Patents by Inventor Rick Larsen

Rick Larsen 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).

  • Chambered forced cooling method
    Patent number: 5860291
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling components within a housing, such as those of a computer system. Multiple chambers are created within the housing, each having at least one cooling fan and a corresponding air inlet. These chambers are segregated by an internal divider or baffle element which effectively eliminates airflow between the chambers. Cooling fans within the housing are utilized as exhaust fans such that, in conjunction with the effect of the baffle element, substantially linear airflow is maintained within each chamber. Certain critical heat-producing components of the system are placed in proximity to the air inlets in each chamber, thereby maximizing the cooling of the components for a given fan rating and inlet air temperature, and increasing cooling system efficiency by substantially reducing the cooling of components that are insensitive to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg P. Johnson, Rick Larsen, Craig L. Boe
  • Chambered forced cooling system
    Patent number: 5813243
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling components within a housing, such as those of a computer system. Multiple chambers are created within the housing, each having at least one cooling fan and a corresponding air inlet. These chambers are segregated by an internal divider or baffle element which effectively eliminates airflow between the chambers. Cooling fans within the housing are utilized as exhaust fans such that, in conjunction with the effect of the baffle element, substantially linear airflow is maintained within each chamber. Certain critical heat-producing components of the system are placed in proximity to the air inlets in each chamber, thereby maximizing the cooling of the components for a given fan rating and inlet air temperature, and increasing cooling system efficiency by substantially reducing the cooling of components that are insensitive to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg P. Johnson, Rick Larsen, Craig L. Boe