Patents by Inventor William M. Megarity

William M. Megarity 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).

  • Publication number: 20150327394
    Abstract: A heatsink includes a rigid plate and a plurality of pin fins. The plate has a two dimensional array of holes through the rigid plate from a first face to a second face. Each pin fin is received in one of the holes and has a proximal end extending beyond the first face of the plate for conductively receiving heat, a distal end extending beyond the second face of the plate for convective heat exchange with air, a biasing member biasing the pin fin in a proximal direction, and a shoulder limiting the proximal extension of the pin fin through the hole. An apparatus may include the pin fin heatsink secured to a printed circuit board having at least two components that have different heights. Accordingly, each component is contacted by the proximal end of one or more self-adjusting pin fins that are aligned with the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alvin G. Davis, William M. Megarity, April E. Ruggles, Paul A. Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 9185819
    Abstract: An electronic enclosure includes a first electronic module, a second electronic module, a third electronic module and a handle. The first electronic module is physically connected to the second electronic module and the third electronic module is physically connected to the second electronic module. The second electronic module vertically disengages from the first electronic module and the third electronic module horizontally disengages from the second electronic module. The handle forces sequenced orthogonal disconnection of the electronic modules such that the third electronic module horizontally disengages from the second electronic module prior to the second electronic module vertically disengages from the first electronic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Jeremy S. Bridges, Daniel P. Kelaher, William M. Megarity
  • Patent number: 9170222
    Abstract: Detecting TIM between a heat sink and an integrated circuit, the heat sink including TIM detection points, each TIM detection point adapted to receive TIM upon installation of the heat sink, each TIM detection point including a TIM detection device configured to be activated upon contact with TIM, including: receiving, upon installation of the heat sink on the integrated circuit and the TIM, TIM in one or more of the TIM detection points; activating, by the TIM in each of the one or more TIM detection points receiving the TIM, a TIM detection device; and determining, by a TIM detection module in dependence upon the activations of the TIM detection devices, sufficiency of the TIM between the heat sink and the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman
  • Patent number: 9171447
    Abstract: In an approach to analyzing audible alerts, one or more computer processors receive an audible alert originating external to a user. The one or more computer processors retrieve data related to the audible alert. The one or more computer processors analyze the data related to the audible alert. The one or more computer processors determine, based, at least in part, on the data related to the audible alert, a cause of the audible alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Sinagapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alvin G. Davis, Christopher J. Hardee, William M. Megarity, April E. Ruggles, Paul A. Wormsbecher
  • Publication number: 20150271647
    Abstract: Systems and methods for altering movement of mobile communication devices based on determined movements are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method may include determining movement of a mobile communication device. The method may also include determining whether the movement of the mobile communication device meets a predetermined criterion. Further, the method may include controlling a mechanism of the mobile communication device for altering movement of the mobile communication device in response to determining that the movement meets the predetermined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman, Christopher L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20150262469
    Abstract: In an approach to analyzing audible alerts, one or more computer processors receive an audible alert originating external to a user. The one or more computer processors retrieve data related to the audible alert. The one or more computer processors analyze the data related to the audible alert. The one or more computer processors determine, based, at least in part, on the data related to the audible alert, a cause of the audible alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alvin G. Davis, Christopher J. Hardee, William M. Megarity, April E. Ruggles, Paul A. Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 9122471
    Abstract: A computer determines a characteristic corresponding to each of a first power source and a second power source. The first and second power sources are connected to one or more power distribution units and are configured to provide power in a datacenter. The characteristic includes at least one of a current, a resistance, a voltage, a frequency, a phase, and a magnetic field. The computer generates a comparison of the characteristic corresponding to the first power source and the second power source, to a threshold value of the characteristic. The computer determines if the comparison violates the threshold value of the characteristic. In response to determining the comparison does not violate the threshold value of the characteristic, the computer determines that the first power source and the second power source are connected to a given power distribution unit included in the one or more power distribution units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John A. Henise, IV, William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman
  • Publication number: 20150222593
    Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product allocates network addresses to network devices. A network address providing server designates a particular network address as a designated network address for use with a specific non-network device, where the specific non-network device has a Unique Device Capability Identifier (UDCI), and where the non-network device is not connected to a network. The designated network address is stored in a lookup table containing the UDCI, such that the lookup table associates the designated network address with the UDCI. In response to a request from a network device for a network address including the UDCI, the network address providing server retrieves the designated network address from the lookup table based on the UDCI found in the request for a network address. The designated network address is then sent to the network device for use as a network address of the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: KEITH M. CAMPBELL, WILLIAM M. MEGARITY, LUKE D. REMIS, CHRISTOPHER L. WOOD
  • Publication number: 20150195940
    Abstract: An electronic enclosure includes a first electronic module, a second electronic module, a third electronic module and a handle. The first electronic module is physically connected to the second electronic module and the third electronic module is physically connected to the second electronic module. The second electronic module vertically disengages from the first electronic module and the third electronic module horizontally disengages from the second electronic module. The handle forces sequenced orthogonal disconnection of the electronic modules such that the third electronic module horizontally disengages from the second electronic module prior to the second electronic module vertically disengages from the first electronic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremy S. Bridges, Daniel P. Kelaher, William M. Megarity
  • Publication number: 20150153113
    Abstract: A heat sink includes a heat sink base having a central area for contacting a heat-generating component and a perimeter area extending beyond the central area, wherein the perimeter area of the heat sink base includes air pathways through the heat sink base and the central area does not. The heat sink further includes heat sink fins extending from the heat sink base across the central area and the perimeter area. Airflow across the heat sink removes heat from the heat-generating component, such as a processor. The central area may be secured in contact with a surface of a processor operably secured to a circuit board. The heat sink is particularly beneficial in circuit board configurations having a component immediately upstream or downstream of the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Troy W. Glover, William M. Megarity, Michael S. Purdy, Whitcomb R. Scott, III
  • Publication number: 20150138728
    Abstract: A method includes sensing ambient conditions in a datacenter containing a server, and determining whether the ambient conditions exceed predetermined threshold conditions representing risk of electrostatic discharge. A lid to the server is locked in a closed position in response to the ambient conditions exceeding the predetermined threshold conditions. However, the lid to the server is unlocked in response to a grounding strap being connected to the server. Optionally, the grounding strap may be identified and the server lid will only unlock if the identified grounding strap is associated with authorization to unlock the server lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Campbell, James G. McLean, William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman, Christopher L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20150095928
    Abstract: Delivering content via a content delivery device that includes audio delivery capabilities and video delivery capabilities, including: detecting, by a summarization module, that the audio delivery capabilities of the content delivery device have been disabled; identifying, by the summarization module, the content currently being delivered by the content delivery device; and displaying, by the summarization module, visual summary content associated with the content currently being delivered by the content delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Campbell, William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Christopher L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20150070401
    Abstract: A method of controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes applying a test voltage to the LCD, and detecting an amount of light received by a plurality of photosensors while the test voltage is being applied, wherein the photosensors are each aligned behind one of the liquid crystal elements of the LCD. An image is then displayed on the LCD by applying selected voltage levels to the LCD elements. An amount of backlight produced by backlighting elements is controlled to compensate for differences in the light transmittance of the individual LCD elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Campbell, William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman, Christopher L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20150070257
    Abstract: A computer program product (CPP) for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes code for applying a test voltage to each liquid crystal element (LCE) disposed in an addressable array forming the LCD, and code for detecting an amount of light received by photosensors while applying the test voltage applied to the LCEs, wherein each photosensor is aligned behind and logically associated with one of the LCEs. The CPP further includes code for applying selected voltage levels to each LCE to display an image, and code for controlling an amount of backlight produced by backlighting elements in an addressable array while the image is displayed. Each backlighting element is aligned behind and logically associated with one LCE, and at least one backlighting element is controlled to compensate for a difference between the amount of light detected by the photosensor logically associated with at least one LCE and the other photosensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Campbell, William M. Megarity, Luke D. Remis, Gregory D. Sellman, Christopher L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20150055455
    Abstract: A method, computer system, and/or computer program product controls access to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point in a retail establishment. A predetermined retail activity threshold is established for a retail establishment, where the retail establishment has a patron service area with a WLAN access point, and where a determination has been made that exceeding the predetermined retail activity threshold without increasing patron traffic out of the retail establishment will cause an excessive wait time for occupying the patron service area. In response to determining that the predetermined retail activity threshold is being exceeded, a secondary criterion is examined in order to determine if the mobile device should be disconnected from the WLAN access point, in order to motivate a user of the mobile device to leave the patron service area. If so, then the mobile device is disconnected from the WLAN access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: KEITH M. CAMPBELL, WILLIAM M. MEGARITY, LUKE D. REMIS, GREGORY D. SELLMAN
  • Patent number: 8941993
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a heat exchanger door and a catch bracket. The door is hingedly mounted to the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes: a door frame spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of the rack, wherein the frame includes an airflow opening which facilitates airflow through the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes thereacross; and a door latch mechanism to selectively latch the heat exchanger door to the rack. The catch bracket is attached to the rack and sized to extend from the rack into the heat exchanger door through a catch opening, and the door latch mechanism is configured and mounted within the heat exchanger door to physically engage the catch bracket within the heat exchanger door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., William M. Megarity, Roger R. Schmidt, Tejas Shah, Scott A. Shurson
  • Patent number: 8929075
    Abstract: An air-cooling method is provided which includes providing a heat exchanger door and a catch bracket. The door is hingedly mounted to the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes: a door frame spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of the rack, wherein the frame includes an airflow opening which facilitates airflow through the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes thereacross; and a door latch mechanism to selectively latch the heat exchanger door to the rack. The catch bracket is attached to the rack and sized to extend from the rack into the heat exchanger door through a catch opening, and the door latch mechanism is configured and mounted within the heat exchanger door to physically engage the catch bracket within the heat exchanger door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., William M. Megarity, Roger R. Schmidt, Tejas Shah, Scott A. Shurson
  • Publication number: 20140360916
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing electronic components in an electronics system enclosure are disclosed. An apparatus can include an electronics system enclosure having a compartment adapted to receive a removable electronic component. The apparatus also includes a cam having a portion extending into the compartment sufficient to hinder insertion of the removable electronic component in a default orientation. The portion of the cam includes first and second surfaces. The portion of the cam is configured to deflect sufficient to permit insertion of the removable electronic component into the compartment in response to a normal force. The deflection causes the cam to deflect to a modified orientation. The cam portion returns to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. The second surface of the portion is configured and arranged to engage a cam lever that is rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Karl K. Dittus, Daniel P. Kelaher, William M. Megarity, John P. Scavuzzo
  • Publication number: 20140359313
    Abstract: An approach is described for implementing an air tube button in a computing system. An associated apparatus may include an air tube having an aperture located on a panel of the computing system. The apparatus further may include an airflow sensor located in the air tube and a fan configured for facilitating airflow though the air tube. The airflow sensor may be an anemometer, an air pressure gauge, or a mass flow meter. The apparatus further may include a service processor subsystem connected to the airflow sensor. The service processor subsystem may be configured for implementing a virtual signal having a default logical high value. The service processor subsystem further may be configured for establishing a baseline value by determining average airflow detected by the airflow sensor over a unit of time and commencing sampling of the airflow sensor to obtain airflow values at uniform time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Keith M. CAMPBELL, William M. MEGARITY, Luke D. REMIS, Gregory D. SELLMAN
  • Patent number: 8903565
    Abstract: Improving the operating efficiency of a rear door heat exchanger, including: determining, by a ventilation management module, a temperature differential between two temperature sensors in the rear door heat exchanger, the temperature differential indicative of cooling efficiency in the rear door heat exchanger; determining, by the ventilation management module, whether the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold; and responsive to determining that the temperature differential is greater than the predetermined threshold, taking corrective action by the ventilation management module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., William M. Megarity