Patents by Inventor Jeremy B. Rolls

Jeremy B. Rolls 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: 6750562
    Abstract: A fan control module is provided for a system unit. The fan control module includes power outputs for supplying power to a plurality of fan. It also includes a temperature sensor for giving a temperature signal. It further includes a control unit connected to receive the temperature signal and including preprogrammed control information for determining power signals to be supplied to each of the fan units for controlling the speed thereof. The fan control module can control the fan units in a coordinated manner enabling reliable and effective cooling of the system unit under widely varying parameters. It can mean that existing system components can be employed in harsher temperature environments that they were originally designed for, without needed a complete redesign thereof. The fan control module can be provided with electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate other components from electrical noise generated by the fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Rhod J. Jones, Stepan Tatulian
  • Patent number: 6542997
    Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis with a single motherboard supporting at least one processor module. A power sub-system receives three power supply units and distributes power within the computer system. Each of the three power supplies has a power rating such that two of the three power supplies are sufficient to power the computer system. The combination of such a single-motherboard-based design with a redundant three-power supply sub-system provides reliability of operation in a cost-effective manner. The power sub-system includes a power distribution board with power distribution logic operable to distribute power from the power supply units for powering the processor module. The power distribution logic is operable to interrupt power for powering the processor module when two of the power supply units fail or are not present. An alarm sub-system is provided for reporting power supply faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Gary S. Rumney, Rhod J. Jones, David C. Liddell, Peter Heffernan
  • Patent number: 6539486
    Abstract: A computer system includes processing circuitry and alarm circuitry connectable to a network. A power sub-system includes at least three power supply units, wherein at least a predetermined plurality of power supply units are required to power the computer system. A power distribution mechanism is connectable to the power supply units. The power distribution mechanism is connected to the processing circuitry to supply main power thereto and is connected to the alarm circuitry to supply standby power thereto. The power distribution mechanism is operable to supply main power to the processing circuitry when at least a said predetermined plurality of connected power supplies are operative and is operable to supply standby power to the alarm circuitry when at least one power supply is operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Gary S. Rumney, Rhod J. Jones, David C. Liddell, Peter Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20020063476
    Abstract: A fan control module is provided for a system unit. The fan control module includes power outputs for supplying power to a plurality of fan. It also includes a temperature sensor for giving a temperature signal. It further includes a control unit connected to receive the temperature signal and including preprogrammed control information for determining power signals to be supplied to each of the fan units for controlling the speed thereof. The fan control module can control the fan units in a coordinated manner enabling reliable and effective cooling of the system unit under widely varying parameters. It can mean that existing system components can be employed in harsher temperature environments that they were originally designed for, without needed a complete redesign thereof. The fan control module can be provided with electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate other components from electrical noise generated by the fan units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Rhod J. Jones, Stepan Tatulian
  • Patent number: 6268664
    Abstract: A fan control module is provided for a system unit. The fan control module includes power outputs for supplying power to a plurality of fan. It also includes a temperature sensor for giving a temperature signal. It further includes a control unit connected to receive the temperature signal and including preprogrammed control information for determining power signals to be supplied to each of the fan units for controlling the speed thereof. The fan control module can control the fan units in a coordinated manner enabling reliable and effective cooling of the system unit under widely varying parameters. It can mean that existing system components can be employed in harsher temperature environments that they were originally designed for, without needed a complete redesign thereof. The fan control module can be provided with electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate other components from electrical noise generated by the fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Rhod J. Jones, Stepan Tatulian