Patents by Inventor Robert E. Simons

Robert E. Simons 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: 8925333
    Abstract: Thermoelectric-enhanced air and liquid cooling of an electronic system is provided by a cooling apparatus which includes a liquid-cooled structure in thermal communication with an electronic component(s), and liquid-to-liquid and air-to-liquid heat exchangers coupled in series fluid communication via a coolant loop, which includes first and second loop portions coupled in parallel. The liquid-cooled structure is supplied coolant via the first loop portion, and a thermoelectric array is disposed with the first and second loop portions in thermal contact with first and second sides of the array. The thermoelectric array operates to transfer heat from coolant passing through the first loop portion to coolant passing through the second loop portion, and cools coolant passing through the first loop portion before the coolant passes through the liquid-cooled structure. Coolant passing through the first and second loop portions passes through the series-coupled heat exchangers, one of which functions as heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 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: 8922998
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus is provided which includes one or more coolant-cooled structures attached to one or more electronic components, one or more coolant conduits, and one or more coolant manifolds. The coolant-cooled structure(s) includes one or more coolant-carrying channels, and the coolant manifolds includes one or more rotatable manifold sections. One coolant conduit couples in fluid communication a respective rotatable manifold section and the coolant-carrying channel(s) of a respective coolant-cooled structure. The respective rotatable manifold section is rotatable relative to another portion of the coolant manifold to facilitate detaching of the coolant-cooled structure from its associated electronic component while maintaining the coolant-cooled structure in fluid communication with the respective rotatable manifold section through the one coolant conduit, which in one embodiment, is a substantially rigid coolant conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Eric J. McKeever, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8899052
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component of varying heat load. The apparatus includes a refrigerant evaporator coupled in thermal communication with the electronic component, a refrigerant loop coupled in fluid communication with the refrigerant evaporator for facilitating flow of refrigerant through the evaporator, and a thermoelectric array disposed in thermal communication with the evaporator. The thermoelectric array includes one or more thermoelectric elements, and is powered by a voltage and by a current of switchable polarity, which are controlled to maintain heat load on refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant evaporator within a steady state range, notwithstanding varying of the heat load applied to the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant by the at least one electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8879257
    Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating powering and cooling of one or more electronics racks. The method includes: providing a frame; associating at least one bulk power assembly with the frame, the at least one bulk power assembly being configured to provide power to the electronics rack(s), wherein the frame with the associated one or more bulk power assemblies is distinct from the electronics rack(s); and associating one or more heat exchange assemblies with the frame, the heat exchange assembly(ies) being configured to cool system coolant provided to the electronics rack(s). In operation, heat is transferred by the heat exchange assembly(ies) from the system coolant to a facility coolant, and the frame with the associated bulk power assembly(ies) and associated heat exchange assembly(ies) provides both power and cooling to the electronics rack(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    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
  • Patent number: 8867209
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules and methods of fabrication are provided for fluid immersion-cooling of an electronic component(s). The cooled electronic module includes a substrate supporting the electronic component(s), and the cooling apparatus couples to the substrate, and includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the electronic component(s). Additionally, the cooling apparatus includes a fluid and a deionization structure disposed within the compartment. The electronic component is at least partially immersed within the fluid, and the fluid is a water-based fluid. The deionization structure includes deionizing material, which ensures deionization of the fluid within the compartment. The deionization structure facilitates boiling heat transfer from the electronic component(s) to a condenser structure disposed in the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons, Prabjit Singh
  • Patent number: 8857057
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating servicing of a liquid-cooled electronics rack is provided. The apparatus includes a coolant tank, a coolant pump in fluid communication with the coolant tank, multiple parallel-connected coolant supply lines coupling the coolant pump to a coolant supply port of the apparatus, and a coolant return port and a coolant return line coupled between the coolant return port and the coolant tank. Each coolant supply line includes a coolant control valve for selectively controlling flow of coolant therethrough pumped by the coolant pump from the coolant tank. At least one coolant supply line includes at least one filter, and one coolant supply line is a bypass line with no filter. When operational, the apparatus facilitates filling of coolant into a cooling system of a liquid-cooled electronics rack by allowing for selective filtering of coolant inserted into the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons, Prabjit Singh
  • Patent number: 8833096
    Abstract: A heat exchange assembly and apparatus and method employing the heat exchange assembly are provided. The heat exchange assembly includes a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a heater. The heat exchanger includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet for passing a coolant through the heat exchanger, and a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet for separately passing a refrigerant through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools coolant passing through the heat exchanger by dissipating heat from coolant passing through the heat exchanger to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger. The heater is integrated with the heat exchanger and applies an auxiliary heat load to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger to facilitate ensuring that refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger absorbs at least a specified minimum heat load, for example, to ensure that refrigerant egressing from the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger is superheated vapor refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8824143
    Abstract: A combined power and cooling apparatus is provided facilitating powering and cooling one or more electronics racks, which are distinct from the power and cooling apparatus. The power and cooling apparatus includes a frame, one or more bulk power assemblies associated with the frame, and one or more heat exchange assemblies associated with the frame. The one or more bulk power assemblies are configured to provide power to the one or more electronics racks, and the one or more heat exchange assemblies are configured to cool system coolant provided to the one or more electronics racks. Heat is transferred by the one or more heat exchange assemblies from the system coolant to a facility coolant. In operation, the power and cooling apparatus is coupled to provide both power and cooling to the one or more electronics racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    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
  • Patent number: 8817474
    Abstract: A multi-rack assembly is provided which includes first and second electronics racks. The first electronics rack includes one or more cooling units disposed within the first electronics rack, which are coupled in fluid communication with a primary coolant loop of the first electronics rack to, at least in part, provide cooled coolant to the primary coolant loop and facilitate cooling one or more first rack electronic components. The second electronics rack includes a secondary coolant loop coupled in fluid communication with the cooling unit(s) disposed within the first electronics rack. The multi-rack assembly further includes a controller to automatically provide cooled coolant to the secondary coolant loop, and wherein the controller controls flow of cooled coolant from the cooling unit(s) to the secondary coolant loop depending, at least in part, on cooling requirements of the first electronics rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    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
  • Patent number: 8813515
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a refrigerant loop, a compressor coupled to the refrigerant loop, and a controllable thermoelectric array disposed in thermal communication with the refrigerant loop. Refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant loop facilitates dissipation of heat from the electronic component, and the thermoelectric array is disposed with a first portion of the refrigerant loop, residing upstream of the compressor, in thermal contact with a first side of the array, and a second portion of the refrigerant loop, residing downstream of the compressor, in thermal contact with a second side of the array. The thermoelectric array ensures that refrigerant in the refrigerant loop entering the compressor is in a superheated thermodynamic state by transferring heat from refrigerant passing through the second portion to refrigerant passing through the first portion of the refrigerant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8817465
    Abstract: A method is provided which includes providing a multi-rack assembly having adjacent first and second electronics racks, each being at least partially air-cooled, and an air-to-liquid heat exchanger associated with the first rack for cooling at least a portion of air passing through the first rack. The heat exchanger, which is disposed at the air inlet or air outlet side of the first rack and is coupled in fluid communication with a coolant loop to receive coolant from the loop and exhaust coolant to the loop, transfers heat from air passing thereacross to coolant passing therethrough. The assembly also includes a cooling unit, associated with the first rack and cooling coolant in the coolant loop, and an airflow director associated with the second rack and facilitating ducting at least a portion of air passing through the second rack to also pass across the heat exchanger associated with the first rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8806749
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules and methods of fabrication are provided for fluid immersion-cooling of an electronic component(s). The method includes, for instance: securing a housing about an electronic component to be cooled, the housing at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the electronic component to be cooled; disposing a fluid within the compartment, wherein the electronic component to be cooled is at least partially immersed within the fluid, and wherein the fluid comprises water; and providing a deionizing structure within the compartment, the deionizing structure comprising deionizing material, the deionizing material ensuring deionization of the fluid within the compartment, wherein the deionizing structure is configured to accommodate boiling of the fluid within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons, Prabjit Singh
  • Patent number: 8797740
    Abstract: A multi-rack assembly is provided which includes first and second electronics racks. The first electronics rack includes one or more cooling units disposed within the first electronics rack, which are coupled in fluid communication with a primary coolant loop of the first electronics rack to, at least in part, provide cooled coolant to the primary coolant loop and facilitate cooling one or more first rack electronic components. The second electronics rack includes a secondary coolant loop coupled in fluid communication with the cooling unit(s) disposed within the first electronics rack. The multi-rack assembly further includes a controller to automatically provide cooled coolant to the secondary coolant loop, and wherein the controller controls flow of cooled coolant from the cooling unit(s) to the secondary coolant loop depending, at least in part, on cooling requirements of the first electronics rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    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
  • Patent number: 8789385
    Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The method includes: providing a refrigerant loop configured for refrigerant to flow through the loop; coupling a compressor in fluid communication with the loop, wherein a first portion of the loop resides upstream of a refrigerant inlet of the compressor, and a second portion resides downstream; and disposing a controllable thermoelectric array in thermal communication with the refrigerant loop. The thermoelectric array is disposed with the first portion of the refrigerant loop at least partially in thermal contact with the first side of the array, and the second portion of the loop at least partially in thermal contact with a second side of the array. The array is controlled to ensure that refrigerant in the refrigerant loop entering the compressor is in a superheated thermodynamic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8783052
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic component(s). The apparatus includes a coolant-cooled structure in thermal communication with the component(s) to be cooled, and a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger in fluid communication with the coolant-cooled structure via a coolant loop. A thermal buffer unit is coupled in fluid communication with the coolant loop, and a refrigerant loop is coupled in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger dissipates heat from coolant in the coolant loop to refrigerant in the refrigerant loop. A compressor is coupled in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop and is maintained ON responsive to heat load of the component(s) exceeding a heat load threshold, and is cycled ON and OFF responsive to heat load of the component(s) being below the threshold. The thermal storage unit dampens swings in coolant temperature within the coolant loop during cycling ON and OFF of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8760863
    Abstract: A multi-rack assembly is provided which includes adjacent first and second electronics racks, each being at least partially air-cooled, and an air-to-liquid heat exchanger associated with the first rack for cooling at least a portion of air passing through the first rack. The heat exchanger, which is disposed at the air inlet or air outlet side of the first rack and is coupled in fluid communication with a coolant loop to receive coolant from the loop and exhaust coolant to the loop, transfers heat from air passing thereacross to coolant passing therethrough. The assembly also includes a cooling unit, associated with the first rack and cooling coolant in the coolant loop, and an airflow director associated with the second rack and facilitating ducting at least a portion of air passing through the second rack to also pass across the heat exchanger associated with the first rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    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
  • Publication number: 20140163764
    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: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: 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: 20140163767
    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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: 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: 20140158339
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The apparatuses include, for instance, a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: 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: 8743545
    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 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    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