Patents by Inventor Craig Heffner

Craig Heffner 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: 10438867
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a circuit card environment includes a circuit card having first and second longitudinally spaced circuit card subassemblies, connected together into a single circuit card oriented substantially in a lateral-longitudinal plane. The first and second circuit card subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, respectively, which are different from one another. A thermal energy transfer device is operatively connected to an area of the circuit card correlated with a selected one of the first and second circuit card subassemblies. The thermal energy transfer device at least partially induces the respective one of the first and second operating temperatures to the selected circuit card subassembly. The thermal energy transfer device transversely overlies at least a supermajority of the selected circuit card subassembly and is laterally spaced from the other circuit card subassembly. A system and method for providing immersion cooling are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, Harlan Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20190279916
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a circuit card environment includes a circuit card having first and second longitudinally spaced circuit card subassemblies, connected together into a single circuit card oriented substantially in a lateral-longitudinal plane. The first and second circuit card subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, respectively, which are different from one another. A thermal energy transfer device is operatively connected to an area of the circuit card correlated with a selected one of the first and second circuit card subassemblies. The thermal energy transfer device at least partially induces the respective one of the first and second operating temperatures to the selected circuit card subassembly. The thermal energy transfer device transversely overlies at least a supermajority of the selected circuit card subassembly and is laterally spaced from the other circuit card subassembly. A system and method for providing immersion cooling are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, HARLAN CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA, KEITH R. KIRKWOOD
  • Patent number: 10342151
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya
  • Publication number: 20190082551
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, H. CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA
  • Patent number: 10159161
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya
  • Patent number: 9681533
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, providing a desired temperature-differential circuit card environment includes a plurality of card units. Each card unit comprises a first thermal plate having front and back first plate sides oriented in a lateral-longitudinal plane, the first thermal plate operating at a first plate temperature. A second thermal plate has front and back second plate sides oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane, the second thermal plate operating at a second plate temperature. A coupler is oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane and is connected to front and/or back first plate sides and to the front and/or back second plate sides to form a card unit. The card units are arranged in a transversely oriented stack with the front first and second plate sides of a second card unit being directly transversely adjacent the back first and second plate sides of the first card unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20170142836
    Abstract: A circuit card assembly includes a substrate having longitudinally spaced first and second substrate end edges and transversely spaced top and bottom substrate surfaces. The top and/or bottom substrate surface has first, second, and third substrate regions. The first substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the first substrate side edge. The third substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the second substrate side edge. The second substrate region is located between the first and third substrate regions. At least one circuit trace is located on the selected substrate surface. The portion of the circuit trace in the first substrate region is made of only a first material. The portion of the circuit trace in the third substrate region is made of only a second material. The portion of the circuit trace in the second substrate region is made of both the first and second materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20170142820
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, providing a desired temperature-differential circuit card environment includes a plurality of card units. Each card unit comprises a first thermal plate having front and back first plate sides oriented in a lateral-longitudinal plane, the first thermal plate operating at a first plate temperature. A second thermal plate has front and back second plate sides oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane, the second thermal plate operating at a second plate temperature. A coupler is oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane and is connected to front and/or back first plate sides and to the front and/or back second plate sides to form a card unit. The card units are arranged in a transversely oriented stack with the front first and second plate sides of a second card unit being directly transversely adjacent the back first and second plate sides of the first card unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, H. CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA, KEITH R. KIRKWOOD
  • Publication number: 20170142856
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, H. CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA
  • Patent number: 9648749
    Abstract: A circuit card assembly includes a substrate having longitudinally spaced first and second substrate end edges and transversely spaced top and bottom substrate surfaces. The top and/or bottom substrate surface has first, second, and third substrate regions. The first substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the first substrate side edge. The third substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the second substrate side edge. The second substrate region is located between the first and third substrate regions. At least one circuit trace is located on the selected substrate surface. The portion of the circuit trace in the first substrate region is made of only a first material. The portion of the circuit trace in the third substrate region is made of only a second material. The portion of the circuit trace in the second substrate region is made of both the first and second materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20140100962
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for advertisement-supported wireless offloading are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system for advertisement-supported wireless offloading includes an offload controller for controlling mobile device offloading, the controller including a network interface for sending and receiving messages in a telecommunications network and a control module for detecting a subscriber offload request, causing an advertisement to be sent to the subscriber's mobile device, determining whether the subscriber did or did not accept the advertisement, and providing a response to the offload request based on whether the subscriber did or did not accept the advertisement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Tekelec, Inc.
    Inventors: Sundaram Rajagopalan, Ajay Padmakar Deo, Michael Craig Heffner
  • Patent number: 7132990
    Abstract: A vertically integrated Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna including, among other things, a transitioning RF waveguide relocator panel located behind a radiator faceplate and an array of beam control tiles respectively coupled to one of a plurality of transceiver modules via an RF manifold. Each of the beam control tiles includes a respective plurality of high power transmit/receive (T/R) cells as well as dielectric waveguides, RF stripline and coaxial transmission line elements. The waveguide relocator panel is preferably fabricated by a diffusion bonded copper laminate stack up with dielectric filling. The beam control tiles are preferably fabricated by the use of multiple layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material laminated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Stenger, Fred C. Kuss, Kevin LaCour, Craig Heffner, Robert Sisk, Carl D. Wise, Joseph Paquin, Tujuana Hinton, Andrew Walters, David Krafcsik, Brian T. McMonagle, Steven D. Block, Steven S. Handley
  • Patent number: 6975267
    Abstract: A vertically integrated Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna including, among other things, a transitioning RF waveguide relocator panel located behind a radiator faceplate and an array of beam control tiles respectively coupled to one of a plurality of transceiver modules via an RF manifold. Each of the beam control tiles includes a respective plurality of high power transmit/receive (T/R) cells as well as dielectric waveguides, RF stripline and coaxial transmission line elements. The waveguide relocator panel is preferably fabricated by a diffusion bonded copper laminate stack up with dielectric filling. The beam control tiles are preferably fabricated by the use of multiple layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material laminated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Stenger, Fred C. Kuss, Kevin LaCour, Craig Heffner, Robert Sisk, Carl D. Wise, Joseph Paquin, Tujuana Hinton, Andrew Walters, David Krafcsik, Brian T. McMonagle, Steven D. Block, Steven S. Handley
  • Publication number: 20050146479
    Abstract: A vertically integrated Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna including, among other things, a transitioning RF waveguide relocator panel located behind a radiator faceplate and an array of beam control tiles respectively coupled to one of a plurality of transceiver modules via an RF manifold. Each of the beam control tiles includes a respective plurality of high power transmit/receive (T/R) cells as well as dielectric waveguides, RF stripline and coaxial transmission line elements. The waveguide relocator panel is preferably fabricated by a diffusion bonded copper laminate stack up with dielectric filling. The beam control tiles are preferably fabricated by the use of multiple layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material laminated together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Peter Stenger, Fred Kuss, Kevin LaCour, Craig Heffner, Robert Sisk, Carl Wise, Joseph Paquin, Tujuana Hinton, Andrew Walters, David Krafcsik, Brian McMonagle, Steven Block, Steven Handley
  • Publication number: 20040150554
    Abstract: A vertically integrated Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna including, among other things, a transitioning RF waveguide relocator panel located behind a radiator faceplate and an array of beam control tiles respectively coupled to one of a plurality of transceiver modules via an RF manifold. Each of the beam control tiles includes a respective plurality of high power transmit/receive (T/R) cells as well as dielectric waveguides, RF stripline and coaxial transmission line elements. The waveguide relocator panel is preferably fabricated by a diffusion bonded copper laminate stack up with dielectric filling. The beam control tiles are preferably fabricated by the use of multiple layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material laminated together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Peter A. Stenger, Fred C. Kuss, Kevin LaCour, Craig Heffner, Robert Sisk, Carl D. Wise, Joseph Paquin, Tujuana Hinton, Andrew Walters, David Krafcsik, Brian T. McMonagle, Steven D. Block, Steven S. Handley