Patents by Inventor Andrew Butcher

Andrew Butcher 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: 20180357090
    Abstract: An information handling system may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and an FPGA service manager, within a hypervisor, to receive from software running in a virtual machine a request for an FPGA service, load a bitstream for the service into a first region of the FPGA, increment a count of concurrent users of the bitstream, determine, subsequent to a further update to the count, whether the count is zero or non-zero, and reclaim the first region of the FPGA if the count is zero. The bitstream may be received from the virtual machine or from a catalog of bitstreams maintained on the hypervisor. The FPGA service manager may load a second instance of the bitstream into a second region of the FPGA dependent on execution constraints specified in a bitstream header, or may load a bitstream for a second service into the second region of the FPGA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Butcher, Shawn Joel Dube
  • Publication number: 20180357098
    Abstract: An information handling system may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a hypervisor to manage virtual machines. The hypervisor may host a first FPGA service manager that loads instances of binary images for FPGA services into respective regions of the FPGA for the benefit of software applications. The virtual machine may host a second FPGA service manager that receives a request for an FPGA service from a software application running in the virtual machine, and sends a query to the first FPGA service manager to determine whether a binary image for the FPGA service exists on the FPGA. The first FPGA service manager may receive the query and, if a binary image instance for the FPGA service exists on the FPGA, may provide information to the second FPGA service manager to facilitate the use of the FPGA service by the software application running in the virtual machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Shawn Joel Dube, Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20180357091
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a device may include and/or implement a physical function and multiple virtual functions that are operable to be arranged in a logical nested hierarchy and operable to be configured to respective virtual machines in a hierarchy of nested virtual machines. For example, the physical function may be configured to receive a request, issued from a virtual function of the multiple virtual functions corresponding to a Nth level of nesting of the multiple virtual functions. Until a response to the request is received, the physical function may iteratively provide the request to a virtual function of the multiple virtual functions corresponding to a current level of nesting and if the response to the request is not received from the virtual function corresponding to the current level of nesting, utilize the current level of nesting as a level immediately below the current level of nesting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Wade Andrew Butcher, Lee E. Ballard
  • Patent number: 10152264
    Abstract: A memory device update system includes a computing device couple to a management device. While the computing device is in a pre-boot environment, a memory device update engine in the computing device assigns a memory type, which is associated with the storage of memory device update information, to memory region(s) in a memory subsystem in the computing device. Subsequent to a boot of the computing device such that the computing device is in a runtime environment, the memory device update engine retrieves memory device update information from the management device and uses a data communication interface between the memory device update engine and the memory subsystem to write the memory device update information to the memory region(s) that were assigned the memory type. While the computing device is in the runtime environment, the memory subsystem then uses the memory device update information to update the memory subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wade Andrew Butcher, Vijay Bharat Nijhawan, Vadhiraj Sankaranarayanan
  • Patent number: 10148209
    Abstract: A method, implemented in one or more controllers in a vehicle, includes, in a presence of a propulsive demand of the vehicle that is driven by an engine and an electric machine, holding electric machine current at a predetermined magnitude and sweeping an angle, defined between a reference current and a reference Iq component, through a predetermined range. The method further includes operating the electric machine thereafter according to a resolver offset derived from a value of the angle corresponding to an Iq component crossing zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Xuemei Sun
  • Publication number: 20180316629
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, processes, and/or methods may utilize a trace unit that stores trace data via a trace buffer in a memory medium and may utilize a network interface that provides the trace data from the trace buffer to a network. In one example, the network interface may provide the trace data from the trace buffer to the network in response to a trigger. In one instance, the trigger may include a modification of a pointer to an address of the trace buffer. In another instance, the trigger may include an expiration of a timer. In another example, the trace unit may filter the trace data. In one or more embodiments, storing the traced data and providing the trace data to the network may be performed without involving a main processor of an information handling system that includes the trace unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Wade Andrew Butcher, Kurtis John Bowman
  • Patent number: 10112613
    Abstract: A method of managing torque at a vehicle standstill includes outputting torque from a powertrain to satisfy a driver torque demand. The method also includes, in response to a nonzero torque demand resulting in vehicle standstill, applying a friction brake to maintain the vehicle standstill and substantially reducing output torque of the powertrain during friction brake application. The method further includes satisfying driver torque demand using the powertrain and releasing the friction brake in response to the driver torque demand deviating from the nonzero torque demand by more than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Hunt, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Dale Scott Crombez, William David Treharne, Deborah Sue Lienau
  • Patent number: 10115375
    Abstract: A method may include in response to determining a host system is off, configuring a video controller of an information handling system including setting a display resolution of the video controller and writing management video data associated to a primary frame buffer such that management video data is able to be retrieved by the video controller for output to one or both of a first display associated with the host system and a second display of a management interface communicatively coupled to a management controller communicatively coupled to the processor and the memory and configured to provide out-of-band management of the information handling system. The method may further include in response to determining the host system is on, writing the management video data to an alternate frame buffer such that management video data is able to be retrieved by the video controller for output to the second display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wade Andrew Butcher, Timothy M. Lambert, Johan Rahardjo
  • Patent number: 10112596
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a hybrid powertrain. The hybrid powertrain includes an engine and an electric machine. In response to a loss of controllability of the electric machine, a controller is programmed to operate the powertrain in a limited operating mode. In the limited operating mode, the powertrain is controlled so that a speed of the engine is within a speed range such that the electric machine generates a current to charge a traction battery. In response to a loss of communication with a power inverter that controls the electric machine, the powertrain is controlled so that the speed of the engine is within the speed range and the current flowing to the traction battery is monitored. If the current flow is above a threshold, then the limited operating mode is entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Francis Thomas Connolly
  • Publication number: 20180300202
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a processor complex and a baseboard management controller (BMC). The processor complex provides boot status information in response to a system boot process of the processor complex. The BMC receives first boot status information from the processor complex in response to a first system boot process, compares the first boot status information to baseline status information to determine first boot status difference information, compares the first boot status difference information to baseline boot status difference information to determine that the information handling system experienced an anomaly during the first system boot process, and sends an alert that indicates that the first system boot process experienced the anomaly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy M. Lambert, Andrew Butcher, Anh Luong
  • Patent number: 10081261
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system includes a charger configured to receive power form an external power source and a connector. The connector is configured to receive power from the charger and transmit the received power to a vehicle via a high-voltage cable. The cable is configured to connect the connector to a vehicle battery. Each of the charger and the connector includes a high voltage interlock loop (HVIL) configured to cause the charger to cease power transfer upon recognizing a predetermined voltage difference at a pair of ports of the HVIL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Grimes, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Robert John Link, Xuemei Sun
  • Publication number: 20180251119
    Abstract: A method, implemented in one or more controllers in a vehicle, includes, in a presence of a propulsive demand of the vehicle that is driven by an engine and an electric machine, holding electric machine current at a predetermined magnitude and sweeping an angle, defined between a reference current and a reference Iq component, through a predetermined range. The method further includes operating the electric machine thereafter according to a resolver offset derived from a value of the angle corresponding to an Iq component crossing zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: William David TREHARNE, Jonathan Andrew BUTCHER, Xuemei SUN
  • Publication number: 20180246775
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a memory controller and a Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM) including a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device. The DRAM device is configured to detect an Error Correcting Code (ECC) bit error for a data transaction within the DRAM device, determine if the ECC bit error results in an ECC error threshold being exceeded, and provide an alert signal to the memory controller in response to determining that the ECC bit error resulted in the ECC error threshold being exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Vadhiraj Sankaranarayanan, Stuart Allen Berke, Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20180246643
    Abstract: A DIMM includes a DRAM device and a non-volatile memory device. The DIMM is configured in a first mode to receive a save signal from a memory controller via a save pin of the DIMM and to perform a first save operation to transfer data from the DRAM device to the non-volatile memory device in response to receiving the save signal. The DIMM is further configured in a second mode to receive a save command from the memory controller via a command bus of the DIMM and to perform a second save operation to transfer the data from the DRAM device to the non-volatile memory device in response to receiving the save command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: John E. Jenne, Vadhiraj Sankaranarayanan, Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20180244265
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric motor and an engine selectively coupled to the electric motor. The vehicle has an electric motor controller configured to, in response to (i) an absence of receiving a motor command signal within a predetermined time, (ii) a battery voltage being below a first threshold and (iii) a motor speed exceeding a second threshold, restrict operation of the electric motor to a limited operating mode and control the electric motor to generate a charging torque for a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew BUTCHER, Francis Thomas CONNOLLY
  • Patent number: 10040447
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided including an electric machine and at least one controller. The controller, or controllers, are configured to, in response to a reset of the at least one controller while a speed of the vehicle is greater than a threshold value, provide a current command to the electric machine in accordance with calibration values calculated prior to the reset such that inoperability of the electric machine due to the reset is less than one second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Reynolds, Daniel Robert Parks, Rimma Isayeva, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Patent number: 10038705
    Abstract: A method and information handling system (IHS) for identifying communication threats in an IHS. The method includes triggering a board management controller (BMC) to transmit a plurality of memory addresses identifying where a plurality of network packets received by the IHS are stored. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) within a processor receives the memory addresses of the network packets and retrieves the network packets. The network packets are analyzed by comparing at least one threat signature that is associated with undesired network behavior with the contents of the network packets. In response to the at least one threat signature matching the contents of at least one of the network packets, an intrusion alert is transmitted to the BMC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Elie Antoun Jreij, Chitrak Gupta, Wade Andrew Butcher, Sushma Basavarajaiah, Rama Rao Bisa
  • Publication number: 20180176036
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a top of rack having a port, and a server having a network interface card and a controller. The port of the top of the rack transmits a link aggregation control protocol (LACP) packet. The network interface card receives the LACP packet from the port of the top of rack, and forwards the LACP packet. The controller receives the LACP packet from the network interface card, and to determine whether to update or create a bond associated with the port and a destination virtual machine of the LACP packet. The LACP packet is transmitted from the bond to the network interface card, and in response to the LACP packet being received at the network interface card, the LACP packet is provided to the destination virtual machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Butcher, Lee E. Ballard, Hendrich M. Hernandez, Jon F. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20180134279
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery control module and a controller. The battery control module may be configured to issue at regular intervals a message indicative of an SOC of a battery. The controller may be configured to, in an absence of receiving the messages at the regular intervals while in a key-on state and a torque demand is present, restrict power flow between the battery and an electric powertrain to a limit that is based on a predicted SOC to provide limited propulsive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Trent BARKDULL, William David TREHARNE, Jonathan Andrew BUTCHER
  • Patent number: 9927776
    Abstract: An example method includes operating an electric machine to produce a torque output and a non-torque output. The method maintains the torque output and intentionally increases the non-torque output to produce a desired condition in an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Luedtke, Johnathan Andrew Butcher, Kent Hancock, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Paul Stephen Bryan