Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Schneebeli

Kenneth R. Schneebeli 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: 9492899
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 9321136
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 9314886
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 8919143
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes an air-cooling wall cooling airflow passing through an electronics rack(s) of a data center. The air-cooling wall is disposed separate from and in spaced relation to the air inlet or air outlet side(s) of the electronics rack(s), and includes a wall panel support structure disposed separate from the electronics rack(s), which supports one or more slidable wall panels. The slidable wall panel(s) includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger slidably supported and disposed in spaced relation to the air outlet or air inlet side of the electronics rack(s). The heat exchanger extracts heat from air passing across the heat exchanger and is slidable within the support structure in a direction transverse to the direction of airflow through the rack(s). Slidable support of the heat exchanger by the support structure facilitates access to the air outlet or air inlet sides of the electronics rack(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 8804334
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Eckberg, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., Roger R. Schmidt, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Publication number: 20140043761
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. ECKBERG, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Howard V. MAHANEY, JR., Roger R. SCHMIDT, Kenneth R. SCHNEEBELI
  • Publication number: 20140043760
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. ECKBERG, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Howard V. MAHANEY, JR., Roger R. SCHMIDT, Kenneth R. SCHNEEBELI
  • Publication number: 20140043762
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. ECKBERG, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Howard V. MAHANEY, JR., Roger R. SCHMIDT, Kenneth R. SCHNEEBELI
  • Publication number: 20140043759
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. ECKBERG, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Howard V. MAHANEY, JR., Roger R. SCHMIDT, Kenneth R. SCHNEEBELI
  • Publication number: 20120300398
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. ECKBERG, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Howard V. MAHANEY, JR., Roger R. SCHMIDT, Kenneth R. SCHNEEBELI
  • Publication number: 20120298335
    Abstract: An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes an air-cooling wall cooling airflow passing through an electronics rack(s) of a data center. The air-cooling wall is disposed separate from and in spaced relation to the air inlet or air outlet side(s) of the electronics rack(s), and includes a wall panel support structure disposed separate from the electronics rack(s), which supports one or more slidable wall panels. The slidable wall panel(s) includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger slidably supported and disposed in spaced relation to the air outlet or air inlet side of the electronics rack(s). The heat exchanger extracts heat from air passing across the heat exchanger and is slidable within the support structure in a direction transverse to the direction of airflow through the rack(s). Slidable support of the heat exchanger by the support structure facilitates access to the air outlet or air inlet sides of the electronics rack(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. ECKBERG, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Howard V. MAHANEY, JR., Roger R. SCHMIDT, Kenneth R. SCHNEEBELI
  • Patent number: 7966723
    Abstract: An electronics component support assembly and an electronics system assembly employing the component support assembly are provided. The component support assembly includes a rotatable base support and a component connector assembly. The rotatable base support is sized to reside within an electronics enclosure and to operatively support multiple electronics components thereon. The component connector assembly is associated with the rotatable base support, and at least some electronics components of the multiple electronics components couple thereto when operatively supported by the rotatable base support. Rotation of the rotatable base support facilitates access to the multiple electronics components, and the component connector assembly allows for rotation of the rotatable base support with the multiple electronics components operatively supported on the rotatable base support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Basham, Shah Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Gregg S. Lucas, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 7675744
    Abstract: A data storage library includes a drive enclosure bay which can be adapted to work with multiple air-flow configuration requirements. This is accomplished by creating air-flow ports in the top and bottom of the drive enclosure bay, by forming drive tray slots and printed circuit board ports in associated drive trays, by creating frame ports and PCB notches in associated interface cards, and replacing traditional connectors with slimmer but longer connectors that provide additional standoff and improved air-flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fujie, Kenji Hidaka, Shah Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Robert A. Kubo, Bret W. Lehman, Robert M. Lindsay, Gregg S. Lucas, Jason A. Matteson, Koji Nakase, Hirokazu Nishimura, Kifumi Numata, Michihiro Okamoto, Tony C. Sass, Kenneth R. Schneebeli, Tohru Sumiyoshi, Yoshihiko Terashita
  • Patent number: 7650435
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to install a component in an information storage and retrieval system. The method provides an information storage and retrieval system comprising a system processor and system data, and a component comprising persistent component data. The method attaches the component to the information storage and retrieval system while the information storage and retrieval system remains in normal operation, and determines, while the information storage and retrieval system remains in normal operation, if the component is compatible with the information storage and retrieval system. If the component is compatible with the information storage and retrieval system, the method then places the component into service while the information storage and retrieval system remains in normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Jones, Robert A. Kubo, Gregg S. Lucas, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 7624203
    Abstract: Because cable length affects signal quality, amplifying signals differently to account for cable length (“tuning”) becomes especially important when high speed signals are used. Cable length information may be stored in a non-volatile memory which may be integrated into a cable assembly or may be a discrete component between the cable and an interface. Rather than using a dedicated data line to the memory component a ground line may be connected to the memory component and multiplexed. During normal operation the selected line is grounded through a switching device. When a cable is detected, a management controller changes the state of the switching device to decouple the selected line from ground to allow the management controller access to the data stored in the memory component, including cable length information. The selected line is then re-coupled to ground and interface circuits may be tuned for the cable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine T Blinick, Yutaka Kawai, Gregg S Lucas, Robert E Medlin, Kenneth R Schneebeli, Michael Stamps
  • Patent number: 7519854
    Abstract: A serial SCSI (SAS) storage drive system includes a drive enclosure having a first interface card coupled to one storage controller over a single SAS path and a second interface card coupled to another storage controller over a different single SAS path. At least one disk drive within the enclosure is assigned to the first storage controller and interconnected to the storage controller through the first interface card. At least a second disk drive within the enclosure is assigned to the second storage controller and interconnected to the storage controller through the second interface card. The interface cards are selectively interconnected with each other through a crossover port. In the event of a failure in a storage controller or an interface card, the crossover port may be activated, thereby maintaining access to both sets of disk drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg S Lucas, Yoshihiko Terashita, Kenneth R Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 7495906
    Abstract: A disk-drive storage assembly includes an interface card configurable to couple to a plurality of hard-disk drives. The interface card has a plurality of first vent openings to expose a surface area of each of the plurality of hard-disk drives. A drive chassis tray is coupled to the interface card having a plurality of second vent openings. The second vent openings are staggered to shift the exposed surface area of the hard-disk drives. A disk storage device includes a plurality of hard-disk drives. An interface card is coupled to the plurality of hard-disk drives. The interface card has a plurality of first vent openings to expose a surface area of each of the plurality of hard-disk drives. A drive chassis tray is coupled to the interface card having a plurality of second vent openings defined by a plurality of cross bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fujie, Kenji Hidaka, Kifumi Numata, Michihiro Okamoto, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Publication number: 20080212290
    Abstract: An electronics component support assembly and an electronics system assembly employing the component support assembly are provided. The component support assembly includes a rotatable base support and a component connector assembly. The rotatable base support is sized to reside within an electronics enclosure and to operatively support multiple electronics components thereon. The component connector assembly is associated with the rotatable base support, and at least some electronics components of the multiple electronics components couple thereto when operatively supported by the rotatable base support. Rotation of the rotatable base support facilitates access to the multiple electronics components, and the component connector assembly allows for rotation of the rotatable base support with the multiple electronics components operatively supported on the rotatable base support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert B. Basham, Shah Mohammad Rezeul Islam, Gregg S. Lucas, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Patent number: 7375961
    Abstract: An electronics component support assembly and an electronics system assembly employing the component support assembly are provided. The component support assembly includes a rotatable base support and a component connector assembly. The rotatable base support is sized to reside within an electronics enclosure and to operatively support multiple electronics components thereon. The component connector assembly is associated with the rotatable base support, and at least some electronics components of the multiple electronics components couple thereto when operatively supported by the rotatable base support. Rotation of the rotatable base support facilitates access to the multiple electronics components, and the component connector assembly allows for rotation of the rotatable base support with the multiple electronics components operatively supported on the rotatable base support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Basham, Shah Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Gregg S. Lucas, Kenneth R. Schneebeli
  • Publication number: 20080002347
    Abstract: An electronics component support assembly and an electronics system assembly employing the component support assembly are provided. The component support assembly includes a rotatable base support and a component connector assembly. The rotatable base support is sized to reside within an electronics enclosure and to operatively support multiple electronics components thereon. The component connector assembly is associated with the rotatable base support, and at least some electronics components of the multiple electronics components couple thereto when operatively supported by the rotatable base support. Rotation of the rotatable base support facilitates access to the multiple electronics components, and the component connector assembly allows for rotation of the rotatable base support with the multiple electronics components operatively supported on the rotatable base support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert B. Basham, Shah Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Gregg S. Lucas, Kenneth R. Schneebeli