Patents by Inventor Robert Simons

Robert Simons 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: 20050289617
    Abstract: A personal versatile recorder can be connected to, or integrated in, a cable television set-top terminal. The personal versatile recorder includes a central processing unit and a hard drive for mass data storage. Preferably, the personal versatile recorder has a tuner or tuners for receiving one or more transport streams from the cable system as well as analog or digital audiovisual programming. The data transport stream may encompass internet multimedia web content and associated applications to he utilized by the personal versatile recorder, Under instructions of the viewer or the agent application the central processing unit controls and facilitates various functions such as encoding, transcoding, decoding, caching, storing, playback and retrieval of any type of data or data file on the hard drive including compressed audiovisual programming content, streamed multimedia cached content, picture files, video files, audio files, HTML files, etc. for a variety of applications as described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Reem Safadi, Douglas Makofka, Robert Simons, Jack Birnbaum, David Zeidler, Mark DePietro, Lawrence Vince, Thomas Du Breuil, Salvatore Macera, Carl McGrath, Raymond Bontempi, Donald Merino
  • Publication number: 20050286234
    Abstract: A thermally conductive composite interface and methods of fabrication are provided for coupling a cooling assembly and at least one electronic device. The interface includes a plurality of thermally conductive contacts for mechanically coupling the cooling assembly and electronic device, and an adhesive material at least partially surrounding the thermally conductive contacts. The thermally conductive contacts are made of a first material, which has a first thermal conductivity, and the adhesive material is a second material, which has a second thermal conductivity, with the first thermal conductivity being greater than the second thermal conductivity. The adhesive material rigidly bonds the cooling assembly and the at least one electronic device together, thereby relieving strain on the plurality of thermally conductive contacts resulting from a coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the cooling assembly and the at least one electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi Campbell, Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Madhusudan Iyengar, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20050280993
    Abstract: An electronic device cooling assembly and fabrication method are provided which include a manifold with an orifice for injecting a cooling liquid onto a surface to be cooled, and an elastic pin support material with an opening aligned to the orifice of the manifold. Multiple thermally conductive pins are mounted within the support material, extending therefrom, and are sized to physically contact the surface to be cooled. The support material has a thickness and compliance which facilitates thermal interfacing of the pins to the surface by allowing second ends thereof to move vertically and tilt. The second end of each pin has a planar surface which is normal to an axis of the pin, and the support material facilitates the planar surfaces of the second pin ends establishing planar contact with the surface to be cooled, notwithstanding that the surface may be other than planar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi Campbell, Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Madhusudan Iyengar, Robert Simons, Roger Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20050278106
    Abstract: A powertrain braking system for a vehicle includes an powerplant that can be regulated to provide a desired powerplant torque and a transmission that transfers the desired powerplant torque at one of a plurality of gear ratios to provide a desired axle torque. A control module calculates an axle torque command based on a powertrain braking request and determines a shift command based on the powertrain braking request. The control module controls the powerplant based on the axle torque command and the transmission based on the shift command to achieve a desired vehicle deceleration rate that corresponds with the powertrain braking request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Simon, Leonard Wozniak, David Stroh
  • Publication number: 20050267898
    Abstract: A supporting system and a utility system communicate data formatted to allow for the use of customized tags that enable the definition, validation, and interpretation of data communicated between the utility and the supporting system via an electronic data transmission channel. The data format is applicable across multiple applications and multiple electronic data transmission channels. The data communicated to the supporting system may include requests for work to be performed and supporting data to be used in completing the requests for work. Data communicated to the utility system may include utility meter data, field service results, and/or analytical data resulting from raw data analysis performed by the supporting system. Once received the formatted data is validated based on a definition of the data format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Simon, Robert Gay
  • Publication number: 20050248608
    Abstract: The method for shutting down an ink jet printhead and an ink jet printing station, wherein the method includes maintaining a constant positive pressure at the drop generator by closing the cross flush valve or ensuring that the cross flush valve is closed, thereby closing off the fluid return line to create a constant positive pressure through the drop generator and the orifice into the fluid line. The shutdown continues by stopping the flow of fluid from the fluid supply line and circulating cleaning fluid through at least one filter, into the drop generator, out through the orifice structure, into the fluid line, and into a reservoir. The shutdown ends by flowing pressurized air, which is preferably clean of particulates, through the filter, drop generator, orifice structure, and fluid line to displace substantially all the cleaning fluid from the filter, drop generator, and orifice structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel DeVivo, Robert Simon
  • Publication number: 20050248922
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for electronic drawers utilizing a passive fluid cooling loop in conjunction with an air cooled drawer cover. The air cooled cover provides an increased surface area from which to transfer heat to cooling air flowing through the drawer. The increased cooling surface uses available space within the drawer, which may be other than immediately adjacent to a high power device within the drawer. The passive fluid cooling loop provides heat transfer from the high power device to the air cooled cover assembly, allowing placement of the air cooled cover assembly other than immediately adjacent to the high power device. The cooling apparatus is easily disengaged from the electronics drawer, providing access to devices within the drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20050248632
    Abstract: An improved continuous ink jet print station includes a drop generator with a jet array and a drop charging assembly. The drop charging assembly includes a substrate with a first side facing the jet array, and one or more resistive heater elements placed on the substrate aligned with the jet array. The resistive heater elements are discontinuously disposed on portions of the substrate. One or more one charging electrodes are disposed on the first side. The continuous ink jet print station includes a power source for powering the resistive heater elements to heat the substrate to a temperature sufficient to prevent condensation of fluid on the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Simon, Kenneth Harrington
  • Publication number: 20050237716
    Abstract: An air flow system and method are provided which include a duct configured to mount either as an inlet or outlet duct to an electronics rack. When mounted to cover an air-intake side of the electronics rack, a supply air flow plenum is defined for directing conditioned air to the air-intake side. The duct includes a first air inlet at a first end for receiving the conditioned air, and is tapered from the first end to a second end thereof, with the supply plenum having a varying air flow cross-section. The duct further includes a second air inlet for providing supplemental room air to the plenum. The second inlet is disposed adjacent to the first inlet, thereby facilitating mixing of conditioned air with room air within the supply air flow plenum prior to delivery thereof to the air-intake side of the electronics rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20050217299
    Abstract: System and method are provided for removing condensate from an air-to-liquid heat exchanger of a combined air/liquid enclosed apparatus for cooling rack-mounted electronic equipment. The condensate removal system includes a condensate collector for collecting liquid condensate from the air-to-liquid heat exchanger, and a vaporizing chamber in fluid communication with the condensate collector for receiving collected liquid therefrom. An actively controlled vaporizer vaporizes collected liquid within the vaporizing chamber and a vapor exhaust is in communication with the vaporizing chamber for venting vapor from the vaporizing chamber outside the cabinet containing the combined air/liquid cooling apparatus and rack-mounted electronic equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20050184882
    Abstract: A method and system for reading endpoints used for tracking consumption of a utility may allow the sequencing of meters/endpoints in a meter reading route, such as a mobile automatic meter reading route. The sequencing may include receiving an indication of a collection of endpoints comprising a meter reading route, wherein each endpoint stores utility consumption data, then executing the meter reading route. Executing the meter reading route may include identifying and reading a first endpoint on the meter reading route, receiving input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route, identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route based on the received input, and reading the identified next endpoint. One or more of these tasks may be performed repeatedly until all the endpoints on the meter reading route are read or otherwise acknowledged as unreadable, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Angelis, Robert Simon
  • Publication number: 20050162833
    Abstract: A transpiration cooled heat sink, a self contained coolant supply and a method of using a transpiration cooled heat sink and a self contained coolant supply is provided and includes a heat sink base structure, the heat sink base structure having a coolant inlet for receiving a coolant and a coolant outlet for distributing a coolant, wherein the heat sink base structure defines at least one coolant channel disposed so as to be communicated with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet and a coolant distribution structure, wherein the coolant distribution structure defines at least one distribution cavity and includes at least one distribution inlet communicated with the distribution cavity and wherein the coolant distribution structure is disposed relative to the heat sink base structure such that the distribution inlet is communicated with the coolant outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Robert Simons
  • Patent number: 6921140
    Abstract: A cutter bar is provided for trimming debris away from the wheel-track interface of a tracked vehicle. A pivot attachment is provided wherein a knife having a cutting edge is removably mounted to a bracket by way of fasteners which will shear when a pre-selected force is applied to them. The bracket is mounted to the vehicle structure so that the knife is disposed in close proximity to the drive wheel and endless track of the vehicle. Accordingly, when a piece of tough debris is encountered by the knife edge some of the fasteners will shear and the knife pivots out of the way so that the debris can pass by without causing damage to the wheel or track. The knife and fasteners being readily serviceable with inexpensive parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shawn Robert Simons, Peter Alan Kosmicki, Lonny Dean Tisue, Scott Lisle Cook, Bradley Thomas Cote
  • Publication number: 20050128705
    Abstract: A cooling fluid distribution assembly for a plurality of electronic modules, using a composite cold plate structure. One cold plate is associated with each electronic module requiring liquid cooling. Each cold plate includes a high thermal conductivity base sealably fastened to a cover, the cover having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. Cover fluid inlets and outlets are connected via a plurality of flexible, nonmetallic conduits, the conduits being bonded to the cover inlets and outlets. Each cold plate cover is formed of a material that is capable of being bonded to the flexible, nonmetallic conduits, covers are therefore formed of a different material than the material comprising the cold plate base. Cold plate structures preferably include internal fluid distribution structures. The resulting cooling fluid distribution assembly provides reliable fluid connections and is sufficiently flexible to adjust for variances in module height etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20050126276
    Abstract: Method, system and program product are provided for monitoring coolant within a cooling system designed to provide system coolant to one or more electronics subsystems. The monitoring technique includes employing at least one pressure transducer to obtain multiple pressure measurements related to an amount of coolant within an expansion tank of the cooling system, and determining a rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank employing the multiple pressure measurements. Successive pressure measurements can be taken at a known time interval to determine the rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank. An automatic determination can also be made on the immediacy of action to be taken for service of the cooling system based on the rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20050126747
    Abstract: Method, system and program product are provided for facilitating operation of a cooling system designed to provide system coolant to one or more electronics subsystems of a computing environment. The technique includes automatically checking at least one coolant loop of the cooling system for a leak. The automatically checking includes isolating the at least one coolant loop from coolant flow through the cooling system and checking for drop in coolant pressure within the at least one coolant loop. Upon detection of a drop in coolant pressure, isolation of the coolant loop is retained thereby allowing operation of the cooling system to continue notwithstanding detection of a leak in the at least one coolant loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20050131813
    Abstract: Systems and methods for effecting online financial transactions between individuals or between individuals and entities such as banks, merchants and other companies. Each user accesses a fund exchange server to establish an online account, which is used to transfer funds to and from other entities' online accounts. To fund an online account, funds can be transferred to the online account from a credit card account or from another online account. To withdraw funds, money can be transferred to a credit card account or other bank account. Any user may initiate a send money transaction or a request payment transaction with any other entity provided that entity has an e-mail address. For a send money transaction, the user sending money (payor) enters an amount of funds to be transferred and an e-mail address of the recipient of the funds (payee). The system sends an e-mail message to the payee at the address provided indicating that the amount of funds has been “received” on the payee's behalf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Gallagher, Steve Davis, Kaycie Roberts, Robert Simon, Michael Baum, Mieko Schmandt, Peihuan Meng, Ivan Liu, Jorge Noa, Martin Hampton
  • Publication number: 20050122685
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided employing multiple coolant conditioning units (CCUs). Each CCU, which is coupled to a different, associated electronics rack of multiple electronics racks to be cooled, includes a heat exchanger, a first cooling loop with a control valve, and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop receives chilled facility coolant from a source and passes at least a portion thereof via the control valve through the heat exchanger. The second cooling loop provides cooled system coolant to the associated electronics rack, and expels heat in the heat exchanger from the electronics rack to the chilled facility coolant in the first cooling loop. The control valve allows regulation of the facility coolant flow through the heat exchanger, thereby allowing independent control of temperature of the system coolant in the second cooling loop. Various CCU and associated component redundancies of the cooling system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Randy Zoodsma
  • Publication number: 20050122684
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided employing at least two modular cooling units (MCUs). Each MCU is capable of providing system coolant to multiple electronics subsystems to be cooled, and each includes a heat exchanger, a first cooling loop with at least one control valve, and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop receives chilled facility coolant from a source and passes at least a portion thereof through the heat exchanger, with the portion being controlled by the at least one control valve. The second cooling loop provides cooled system coolant to the multiple electronics subsystems, and expels heat in the heat exchanger from the multiple electronics subsystems to the chilled facility coolant in the first cooling loop. The at least one control valve allows regulation of facility coolant flow through the heat exchanger, thereby allowing control of temperature of system coolant in the second cooling loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons, Takeshi Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20050119930
    Abstract: A system and method manages work requests used in reading and servicing gas, electric, or water meters in a utility system. A work request may originate at a utility system and is received at a data collection system. The work request may be generated based on an underlying data structure. The underlying data structure may be used in generating requests for multiple types of work events, including meter monitoring work events and meter servicing work events. The work request is then processed to generate a work order which is transmitted to a field device component or other component of the system so that work may be performed as directed in the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Itron, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Simon