Patents by Inventor William W. Ruckman

William W. Ruckman 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: 7036027
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for provision of efficient, effective, and/or flexible computer system layout and/or cooling configuration. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of cooling a computer system is disclosed. The computer system may include a plurality of heat generating electrical components that require cooling. The method includes: providing at least two cooling fans arranged front to back of the computer system to create a push (inlet) and pull (outlet) airflow to cool the computer system and providing a plurality of temperature sensors located at various locations within the computer system to sense a local temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Anthony Kozaczuk, Wenjun Chen, Talal J. Ahwal
  • Patent number: 6918174
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for provision of an efficient, effective, and/or flexible removable HDD cartridge. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for holding a removable assembly (3) is disclosed. The apparatus comprising: a cage (2) to hold the assembly, a cage bracket (1) slideably engaging the cage (2), and a latch (6) coupled to the cage. The cage may include a plurality of slide receptacles (20). The assembly may include a plurality of slides (19) slideably engaging the plurality of slide receptacles (20). The cage bracket may be mountable on an external device. The latch may include a latch cap (9) and a locking lip (11). The locking lip may engage a receptacle (12) on the cage bracket to lock together the cage bracket and the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Brett C. Ong
  • Patent number: 6909043
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an EMI seal in a system chassis. The EMI seal is provided by a bezel assembly for a storage medium drive. The bezel assembly includes a front bezel having an aperture through which a tray can extend for loading and unloading of the storage medium drive, and a tray bezel attached to the tray. Attached to the front bezel is an electrically conductive link. Both the front bezel and the tray bezel include an electrically conductive inner surface. Upon closing the tray, the electrically conductive link provides an electrical connection between the inner surface front bezel and the inner surface of the tray bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Wenjun Chen
  • Patent number: 6836412
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a base having an interior volume and a first cover attachable to the base and adapted to cover a first portion of the interior volume of the base such that, with the first cover attached to the base, a second portion of the interior volume of the base is accessible. The enclosure further includes a second cover attachable to the base and adapted to cover a second portion of the interior volume of the base, wherein the first cover in combination with the second cover covers generally all of the interior volume of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kim, Dimitry Struve, William W. Ruckman
  • Patent number: 6781841
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for storing electronic devices. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a base member attachable to an enclosure and a carrier rotatably coupled to the base member. The base member includes a pivotal member. The carrier includes a mounting mechanism coupled to the pivotal member to facilitate the rotational movement of the carrier with respect to the base member. The carrier is also adapted to attach to at least one peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David K.J. Kim, William W. Ruckman
  • Patent number: 6775147
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes an enclosure and a card retaining assembly. The card training assembly is mounted within the enclosure to support printed circuit boards (PCBs). The card retaining assembly includes a housing, mounted within the enclosure that has one or more cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kwang Jae Kim, William W. Ruckman, Wenjun William Chen
  • Patent number: 6772246
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for installing printed circuit boards within an electronic assembly. One embodiment is a riser card bracket assembly for an electronic system. The riser card bracket comprises an adjustable card retainer disposed within the riser card bracket assembly; the retainer is capable of movement within the riser card bracket assembly to secure cards of various lengths. Another embodiment of the invention is a method for installing cards within a computer housing having a motherboard. The method comprises providing a riser card bracket assembly having an adjustable card retainer. At least one card is inserted within the riser card bracket assembly. The riser card bracket assembly is inserted within the computer housing whereby the at least one card is positioned parallel to the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. J. Kim, William W. Ruckman
  • Publication number: 20040140548
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for provision of a modular debugger to adapt various chip sizes and/or signal analyzers. In an embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit (IC) assembly is disclosed. The IC assembly includes: a printed circuit board (PCB); a plurality of flex circuit connections electrically coupled to the PCB; a carrier electrically coupled to the PCB; a socket electrically coupled to the carrier; an application specific IC (ASIC) electrically coupled to the socket; and a PCB adapter card electrically couplable to at least one of the plurality of flex circuit connections. In another embodiment of the present invention, the PCB adapter card may include at least one connector to provide a communication channel between the ASIC and a signal analyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Wenjun Chen, William W. Ruckman, David K. Kim
  • Publication number: 20040109297
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes an enclosure and a card retaining assembly. The card retaining assembly is mounted within the enclosure to support printed circuit boards (PCBs). The card retaining assembly includes a housing, mounted within the enclosure that has one or more cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: David Kwang Jae Kim, William W. Ruckman, Wenjun William Chen
  • Publication number: 20040090768
    Abstract: A reflection mechanism for illuminating insignia on a computer system is provided. The reflection mechanism uses one or more angled reflectors that diffuse light through transparent insignia provided in the housing of the computer system. Such use of angled reflectors reduces hot spots typically attributable to direct light projection and provides uniform illumination of the transparent portions of the insignia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: David K.J. Kim, Milton C. Lee, Russell Brovald, William W. Ruckman, Wenjun Chen
  • Publication number: 20040075981
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for provision of efficient, effective, and/or flexible computer system layout and/or cooling configuration. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of cooling a computer system is disclosed. The computer system may include a plurality of heat generating electrical components that require cooling. The method includes: providing at least two cooling fans arranged front to back of the computer system to create a push (inlet) and pull (outlet) airflow to cool the computer system and providing a plurality of temperature sensors located at various locations within the computer system to sense a local temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: David K. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Anthony Kozaczuk, Wenjun Chen, Talal J. Ahwal
  • Publication number: 20040074082
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for provision of an efficient, effective, and/or flexible removable HDD cartridge. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for holding a removable assembly (3) is disclosed. The apparatus comprising: a cage (2) to hold the assembly, a cage bracket (1) slideably engaging the cage (2), and a latch (6) coupled to the cage. The cage may include a plurality of slide receptacles (20). The assembly may include a plurality of slides (19) slideably engaging the plurality of slide receptacles (20). The cage bracket may be mountable on an external device. The latch may include a latch cap (9) and a locking lip (11). The locking lip may engage a receptacle (12) on the cage bracket to lock together the cage bracket and the cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: David K. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Brett C. Ong
  • Publication number: 20040075982
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for provision of a heat dissipation device with improved EMI suppression characteristics. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a printed circuit board, which forms at least one grounding pad and at least one mounting hole. The apparatus may further include an integrated circuit, a heat dissipation device mounted on the integrated circuit, and a frame mounted on the printed circuit board through the mounting hole. The frame may include at least one frame leg in electrical contact with the grounding pad. The frame may form an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield to limit an EMI leakage generated by the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: David K. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Wenjun Chen, James H. Poore
  • Patent number: 6661656
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a base having an interior portion defined by a first side panel and a second side panel and a frame joined to the first side panel and the second side panel such that the frame extends across the interior portion the base. A computer system includes a motherboard having a central processing unit, a power supply capable of supplying power to the motherboard, and an enclosure capable of housing the motherboard and the power supply. The enclosure includes a base having an interior portion defined by a first side panel and a second side panel and a frame joined to the first side panel and the second side panel such that the frame extends across the interior portion of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Anthony Kozaczuk
  • Patent number: 6627812
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for installing printed circuit boards within an electronic assembly. One embodiment of the present invention is an electro-magnetic interference shielding apparatus for an electronic assembly comprising a shielding partition that separates a first compartment from a second compartment. The apparatus further comprises a top enclosure capable of engaging with the shielding partition to form a plurality of contact seams. The contact seams are capable of restricting electro-magnetic interference from passing through the shielding apparatus. The top enclosure can be capable of tool-free installation and removal to provide access to the interior of the electronic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David K.J. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Anthony R. Fredericksson, Wenjun Chen
  • Publication number: 20030049948
    Abstract: A computer assembly includes a motherboard having a first bus extending to a first connector and a riser card having a second bus extending to a plurality of connectors and extending to a second connector adapted to mate with the first contact set of the motherboard to couple the first bus with the second bus. The computer assembly further includes a first expansion card having a third bus extending to a third connector adapted to mate with one of the plurality of connectors of the riser card to couple the third bus with the second bus. A method includes driving a first signal onto a motherboard bus, transmitting the first signal over the motherboard bus to a riser card bus, and transmitting the first signal over the riser card bus to a plurality of expansion card buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Kim, Dimitry Struve, William W. Ruckman, Anthony Kozaczuk
  • Publication number: 20030048606
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a base having an interior portion defined by a first side panel and a second side panel and a frame joined to the first side panel and the second side panel such that the frame extends across the interior portion the base. A computer system includes a motherboard having a central processing unit, a power supply capable of supplying power to the motherboard, and an enclosure capable of housing the motherboard and the power supply. The enclosure includes a base having an interior portion defined by a first side panel and a second side panel and a frame joined to the first side panel and the second side panel such that the frame extends across the interior portion of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Anthony Kozaczuk
  • Publication number: 20030048622
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a base having an interior volume and a first cover attachable to the base and adapted to cover a first portion of the interior volume of the base such that, with the first cover attached to the base, a second portion of the interior volume of the base is accessible. The enclosure further includes a second cover attachable to the base and adapted to cover a second portion of the interior volume of the base, wherein the first cover in combination with the second cover covers generally all of the interior volume of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Kim, Dimitry Struve, William W. Ruckman
  • Publication number: 20030047606
    Abstract: A smart card reader assembly includes a printed circuit board having a bus, a smart card reader interconnected with the bus of the printed circuit board, and a connector interconnected with the bus of the printed circuit board. The smart card reader is capable of reading data from a smart card and is capable of transmitting signals representing the data to the bus of the printed circuit board. Further, the smart card reader assembly is capable of being oriented so that the smart card may be inserted into the smart card reader in an upright orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Kim, Dimitry Struve, William W. Ruckman
  • Publication number: 20030037941
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for installing printed circuit boards within an electronic assembly. One embodiment of the present invention is an electro-magnetic interference shielding apparatus for an electronic assembly comprising a shielding partition that separates a first compartment from a second compartment. The apparatus further comprises a top enclosure capable of engaging with the shielding partition to form a plurality of contact seams. The contact seams are capable of restricting electro-magnetic interference from passing through the shielding apparatus. The top enclosure can be capable of tool-free installation and removal to provide access to the interior of the electronic assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: David K.J. Kim, William W. Ruckman, Anthony R. Fredericksson, Wenjun Chen