Patents by Inventor Phillip J. Roux

Phillip J. Roux 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: 9548627
    Abstract: A system for detecting latent defects within a redundant power architecture includes a plurality of redundant power supplies, each having one or more output power rails, connected in a redundant fashion to a system load; each power supply output having fault-isolating OR'ing circuitry that prevents reverse current flow when free of defects; each power supply having means for adjusting its output voltage; each power supply having means for monitoring an internal voltage therein, and, based on characteristics of the monitored internal voltage, determining the presence of latent defect/s in the fault-isolating “OR'ing” circuitry. Further, the system operates to shift the load demanded from power supplies in redundant power architectures to allow the power supplies to run at their optimum electrical efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. King, Jr., Phillip J. Roux, Michael A. Faulkner, Robert M. Beauchamp, Robert A. Guenther
  • Patent number: 8930738
    Abstract: A common form-factor battery backup system includes a battery system configured to provide electrical energy to an external system. A control circuit is configured to compare a monitored voltage level associated with the external system to a minimum acceptable voltage level and, if the monitored voltage is less than the minimum acceptable voltage level, provide electrical energy from the battery system to the external system. The battery backup system is configured to fit within a common form-factor storage space within a data system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. King, Jr., Phillip J. Roux
  • Patent number: 8340933
    Abstract: A system for detecting latent defects within a redundant power architecture includes a plurality of redundant power supplies, each having one or more output power rails, connected in a redundant fashion to a system load; each power supply output having fault-isolating OR'ing circuitry that prevents reverse current flow when free of defects; each power supply having means for adjusting its output voltage; each power supply having means for monitoring an internal voltage therein, and, based on characteristics of the monitored internal voltage, determining the presence of latent defect/s in the fault-isolating “OR'ing” circuitry. Further, the system operates to shift the load demanded from power supplies in redundant power architectures to allow the power supplies to run at their optimum electrical efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph P. King, Jr., Phillip J. Roux, Michael A. Faulkner, Robert M. Beauchamp, Robert A. Guenther
  • Patent number: 8032261
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a fan unit having a terminal receiving a signal representative of a commanded fan speed and a terminal for receiving a signal representative of actual fan speed. A system controller is responsive to temperature and the actual fan speed, for producing control signals for fan to adjust fan speed in accordance with the temperature and the actual fan speed, for producing the control signals in one of a plurality of different predetermined two-wire communication protocols. The system includes a fan controller and a two-line communication bus coupling the control signals between the system controller and the fan controller. The fan controller detects the one of the plurality of predetermined two-wire communication protocols on the two-wire communication bus and provides, in accordance with such detection, one terminal of the fan unit with the commanded fan speed and transmits the signal representative of the actual fan speed to the system controller via the communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Beauchamp, Phillip J. Roux
  • Patent number: 7873851
    Abstract: A method is used in powering disk drive spinup. A disk drive is powered with a primary power source and is temporarily powered with a secondary power source in addition to the primary power source. The secondary power source powers the disk drive when the disk drive is spinning up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Linnell, Phillip J. Roux
  • Patent number: 7481679
    Abstract: Described is an electrical connector assembly with an electrical connector having a connector body that includes a receptacle connector portion at a first end and a plug connector portion at a second end opposite the first end. The receptacle connector portion has electrical contacts within an opening for mating with a plug electrical connector at the first end of the connector body. The plug connector portion has electrical contacts within an opening for mating with a receptacle electrical connector at the second end. The connector body has an electrical conductor that is in electrical communication with at least one of the electrical contacts and extends from one side of the connector body. A circuit card is disposed adjacent to that one side of the connector body and is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical contact through the electrical conductor extending from the side of the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Stotz, Joseph P. King, Jr., Albert F. Beinor, Jr., Phillip J. Roux, Mickey S. Felton
  • Patent number: 7477502
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a power supply; a load coupled to the power supply via a power supply line to receive a voltage therefrom; and a circuit protection device. The circuit protection device includes at least one switch device coupled between the power supply and the load on the power supply line; a first controller coupled to the at least one switch for: A. monitoring current flow through the at least one switch; B. maintaining the at least one switch in an ON state while current flows through the at least one switch in a first direction; and C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Faulkner, Phillip J. Roux, Paul H. Maier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7398431
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a fault threshold for an operational module according to the model of the operational module are described. The system includes an operational module, a storage unit, and a monitoring unit. The operational module has circuitry for producing a characterization signal with an electrical characteristic that uniquely correlates to the model of the operational module. A storage unit maintains an association between at least one parameter value and a fault threshold. A monitoring unit is in communication with the operational module to receive the characterization signal and with the storage unit. The monitoring unit measures the electrical characteristic of the characterization signal to derive a parameter value therefrom and accesses the storage unit to determine the fault threshold associated with the derived parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul H. Maier, Jr., Phillip J. Roux
  • Patent number: 7395198
    Abstract: An electronic system has a powerable device (e.g., one or more storage processors), a power supply assembly adapted to provide power from an external power source to the powerable device, and a data communications cable interconnected between the powerable device and the power supply assembly. The power supply assembly is further adapted to simulate backup power supply responses to the powerable device through the data communications cable in response to backup power supply communications from the powerable device through the data communications cable to imitate correct operation of a backup power supply in-line between the external power source and the power supply assembly. In the absence of such a backup power supply, the simulated backup power supply responses alleviate the need to modify the powerable device from a design that works with an actual backup power supply in-line between an external power source and a power supply assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip J. Roux, Kanu D. Patel
  • Patent number: 7243248
    Abstract: A data storage system includes a disk drive assembly having a plurality of disk drives, a first processor for controlling access to the disk drive assembly, a second processor for controlling access to the disk drive assembly, a first power supply for supplying power to the first processor and to the disk drive assembly and a second power supply for supplying power to the second processor and to the disk drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip J. Roux, Michael A. Faulkner, Paul H. Maier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7229294
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in supplying power includes an input connector and first and second output connectors. The input connector has first and second sets of pins. The first set is dedicated to receiving DC power, and the second set is dedicated to receiving AC power. The first output connector has third and fourth sets of pins. The third set is dedicated to outputting DC power based on input from the first set of pins, and the fourth set is dedicated to outputting AC power based on input from the second set of pins. The second output connector has fifth and sixth sets of pins. The fifth set is dedicated to outputting DC power based on input from the first set of pins, and the sixth set is dedicated to outputting AC power based on input from the second set of pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Kanu D. Patel, Phillip J. Roux, Keith C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7127621
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a power control architecture is provided wherein each one of a pair of devices controls the provision of power to the other device of the pair. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one power supply is coupled to each one of the pair of devices. The invention includes methods and apparatus that enable each device to reset the other device by signaling the power supplies to cycle power to that device. In addition, the invention includes methods and apparatus to preclude each device from erroneously cycling the power of the other device. With such an arrangement, processor reset functionality may be provided in a high availability system without the inclusion of one or more supervisory processors in the design, thereby reducing the overall cost and complexity of the supervisory functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Wierzbicki, Phillip J. Roux
  • Patent number: 6943463
    Abstract: Described are a system and method of testing connectivity between a main power supply and a standby power supply. The system includes a processor, a main power supply, and a standby power supply. The processor issues a command to the standby power supply to provide dc power to main power supply. The standby power supply switches from providing ac power to providing dc power to the main power supply in response to the command. The main power supply, in response to receiving dc power from the standby power supply, provides a communication that operates to indicate to the processor that the main power supply is receiving dc power from the standby power supply in response to the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Ulrich B. Goerke, Phillip J. Roux
  • Publication number: 20040123165
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a power control architecture is provided wherein each one of a pair of devices controls the provision of power to the other device of the pair. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one power supply is coupled to each one of the pair of devices. The invention includes methods and apparatus that enable each device to reset the other device by signaling the power supplies to cycle power to that device. In addition, the invention includes methods and apparatus to preclude each device from erroneously cycling the power of the other device. With such an arrangement, processor reset functionality may be provided in a high availability system without the inclusion of one or more supervisory processors in the design, thereby reducing the overall cost and complexity of the supervisory functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Robert P. Wierzbicki, Phillip J. Roux
  • Publication number: 20040027751
    Abstract: Described are a system and method of testing connectivity between a main power supply and a standby power supply. The system includes a processor, a main power supply, and a standby power supply. The processor issues a command to the standby power supply to provide dc power to main power supply. The standby power supply switches from providing ac power to providing dc power to the main power supply in response to the command. The main power supply, in response to receiving dc power from the standby power supply, provides a communication that operates to indicate to the processor that the main power supply is receiving dc power from the standby power supply in response to the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Ulrich B. Goerke, Phillip J. Roux
  • Patent number: 6411535
    Abstract: A power conversion circuit for converting alternating current power to regulated direct current power by a power factor correction circuit having an integral bridge function providing reduced power consumption. A switching power conversion circuit provides direct current power to a load from an alternating current power source by providing current to an energy storage capacitor connected across the load from each of a first switching boost converter circuit and a second switching boost converter circuit operating alternately during corresponding polarity half cycles of the alternating current power source. The first and second switching boost converter circuits each include alternating current inputs connected inversely with respect to each other to first and second terminals of an alternating current power source and current outputs connected in parallel across an energy storage capacitor for storing current from the first and second boost converter circuits and providing direct current power to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip J. Roux