Patents by Inventor Martin Brokner Christiansen

Martin Brokner Christiansen 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: 20210176890
    Abstract: A support structure for a flexible interconnect of a superconducting system can include a support member that is formed of thermally conductive material. The support member can include a plurality of parallel slots. Each slot can extend from a first surface of a base of the support member to a second surface of the base. The first and second surfaces of the base can be positioned on parallel planes and each slot can be shaped to allow relative movement of a fastener that allows a respective connector assembly to be affixed to the support member. Moreover, the respective connector assembly can provide mechanical support for the flexible interconnect of the superconducting system and establish a heat path between the flexible interconnect and the support member. The support member can also include a wall extending transverse from the first surface of the base, the wall comprising a plurality of through-holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, KATHARINE KRAMER FERSTER, JONATHAN FRANCIS VAN DYKE
  • Patent number: 11032935
    Abstract: A support structure for a flexible interconnect of a superconducting system can include a support member that is formed of thermally conductive material. The support member can include a plurality of parallel slots. Each slot can extend from a first surface of a base of the support member to a second surface of the base. The first and second surfaces of the base can be positioned on parallel planes and each slot can be shaped to allow relative movement of a fastener that allows a respective connector assembly to be affixed to the support member. Moreover, the respective connector assembly can provide mechanical support for the flexible interconnect of the superconducting system and establish a heat path between the flexible interconnect and the support member. The support member can also include a wall extending transverse from the first surface of the base, the wall comprising a plurality of through-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Katharine Kramer Ferster, Jonathan Francis Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 10645845
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing forced flow cooling in a circuit card environment is provided includes at least one circuit card including first and second longitudinally spaced circuit card subassemblies, connected together into a single circuit card oriented substantially in a lateral-longitudinal plane. The first and second circuit card subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, which are different from one another. A housing defines a housing internal volume which completely three-dimensionally surrounds the circuit card. A first temperature-control fluid is directed laterally across at least a portion of the first circuit card subassembly within the housing internal volume in a first flow path to induce the first operating temperature concurrently with a second temperature-control fluid being directed laterally across at least a portion of the second circuit card subassembly within the housing internal volume in a second flow path to induce the second operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Elie K. Track, Steven Ward Van Sciver, Kelsey McCusker
  • Patent number: 10595441
    Abstract: A heat sink includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. The heat sink is arranged substantially parallel to a circuit board and includes at least one aperture transversely aligned with a corresponding IC chip of the circuit board. An underside of the heat sink is structurally connected to the circuit board. A plurality of thermal bridges is provided. Each thermal bridge includes a center bridge pad and at least one footer pad, connected via at least one offset wire. Each thermal bridge is aligned with a corresponding aperture. An underside of each footer pad is attached to the heat sink, with the offset wire extending into the corresponding aperture to suspend the center bridge pad at least partially into the aperture above the IC chip, thus creating a thermal load path. The apparatus separates a thermal load path from a structural load path in a circuit board environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Steven Ward Van Sciver
  • Patent number: 10575437
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a compact-format circuit card environment comprises a plurality of circuit cards, each including first and second subassemblies. Each of the subassemblies is surrounded in a longitudinal-lateral plane by a corresponding first or second perimeter frame. The first and second subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, respectively. A first temperature tank is formed by first perimeter frames and substantially surrounds the first subassemblies. A second temperature tank is formed by second perimeter frames and substantially surrounds the second circuit card subassemblies. A first temperature cooling supply line selectively introduces the first cooling fluid into the first temperature tank for at least partially inducing the first operating temperature. A second temperature cooling supply line selectively introduces the second cooling fluid into the second temperature tank for at least partially inducing the second operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Robert J. Voigt, Benjamin Chaoning Liu, Jonathan Francis Van Dyke, Bruce Ryan Isler
  • Publication number: 20190320557
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing forced flow cooling in a circuit card environment is provided includes at least one circuit card including first and second longitudinally spaced circuit card subassemblies, connected together into a single circuit card oriented substantially in a lateral-longitudinal plane. The first and second circuit card subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, which are different from one another. A housing defines a housing internal volume which completely three-dimensionally surrounds the circuit card. A first temperature-control fluid is directed laterally across at least a portion of the first circuit card subassembly within the housing internal volume in a first flow path to induce the first operating temperature concurrently with a second temperature-control fluid being directed laterally across at least a portion of the second circuit card subassembly within the housing internal volume in a second flow path to induce the second operating temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA, ELIE K. TRACK, STEVEN WARD VAN SCIVER, KELSEY MCCUSKER
  • Patent number: 10438867
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a circuit card environment includes a circuit card having first and second longitudinally spaced circuit card subassemblies, connected together into a single circuit card oriented substantially in a lateral-longitudinal plane. The first and second circuit card subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, respectively, which are different from one another. A thermal energy transfer device is operatively connected to an area of the circuit card correlated with a selected one of the first and second circuit card subassemblies. The thermal energy transfer device at least partially induces the respective one of the first and second operating temperatures to the selected circuit card subassembly. The thermal energy transfer device transversely overlies at least a supermajority of the selected circuit card subassembly and is laterally spaced from the other circuit card subassembly. A system and method for providing immersion cooling are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, Harlan Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20190279916
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a circuit card environment includes a circuit card having first and second longitudinally spaced circuit card subassemblies, connected together into a single circuit card oriented substantially in a lateral-longitudinal plane. The first and second circuit card subassemblies have first and second operating temperatures, respectively, which are different from one another. A thermal energy transfer device is operatively connected to an area of the circuit card correlated with a selected one of the first and second circuit card subassemblies. The thermal energy transfer device at least partially induces the respective one of the first and second operating temperatures to the selected circuit card subassembly. The thermal energy transfer device transversely overlies at least a supermajority of the selected circuit card subassembly and is laterally spaced from the other circuit card subassembly. A system and method for providing immersion cooling are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, HARLAN CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA, KEITH R. KIRKWOOD
  • Patent number: 10342151
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya
  • Publication number: 20190082551
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, H. CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA
  • Patent number: 10165707
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing immersion cooling in a compact-format circuit card environment comprises a plurality of circuit cards. A plurality of thermal energy transfer devices is provided, each thermal energy transfer device at least partially inducing a respective one of first and second operating temperatures to a corresponding circuit card subassembly. At least one first temperature cooling manifold is in selective fluid communication with at least one first operating temperature thermal energy transfer device. At least one second temperature cooling manifold is in selective fluid communication with at least one second operating temperature thermal energy transfer device. A plurality of manifold interfaces is provided, each manifold interface being in fluid communication with a corresponding thermal energy transfer device. A housing includes first and second operating fluid inlets in fluid communication with first and second operating fluid outlets, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Bruce Ryan Isler, Jonathan Francis Van Dyke, Robert J. Voigt, Benjamin Chaoning Liu
  • Patent number: 10159161
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya
  • Patent number: 9681533
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, providing a desired temperature-differential circuit card environment includes a plurality of card units. Each card unit comprises a first thermal plate having front and back first plate sides oriented in a lateral-longitudinal plane, the first thermal plate operating at a first plate temperature. A second thermal plate has front and back second plate sides oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane, the second thermal plate operating at a second plate temperature. A coupler is oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane and is connected to front and/or back first plate sides and to the front and/or back second plate sides to form a card unit. The card units are arranged in a transversely oriented stack with the front first and second plate sides of a second card unit being directly transversely adjacent the back first and second plate sides of the first card unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20170142820
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, providing a desired temperature-differential circuit card environment includes a plurality of card units. Each card unit comprises a first thermal plate having front and back first plate sides oriented in a lateral-longitudinal plane, the first thermal plate operating at a first plate temperature. A second thermal plate has front and back second plate sides oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane, the second thermal plate operating at a second plate temperature. A coupler is oriented in the lateral-longitudinal plane and is connected to front and/or back first plate sides and to the front and/or back second plate sides to form a card unit. The card units are arranged in a transversely oriented stack with the front first and second plate sides of a second card unit being directly transversely adjacent the back first and second plate sides of the first card unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, H. CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA, KEITH R. KIRKWOOD
  • Publication number: 20170142836
    Abstract: A circuit card assembly includes a substrate having longitudinally spaced first and second substrate end edges and transversely spaced top and bottom substrate surfaces. The top and/or bottom substrate surface has first, second, and third substrate regions. The first substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the first substrate side edge. The third substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the second substrate side edge. The second substrate region is located between the first and third substrate regions. At least one circuit trace is located on the selected substrate surface. The portion of the circuit trace in the first substrate region is made of only a first material. The portion of the circuit trace in the third substrate region is made of only a second material. The portion of the circuit trace in the second substrate region is made of both the first and second materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood
  • Publication number: 20170142856
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a circuit card in a card rack and a circuit card rack system are disclosed. A card rack including a laterally oriented clamping slot is provided. The clamping slot is at least partially formed from a temperature-contractible material. A circuit card having a clamped side region is provided. At least a portion of the clamped side region is inserted into the clamping slot. A predetermined temperature differential is applied to the clamping slot to reduce a longitudinal dimension of at least a portion of the clamping slot. A compressive force is exerted on the portion of the clamped side region which is located longitudinally within the clamping slot, via thermal expansion of the clamping slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN BROKNER CHRISTIANSEN, LEONARD GEORGE CHOROSINSKI, H. CRAIG HEFFNER, STANLEY KATSUYOSHI WAKAMIYA
  • Patent number: 9648749
    Abstract: A circuit card assembly includes a substrate having longitudinally spaced first and second substrate end edges and transversely spaced top and bottom substrate surfaces. The top and/or bottom substrate surface has first, second, and third substrate regions. The first substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the first substrate side edge. The third substrate region is directly laterally adjacent the second substrate side edge. The second substrate region is located between the first and third substrate regions. At least one circuit trace is located on the selected substrate surface. The portion of the circuit trace in the first substrate region is made of only a first material. The portion of the circuit trace in the third substrate region is made of only a second material. The portion of the circuit trace in the second substrate region is made of both the first and second materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Brokner Christiansen, Leonard George Chorosinski, H. Craig Heffner, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Keith R. Kirkwood