The releasable retention component(s) is selectively operative to threadlessly secure in a fluid-tight manner a conduit within the conduit-receiving opening in fluid communication with the at least one liquid-carrying channel of the liquid manifold to facilitate flow of liquid through the liquid-carrying channel(s), or to release the conduit from the conduit-receiving opening of the conduit connector. The releasable retention component(s) resides at least partially within the liquid manifold when operatively holding the conduit within the conduit-receiving opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. BRUNSCHWILER, Evan G. COLGAN, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Gerd SCHLOTTIG
  • Publication number: 20160061364
    Abstract: Conduit connectors for liquid manifolds and methods of fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, a conduit connector is integrated, at least in part, within a liquid manifold, and includes a conduit-receiving opening or socket and at least one releasable retention component. The conduit-receiving opening is disposed within the liquid manifold and in fluid communication with at least one liquid-carrying channel of the liquid manifold. The releasable retention component(s) is selectively operative to threadlessly secure in a fluid-tight manner a conduit within the conduit-receiving opening in fluid communication with the at least one liquid-carrying channel of the liquid manifold to facilitate flow of liquid through the liquid-carrying channel(s), or to release the conduit from the conduit-receiving opening of the conduit connector. The releasable retention component(s) resides at least partially within the liquid manifold when operatively holding the conduit within the conduit-receiving opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. BRUNSCHWILER, Evan G. COLGAN, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Gerd SCHLOTTIG
  • Publication number: 20160050790
    Abstract: A coolant-cooled electronic module is provided which includes a multi-component assembly and a module lid with openings aligned over respective electronic components. Thermally conductive elements are disposed within the openings, each including opposite coolant-cooled and conduction surfaces, with the conduction surface being thermally coupled to the respective electronic component. A manifold assembly disposed over the module lid includes inner and outer manifold elements, with the inner element configured to facilitate flow of coolant onto the coolant-cooled surfaces. The outer manifold element is disposed over the inner manifold element and coupled to the module lid, with the inner and outer manifold elements defining a coolant supply manifold, and the outer manifold element and module lid defining a coolant return manifold. The coolant supply openings are in fluid communication with the coolant supply manifold, and the coolant exhaust channels are in fluid communication with the coolant return manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Amilcar R. ARVELO, Levi A. CAMPBELL, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Eric J. McKEEVER
  • Patent number: 9265178
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic assemblies are provided which include a thermal transfer structure configured to couple to one or more sides of an electronics card having one or more electronic components to be cooled. The thermal transfer structure includes a thermal spreader coupled to the one side of the electronics card, and the apparatus further includes a coolant-cooled structure disposed adjacent to the socket of the electronic system. The coolant-cooled structure includes: one or more low-profile cold rails sized and configured to thermally couple to the thermal spreader along a bottom edge of the thermal spreader with operative docking of the electronics card within the socket; and one or more coolant-carrying channels associated with the low-profile cold rail(s) for removing heat from the low-profile cold rail(s) to coolant flowing through the coolant-carrying channel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amilcar R. Arvelo, Levi A. Campbell, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Eric J. McKeever, Richard P. Snider
  • Patent number: 9265176
    Abstract: A coolant-cooled electronic module is provided which includes a multi-component assembly and a module lid with openings aligned over respective electronic components. Thermally conductive elements are disposed within the openings, each including opposite coolant-cooled and conduction surfaces, with the conduction surface being thermally coupled to the respective electronic component. A manifold assembly disposed over the module lid includes inner and outer manifold elements, with the inner element configured to facilitate flow of coolant onto the coolant-cooled surfaces. The outer manifold element is disposed over the inner manifold element and coupled to the module lid, with the inner and outer manifold elements defining a coolant supply manifold, and the outer manifold element and module lid defining a coolant return manifold. The coolant supply openings are in fluid communication with the coolant supply manifold, and the coolant exhaust channels are in fluid communication with the coolant return manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amilcar R. Arvelo, Levi A. Campbell, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Eric J. McKeever
  • Patent number: 9261308
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods of fabrication thereof are provided to facilitate two-phase, immersion-cooling of one or more electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing having a compartment within which dielectric fluid is disposed which facilitates immersion-cooling of the electronic component(s). A liquid-cooled heat sink is associated with the housing and cools a cooling surface exposed within the compartment. One or more pumps are disposed within the compartment and configured to pump dielectric fluid liquid within the compartment towards the cooling surface to facilitate cooling the liquid within the compartment below a saturation temperature of the dielectric fluid. The heat sink includes or is coupled to condensing and sub-cooling regions exposed within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9265177
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a coolant-cooled component assembly are provided, which include providing a multi-component assembly and a module lid with openings aligned over respective electronic components. Thermally conductive elements are disposed within the openings, each including opposite coolant-cooled and conduction surfaces, with the conduction surface being thermally coupled to the respective electronic component. A manifold assembly disposed over the module lid includes inner and outer manifold elements, with the inner element configured to facilitate flow of coolant onto the coolant-cooled surfaces. The outer manifold element is disposed over the inner manifold element and coupled to the module lid, with the inner and outer manifold elements defining a coolant supply manifold, and the outer manifold element and module lid defining a coolant return manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amilcar R. Arvelo, Levi A. Campbell, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Eric J. McKeever
  • Patent number: 9258925
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating cooling apparatuses are provided which include: providing a thermal transfer structure configured to couple to an electronics card, the thermal transfer structure including a clamping structure movable between opened and clamped positions; and providing a coolant-cooled structure configured to reside within, and be associated with a receiving slot of, an electronic system within which the electronics card operatively inserts, the coolant-cooled structure residing between the electronics card and, at least partially, the clamping structure when the transfer structure is coupled to the electronics card and the card is operatively inserted into the receiving slot, wherein the opened position facilitates insertion of the electronics card into the electronic system, and movement of the clamping structure to the clamped position facilitates clamping of the thermal transfer structure to the coolant-cooled structure, and thermal conduction of heat from the electronics card to the coolant-cooled
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amilcar R. Arvelo, Mark A. Brandon, Levi A. Campbell, Tan D. Doan, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Randall G. Kemink, Eric J. McKeever
  • Patent number: 9253921
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes providing a coolant-conditioning unit which includes a facility coolant path, having a facility coolant flow control valve, and a system coolant path accommodating a system coolant, and having a bypass line with a system coolant bypass valve. A heat exchanger is coupled to the facility and system coolant paths to facilitate transfer of heat from the system coolant to facility coolant in the facility coolant path, and the bypass line is disposed in the system coolant path in parallel with the heat exchanger. A controller automatically controls a regulation position of the coolant bypass valve and a regulation position of the facility coolant flow control valve based on a temperature of the system coolant, and automatically adjusts the regulation position of the system coolant bypass valve to facilitate maintaining the facility coolant flow control valve at or above a specified, partially open, minimum regulation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9253923
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic assemblies are provided which include: coupling a thermal transfer structure configured to one or more sides of an electronics card having one or more electronic components to be cooled, the thermal transfer structure including a thermal spreader coupled to the one side of the electronics card; and disposing a coolant-cooled structure adjacent to the socket of the electronic system, the coolant-cooled structure including one or more low-profile cold rails sized and configured to thermally couple to the thermal spreader along a bottom edge of the thermal spreader with operative docking of the electronics card within the socket, and one or more coolant-carrying channels associated with the low-profile cold rail(s) for removing heat from the low-profile cold rail(s) to coolant flowing through the coolant-carrying channel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amilcar R. Arvelo, Levi A. Campbell, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Eric J. McKeever, Richard P. Snider
  • Patent number: 9250024
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a cooling apparatus is provided to facilitate two-phase, immersion-cooling of one or more electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing having a compartment within which dielectric fluid is disposed which facilitates immersion-cooling of the electronic component(s). A liquid-cooled heat sink is associated with the housing and cools a cooling surface exposed within the compartment. One or more pumps are disposed within the compartment and configured to pump dielectric fluid liquid within the compartment towards the cooling surface to facilitate cooling the liquid within the compartment below a saturation temperature of the dielectric fluid. The heat sink includes or is coupled to condensing and sub-cooling regions exposed within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9218008
    Abstract: Energy efficient control of cooling system cooling of an electronic system is provided based, in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components. The control includes automatically determining speed control settings for multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The automatically determining is based, at least in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components of the cooling system, and the determining operates to limit power consumption of at least the cooling system, while ensuring that a target temperature associated with at least one of the cooling system or the electronic system is within a desired range by provisioning, based on the weighted cooling effectiveness, a desired target temperature change among the multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The provisioning includes provisioning applied power to the multiple adjustable cooling components via, at least in part, the determined control settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 9213343
    Abstract: Energy efficient control of cooling system cooling of an electronic system is provided based, in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components. The control includes automatically determining speed control settings for multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The automatically determining is based, at least in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components of the cooling system, and the determining operates to limit power consumption of at least the cooling system, while ensuring that a target temperature associated with at least one of the cooling system or the electronic system is within a desired range by provisioning, based on the weighted cooling effectiveness, a desired target temperature change among the multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The provisioning includes provisioning applied power to the multiple adjustable cooling components via, at least in part, the determined control settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Publication number: 20150359139
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from an electronic component(s). The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink with a thermally conductive structure having a coolant-carrying compartment including a region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area. The heat sink includes a coolant inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the compartment, and the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area provides an increased effective heat transfer coefficient between a main heat transfer surface of the conductive structure and the coolant. The cooling apparatus further includes a coolant loop coupled to the coolant inlet and outlet to facilitate flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying compartment, and a coolant filter positioned to filter contaminants from the coolant passing through the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Milnes P. DAVID, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20150359132
    Abstract: A cooled electronic system and cooling method are provided, wherein a field-replaceable bank of electronic components is cooled by an apparatus which includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the electronic components, a fluid disposed within the compartment, and a heat sink associated with the enclosure. The field-replaceable bank extends, in part, through the enclosure to facilitate operative docking of the electronic components into one or more respective receiving sockets of the electronic system. The electronic components of the field-replaceable bank are, at least partially, immersed within the fluid to facilitate immersion-cooling of the components, and the heat sink facilitates rejection of heat from the fluid disposed within the compartment. In one embodiment, multiple thermal conductors project from an inner surface of the enclosure into the compartment to facilitate transfer of heat from the fluid to the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Milnes P. DAVID, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20150359137
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from one or more electronic components to a coolant. The cooling apparatus includes a coolant-cooled heat sink with a thermally conductive structure having a coolant-carrying compartment including a varying cross-sectional coolant flow area through which coolant flows in a direction substantially parallel to a main heat transfer surface of the structure coupled to the electronic component(s). The coolant-cooled heat sink includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment, and the coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment decreases, at least in part, in a direction of coolant flow through the coolant-carrying compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Levi A. CAMPBELL, Richard C. CHU, Milnes P. DAVID, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Robert E. SIMONS
  • Publication number: 20150359140
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic assemblies are provided which include a thermal transfer structure configured to couple to an electronics card which operatively inserts into an electronic system. The thermal transfer structure includes a clamping structure movable between opened and clamped positions. A coolant-cooled structure, which is associated with the electronic system within which the electronics card is operatively inserted, resides between the electronics card and, at least partially, the clamping structure with insertion of the electronics card into the electronic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Amilcar R. ARVELO, Mark A. BRANDON, Levi A. CAMPBELL, Tan D. DOAN, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Randall G. KEMINK, Eric J. McKEEVER
  • Patent number: 9210831
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses are provided which facilitate cooling a multi-component assembly, such as a hub module assembly. The cooling apparatus includes a first liquid-cooled heat sink configured to facilitate removal of heat generated by one or more first electronic components of the multi-component assembly, and a second liquid-cooled heat sink configured to facilitate removal of heat generated by one or more second electronic components of the multi-component assembly. The first liquid-cooled heat sink is separably coupled to the multi-component assembly, and the second liquid-cooled heat sink is fixedly secured to the multi-component assembly. Fluid couplers fluidically couple the first and second liquid-cooled heat sinks to facilitate liquid coolant flow through the fixedly-secured, second liquid-cooled heat sink from the separably-coupled, first liquid-cooled heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amilcar R. Arvelo, Levi A. Campbell, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Eric J. McKeever