Patents by Inventor Ronald A. Barnes
Ronald A. Barnes 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).
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Patent number: 6542362Abstract: A computer system housing with a curved bezel that forms one or more sideways gap between a side of the computer housing chassis and the bezel attached to that side. Typically, the curved bezel is attached to the front of the chassis with each sideways gap extending perpendicularly from the front of the chassis to a predetermined width and stretching to predetermined length along the front of the chassis. The sideways gaps facilitate increased air inlet from the sides and allow efficient cooling of various system components that are mounted on the chassis and housed within the housing. One or more cooling fans may be mounted at different locations within the housing to optimize air circulation and, hence, cooling within the housing. The chassis may be partitioned into two separate sub-chassis for proper positioning of the cooling fans as well as to accommodate changes in computer system configurations with minimized retooling of the chassis.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Lajara, Milton C. Lee, Alan Lee Minick, Kenneth A. Lown, Wayman Lee, Barry Marshall, Anita Patel, Steve J. Furuta, Kenneth Kitlas, Ronald Barnes
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Publication number: 20020149233Abstract: A method of producing a vehicle panel. The method comprises the steps of: laying wire on a first sheet of thermoplastic or thermoset composite material in a desired configuration; placing or forming a second sheet of thermoplastic or thermoset material on the first sheet of material thereby sandwiching the wire; and, pressing the sheets together so that they encase and insulate the wire, wherein the wire is left exposed at connection points formed by apertures in the sheets. A vehicle panel made according to the method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventors: Timothy Ronald Barnes, Michel Ian Birrell
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Patent number: 6373697Abstract: A computer system housing with a curved bezel that forms one or more sideways gap between a side of the computer housing chassis and the bezel attached to that side. Typically, the curved bezel is attached to the front of the chassis with each sideways gap extending perpendicularly from the front of the chassis to a predetermined width and stretching to predetermined length along the front of the chassis. The sideways gaps facilitate increased air inlet from the sides and allow efficient cooling of various system components that are mounted on the chassis and housed within the housing. One or more cooling fans may be mounted at different locations within the housing to optimize air circulation and, hence, cooling within the housing. The chassis may be partitioned into two separate sub-chassis for proper positioning of the cooling fans as well as to accommodate changes in computer system configurations with minimized retooling of the chassis.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Lajara, Milton C. Lee, Alan Lee Minick, Kenneth A. Lown, Wayman Lee, Barry Marshall, Anita Patel, Steve J. Furuta, Kenneth Kitlas, Ronald Barnes
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Publication number: 20020041484Abstract: A computer system housing with a curved bezel that forms one or more sideways gap between a side of the computer housing chassis and the bezel attached to that side. Typically, the curved bezel is attached to the front of the chassis with each sideways gap extending perpendicularly from the front of the chassis to a predetermined width and stretching to predetermined length along the front of the chassis. The sideways gaps facilitate increased air inlet from the sides and allow efficient cooling of various system components that are mounted on the chassis and housed within the housing. One or more cooling fans may be mounted at different locations within the housing to optimize air circulation and, hence, cooling within the housing. The chassis may be partitioned into two separate sub-chassis for proper positioning of the cooling fans as well as to accommodate changes in computer system configurations with minimized retooling of the chassis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2001Publication date: April 11, 2002Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Lajara, Milton C. Lee, Alan Lee Winick, Kenneth A. Lown, Wayman Lee, Barry Marshall, Anita Patel, Steve J. Furuta, Kenneth Kitlas, Ronald Barnes
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Patent number: 6362968Abstract: A stiffener for a printed circuit board where the stiffener is placed between the printed circuit board and a wall of the metal chassis in a computer system housing. The loaded printed circuit board may first be mounted on the stiffener, which, in turn, may then be mounted on the appropriate wall of the chassis along with the circuit board. Alternately, the stiffener may first be mounted on the appropriate chassis wall, and the circuit board may then be mounted on the stiffener. Additional circuit components may then be added onto the circuit board. The lies between the circuit board and the wall of the chassis on which the circuit board is being mounted. The back plane support provided by the stiffener may reduce damage to the conducting paths of the printed circuit board due to pressures exerted during component mounting, manufacture, transportation, etc. Additionally, a circuit board carrying densely populated electronic components may be easily mounted on or removed from the chassis without damage.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Lajara, Hassan Siahpolo, Ronald Barnes, Kenneth Kitlas
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Patent number: 6342154Abstract: An assembly for purifying water includes a high intensity ultraviolet light or corona discharge ozone generator 4 and output line 15 for introducing ozone into a tube 20 carrying water to be treated. Downstream of the ozone injection point 22 is an ozone contact time segment 24 that terminates at an input port of a bubble separator column 26. The column includes a water level hysteresis inducing means that is adapted to cause water within the column to continuously alternately fill and purge between an upper and a lower water level in order to enhance ozone concentration. The hysteresis inducing means may include a water level sensitive electrically actuated valve 38.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Inventor: Ronald Barnes
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Publication number: 20010040122Abstract: An assembly for purifying water, the assembly consisting of a tube for carrying the water, the tube for carrying water having an upstream and a downstream end; a high intensity ultra-violet light or corona discharge ozone generator for introducing ozone into said tube for carrying water at an ozone introduction point within said tube; an ozone contact time tube segment situated between the ozone introduction point and the downstream end of the tube for carrying water; a bubble separator column having a water input port and a water output port, the downstream end of the tube for carrying water being positioned so that water emitting therefrom may pass through the water input port; and a water level sensitive electrically actuated valve for alternating collection of water within and discharging water from the bubble separator column.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 1999Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventor: RONALD BARNES
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Patent number: 6134112Abstract: To restrain detachment of heat sinks from printed circuit boards (PCBs) or the components mounted on such boards, a body is attached to the board and extends above the tops of the heat sinks. Above each heat sink, three sides of a rectangle are cut from the body, leaving one side uncut. The tongue thus formed is curved downwards to form a spring which bears against the top of the heat sink to protect the heat sink from disengagement. The body is formed with vertical ends or legs having outward bent feet which are secured to the PCB by screws or other fasteners or are fit through slots in the PCB. A slanted tongue may also be cut from the body to engage an upper corner of a heat sink to restrain the heat sink from lateral movement relative to the PCB.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Herbert E. LeCornu, Ronald Barnes, Nagaraj P. Mitty
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Patent number: 5991157Abstract: A module consists of a shroud or enclosure attached to a card containing heat-emitting electronic components or to a stack of two or more vertically spaced cards; one or all of which have heat sinks in thermal contact with at least some of the electronic components. The shroud is apertured to control air flow in many directions over the components and heatsinks. A hinge member extends along one edge of the module shaped to be inserted in a slot in a panel to establish a hinge. As the shroud is pivoted about the hinge, horizontal electrical contacts on the panel and at least one card interengage and vertical contacts on one of the cards remote from the hinge simultaneously interengage. The contour of the shroud aids in installing or removing the module.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: David K. J. Kim, Barry Marshall, Ronald Barnes
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Patent number: 5969949Abstract: A heat transmitting slug is attached to a chip or other heat emitting electronic component by an adhesive. A heat sink is mounted on the slug by one or more screws or other fasteners, preferably with thermal grease between the bottom of the heat sink base and the top of the slug. The top of the slug is formed with a longitudinal tongue and the base of the heat sink with a mating groove. Preferably the base of the heat sink is offset upwardly above the groove to resist tendency to fracture under stress.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: David K. J. Kim, Barry Marshall, Ronald Barnes
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Patent number: 5912799Abstract: An enclosure is assembled from metal-plated rigid structural foam plastic components to house in minimal space in many hard disk drives. Major components, including the power supply, plug directly to a motherboard at the rear of the enclosure, eliminating internal cables. The parts fit together in snap-in fashion in such manner that the back will not close if parts are not installed properly. For ventilation, slots are formed in the sides and a central partition which permit air from fans on one side to flow laterally across all the disk drives and then out through slots in the opposite side. A side facing door permits easy access to all drives simultaneously for service and upgrade.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1996Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: William Grouell, Michael McCormick, Craig M. Leveralt, Ronald Barnes
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Patent number: 5612852Abstract: A compact housing for a workstation-class computer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a structural heat sink with a horizontal base heat sink that includes an interchangeable power source housing and a hard disk drive receptacle. The horizontal base heat sink operates to conduct heat away from the functional elements positioned within the interchangeable power source housing and the hard disk drive receptacle. The structural heat sink also includes a vertical tower heat sink to support functional elements including a power converter. The vertical tower heat sink operates to conduct heat away from the functional elements. The vertical tower heat sink also includes support devices for receiving a detachable pivot display system. The structural heat sink is surrounded by a vented exterior skin that facilitates convective heat transfer from the structural heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1996Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Craig M. Leverault, Michael F. McCormick, Jr., Robert J. Lajara, Alan W. Lam, Peter C. D. Ta, Howard W. Stolz, Jay K. Osborn, Michael S. Dann, Ronald Barnes
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Patent number: 5370577Abstract: An integral multi-functional apparatus is used with building trusses which provides structural integrity in the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The apparatus also serves to permit ventilation and maintain insulation in a desired position. Each apparatus includes a face plate having a plurality of air passages, a back plate having a lip, opposing stud straps for vertical interconnection of truss chords with the frame, and opposing truss chord flanges for horizontal interconnection of the truss chords. A top truss chord web is joined to each truss chord flange for securement to the top of the truss chord. A top plate tab is also joined to each truss chord flange for attachment to the top plate of the frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1993Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Mike JonettInventors: Mike Jonett, Ronald Barnes
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Patent number: 4895106Abstract: A seed treating and conveying apparatus includes an elongated auger unit on which a liquid chemical applicator tank is mounted for treating the seeds as they are conveyed through the auger tube. The auger includes a central shaft having brush flighting thereon for gentle handling of the seeds as well as for picking up treatment and thoroughly and uniformly applying it to the seeds. The auger unit is pivotally supported for adjusting the position of the discharge end without moving the vehicle on which it is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1989Date of Patent: January 23, 1990Inventor: Ronald A. Barnes
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Patent number: 4503803Abstract: A seed treating and conveying apparatus includes an elongated auger unit on which a chemical applicator tank is mounted for treating the seeds as they are conveyed through the auger tube. The auger includes a central shaft having brush flighting thereon for gentle handling of the seeds as well as for picking up treatment and thoroughly and uniformly applying it to the seeds. The auger unit is pivotally supported for adjusting the position of the discharge end without moving the vehicle on which it is mounted. In one embodiment, the auger unit is mounted on a slide track so as to be both longitudinally and pivotally movable. In another embodiment, the auger unit is removable from the associated large seed hopper for use in filling the hopper.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1984Date of Patent: March 12, 1985Inventor: Ronald A. Barnes