Patents by Inventor Nicholas Celenza

Nicholas Celenza 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: 9853444
    Abstract: A method of controlling the inrush current to a hot plug device. The method includes directing current from an input power rail of the hot plug device to an output power rail of the hot plug device through a high impedance auxiliary current path, wherein an electronic subsystem of the hot plug device is coupled to the output power rail. The method further includes allowing current from the input power rail to pass through a plurality of main turn on FETs to the output power rail in response to the output power rail having a voltage that exceeds a voltage threshold as a result of directing current through the high impedance auxiliary current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Patent number: 9787085
    Abstract: A hot plug device includes an electronic subsystem and a plurality of main turn on FETs, wherein each main turn on FET includes a gate, a power input for coupling to a power source, and an output for controllably providing power to the electronic subsystem. An auxiliary current path is in parallel with the main turn on FETs and includes a fuse, an impedance element and an auxiliary turn on FET. A turn on controller controls the main turn on FETs and the auxiliary turn on FET. Current is initially through the high impedance auxiliary current path to apply voltage to an output power rail. Subsequently, current is allowed to pass through a plurality of main turn on FETs to the output power rail in response to the output power rail having a voltage exceeding a voltage threshold as a result of using the high impedance auxiliary current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Patent number: 9362901
    Abstract: A method for controlling the in-rush current to a hot plug device. The method includes providing a series of turn on pulses to the gates of a plurality of turn on FETs on a hot plug device coupled to a direct current power source, wherein each pulse causes the plurality of FETs to pass current from the direct current power source to a subsystem of the hot plug device, and wherein each pulse has a duration that ends before the impedance of the turn on FETs falls below a safe operating region. The method further includes providing a steady turn on signal to the FETs in response to the output voltage from the FETs to a subsystem of the hot plug device exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Patent number: 9306559
    Abstract: A computer program product for controlling the in rush current to a hot plug device. The computer program product includes program instructions that cause a processor to perform a method. The method includes providing a series of turn on pulses to the gates of a plurality of turn on FETs on a hot plug device coupled to a direct current power source, wherein each pulse causes the plurality of FETs to pass current from the direct current power source to a subsystem of the hot plug device, and wherein each pulse has a duration that ends before the impedance of the turn on FETs falls below a safe operating region. The method further includes providing a steady turn on signal to the FETs in response to the output voltage from the FETs to a subsystem of the hot plug device exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Publication number: 20150357811
    Abstract: A method of controlling the inrush current to a hot plug device. The method includes directing current from an input power rail of the hot plug device to an output power rail of the hot plug device through a high impedance auxiliary current path, wherein an electronic subsystem of the hot plug device is coupled to the output power rail. The method further includes allowing current from the input power rail to pass through a plurality of main turn on FETs to the output power rail in response to the output power rail having a voltage that exceeds a voltage threshold as a result of directing current through the high impedance auxiliary current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Publication number: 20150358012
    Abstract: A method for controlling the in-rush current to a hot plug device. The method includes providing a series of turn on pulses to the gates of a plurality of turn on FETs on a hot plug device coupled to a direct current power source, wherein each pulse causes the plurality of FETs to pass current from the direct current power source to a subsystem of the hot plug device, and wherein each pulse has a duration that ends before the impedance of the turn on FETs falls below a safe operating region. The method further includes providing a steady turn on signal to the FETs in response to the output voltage from the FETs to a subsystem of the hot plug device exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Publication number: 20150303917
    Abstract: A method control the in rush current to the hot plug device. The method includes providing a series of turn on pulses to the gates of a plurality of turn on FETs on a hot plug device coupled to a direct current power source, wherein each pulse causes the plurality of FETs to pass current from the direct current power source to a subsystem of the hot plug device, and wherein each pulse has a duration that ends before the impedance of the turn on FETs falls below a safe operating region. The method further includes providing a steady turn on signal to the FETs in response to the output voltage from the FETs to a subsystem of the hot plug device exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Publication number: 20150303683
    Abstract: A hot plug device includes an electronic subsystem and a plurality of main turn on FETs, wherein each main turn on FET includes a gate, a power input for coupling to a power source, and an output for controllably providing power to the electronic subsystem. An auxiliary current path is in parallel with the main turn on FETs and includes a fuse, an impedance element and an auxiliary turn on FET. A turn on controller controls the main turn on FETs and the auxiliary turn on FET. Current is initially through the high impedance auxiliary current path to apply voltage to an output power rail. Subsequently, current is allowed to pass through a plurality of main turn on FETs to the output power rail in response to the output power rail having a voltage exceeding a voltage threshold as a result of using the high impedance auxiliary current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jamaica L. Barnette, Nicholas Celenza, Brian C. Totten
  • Patent number: 8526152
    Abstract: Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit including recording by a power supply management module a current sensing voltage for a power supply when no operating load is drawn from the power supply and dynamically calculating by the power supply management module output current of the power supply with an active load in dependence upon the recorded current sensing voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Celenza, Ismael Orozco Biaggi
  • Publication number: 20120212054
    Abstract: Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit including recording by a power supply management module a current sensing voltage for a power supply when no operating load is drawn from the power supply and dynamically calculating by the power supply management module output current of the power supply with an active load in dependence upon the recorded current sensing voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Celenza, Ismael Orozco Biaggi
  • Patent number: 8208237
    Abstract: Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit including recording by a power supply management module a current sensing voltage for a power supply when no operating load is drawn from the power supply and dynamically calculating by the power supply management module output current of the power supply with an active load in dependence upon the recorded current sensing voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Celenza, Ismael Orozco Biaggi
  • Publication number: 20100078999
    Abstract: Administering offset voltage error in a current sensing circuit including recording by a power supply management module a current sensing voltage for a power supply when no operating load is drawn from the power supply and dynamically calculating by the power supply management module output current of the power supply with an active load in dependence upon the recorded current sensing voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: NICHOLAS CELENZA, ISMAEL OROZCO BIAGGI
  • Patent number: 6163136
    Abstract: A battery charger to recharge a battery comprises a transistor switch coupled with a cable loss compensator. Additionally, the battery charger includes a comparator, a current limiter, and a differential amplifier. The circuits are created from discrete components, and particularly include individual transistors. A smoothing network takes the signal from the switch and passes it along to the battery for recharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Celenza
  • Patent number: 5049805
    Abstract: An apparatus which connects/disconnects battery from a load such as a computer system includes a first circuit arrangement which sets a first reference voltage level at which the energy source is connected through an FET device to the computer system, a second circuit arrangement that sets a second voltage level at which the energy source is disconnected by the FET device from the computer system and a third circuit arrangement which controls the FET device so that said FET device is forced into either its ON or OFF state once one of the reference voltages is reached. A second apparatus which reduces power dissipation in a battery charger power device by forcing the input voltage to track the battery voltage as the battery charges/discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Celenza, Raymond M. Clemo, Ronald S. Jungling, Brian D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4888545
    Abstract: Described is a novel power supply for generating a constant d.c. voltage from a variable a.c. voltage supply line. The power supply includes a plurality of switch circuits which monitor voltage levels on respective secondary windings of a power transformer and as voltage levels change, one of the plurality of switch circuits is selected to charge a capacitor which provides a range of d.c. voltages which are processed to provide the constant d.c. voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Nicholas Celenza, Elie M. Najm