Patents by Inventor Mark E. Steinke

Mark E. Steinke 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: 20160273996
    Abstract: Water is circulated through a cooling system within a compute node to remove heat from a heat-generating component within the compute node. Water leakage from the cooling system is collected into a containment reservoir within the compute node. A rate of the water leakage is measured, a temperature of the compute node is measured, a rate of water evaporation from the containment reservoir is determined based upon the measured temperature, and the rate of water leakage is compared to the rate of water evaporation to determine whether water is accumulating in the containment reservoir. A period of time before the containment reservoir reaches a critical level may also be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Shareef F. Alshinnawi, Gary D. Cudak, Mark E. Steinke, Edward S. Suffern, J. Mark Weber
  • Patent number: 9414523
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Bejoy J. Kochuparambil, Roger R. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke
  • Patent number: 9342118
    Abstract: A method includes securing a primary cold plate to a secondary cold plate, wherein the primary cold plate is biased away from the secondary cold plate. The secondary cold plate is aligned with a circuit board having heat-generating components, wherein the primary cold plate is aligned with a processor. The method secures the aligned secondary cold plate to the circuit board with a first surface in thermal engagement with the heat-generating components, wherein the primary cold plate is pressed against the processor to overcome the bias, move the primary cold plate toward the secondary cold plate, position the primary cold plate in thermal engagement with the processor, and compress a thermal interface material between the primary and secondary cold plates. A cooling liquid is passed through a liquid cooling channel within the primary cold plate to draw heat from the processor and from the secondary cold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Barina, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Patent number: 9310859
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a primary cold plate, a secondary cold plate, and spring biased retainers moveably securing the primary cold plate to the secondary cold plate. The secondary cold plate is securable to a circuit board for thermal engagement with heat-generating components on the circuit board. The primary cold plate is aligned for thermal engagement with a processor on the circuit board and includes an internal liquid cooling channel. The apparatus further comprises compressible thermal interface material disposed between the primary cold plate and the secondary cold plate to conduct heat from the secondary cold plate to the primary cold plate and remove the heat in a liquid flowing through the liquid cooling channel. The apparatus provides thermal engagement and cooling of multiple components having different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Barina, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Patent number: 9307674
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Bejoy J. Kochuparambil, Roger R. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke
  • Publication number: 20150377274
    Abstract: A fastening device is disclosed. The fastening device has a vertical protrusion for fastening. A horizontal portion and an indicator are used for seating. The horizontal portion extends from the vertical protrusion for providing a clue to indicate that the fastening device is seated correctly. In embodiments, the clue is a color or a texture. In embodiments, a bellow is used with elastomeric properties. When the right load and torque are applied, the bellow covers the horizontal portion such that the color and/or texture of a perspective directed at the horizontal portion appear to be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Jason A. Matteson, Mark E. Steinke, Aparna Vallury
  • Patent number: 9185830
    Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The methods include providing: a liquid-cooled structure, a thermal conduction path coupling the electronic component and the liquid-cooled structure, a coolant loop in fluid communication with a coolant-carrying channel of the liquid-cooled structure, and an outdoor-air-cooled heat exchange unit coupled to facilitate heat transfer from the liquid-cooled structure via, at least in part, the coolant loop. The thermoelectric array facilitates transfer of heat from the electronic component to the liquid-cooled structure, and the heat exchange unit cools coolant passing through the coolant loop by dissipating heat from the coolant to outdoor ambient air. In one implementation, temperature of coolant entering the liquid-cooled structure is greater than temperature of the outdoor ambient air to which heat is dissipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Bejoy J. Kochuparambil, Roger R. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke
  • Patent number: 9132519
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a cooling apparatus for cooling an electronics rack, which includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, one or more coolant-cooled structures, and a tube. The heat exchanger is associated with the electronics rack and disposed to cool air passing through the rack, includes a plurality of coolant-carrying tube sections, each tube section having a coolant inlet and outlet, one of which is coupled in fluid communication with a coolant loop to facilitate flow of coolant through the tube section. The coolant-cooled structure(s) is in thermal contact with an electronic component(s) of the rack, and facilitates transfer of heat from the component(s) to the coolant. The tube connects in fluid communication one coolant-cooled structure and the other of the coolant inlet or outlet of the one tube section, and facilitates flow of coolant directly between that coolant-carrying tube section of the heat exchanger and the coolant-cooled structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNTIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Patrick A. Coico, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Bejoy J. Kochuparambil, Roger R. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke
  • Publication number: 20150138715
    Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The methods include providing: a liquid-cooled structure, a thermal conduction path coupling the electronic component and the liquid-cooled structure, a coolant loop in fluid communication with a coolant-carrying channel of the liquid-cooled structure, and an outdoor-air-cooled heat exchange unit coupled to facilitate heat transfer from the liquid-cooled structure via, at least in part, the coolant loop. The thermoelectric array facilitates transfer of heat from the electronic component to the liquid-cooled structure, and the heat exchange unit cools coolant passing through the coolant loop by dissipating heat from the coolant to outdoor ambient air. In one implementation, temperature of coolant entering the liquid-cooled structure is greater than temperature of the outdoor ambient air to which heat is dissipated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20150131223
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a primary cold plate, a secondary cold plate, and spring biased retainers moveably securing the primary cold plate to the secondary cold plate. The secondary cold plate is securable to a circuit board for thermal engagement with heat-generating components on the circuit board. The primary cold plate is aligned for thermal engagement with a processor on the circuit board and includes an internal liquid cooling channel. The apparatus further comprises compressible thermal interface material disposed between the primary cold plate and the secondary cold plate to conduct heat from the secondary cold plate to the primary cold plate and remove the heat in a liquid flowing through the liquid cooling channel. The apparatus provides thermal engagement and cooling of multiple components having different heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Barina, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Publication number: 20150131224
    Abstract: A method includes securing a primary cold plate to a secondary cold plate, wherein the primary cold plate is biased away from the secondary cold plate. The secondary cold plate is aligned with a circuit board having heat-generating components, wherein the primary cold plate is aligned with a processor. The method secures the aligned secondary cold plate to the circuit board with a first surface in thermal engagement with the heat-generating components, wherein the primary cold plate is pressed against the processor to overcome the bias, move the primary cold plate toward the secondary cold plate, position the primary cold plate in thermal engagement with the processor, and compress a thermal interface material between the primary and secondary cold plates. A cooling liquid is passed through a liquid cooling channel within the primary cold plate to draw heat from the processor and from the secondary cold plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Barina, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Patent number: 9027360
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled structure, a thermal conduction path coupling the electronic component and the liquid-cooled structure, a coolant loop in fluid communication with a coolant-carrying channel of the liquid-cooled structure, and an outdoor-air-cooled heat exchange unit coupled to facilitate heat transfer from the liquid-cooled structure via, at least in part, the coolant loop. The thermoelectric array facilitates transfer of heat from the electronic component to the liquid-cooled structure, and the heat exchange unit cools coolant passing through the coolant loop by dissipating heat from the coolant to outdoor ambient air. In one implementation, temperature of coolant entering the liquid-cooled structure is greater than temperature of the outdoor ambient air to which heat is dissipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Bejoy J. Kochuparambil, Roger R. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke
  • Publication number: 20150114602
    Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The methods include providing a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20150114601
    Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20150116941
    Abstract: Methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20150033550
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for forming an overmolded dual in-line memory module (DIMM) cooling structure are provided. Embodiments include identifying, by a tagging module, contextual information indicating circumstances in which the photograph was taken; based on the contextual information, selecting, by the tagging module, candidate profiles from a plurality of friend profiles associated with a profile of a user; and suggesting, by the tagging module to the user, the selected candidate profiles as potential friends to tag in the photograph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. BORAAS, VINOD KAMATH, MICHAEL S. MILLER, MARK E. STEINKE, JAMIL A. WAKIL
  • Patent number: 8913384
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic systems are provided which include thermal transfer structures configured to engage with a spring force one or more electronics cards with docking of the electronics card(s) within a respective socket(s) of the electronic system. A thermal transfer structure of the cooling apparatus includes a thermal spreader having a first thermal conduction surface, and a thermally conductive spring assembly coupled to the conduction surface of the thermal spreader and positioned and configured to reside between and physically couple a first surface of an electronics card to the first surface of the thermal spreader with docking of the electronics card within a socket of the electronic system. The thermal transfer structure is, in one embodiment, metallurgically bonded to a coolant-cooled structure and facilitates transfer of heat from the electronics card to coolant flowing through the coolant-cooled structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Milnes P. David, David P. Graybill, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Bejoy J. Kochuparambil, Pritish R. Parida, Roger R. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke
  • Patent number: 8900503
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for forming an overmolded dual in-line memory module (DIMM) cooling structure are provided. Embodiments include identifying, by a tagging module, contextual information indicating circumstances in which the photograph was taken; based on the contextual information, selecting, by the tagging module, candidate profiles from a plurality of friend profiles associated with a profile of a user; and suggesting, by the tagging module to the user, the selected candidate profiles as potential friends to tag in the photograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Boraas, Vinod Kamath, Michael S. Miller, Mark E. Steinke, Jamil A. Wakil
  • Publication number: 20140230234
    Abstract: A method of cooling a heat generating device includes positioning a base of an electronically conductive heat sink in thermal communication with a heat generating device, wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of fins extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and coupling the heat sink to ground. The method further includes emitting ions from a plurality of ion emitter elements disposed in a non-planar pattern along the first ends of the plurality of fins, wherein at least three ion emitter elements are equidistant from the first end of the nearest fin and are positioned in an arc having an axis that extends along the first end of the nearest fin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. June, Chunjian Ni, Dana S.R. Adams, Mark E. Steinke
  • Patent number: 8807204
    Abstract: A system for cooling a heat generating device comprises a heat sink and a plurality of ion emitter elements that form an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) air flow device. The heat sink has a base disposed in thermal communication with a heat generating device, such as a processor. A plurality of heat sink fins is coupled to electrical ground to form ion collectors. Ion emitter elements are disposed in a non-planar pattern along first ends of the plurality of fins so that each ion emitter element is equidistant from the first end of a nearest fin. A power supply applies an electrical potential between the plurality of ion emitter elements and the plurality of fins to induce a flow of ions that cause airflow across the heat sink. It is preferable to have at least three ion emitter elements that are equidistant from each fin of the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. June, Chunjian Ni, Dana S. Royer, Mark E. Steinke