Patents by Inventor Christian L. Belady

Christian L. Belady 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: 20180199471
    Abstract: A method of managing a power supply system for a data center includes circulating a fluid in a cooling circuit, obtaining data regarding a server located in the data center using a sensor, controlling the transfer of heat energy from the server to the fluid based on the data, coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator, and generating power for the server using the fluid in the electrochemical power generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Douglas M. Carmean, William Gates, Shaun L. Harris, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Sean M. James, Brian A. Janous, Jordin T. Kare, Jie Liu, Max N. Mankin, Gregory J. McKnight, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood,, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9949411
    Abstract: A power supply system for a data center includes a cooling circuit, an electrochemical power generator, a sensor, and a processor. The cooling circuit includes a fluid configured to receive heat energy generated by a server located in the data center. The electrochemical power generator is configured to receive and/or generate the fluid of the cooling circuit and to generate electrical energy for the server using the fluid. The sensor is configured to obtain data regarding the server. The processor is configured to control an amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Douglas M. Carmean, William Gates, Shaun L. Harris, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Sean M. James, Brian A. Janous, Jordin T. Kare, Jie Liu, Max N. Mankin, Gregory J. McKnight, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9894810
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Patent number: 9886316
    Abstract: A data center system is described which includes multiple data centers powered by multiple power sources, including any combination of renewable power sources and on-grid utility power sources. The data center system also includes a management system for managing execution of computational tasks by moving data components associated with the computational tasks within the data center system, in lieu of, or in addition to, moving power itself. The movement of data components can involve performing pre-computation or delayed computation on data components within any data center, as well as moving data components between data centers. The management system also includes a price determination module for determining prices for performing the computational tasks based on different pricing models. The data center system also includes a “stripped down” architecture to complement its use in the above-summarized data-centric environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, James R. Larus, Danny A. Reed, Christian H. Borgs, Jennifer Tour Chayes, Ilan Lobel, Ishai Menache, Hamid Nazerzadeh, Navendu Jain
  • Patent number: 9812925
    Abstract: Processing units and electrical power generation are integrated with a botanical environment to form a closed loop system whereby the outputs of one component serve as the inputs of another. Additionally, humans can be added to the system while maintaining the closed loop nature. Heat generated by the electrical power generation and processing units aids in the growth of botanicals and in the conversion of waste organic materials into both fertilizer and fuel for the electrical power generation. Additionally, carbon dioxide output by the electrical power generation is consumed by the botanicals, which, in turn, output oxygen consumed by the electrical power generation. Water is obtained by passing the exhaust of the electrical power generation across condenser coils, and is utilized for adiabatic cooling, as well as a heat transfer medium. Water is also consumed by the botanicals, aiding their growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Brian Janous, Sean James
  • Publication number: 20170251574
    Abstract: A power supply system for a data center includes a cooling circuit, an electrochemical power generator, a sensor, and a processor. The cooling circuit includes a fluid configured to receive heat energy generated by a server located in the data center. The electrochemical power generator is configured to receive and/or generate the fluid of the cooling circuit and to generate electrical energy for the server using the fluid. The sensor is configured to obtain data regarding the server. The processor is configured to control an amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Douglas M. Carmean, William Gates, Shaun L. Harris, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Sean M. James, Brian A. Janous, Jordin T. Kare, Jie Liu, Max N. Mankin, Gregory J. McKnight, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood,, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9655285
    Abstract: A power supply system for a data center includes a cooling circuit, an electrochemical power generator, a sensor, and a processor. The cooling circuit includes a fluid configured to receive heat energy generated by a server located in the data center. The electrochemical power generator is configured to receive and/or generate the fluid of the cooling circuit and to generate electrical energy for the server using the fluid. The sensor is configured to obtain data regarding the server. The processor is configured to control an amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Douglas M. Carmean, William Gates, Shaun L. Harris, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Sean M. James, Brian A. Janous, Jordin T. Kare, Jie Liu, Max N. Mankin, Gregory J. McKnight, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9588558
    Abstract: A self-powered processing device comprises both a processing device and a power generator that are physically, electrically, and thermally coupled to one another. The power generator can be a fuel cell that can be manufactured from materials that can also support processing circuitry, such as silicon-based materials. A thermal coupling between the power generator and the processing device can include a thermoelectric either generating electrical power from the temperature differential or consuming electrical power to generate a temperature differential. A computing device with self-powered processing devices also includes energy storage devices to store excess energy produced by the self-powered processing device and provide it back during times of need. The self-powered processing device comprises either a wireless or wired network connection, the latter being connectable to a slot on a backplane that can aggregate multiple self-powered processing devices and provide fuel delivery paths for them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Joseph McKnight, Christian L. Belady, Brandon Aaron Rubenstein, Brian Janous, Sean M. James
  • Patent number: 9585291
    Abstract: Water condensate is captured from the exhaust of a generator utilized to provide power to a data center, and the captured water is then utilized for data center purposes such as adiabatic cooling. The exhaust of electrical power generators is passed through a condenser to obtain water condensate from such exhaust. The water condensate is stored in water storage units and is utilized to provide supplemental cooling to the data center. Sporadic usage of water can enable the water storage to be refilled between uses, since water condensate can be obtained from exhaust almost continuously. The level of water is monitored and the level of processing performed by the data center is adjusted to avoid emptying such water storage units. Historical climatological data is utilized to estimate the water required. Additionally, short and long-range weather forecasts can be optionally taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Sean M. James
  • Patent number: 9519878
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for regulating an amount of power on a power grid using a datacenter. This allows demand to be more closely brought into alignment with supply. For example, when supply exceeds demand by a predetermined level, the datacenter may increase consumption, causing demand to increase, and when demand exceeds supply and/or comes within a predetermined threshold of supply, the datacenter may decrease consumption, causing demand to decrease. In this way, the datacenter can be utilized as a regulatory tool on the grid. It may be appreciated that given the technology used by and/or operations performed by datacenters, datacenters are uniquely situated to achieve these ends as compared to other (large) energy consumers, such as manufacturing facilities that cannot shift around and/or shut-down operations swiftly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sriram Sankar, Christian L. Belady, T. Varugis Kurien, Joseph M. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20160338229
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Patent number: 9468093
    Abstract: A flexible midplane comprises: a printed circuit board including: a middle section and at least one side section; and a flexible region disposed between the middle section and each side section; wherein each flexible region permits the corresponding side section to be bent in relation to the middle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Eric C. Peterson, Christian L. Belady
  • Publication number: 20160247085
    Abstract: A method described herein includes an act of receiving data that is indicative of predicted weather conditions for a particular geographic region, wherein the particular geographic region has an energy generation system therein, and wherein the energy generation system utilizes at least one renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. The method also includes the act of scheduling a computational workload for at least one computer in a data center based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the predicted weather conditions for the particular geographic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
  • Patent number: 9416904
    Abstract: Gas supply pressure spikes are absorbed and leveled-out by a gas supply shock absorber comprising gas storage, which is charged during positive pressure spikes and utilized during negative pressure spikes. The gas supply shock absorber also comprises pressure sensing and regulating valves, which direct positive pressure spikes to the gas storage and draw gas from storage during negative pressure spikes. A backflow preventer limits shock absorption to co-located equipment, but gas supply shock absorbers operate in aggregate to create additional demand during positive pressure spikes and reduced demand during negative pressure spikes. If the gas storage has sufficient gas, a co-located data center utilizes such gas for increased electrical power generation during increased processing activity, which can be requested or generated. Conversely, if the gas storage has insufficient gas, and a negative pressure spike occurs, the data center throttles down or offloads processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Sean M. James
  • Publication number: 20160156182
    Abstract: A “data plant” accepts power-generation-capable raw materials and outputs processed data. The processed data can be delivered to consumers more efficiently than other forms of power transfer, including power transfer through electricity, steam, physical motion, and the like. Consequently, data plants can be located where power-generation-capable raw materials can be obtained inexpensively, for free, or where power-generation-capable raw materials are waste products for which the operator of the data plants can be compensated for processing. Self-powered data plants need not even be continuously fed with power-generation-capable raw materials and, if such data plants receive and output data via wireless communications, the self-powered data plants can require no physical connection or attachment at all. For example, a single piece of silicon comprising a silicon solar cell that generates electrical power and silicon circuitry that consumes it to perform data processing can be a silicon self-powered data plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Sean M. James
  • Publication number: 20160157388
    Abstract: A power supply system for a data center includes a cooling circuit, an electrochemical power generator, a sensor, and a processor. The cooling circuit includes a fluid configured to receive heat energy generated by a server located in the data center. The electrochemical power generator is configured to receive and/or generate the fluid of the cooling circuit and to generate electrical energy for the server using the fluid. The sensor is configured to obtain data regarding the server. The processor is configured to control an amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid based on the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Douglas M. Carmean, William Gates, Shaun L. Harris, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Sean M. James, Brian A. Janous, Jordin T. Kare, Jie Liu, Max N. Mankin, Gregory J. McKnight, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood,, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9348394
    Abstract: A method described herein includes an act of receiving data that is indicative of predicted weather conditions for a particular geographic region, wherein the particular geographic region has an energy generation system therein, and wherein the energy generation system utilizes at least one renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. The method also includes the act of scheduling a computational workload for at least one computer in a data center based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the predicted weather conditions for the particular geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
  • Patent number: 9252598
    Abstract: A “data plant” accepts power-generation-capable raw materials and outputs processed data. The processed data can be delivered to consumers more efficiently than other forms of power transfer, including power transfer through electricity, steam, physical motion, and the like. Consequently, data plants can be located where power-generation-capable raw materials can be obtained inexpensively, for free, or where power-generation-capable raw materials are waste products for which the operator of the data plants can be compensated for processing. Self-powered data plants need not even be continuously fed with power-generation-capable raw materials and, if such data plants receive and output data via wireless communications, the self-powered data plants can require no physical connection or attachment at all. For example, a single piece of silicon comprising a silicon solar cell that generates electrical power and silicon circuitry that consumes it to perform data processing can be a silicon self-powered data plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Sean M. James
  • Publication number: 20160020669
    Abstract: Processing units and electrical power generation are integrated with a botanical environment to form a closed loop system whereby the outputs of one component serve as the inputs of another. Additionally, humans can be added to the system while maintaining the closed loop nature. Heat generated by the electrical power generation and processing units aids in the growth of botanicals and in the conversion of waste organic materials into both fertilizer and fuel for the electrical power generation. Additionally, carbon dioxide output by the electrical power generation is consumed by the botanicals, which, in turn, output oxygen consumed by the electrical power generation. Water is obtained by passing the exhaust of the electrical power generation across condenser coils, and is utilized for adiabatic cooling, as well as a heat transfer medium. Water is also consumed by the botanicals, aiding their growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Brian Janous, Sean James
  • Publication number: 20160004263
    Abstract: Electrical power is provided to power consuming, heat-exhausting devices by multiple gas-fueled electrical power sources located near such devices. Exhaust heat from such devices is utilized as intake cooling air for the gas-fueled power sources, thereby excluding them from cooling capacity requirements. The gas piping delivering gas to gas-fueled power sources is positioned so as to be within hot aisles comprising exhaust heat. The gas piping is located up high for lighter than air gasses and near the floor for heavier than air gasses, with leak detection located nearby. Additionally, gas piping is externally coated with material that visually indicates a leak. By locating gas piping in the hot aisle, exhausted heat increases temperature and, thereby, pressure of the gas, resulting in more efficient gas distribution through the piping and preventing valve freezing. Furthermore, the gas piping is located after potential ignition sources in the airstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Sean James, Christian L. Belady, Stephan W. Gilges, Sriram Sankar, John Siegler, Brian Andersen, Eric C. Peterson, J Darrin Schroeder