Patents by Inventor Eric Alan Eckberg

Eric Alan Eckberg 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: 9619774
    Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide increased secure tracking of materials and products through the use of a unique coding scheme. The coding scheme contains a unique security code identifier issued by a sole certification agency, and includes a non-coded scheme for public information, and a coded scheme for private information regarding the sourcing and development of materials and products. The disclosure provides for full tracking of a product throughout the supply chain by only certified participants. The disclosed system allows for increased secure tracking of materials and products, and allows for access to greater amounts of information at various stages of manufacture and/or assembly regarding a given material or product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, Eric Vance Kline, Paul N. Krystek, Nathan Carl Mandelko, Michael Robert Rasmussen, Arvind Kumar Sinha, Stephen M. Zins
  • Patent number: 8840034
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to coolant flow control apparatus, in association with a liquid flow through heat exchanger situated to cool one or more electronic or other device. The apparatus comprises a first input channel for carrying liquid coolant to a first input of the heat exchanger, and further comprises a flow control device positioned along a flow path that includes the first input channel. The flow control device is provided with a gating element supported for selected movement across the flow path, in order to selectively vary the amount of coolant moving through the flow path. The apparatus further include an actuator located in the flow control device that comprises a metal component which is directly tied to the gating element, wherein the metal component changes its shape in response to specified changes in coolant temperature, and a given change in the shape of the metal component acts to selectively move the gating element with respect to the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, Eric Vance Kline, Paul N. Krystek, Michael Robert Rasmussen, Stephen M. Zins
  • Publication number: 20130060813
    Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide increased secure tracking of materials and products through the use of a unique coding scheme. The coding scheme contains a unique security code identifier issued by a sole certification agency, and includes a non-coded scheme for public information, and a coded scheme for private information regarding the sourcing and development of materials and products. The disclosure provides for full tracking of a product throughout the supply chain by only certified participants. The disclosed system allows for increased secure tracking of materials and products, and allows for access to greater amounts of information at various stages of manufacture and/or assembly regarding a given material or product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, Eric Vance Kline, Paul N. Krystek, Nathan Carl Mandelko, Michael Robert Rasmussen, Arvind Kumar Sinha, Stephen M. Zins
  • Patent number: 7999179
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an air baffle assembly for controlling airflow through a cable opening in a rack. The rack is configured for removably supporting a plurality of modular electronic components. The cable opening on the rack receives a plurality of cables connected to the modular electronic components. The air baffle assembly includes a track secured to the rack adjacent to the cable opening and an air baffle movably supported on the track over the cable opening. The track includes a rail guideway. The air baffle includes at least a flexible first rail movably received by the first rail guideway. The first rail flares laterally along a range of engagement of the first rail with the first rail guideway, to bias the air baffle in one longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, James Dorance Gerken, John Theodore Gullicksrud, Stephen Peter Mroz, Scott Alan Shruson
  • Patent number: 7975860
    Abstract: A rack for supporting electronic devices and modules with adjustable rails. The rack has a vertical wall with a set of holes at various elevations, each set of holes including at least a proximal hole evenly spaced apart from a distal hole. A longitudinally-extending rail has a set of clips for selectively securing the rail to the vertical wall, wherein the set of clips includes at least a proximal clip selectively receivable in the proximal hole at a selected elevation for supporting a proximal end of the rail and a distal clip selectively receivable in the distal hole at the selected elevation for supporting a distal end of the rail. The system may include a second rail for securing to an opposing vertical wall of the rack to form a shelf or bay for an electronic device. Each rail may be latched in place and can be selectively installed and removed without use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Klaus Dittus, Eric Alan Eckberg, Michael Sven Miller, Stephen Peter Mroz, Scott Alan Shurson, John Joseph Struble, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7944698
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus comprises a load frame having load springs and an open region that exposes an electronic component. The load frame is mounted to a printed circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. A heat sink assembly is disposed on the load frame and has a main body in thermal contact with the electronic component through a thermally conductive material. The heat sink assembly has load arms for engaging the load springs. A load plate extends between the load arms and has an actuation element operative to displace the main body relative to the load plate and thereby resiliently deform the load springs and produce a load force that compresses the thermally conductive material to achieve a desired thermal interface gap between the main body and the electronic component. Non-influencing fasteners secure the heat sink to the load frame and maintain the desired thermal interface gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Lee Colbert, Eric Alan Eckberg, Roger Duane Hamilton, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, Amanda Elisa Ennis Mikhail, Arvind Kumar Sinha
  • Patent number: 7684196
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the cooling of a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) includes a planar body having opposing surfaces, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing ends. An engagement flange is connected to the bottom edge of the body. A first clip leg is connected to the engagement flange. The first clip leg includes a tab arranged to engage one mounting latch recess of the DIMM. A second clip leg connected to the engagement flange. The second clip leg includes a tab arranged to engage the other mounting latch recess of the DIMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, Maurice Francis Holahan
  • Patent number: 7660116
    Abstract: Rack assemblies and methods for cooling one or more rack-based computer systems, as well as data center configurations that utilize the rack assembly. The rack assembly comprises a rack providing support for multiple columns of heat-generating electronic devices and device fans for moving air from an air inlet side of the rack through the devices and through an air outlet side of the rack. The rack assembly also comprises a unitary door having a support frame spanning the air outlet side of the rack and hingedly coupling the door to a rear vertical edge of the rack. The door includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger panel spanning an air outlet passage inside the support frame so that substantially all of the air passing through the air outlet must pass through the heat exchanger panel. The air outlet passage has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the multiple columns of heat-generating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Claassen, Eric Alan Eckberg, Dennis John Hansen, Vinod Kamath, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard Victor Mahaney, Jr., Michael Sven Miller, Stephen Peter Mroz
  • Publication number: 20090284928
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the cooling of a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) includes a planar body having opposing surfaces, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing ends. An engagement flange is connected to the bottom edge of the body. A first clip leg is connected to the engagement flange. The first clip leg includes a tab arranged to engage one mounting latch recess of the DIMM. A second clip leg connected to the engagement flange. The second clip leg includes a tab arranged to engage the other mounting latch recess of the DIMM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, Maurice Francis Holahan
  • Publication number: 20090261051
    Abstract: A rack for supporting electronic devices and modules with adjustable rails. The rack has a vertical wall with a set of holes at various elevations, each set of holes including at least a proximal hole evenly spaced apart from a distal hole. A longitudinally-extending rail has a set of clips for selectively securing the rail to the vertical wall, wherein the set of clips includes at least a proximal clip selectively receivable in the proximal hole at a selected elevation for supporting a proximal end of the rail and a distal clip selectively receivable in the distal hole at the selected elevation for supporting a distal end of the rail. The system may include a second rail for securing to an opposing vertical wall of the rack to form a shelf or bay for an electronic device. Each rail may be latched in place and can be selectively installed and removed without use of tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl Klaus Dittus, Eric Alan Eckberg, Michael Sven Miller, Stephen Peter Mroz, Scott Alan Shurson, John Joseph Struble, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090260874
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an air baffle assembly for controlling airflow through a cable opening in a rack. The rack is configured for removably supporting a plurality of modular electronic components. The cable opening on the rack receives a plurality of cables connected to the modular electronic components. The air baffle assembly includes a track secured to the rack adjacent to the cable opening and an air baffle movably supported on the track over the cable opening. The track includes a rail guideway. The air baffle includes at least a flexible first rail movably received by the first rail guideway. The first rail flares laterally along a range of engagement of the first rail with the first rail guideway, to bias the air baffle in one longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Alan Eckberg, James Dorance Gerken, John Theodore Gullicksrud, Stephen Peter Mroz, Scott Alan Shruson
  • Publication number: 20090262501
    Abstract: Rack assemblies and methods for cooling one or more rack-based computer systems, as well as data center configurations that utilize the rack assembly. The rack assembly comprises a rack providing support for multiple columns of heat-generating electronic devices and device fans for moving air from an air inlet side of the rack through the devices and through an air outlet side of the rack. The rack assembly also comprises a unitary door having a support frame spanning the air outlet side of the rack and hingedly coupling the door to a rear vertical edge of the rack. The door includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger panel spanning an air outlet passage inside the support frame so that substantially all of the air passing through the air outlet must pass through the heat exchanger panel. The air outlet passage has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the multiple columns of heat-generating devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Claassen, Eric Alan Eckberg, Dennis John Hansen, Vinod Kamath, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard Victor Mahaney, JR., Michael Sven Miller, Stephen Peter Mroz
  • Publication number: 20090260384
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a rack assembly for cooling a computer system. A rack provides support for one or more columns of heat-generating electronic devices. Device fans move air from an air inlet side of the rack through the devices and through an air outlet side of the rack. A unitary door has a support frame spanning the air outlet side of the rack and hingedly coupling the door to a rear vertical edge of the rack. The unitary door includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger panel spanning an air outlet passage inside the support frame so that substantially all of the air passing through the air outlet side of the rack must pass through the heat exchanger panel. The air outlet passage has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the one or more columns of heat-generating devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Frederick Champion, Eric Alan Eckberg, James Dorance Gerken, Howard Victor Mahaney, JR.
  • Patent number: 7606033
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus comprises a load frame having load springs and an open region that exposes an electronic component. The load frame is mounted to a printed circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. A heat sink assembly is disposed on the load frame and has a main body in thermal contact with the electronic component through a thermally conductive material. The heat sink assembly has load arms for engaging the load springs. A load plate extends between the load arms and has an actuation element operative to displace the main body relative to the load plate and thereby resiliently deform the load springs and produce a load force that compresses the thermally conductive material to achieve a desired thermal interface gap between the main body and the electronic component. Non-influencing fasteners secure the heat sink to the load frame and maintain the desired thermal interface gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Lee Colbert, Eric Alan Eckberg, Roger Duane Hamilton, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, Amanda Elisa Ennis Mikhail, Arvind Kumar Sinha
  • Patent number: 7551444
    Abstract: A method and computer processor system with anti-tamper capability and thermal packaging structure for implementing enhanced heat removal from processor circuitry, such as, a high-performance cell processor complex, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The computer system includes predefined processor circuits including anti-tamper logic. A volume container substantially contains the predefined processor circuits including the anti-tamper logic. A heat spreader is provided with the predefined processor circuits within the volume container. An external heatsink structure is attached to an outside cover above the volume container. The heatsink structure includes a heatsink base and a plurality of parallel fins extending outwardly from the heatsink base. A heat pipe extending through a folded mesh is attached to the heat spreader within the volume container and is attached to the external heatsink base providing an effective heat removal path for the processor circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William James Anderl, Vincenzo Valentino Di Luoffo, Eric Alan Eckberg, David Roy Motschman, Tamas Visegrady
  • Publication number: 20090147464
    Abstract: An assembly for dissipating heat generated by electronic components which include a ventilating panel having a plurality of vent holes arranged thereon. More specifically, the perforation pattern of vent holes is staggered to provide adjacent larger and smaller vent holes in at least two rows of vent holes. A second row of vent holes is staggered with respect to the first row of vent holes such that the larger vent holes are aligned with smaller vent holes, preferably in a ratio of two smaller vent holes per one larger vent hole. Such a perforation arrangement of vent holes may be provided on a blindswap cassette for securing and aligning computer cards for mounting in a housing, such as a sled for use in computer systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: William James Anderl, Terry Fredrick Banitt, Eric Alan Eckberg, Don Alan Gilliland, Michael Scott Good, Mark David Pfeifer, Daniel A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20090109611
    Abstract: A method and computer processor system with anti-tamper capability and thermal packaging structure for implementing enhanced heat removal from processor circuitry, such as, a high-performance cell processor complex, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The computer system includes predefined processor circuits including anti-tamper logic. A volume container substantially contains the predefined processor circuits including the anti-tamper logic. A heat spreader is provided with the predefined processor circuits within the volume container. An external heatsink structure is attached to an outside cover above the volume container. The heatsink structure includes a heatsink base and a plurality of parallel fins extending outwardly from the heatsink base. A heat pipe extending through a folded mesh is attached to the heat spreader within the volume container and is attached to the external heatsink base providing an effective heat removal path for the processor circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: William James Anderl, Vincenzo Valentino Di Luoffo, Eric Alan Eckberg, David Roy Motschman, Tamas Visegrady
  • Patent number: 7486516
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus comprises a load frame having load springs and an open region that exposes an electronic component. The load frame is mounted to a printed circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. A heat sink assembly is disposed on the load frame and has a main body in thermal contact with the electronic component through a thermally conductive material. The heat sink assembly has load arms for engaging the load springs. A load plate extends between the load arms and has an actuation element operative to displace the main body relative to the load plate and thereby resiliently deform the load springs and produce a load force that compresses the thermally conductive material to achieve a desired thermal interface gap between the main body and the electronic component. Non-influencing fasteners secure the heat sink to the load frame and maintain the desired thermal interface gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Lee Colbert, Eric Alan Eckberg, Roger Duane Hamilton, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, Amanda Elisa Ennis Mikhail, Arvind Kumar Sinha
  • Publication number: 20080264603
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus comprises a load frame having load springs and an open region that exposes an electronic component. The load frame is mounted to a printed circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. A heat sink assembly is disposed on the load frame and has a main body in thermal contact with the electronic component through a thermally conductive material. The heat sink assembly has load arms for engaging the load springs. A load plate extends between the load arms and has an actuation element operative to displace the main body relative to the load plate and thereby resiliently deform the load springs and produce a load force that compresses the thermally conductive material to achieve a desired thermal interface gap between the main body and the electronic component. Non-influencing fasteners secure the heat sink to the load frame and maintain the desired thermal interface gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Lee Colbert, Eric Alan Eckberg, Roger Duane Hamilton, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, Amanda Elisa Ennis Mikhail, Arvind Kumar Sinha
  • Publication number: 20080259572
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus comprises a load frame having load springs and an open region that exposes an electronic component. The load frame is mounted to a printed circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. A heat sink assembly is disposed on the load frame and has a main body in thermal contact with the electronic component through a thermally conductive material. The heat sink assembly has load arms for engaging the load springs. A load plate extends between the load arms and has an actuation element operative to displace the main body relative to the load plate and thereby resiliently deform the load springs and produce a load force that compresses the thermally conductive material to achieve a desired thermal interface gap between the main body and the electronic component. Non-influencing fasteners secure the heat sink to the load frame and maintain the desired thermal interface gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Lee Colbert, Eric Alan Eckberg, Roger Duane Hamilton, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, Amanda Elisa Ennis Mikhail, Arvind Kumar Sinha