Patents by Inventor Martin McAfee

Martin McAfee 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: 11809260
    Abstract: A method of operating a multiphase power supply includes identifying a least efficient phase of a plurality of phases in the multiphase power supply based on a comparison of a pulse width for each phase in the plurality of phases, and decreasing an amount of power supplied to a load by the identified least efficient phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, David L Wigton
  • Publication number: 20220091661
    Abstract: A method of operating a multiphase power supply includes identifying a least efficient phase of a plurality of phases in the multiphase power supply based on a comparison of a pulse width for each phase in the plurality of phases, and decreasing an amount of power supplied to a load by the identified least efficient phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, David L. Wigton
  • Patent number: 7600157
    Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second input/output (I/O) controllers, a detector for detecting an I/O controller failure, and an I/O recovery unit. The first I/O controller adaptively controls a first and a second I/O slot. The second I/O controller adaptively controls a third and a fourth I/O slot. Lastly, the I/O recovery unit, responsive to a detected I/O controller failure, operatively couples/decouples the first and second I/O slot to/from the first I/O controller, operatively couples/decouples the third and fourth I/O slot to/from the second I/O controller, and operatively decouples/couples the first and second I/O slot from/to the third and fourth I/O slot according to an I/O failure recovery protocol, the I/O failure recovery protocol provided for adapting one of either the first and second I/O controllers to operatively couple to the first, second, third and fourth I/O slots as a function of the detected I/O controller failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Bharath Vasudevan
  • Publication number: 20090037776
    Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second input/output (I/O) controllers, a detector for detecting an I/O controller failure, and an I/O recovery unit. The first I/O controller adaptively controls a first and a second I/O slot. The second I/O controller adaptively controls a third and a fourth I/O slot. Lastly, the I/O recovery unit, responsive to a detected I/O controller failure, operatively couples/decouples the first and second I/O slot to/from the first I/O controller, operatively couples/decouples the third and fourth I/O slot to/from the second I/O controller, and operatively decouples/couples the first and second I/O slot from/to the third and fourth I/O slot according to an I/O failure recovery protocol, the I/O failure recovery protocol provided for adapting one of either the first and second I/O controllers to operatively couple to the first, second, third and fourth I/O slots as a function of the detected I/O controller failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Bharath Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 7480831
    Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second I/O controllers, a detector for detecting an I/O controller failure, and an I/O recovery unit. The first I/O controller adaptively controls a first and a second I/O slot. The second I/O controller adaptively controls a third and a fourth I/O slot. Lastly, the I/O recovery unit, responsive to a detected I/O controller failure, operatively couples/decouples the first and second I/O slot to/from the first I/O controller, operatively couples/decouples the third and fourth I/O slot to/from the second I/O controller, and operatively decouples/couples the first and second I/O slot from/to the third and fourth I/O slot according to an I/O failure recovery protocol, the I/O failure recovery protocol provided for adapting one of either the first and second I/O controllers to operatively couple to the first, second, third and fourth I/O slots as a function of the detected I/O controller failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Bharath Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 7293125
    Abstract: A method and circuitry for dynamically reconfiguring the links of a PCI Express bus. A computer system has been initially configured with PCI Express bus links to various endpoints, using the scaling features of the PCI Express standard. During operation of the computer system, the status of the endpoints is detected and unused links (or unused portions of links) are rerouted to other endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Louis N. Castro
  • Publication number: 20070073959
    Abstract: A method and circuitry for dynamically reconfiguring the links of a PCI Express bus. A computer system has been initially configured with PCI Express bus links to various endpoints, using the scaling features of the PCI Express standard. During operation of the computer system, the status of the endpoints is detected and unused links (or unused portions of links) are rerouted to other endpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Louis Castro
  • Patent number: 7149907
    Abstract: A method of responding to a thermal trip signal generated by a processor of a system having multiple processor nodes. If a processor overheats beyond a critical temperature, a temperature monitor receives the thermal trip signal, and turns off an enable signal to a voltage control module that control power to the processors. The temperature monitor also triggers a system reset. Upon reset, the temperature monitor ensures that all nodes, other than the node with the overheated processor, return to an operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Kevin L. Miller, Robert L. Nance, Robert S. Tung
  • Patent number: 7099969
    Abstract: A method and circuitry for dynamically reconfiguring the links of a PCI Express bus. A computer system has been initially configured with PCI Express bus links to various endpoints, using the scaling features of the PCI Express standard. During operation of the computer system, the status of the endpoints is detected and unused links (or unused portions of links) are rerouted to other endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Louis N. Castro
  • Publication number: 20050102454
    Abstract: A method and circuitry for dynamically reconfiguring the links of a PCI Express bus. A computer system has been initially configured with PCI Express bus links to various endpoints, using the scaling features of the PCI Express standard. During operation of the computer system, the status of the endpoints is detected and unused links (or unused portions of links) are rerouted to other endpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Louis Castro
  • Patent number: 6865693
    Abstract: A debugging circuit capable of debugging a plurality of possible microprocessors, and a switch for use in the same. The debugging circuit includes a debugging port, a plurality of microprocessor sockets each adapted to receive a microprocessor, and a plurality of switches corresponding to a respective microprocessor socket. The plurality of microprocessor sockets are adapted to form a serial signal path, and each of the switches is capable of automatically detecting whether a microprocessor is present in the corresponding microprocessor socket. If a microprocessor is present, the switch is automatically configured to include the microprocessor within the signal path, and if the microprocessor is not present, the switch is automatically configured so that the signal path bypasses that microprocessor socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventor: Martin McAfee
  • Publication number: 20050010827
    Abstract: A method of responding to a thermal trip signal generated by a processor of a system having multiple processor nodes. If a processor overheats beyond a critical temperature, a temperature monitor receives the thermal trip signal, and turns off an enable signal to a voltage control module that control power to the processors. The temperature monitor also triggers a system reset. Upon reset, the temperature monitor ensures that all nodes, other than the node with the overheated processor, return to an operational state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Kevin Miller, Robert Nance, Robert Tung
  • Publication number: 20040215991
    Abstract: In an information handling system, voltage regulator modules (VRM) are first enabled and determined to be operational before enabling an associated processor. If a VRM is determined not to be operational, then the associated processor is disabled. Once all VRMs are determined to be operational or not operational and the associated processors are enabled or disabled as the case may be, the information handling system is operationally started-up with all operational VRMs and associated processors functioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Bharath Vasudevan
  • Publication number: 20040148542
    Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second I/O controllers, a detector for detecting an I/O controller failure, and an I/O recovery unit. The first I/O controller adaptively controls a first and a second I/O slot. The second I/O controller adaptively controls a third and a fourth I/O slot. Lastly, the I/O recovery unit, responsive to a detected I/O controller failure, operatively couples/decouples the first and second I/O slot to/from the first I/O controller, operatively couples/decouples the third and fourth I/O slot to/from the second I/O controller, and operatively decouples/couples the first and second I/O slot from/to the third and fourth I/O slot according to an I/O failure recovery protocol, the I/O failure recovery protocol for adapting one of either the first and second I/O controllers to operatively couple to the first, second, third and fourth I/O slots as a function of the detected I/O controller failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Martin McAfee, Bharath Vasudevan