Patents by Inventor Dennis Vance Toth

Dennis Vance Toth 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: 11778768
    Abstract: A connector gap between a module connector mating surface and the backplane connector of a chassis may be eliminated through a mechanism that forcefully pushes (or pulls) the module towards the backplane and/or forcefully pushes (or pulls) the backplane toward the module. A spring-loaded or resilient element may be used to fasten the module in a way that effectively fills any designed-in and tolerance-induced gap in the connector interface, allowing the connector to fully seat. In addition, a gasket or other compressible member may be included at the connector mating interface. The gap in the connector interface may be reduced by introducing adjustable card cage members that are capable of being set during the assembly or manufacturing process using special alignment fixtures. The gap in the connector interface may also be reduced by introducing a higher tolerance capable manufacturing process, such as machining, to the card cage sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Baldwin, Jr., Dennis Vance Toth
  • Publication number: 20220061181
    Abstract: A connector gap between a module connector mating surface and the backplane connector of a chassis may be eliminated through a mechanism that forcefully pushes (or pulls) the module towards the backplane and/or forcefully pushes (or pulls) the backplane toward the module. A spring-loaded or resilient element may be used to fasten the module in a way that effectively fills any designed-in and tolerance-induced gap in the connector interface, allowing the connector to fully seat. In addition, a gasket or other compressible member may be included at the connector mating interface. The gap in the connector interface may be reduced by introducing adjustable card cage members that are capable of being set during the assembly or manufacturing process using special alignment fixtures. The gap in the connector interface may also be reduced by introducing a higher tolerance capable manufacturing process, such as machining, to the card cage sub-assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Richard G. Baldwin, Jr., Dennis Vance Toth
  • Patent number: 9413107
    Abstract: System and method for communicatively coupling a serial communication plug to a serial communication bus. The system may include a housing. The housing may include a receptacle that is configured to communicatively couple to a bus. The receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs situated inside the receptacle. The one or more internal retention springs may be configured to grip a male plug with a retention force, when the male plug is inserted into the receptacle. The housing may include or may be coupled to a clamp where the clamp is external to the receptacle. When the male plug is inserted into the receptacle, the clamp may be adjustable via a clamp adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs, thus augmenting the retention force and further securing the male plug in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Fallon, Dennis Vance Toth, Christopher A. Rake
  • Publication number: 20150229072
    Abstract: System and method for communicatively coupling a serial communication plug to a serial communication bus. The system may include a housing. The housing may include a receptacle that is configured to communicatively couple to a bus. The receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs situated inside the receptacle. The one or more internal retention springs may be configured to grip a male plug with a retention force, when the male plug is inserted into the receptacle. The housing may include or may be coupled to a clamp where the clamp is external to the receptacle. When the male plug is inserted into the receptacle, the clamp may be adjustable via a clamp adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs, thus augmenting the retention force and further securing the male plug in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew R. Fallon, Dennis Vance Toth, Christopher A. Rake
  • Patent number: 8992263
    Abstract: System and method for communicatively coupling a serial communication plug to a serial communication bus. The system may include a housing. The housing may include a receptacle that is configured to communicatively couple to a bus. The receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs situated inside the receptacle. The one or more internal retention springs may be configured to grip a male plug with a retention force, when the male plug is inserted into the receptacle. The housing may include or may be coupled to a clamp where the clamp is external to the receptacle. When the male plug is inserted into the receptacle, the clamp may be adjustable via a clamp adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs, thus augmenting the retention force and further securing the male plug in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew R. Fallon, Dennis Vance Toth, Christopher A. Rake
  • Publication number: 20140038449
    Abstract: System and method for communicatively coupling a serial communication plug to a serial communication bus. The system may include a housing. The housing may include a receptacle that is configured to communicatively couple to a bus. The receptacle may include one or more internal retention springs situated inside the receptacle. The one or more internal retention springs may be configured to grip a male plug with a retention force, when the male plug is inserted into the receptacle. The housing may include or may be coupled to a clamp where the clamp is external to the receptacle. When the male plug is inserted into the receptacle, the clamp may be adjustable via a clamp adjustment mechanism to constrain the one or more internal retention springs, thus augmenting the retention force and further securing the male plug in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Matthew R. Fallon, Dennis Vance Toth, Christopher A. Rake
  • Publication number: 20130032324
    Abstract: Thermal solution systems including a heat sink and a spreader plate mounted to the heat sink via one or more springs. Thermal gap filler provides a thermal interface between the heat sink and the spreader plate. The one or more springs provide contact force between the heat spreader plate and a component to be cooled, while accommodating dimensional variation, such as manufacturing tolerance or assembly tolerance related variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Russell W. Aldridge, Richard G. Baldwin, JR., Jeremy P. O'Rarden, Nathan G. Coon, Dennis Vance Toth