Patents by Inventor Michael E. Stopford

Michael E. Stopford 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: 8513575
    Abstract: A method induces augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The method further includes reliably initializing the system by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary E. O'Neil, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate
  • Patent number: 8378271
    Abstract: A method and system for inducing augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The system is then reliably initialized by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary E. O'Neil, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate
  • Patent number: 8086358
    Abstract: A method and system for utilizing the heat dissipated by quiescent IC leakage currents to control the start-up temperature of components. A temperature control sub-system utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of the component. When the temperature is below an operating threshold, the control sub-system applies power to the component, and the component is self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component. This quiescent self-heating property serves as a source of pre-heat to elevate the temperature of the component, until the temperature, as indicated by the thermal sensor, rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The system may then be reliably initialized by applying full system power, and triggering a hardware reset or defined initialization sequence/procedure. Once the component(s) is operational, self-heating continues to maintain the component's temperature above the minimum operating threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary E. O'Neil, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate
  • Publication number: 20090014433
    Abstract: A method and system for inducing augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The system is then reliably initialized by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Gary E. O'Neil, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate
  • Publication number: 20090018708
    Abstract: A method and system for utilizing the heat dissipated by quiescent IC leakage currents to control the start-up temperature of components. A temperature control sub-system utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of the component. When the temperature is below an operating threshold, the control sub-system applies power to the component, and the component is self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component. This quiescent self-heating property serves as a source of pre-heat to elevate the temperature of the component, until the temperature, as indicated by the thermal sensor, rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The system may then be reliably initialized by applying full system power, and triggering a hardware reset or defined initialization sequence/procedure. Once the component(s) is operational, self-heating continues to maintain the component's temperature above the minimum operating threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: GARY E. O'NEIL, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate