Patents by Inventor Kent A. Dramstad

Kent A. Dramstad 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: 6457155
    Abstract: A memory card adapter and method is provided which can add features or provide functions to a computer system's memory modules without having to replace and discard existing memory modules. An adapter is provided which has electrical contacts that are capable of being plugged into a memory module receiving socket of. a motherboard and a memory module receiving socket capable of receiving and retaining a memory module such as a SIMM. The adapter has logic, circuitry and/or memory chips to add new function to the existing memory module and also has all information and hardware needed for proper interface with the motherboard of the computer system. The present invention can add a variety of function such as parity, error correction code and error correction code on SIMM as well as convert signals which form from the system for use on the SIMM which signals in the form generate by the computer are not compatible with the SIMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Kent A. Dramstad, Marc R. Faucher, Bruce G. Hazelzet
  • Patent number: 6185718
    Abstract: A memory card design which adds parity for non-parity computer systems to supply error detection capabilities is provided. The apparatus includes a memory card, parity DRAM locatable on the memory card, logic for generating and checking parity bits and logic for the control of the generating, checking and storing parity bits. Also, in another embodiment, the apparatus adds error correction code to the memory card to provide error detection and correction code to systems lacking such capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Kamal E. Dimitri, Kent A. Dramstad, Marc R. Faucher, Bruce G. Hazelzet, Bruce W. Singer
  • Patent number: 6108730
    Abstract: A memory card adapter and method is provided which can add features or provide functions to a computer system's memory modules without having to replace and discard existing memory modules. An adapter is provided which has electrical contacts that are capable of being plugged into a memory module receiving socket of a motherboard and a memory module receiving socket capable of receiving and retaining a memory module such as a SIMM. The adapter has logic, circuitry and/or memory chips to add new function to the existing memory module and also has all information and hardware needed for proper interface with the motherboard of the computer system. The present invention can add a variety of function such as parity, error correction code and error correction code on SIMM as well as convert signals which form from the system for use on the SIMM which signals in the form generate by the computer are not compatible with the SIMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Kent A. Dramstad, Marc R. Faucher, Bruce G. Hazelzet
  • Patent number: 6004139
    Abstract: This discloses a memory module adapter card that allows newer dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) to be used by computer system boards that were built to use older single inline memory modules (SIMMs) thereby permitting computer owners to update and upgrade older machines without modifying or changing their system boards. This memory module adapter card is designed to connect a memory DIMM inserted into a DIMM socket, carried thereon, to a pair of smaller SIMM sockets on a computer system board such that the DIMM appears to the computer as a pair of the smaller SIMMs that the board was originally designed for. This decreases the need for manufacturing and maintaining an inventory of the older SIMMs and provides owners of older computers the means to extend the useful life of their existing computer system even if the SIMMs designed for the computer no longer exist or are prohibitively expensive or very difficult to locate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kent A. Dramstad, Steven A. Grundon, Jeffrey N. Ohler