Patents by Inventor Sean Conor Wrycraft

Sean Conor Wrycraft 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: 7280352
    Abstract: There is provided a drive carrier. The drive carrier is configured to receive a media drive and is also configured to be removably receivable in a receiving location of a computer system. The drive carrier includes a base portion, a handle portion and a latch mechanism for securing the carrier within the receiving location. The base portion and the handle portion are configured to co-operate to operate the latch mechanism on insertion and/or removal of the carrier from the receiving location, for inserting and/or removing the carrier from the receiving location and operating the latch mechanism with a single movement of the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Helenaur Wilson, Sean Conor Wrycraft, Andrew Donovan
  • Patent number: 7256995
    Abstract: An electronics module comprises a housing; and a plurality of electronic and electrical components for example fans. The module includes electromagnetic shielding for example perforated panels side walls etc. that is associated with the housing and/or the electronic components, and which provides a Faraday cage for the electronic components. The shielding is constructed so that one or more of the components can be removed from the module while the module is in operation substantially without affecting the integrity of the Faraday cage. The module enables certain components thereof to be replaced without adding to the downtime of the system or increasing electromagnetic interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Conor Wrycraft, Brian Benstead
  • Patent number: 7215556
    Abstract: A rack-mounted assembly (10) comprises one or more racks, each capable of containing one or more printed circuit boards (PCB) (18), interconnected by a backplane (15) which is located along the bottom of a shelf (14). This position of the backplane (15) allows the rear wall of the rack-mounted assembly to be perforated, thereby permitting a cooling airflow for the PCBs to pass in through the front of the assembly and then out through the back. An insertion mechanism is provided to allow a PCB to be inserted into a rack. To achieve this, the PCB must first travel backwards into the rack-mounted assembly, and then downwards into engagement with the backplane (15). In one embodiment, this is accomplished by supporting the PCB from a hanger (100) which moves in and out of the rack-mounted assembly along a guide rail (45). The hanger includes slots (115) that retain pins (110) from the PCB. The slots are orientated diagonally upwards and backwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 7164587
    Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) shielding assembly shields an electronic component mounted on a circuit board. The assembly includes a shielding portion that is electrically conductive and can be mounted adjacent an electronic component that it is desired shield. The shielding portion at least partially surrounds the component, thereby providing a degree of EM shielding. The assembly also includes at least one resiliently biased electrically conductive connection member in electrical communication with the shielding portion. The connection member is operable electrically to connect the shielding portion to a predetermined voltage by bearing down upon an electrically conductive contact of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Garnett, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 7126827
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronics assembly may include a frame with a motherboard and a plurality of daughterboards. The frame may have an opening opposite the motherboard to allow insertion of the daughterboards into the frame or removal of the daughterboards from the frame. An injector/ejector mechanism for each daughterboard may be located on the daughterboard or the frame. The frame may further include a flange that extends along the frame at or adjacent to the opening and on which the injector/ejector mechanism of each daughterboard is attached or engages at different locations along the length thereof. The flange may be divided into separate sections that correspond to the different locations to allow the flange to flex at any location along the frame during insertion of a daughterboard without the flexing affecting the position of any adjacent location of the flange with respect to the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Kevin Osborn, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 7079396
    Abstract: A heatsink for a memory module includes a substantially planar contact portion for forming a thermal contact with the memory module and for mounting the heatsink on the memory module. One or more formations for emitting heat are also provided, the formations for emitting heat being in thermal communication with the contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William George Gates, Richard John Harris, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 7027299
    Abstract: An electronics assembly, for example a computer that may be employed as a network server, has an enclosure, and a plurality of heat-generating components such as microprocessors located inside the enclosure. One or more fans may be provided for maintaining a through flow of air for cooling the components of the assembly. The heat-generating components are located within the enclosure in line with the direction of the flow of air, and the heat-sinks have a configuration such that the air flows over them in parallel. The heat-sinks may each have a flat base for mounting on the component, and a cantilevered portion having one end located on the base, and another end that extends beyond the base and over the base of the other heat-sink, but not in contact with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Conor Wrycraft, Jay Kevin Osborn
  • Patent number: 6952349
    Abstract: There is described a motion control device for preventing free-fall of electronics modules during vertical movement into or out of a supporting structure. The system comprises a rotatable element on the module or structure engageable with surface on the structure or module, respectively, for rolling movement therealong. The rotatable element is provided with a clutch or brake to provide resistance to rotation at least when the module is moving downward relative to the structure. The rotatable element may be a gear engageable with a toothed rack, or a friction roller engageable with a friction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Ronald Gough, James Robert Kitchen, Jay K. Osborn, Stephen David Sparkes, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6947281
    Abstract: An electrically powered cooling unit (130), such as a fan unit, is mountable on a support structure (110) within a housing (140), for example a computer housing. The support structure (110) can mount one or more electrically powered cooling units (130). Each cooling unit (130) includes an electrical connector (400) fixed relative to the cooling unit and cooperable with a connector of the support structure, so that offering the cooling unit up to its mounting position completes the electrical connections between the cooling unit and the support structure. In alternative embodiments, a single structure is used both to physically support and electrically connect the cooling unit (130) to the support structure (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Conor Wrycraft, Paul Garnett
  • Patent number: 6867980
    Abstract: A rack for an electronics assembly comprises: (i) a supporting frame (22, 24); (ii) a slider mechanism (4) having a first part (6) that is supported by the frame and a second part (8) that supports the electronics assembly, the mechanism configured to allow the assembly to be moved out of the rack; and (iii) a cable management system for supporting cables located at the rear of the assembly. The cable management system comprises an articulated arm having a first end coupled to the assembly and a second end coupled to the first part (6) of the slider mechanism so that bending of the arm accommodates movement of the electronics assembly. The cable management system ensures that the assembly can be pulled out of the rack by the required distance irrespective of the depth of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6854605
    Abstract: A rack for an electronics assembly may have a supporting frame and a slider mechanism with a first part that is supported by the frame and a second part that supports the electronics assembly. The slider mechanism may be configured to allow the assembly to be moved out of the rack. The rack may further include a cable management system for supporting cables located at the rear of the assembly. The cable management system may have an articulated arm with a first end coupled to the assembly and a second end coupled to the first part of the slider mechanism so that bending of the arm accommodates movement of the electronics assembly. The cable management system may allow the assembly to be pulled out of the rack by the required distance irrespective of the depth of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6842349
    Abstract: A modular electronic circuit is described wherein circuit boards extending across the width of circuit module are removable through an access opening substantially coextensive with the front face of the module. A hinge component for mounting an access door and a grip for extracting a module from a mounting rack is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Conor Wrycraft, Andrew John Yair
  • Patent number: 6833994
    Abstract: An electronics assembly comprises: (i) a chassis (1); (ii) at least one front panel (40, 42) that is arranged in front of the chassis to obscure the chassis; and (iii) at least one device (60) that is mounted on the chassis and supports the or a front panel. The or each device (60) or the or each panel (40, 42) includes at least one retaining element (62) that extends out of the device or panel and is received in a recess in the or each panel or in the or each device respectively to retain the panel on the chassis. The element is manually retractable into the device or panel to allow the panel to be removed from the chassis. The assembly may include, for example, air filters in the panel(s), and these may be changed quickly so that the assembly does not need to be powered down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Yair, John David Schnabel, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6796817
    Abstract: An ejector mechanism (14) for a circuit board (21) and back plane (61), the ejector mechanism being operable to provide resiliently biased engagement between a first part (10) of an electrical connector (8) and a mutually engaging second part (12) of the electrical connector (8), the first and second parts of the electrical connector providing electrical connection for a plurality of electrical channels between the circuit board on which the first part is mounted and the back plane on which the second part is mounted. The ejector mechanism comprises an engaging projection (42) and a lever arm (40) pivotally mounted on one of the circuit board and the back plane and configured to engage the engaging projection (42) forming part of the other of the circuit board and the back plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6791828
    Abstract: A system unit includes a media drive bay. The media drive bay includes a metal drive bay housing configured to receive a media drive. A connector is provided to interface with a connector on a received media drive. A resilient tongue integral with the media drive bay housing is operable to urge onto a received media drive to hold the media drive in place and to ground a casing of the media drive. A detent is provided for latching a latching member attached to the media drive casing. The media drive can be a commercially available media drive for non-removable use, the media drive being modified by the provision of the latching member to provide for removability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Ronald Gough, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Publication number: 20040142590
    Abstract: An electronics assembly comprises a frame (1) that contains a motherboard (8) and a plurality of daughterboards (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Jay Kevin Osborn, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Patent number: 6746502
    Abstract: An electronics assembly includes a chassis and a panel mounted on the chassis. The panel has an air filter on a surface of the panel which is retained in position on the panel by one or more retaining elements (80), for example plastics rivets, that can be operated to allow release of the air filter from the panel. The air filter can be changed very quickly during maintenance of the assembly without the need to switch the assembly off during changing of the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Yair, John David Schnabel, Sean Conor Wrycraft, Stephen Paul Haworth
  • Publication number: 20040032722
    Abstract: An electronics module comprises a housing; and a plurality of electronic and electrical components for example fans. The module includes electromagnetic shielding for example perforated panels side walls etc. that is associated with the housing and/or the electronic components, and which provides a Faraday cage for the electronic components. The shielding is constructed so that one or more of the components can be removed from the module while the module is in operation substantially without affecting the integrity of the Faraday cage. The module enables certain components thereof to be replaced without adding to the downtime of the system or increasing electromagnetic interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Conor Wrycraft, Brian Benstead
  • Patent number: 6680850
    Abstract: An electronics assembly comprises a frame (1) that contains a motherboard (8) and a plurality of daughterboards (10). The frame has an opening opposite the motherboard to allow insertion of the daughterboards into the frame or removal of the daughterboards from the frame. The frame also has an injector/ejector mechanism (16, 18) for each daughterboard that is located on the daughterboard or the frame and a flange (28) that extends adjacent to the opening and on which the injector/ejector mechanism of each daughterboard is attached or engages at different locations along the length thereof. The flange (28) is divided into separate sections (30) that correspond to the different locations to allow the flange to flex at any adjacent location during insertion of a daughterboard without the flexing affecting the position of any adjacent location of the flange with respect to the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Kevin Osborn, Sean Conor Wrycraft
  • Publication number: 20030227754
    Abstract: An electronics assembly comprises a frame (1) that contains a motherboard (8) and a plurality of daughterboards (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Jay Kevin Osborn, Sean Conor Wrycraft