Patents by Inventor John Craig Dunwoody

John Craig Dunwoody 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).

  • Publication number: 20160192530
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing for packaging of scalable machines are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a configurable drawer-based computing system that includes a frame configured to hold drawer modules that may each be slidably inserted into or pulled out from the frame. The system may provide power, networking, and cooling to the drawer modules, even while a drawer module has been pulled out for purposes such as system maintenance. Each drawer module may include printed circuit board assemblies and other components. The system may provide for configurability in the mounting of the drawer modules such that slidable modules that differ in function and/or size may be combined with minimal wasted space within the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 9380728
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing for packaging of scalable machines are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a configurable drawer-based computing system that includes a frame configured to hold drawer modules that may each be slidably inserted into or pulled out from the frame. The system may provide power, networking, and cooling to the drawer modules, even while a drawer module has been pulled out for purposes such as system maintenance. Each drawer module may include printed circuit board assemblies and other components. The system may provide for configurability in the mounting of the drawer modules such that slidable modules that differ in function and/or size may be combined with minimal wasted space within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20150366105
    Abstract: Configurable heat transfer grids that provide cooling to computing components are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a configurable heat transfer grid comprising a cooling frame and one or more cooling elements. The cooling frame may define a plurality of receptacles that are each configured to receive one or more cooling elements. The one or more cooling elements may include an elongated shape and may be configured to be disposed within one or more of the plurality of receptacles, such as through apertures at outer ends of the cooling frame. The cooling elements may include heat pipes and/or heat spreaders. Some embodiments may provide for configurable heat transfer grids that include split cooling frames that can be opened for cooling element placement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 9113580
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a rack system including a cooled universal hardware platform having a frame, a module insertion area on a first side of the rack system and a universal backplane mounting area on a second side of the rack system opposite to the first side, a power bus, a plurality of cooled partitions, a plurality of module bays, two or more service unit backplanes and a coolant source. The power bus may be configured to provide power to the universal backplane mounting area and the plurality of cooled partitions. The rack system may also include a plurality of service units that may be configured to have different functions within the rack system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20150009624
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing for packaging of scalable machines are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include a stackable cooling rail based system with a plurality of stackable frames. A stackable frame may contain one or more modules that may contain functional components; one or more cooling elements to remove heat from the one or more modules (e.g., on a first side); and one or more cooling rails coupled thermally with the one or more cooling elements. The stackable frame may move (e.g., together) with at least one of its cooling rails, such that the stackable frames and cooling rails may be adjustable between an opened configuration and a stacked configuration. In the opened configuration, an access gap may be present between a pair of consecutively stacked stackable frames and their cooling rails, to provide physical access to modules and other features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20140268554
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing for stackable rack-based computing systems are discussed herein. A stackable rack-based computing system may include a plurality of stackable shelf frames. Each stackable shelf frame may include a module and one or more cooling elements to cool the module from a first side. The stackable shelf frames may be adjustable between an open configuration and a stacked configuration. In the stacked configuration, where the stackable shelf frames are stacked on top of each other, the modules may receive cooling from a second side from an adjacent stackable shelf frame. In the open configuration, a gap may be opened between any two of the plurality of stackable shelf frames for service and maintenance tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BIRCHBRIDGE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20130322012
    Abstract: Systems, methods and other means for improving rack based systems are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a module for insertion in a rack based system. The module may include a brain board, a plurality of lobe components, a network switch, and a power lobe component. The plurality of lobe components may be coupled to the brain board and may each be configured to support a variable composition of processing and storage elements. Furthermore, the module may be configured to thermally couple with the rack based system to receive cooling from the rack based system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20130135811
    Abstract: Example rack systems that support computing platforms and related hardware are provided. Multiple instances of the example rack system may be combined to create scalable systems. The example racks may incorporate a universal backplane upon which one or more backplane boards may be mounted. Modules of varied functions may be inserted into the backplane boards via a module insertion area. The example racks may include a power bus for powering the backplane boards. The rack system may also include thermal plates, coolant transmission, and cable management solutions to promote heat dissipation. Related apparatuses and methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 8441793
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a rack system including a universal hardware platform having a frame, a module insertion area on a first side of the rack system and a universal backplane area on a second side of the rack system opposite to the first side, a power bus, a plurality of partitions, a plurality of module bays, and two or more service unit backplanes. The power bus may be configured to provide power to the modules coupled to the universal backplane area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 8441792
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a module for insertion between a first shelf and a second shelf of a rack based processing system. The module includes a first thermal plate substantially parallel to a second thermal plate. An inner surface of the first thermal plate faces an inner surface of the second plate and an outer surface of each of the first and second thermal plates faces opposite to the respective inner surfaces. Each thermal plate is configured to thermally couple to one or more component units locatable between the inner surfaces of the first and second thermal plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 8410364
    Abstract: A cable slack management system may include a frame and a cable management module. The frame may include a plurality of perimeter frame members to provide support for a plurality of component modules. The plurality of component modules may be locatable between a first frame member and a second frame member parallel to the first frame member. The cable management module may be coupled to the first frame member and configured to slide into and out of the first frame member. The cable management module may be configured to hold a portion of one or more cables that run along the first frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 8411440
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a rack system including a cooled universal hardware platform having a frame, a module insertion area on a first side of the rack system and a universal backplane mounting area on a second side of the rack system opposite to the first side, a power bus, a plurality of cooled partitions, a plurality of module bays, two or more service unit backplanes and a coolant source. The power bus may be configured to provide power to the universal backplane mounting area and the plurality of cooled partitions. The rack system may also include a plurality of service units that may be configured to have different functions within the rack system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Patent number: 8259450
    Abstract: A mobile container may include a bottom element, a top element, a front element, a back element, and two side elements defining a containment volume. The two side elements may have a length longer than a length of either the front element or the back element. The containment volume may be configured to include a plurality of rack frames. Each rack frame may include a module insertion area on a first side of the rack frame, a universal backplane area, and a power bus. The universal backplane area may be positioned on a second side of the rack frame opposite to the first side and may include at least one mounting surface configured to mount two or more backplane boards. At least two of the backplane boards may be configured to couple to two respective modules that each have at least two different functions and are insertable through the module insertion area. The at least two different functions of at least one backplane board may include rack power and management functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Birchbridge Incorporated
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20120019117
    Abstract: A cable slack management system may include a frame and a cable management module. The frame may include a plurality of perimeter frame members to provide support for a plurality of component modules. The plurality of component modules may be locatable between a first frame member and a second frame member parallel to the first frame member. The cable management module may be coupled to the first frame member and configured to slide into and out of the first frame member. The cable management module may be configured to hold a portion of one or more cables that run along the first frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20120020024
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a rack system including a cooled universal hardware platform having a frame, a module insertion area on a first side of the rack system and a universal backplane mounting area on a second side of the rack system opposite to the first side, a power bus, a plurality of cooled partitions, a plurality of module bays, two or more service unit backplanes and a coolant source. The power bus may be configured to provide power to the universal backplane mounting area and the plurality of cooled partitions. The rack system may also include a plurality of service units that may be configured to have different functions within the rack system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20120020349
    Abstract: A computer system may include N rack unit switches and 6N processing rack units, where N is a positive integer. Each rack unit switch may include four switching units and each switching unit may include at least M2/2 ports. Each processing rack unit may include at least 27*4N ports originating from a plurality of processing modules of each respective processing rack unit. The ports of the N rack unit switches may be coupled to the ports of the 6N processing rack systems to create a network architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20120019115
    Abstract: A mobile container may include a bottom element, a top element, a front element, a back element, and two side elements defining a containment volume. The two side elements may have a length longer than a length of either the front element or the back element. The containment volume may be configured to include a plurality of rack frames. Each rack frame may include a module insertion area on a first side of the rack frame, a universal backplane area, and a power bus. The universal backplane area may be positioned on a second side of the rack frame opposite to the first side and may include at least one mounting surface configured to mount two or more backplane boards. At least two of the backplane boards may be configured to couple to two respective modules that each have at least two different functions and are insertable through the module insertion area. The at least two different functions of at least one backplane board may include rack power and management functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20120020008
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a rack system including a universal hardware platform having a frame, a module insertion area on a first side of the rack system and a universal backplane area on a second side of the rack system opposite to the first side, a power bus, a plurality of partitions, a plurality of module bays, and two or more service unit backplanes. The power bus may be configured to provide power to the modules coupled to the universal backplane area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody
  • Publication number: 20120018136
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment of a module for insertion between a first shelf and a second shelf of a rack based processing system. The module includes a first thermal plate substantially parallel to a second thermal plate. An inner surface of the first thermal plate faces an inner surface of the second plate and an outer surface of each of the first and second thermal plates faces opposite to the respective inner surfaces. Each thermal plate is configured to thermally couple to one or more component units locatable between the inner surfaces of the first and second thermal plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: John Craig Dunwoody, Teresa Ann Dunwoody