Patents by Inventor Sandra J. Shirk/Heath
Sandra J. Shirk/Heath 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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Publication number: 20230392822Abstract: An air moving device (AMD) includes a housing that dampens noise and routes airflow. The AMD housing includes a focal-bearing surface that has an associated focal point. The focal-bearing surface routes airflow through the AMD housing and reflects and concentrates noise to the focal point. The AMD housing further includes a noise dampening structure at the focal point to reduce, absorb, and/or dampen the concentrated noise. Because the noise is concentrated, a relatively smaller size noise dampening structure may effectively or adequately reduce or dampen AMD noise. The smaller size noise dampening structure relatively reduces airflow impedance. As such, AMD housing may provide for both reduced AMD noise and relatively reduced airflow impedance therein and/or therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2022Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Phillip V. Mann, Tyler Jandt, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Tyler Smith
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Patent number: 11785717Abstract: An electronic board assembly comprises a board comprising an electronic component and a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the electronic component. The connector is configured to receive an electronic card assembly, and the connector comprises an electrical contact and a friction contact. The electrical contact is configured to exert a first amount of force on the electronic card assembly when the electronic card assembly is being seated in the connector. The friction contact is configured to exert a second amount of force on the electronic card assembly when the electronic card assembly is being seated in the connector. The second amount of force is greater than the first amount of force.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Tyler Jandt, Mark Plucinski, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Phillip V. Mann
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Patent number: 11757222Abstract: To provide for high-performance communicational throughput between electronic systems, a high-performance connector pair is disclosed. The connector pair includes a pin receptacle and card edge (PRCE) connector that may be seated or connected to a pin and card edge receptacle (PCER) connector. The PRCE connector includes an edge connector, with a plurality of edge connector pads and a pin receptacle connector with a mount region connected to the printed circuit board and a receptacle portion with a plurality of conductive pin receptacles. The PRCE connector further includes a clearance between the edge connector and the receptacle portion. The PCER connector includes a pin and card edge receptacle connector with an edge socket that receives the edge connector and includes a plurality of socket pads. The PCER connector includes further includes a pin socket that receives the receptacle portion with a plurality of pins.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Phillip V. Mann, Tyler Jandt, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Tyler Smith
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Publication number: 20220201859Abstract: An electronic board assembly comprises a board comprising an electronic component and a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the electronic component. The connector is configured to receive an electronic card assembly, and the connector comprises an electrical contact and a friction contact. The electrical contact is configured to exert a first amount of force on the electronic card assembly when the electronic card assembly is being seated in the connector. The friction contact is configured to exert a second amount of force on the electronic card assembly when the electronic card assembly is being seated in the connector. The second amount of force is greater than the first amount of force.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Tyler Jandt, Mark Plucinski, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Phillip V. Mann
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Publication number: 20220200180Abstract: An electronic component assembly includes a board having an electronic component, a connector mounted to the board and electrically connected to the electronic component and having an anchoring feature positioned on an exterior of the connector, and a card having another electronic component and a securing feature. The electronic component assembly also includes a movable member positioned on one of the connector or the card. The movable member is positioned in the securing feature and contacts the anchoring feature to secure the card in a seated position in the connector, or the anchoring feature includes the movable member and contacts the securing feature to secure the card in the seated position in the connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Tyler Jandt, Mark Plucinski, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Phillip V. Mann
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Patent number: 11158987Abstract: An electrical cord includes a housing with a cavity and a connector rotatably connected to the housing. The electrical cord also includes a strain reliever connected to the housing and a cable connected to the connector. The cable extends through the cavity and connects to the strain reliever.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert John Monahan, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Paul Schaefer
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Patent number: 11071235Abstract: Method and apparatus includes a chassis to house circuitry, the chassis having first and second surfaces and an air inlet. An airflow moving device may create an airflow in a first direction that is communicated to the chassis via the air inlet. A wall structure may have a height that extends up from a base of the wall structure in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the airflow, where the base of the wall structure directly contacts the first surface and forms an elongated opening along a top surface of the wall structure and in between the second surface of the chassis. The airflow may flow over the top surface of the wall structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Phillip Mann, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Mark Plucinski, Tyler Jandt
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Publication number: 20210210893Abstract: An electrical cord includes a housing with a cavity and a connector rotatably connected to the housing. The electrical cord also includes a strain reliever connected to the housing and a cable connected to the connector. The cable extends through the cavity and connects to the strain reliever.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Robert John Monahan, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Paul Schaefer
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Patent number: 11013138Abstract: A cable management assembly for managing cables of rack-mounted computers may include: a base member selectively attachable to a structural member of a computer rack; and a sliding member comprising a cable retention area, wherein the sliding member is configured for connection to the base member by one or more mating connection components, wherein the one or more mating connection components allow for a limited degree of movement of the sliding member relative to the base member.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Justin C. Rogers, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Kenneth E. Lubahn
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Patent number: 10944191Abstract: An electric packaging including a board and a mechanical component attached to the board. The mechanical component includes a first end attached to the board, a second end opposite the first end, and a seat interposed between the first end and the second end. The mechanical component also includes an upper portion extending from the second end to the seat, the upper portion having a first width and a lower portion extending from the seat to the first end. The lower portion having a second width that is less than the first width. The electric packaging also includes a connector attached to the board. The connector includes a first surface attached to the board and a second surface located opposite the first surface. The second surface includes a plug connection area sized to receive a plug and located completely radially outside of the first width.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Mark Plucinski, Phillip V. Mann, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Tyler Jandt
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Publication number: 20210066832Abstract: An electric packaging including a board and a mechanical component attached to the board. The mechanical component includes a first end attached to the board, a second end opposite the first end, and a seat interposed between the first end and the second end. The mechanical component also includes an upper portion extending from the second end to the seat, the upper portion having a first width and a lower portion extending from the seat to the first end. The lower portion having a second width that is less than the first width. The electric packaging also includes a connector attached to the board. The connector includes a first surface attached to the board and a second surface located opposite the first surface. The second surface includes a plug connection area sized to receive a plug and located completely radially outside of the first width.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Mark Plucinski, Phillip V. Mann, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, TYLER JANDT
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Patent number: 10939571Abstract: Provided is a cable retention device configured to facet attachments and projections onto an enclosure. The device includes an inner and outer planar layer which include an inner and outer cutout respectively. The inner and outer planar layers are attached and aligned so the inner and outer cutouts overlap. The inner planar layer includes a pair of vertical slotted cutouts connected by a center cutout to form a plurality of pinch points. Each vertical slotted cutout includes an inner edge and an outer edge.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Stephen P. Mroz, Paul W. Schaefer, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Christopher L. Tuma
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Patent number: 10892581Abstract: A latch indicator apparatus for indicating a locked status of an attachment between a cable housing and a cable receptor. The latch indicator apparatus includes a latch indicator attached to a cable housing at an attachment point, a first resistive element having a first resistance, and is attached to the cable housing at the attachment point. The restive element of the latch indicator attaches to an indicator tab. The latch indicator includes an indicator window, which is positioned to indicate a locked status of the latch indicator based on the first resistance of the first resistive element. The latch indicator tests a connection between a cable housing and a cable housing by indicating a locked status. The locked status is indicated by exerting a first force on the indicator tab by pulling the indicator tab in a direction away from the connection between the cable housing and the cable receptor.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul W. Schaefer, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath
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Publication number: 20200359520Abstract: A cable management assembly for managing cables of rack-mounted computers may include: a base member selectively attachable to a structural member of a computer rack; and a sliding member comprising a cable retention area, wherein the sliding member is configured for connection to the base member by one or more mating connection components, wherein the one or more mating connection components allow for a limited degree of movement of the sliding member relative to the base member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: JUSTIN C. ROGERS, SANDRA J. SHIRK/HEATH, KENNETH E. LUBAHN
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Publication number: 20200196487Abstract: Method and apparatus includes a chassis to house circuitry, the chassis having first and second surfaces and an air inlet. An airflow moving device may create an airflow in a first direction that is communicated to the chassis via the air inlet. A wall structure may have a height that extends up from a base of the wall structure in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction of the airflow, where the base of the wall structure directly contacts the first surface and forms an elongated opening along a top surface of the wall structure and in between the second surface of the chassis. The airflow may flow over the top surface of the wall structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Phillip MANN, Sandra J. SHIRK/HEATH, Mark PLUCINSKI, Tyler JANDT
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Patent number: 10644451Abstract: A method and system for a dynamic keying system is disclosed. The method and system can include a male connector device having a first plurality of settings for one or more key features, and a female connector device having a second plurality of settings for one or more key features. The female connector device can be configured to operate in an initial mode in which it is configured to, in response to the introduction of the male connector device, correspond a first setting of the first plurality of settings to a second setting of the second plurality of settings. The female connector device can also be configured to operate in a subsequent mode, in which it can permit coupling with at least one male connector device having the first setting and consistently deny access to at least one male connector device having a third setting different than the first setting.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Phillip V. Mann, Mark D. Plucinski, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Arvind K. Sinha
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Patent number: 10573996Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure generally relate to cables and back shells having integrated force gauges. The force gauge includes a sliding member that engages features such as grooves formed in one or more surfaces of the back shell. The grooves and/or sliding member are sized and shaped such that a different forces applied to the sliding member facilitates movement between respective grooves.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Justin C. Rogers, Mark G. Clark, Lee N. Helgeson
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Publication number: 20200053899Abstract: Provided is a cable retention device configured to facet attachments and projections onto an enclosure. The device includes an inner and outer planar layer which include an inner and outer cutout respectively. The inner and outer planar layers are attached and aligned so the inner and outer cutouts overlap. The inner planar layer includes a pair of vertical slotted cutouts connected by a center cutout to form a plurality of pinch points. Each vertical slotted cutout includes an inner edge and an outer edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Stephen P. Mroz, Paul W. Schaefer, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Christopher L. Tuma
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Patent number: 10553992Abstract: A method and system for a dynamic keying system is disclosed. The method and system can include a male connector device having a first plurality of settings for one or more key features, and a female connector device having a second plurality of settings for one or more key features. The female connector device can be configured to operate in an initial mode in which it is configured to, in response to the introduction of the male connector device, correspond a first setting of the first plurality of settings to a second setting of the second plurality of settings. The female connector device can also be configured to operate in a subsequent mode, in which it can permit coupling with at least one male connector device having the first setting and consistently deny access to at least one male connector device having a third setting different than the first setting.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Phillip V. Mann, Mark D. Plucinski, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Arvind K. Sinha
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Patent number: 10542631Abstract: Provided is a cable retention device to facet attachments and projections onto an enclosure. The device includes an inner and outer planar layer which include an inner and outer cutout respectively. The inner and outer planar layers are attached and aligned so the inner and outer cutouts overlap. The inner planar layer includes a pair of vertical slotted cutouts connected by a center cutout to form a plurality of pinch points. Each vertical slotted cutout includes an inner edge and an outer edge.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Stephen P. Mroz, Paul W. Schaefer, Sandra J. Shirk/Heath, Christopher L. Tuma