Patents by Inventor Gary Allen Thompson

Gary Allen Thompson 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: 6821156
    Abstract: A method and a combination of a hot plug sliding connector and a circuit card are provided for implementing hot plugging protection regulator cards, power supply cards, system cards and the like. A respective isolation circuit is coupled to each voltage input and voltage output of the circuit card to be connected to the hot plug sliding connector. The hot plug sliding connector has an elongated slot for slidingly receiving the circuit card along the length of the elongated slot. A plurality of cooperating electrically connecting portions of the connector and circuit card are provided in mating engagement with the circuit card inserted into a final position in the connector. The plurality of cooperating electrically connecting portions are spaced apart by a respective predefined null, non-electrically connecting portion arranged to avoid shorting between cooperating electrically connecting portions during the sliding insertion of the circuit card into the hot plug sliding connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Kevin Egan, Gary Allen Thompson
  • Patent number: 6335868
    Abstract: An enclosure arrangement includes a chassis, and a central electronics complex. The central electronics complex has a cage removably positioned within the chassis. The cage has an open top providing access into the interior of the cage. The central electronics complex also includes a backplane arranged in a horizontal position, and forming a floor of the cage. The backplane has at least one card slot on a surface thereof. The central electronics complex further includes at least one circuit board disposed in the interior of the cage and being removably received by the card slot. The circuit board is arranged in a vertical position so that a gravitational force helps retain the circuit board in the card slot. The cage is removably positioned within the chassis. At least one rail connects the cage to the chassis. The cage is disposed on the rail, and is guidable into the chassis using the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Butterbaugh, Max John Christopher Koschmeder, William Michael Monson, Gary Allen Thompson, Brian Joseph Stanczyk, Wesley H. Bachman, Michael Scott Good, Kevin Robert Qualters, Raymond Floyd Babcock, Todd Douglas Green
  • Patent number: 6191954
    Abstract: An apparatus for electrically interconnecting circuit boards and providing controlled low impedance current paths. A first conductive member has a first surface, a second surface and a third planar surface, the first surface attaches to a first circuit board or CIM and the second surface attaches to a second circuit board or CIM. An insulative sheet having dielectric properties is aligned parallel to the third surface of the first conductive member. A second conductive member has a fourth surface, a fifth surface and a sixth planar surface, the fourth surface connects to the first circuit board and the fifth surface is for attaching to the second CIM. The sixth planar surface is aligned parallel to the insulative sheet, such that a controlled low impedance high current interconnect can be achieved between the first CIM and the second circuit board responsive to the dielectric properties of the insulative sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Dennis Keidl, Gary Allen Thompson
  • Patent number: 5748451
    Abstract: Disclosed is a backplane assembly that includes stiffeners to provide both mechanical stiffening and electrical power distribution. In particular, the present invention provides a power distribution system that comprises a backplane, a power stiffener having alternate layers of dielectrics and conductors proximately located to the backplane, and removable connection to electrically connect the conductors in the stiffener to the backplane. Because power can be transferred directly to the backplane from the stiffener via the connection, the need for power cables and bus bars on the backplane is eliminated. In addition, noise suppressing capacitors may be located on the power stiffener, close to the load source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Allen Thompson, Charles Vernon Zenz, Sr.