Patents by Inventor Stuart J. McGurnaghan

Stuart J. McGurnaghan 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).

  • System for minimizing mechanical and acoustical fan noise coupling
    Patent number: 8292593
    Abstract: A system and method of spread-spectrum fan control for an air-cooled system is provided for reducing the vibrational and acoustical noise associated with the air-cooled system. The method includes generating a first control signal that controls a blade-passing frequency of a first cooling fan and a second control signal that controls a blade-passing frequency of a second cooling fan, wherein the first and second control signals may be pulse width modulated (“PWM”) signals. One or more noise generators independently vary duty cycles for the first and second PWM signals within a range around respective first and second blade-passing frequency set points. As a result, the blade-passing frequencies for the first and second cooling fans are independently and randomly modulated within a range around the respective first and second blade-passing frequency set points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Orr, Stuart J. McGurnaghan
  • SYSTEM FOR MINIMIZING MECHANICAL AND ACOUSTICAL FAN NOISE COUPLING
    Publication number: 20110051357
    Abstract: A system and method of spread-spectrum fan control for an air-cooled system is provided for reducing the vibrational and acoustical noise associated with the air-cooled system. The method includes generating a first control signal that controls a blade-passing frequency of a first cooling fan and a second control signal that controls a blade-passing frequency of a second cooling fan, wherein the first and second control signals may be pulse width modulated (“PWM”) signals. One or more noise generators independently vary duty cycles for the first and second PWM signals within a range around respective first and second blade-passing frequency set points. As a result, the blade-passing frequencies for the first and second cooling fans are independently and randomly modulated within a range around the respective first and second blade-passing frequency set points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: DEREK ORR, STUART J. MCGURNAGHAN