Patents by Inventor Scott Thomas Seaton

Scott Thomas Seaton 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: 11839047
    Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Seaton, Ryan Douglas Carver, Osvaldo P. Morales, Keith Allen Krueger, Lalu Vannankandy Kunnath, Peter Odongo Wangia, Kris Sean Redding, Eric Matthew Beal, Jose Seah Delapaz, Steve Todd Solomon
  • Publication number: 20210368646
    Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Scott Thomas SEATON, Ryan Douglas CARVER, Osvaldo P. MORALES, Keith Allen KRUEGER, Lalu Vannankandy KUNNATH, Peter Odongo WANGIA, Kris Sean REDDING, Eric Matthew BEAL, Jose Seah DELAPAZ, Steve Todd SOLOMON
  • Patent number: 11083104
    Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Seaton, Ryan Douglas Carver, Osvaldo P. Morales, Keith Allen Krueger, Lalu Vannankandy Kunnath, Peter Odongo Wangia, Kris Sean Redding, Eric Matthew Beal, Jose Seah Delapaz, Steve Todd Solomon
  • Patent number: 11061458
    Abstract: A first power train that includes a first plurality of components, and a second power train includes a second plurality of components. The first power train is configured to provide power to a first plurality of server racks of a first data center at a first level of high-availability service associated with a first uptime. The first plurality of components includes a first subset of the first plurality of components and a second subset of the first plurality of components. The second power train is configured to provide power to a second plurality of server racks of the first data center at a second level of high-availability service that is associated with a second uptime that is less than the first uptime. The second plurality of components includes a first subset of the second plurality of components and the second subset of the first plurality of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Krueger, Lalu Vannankandy Kunnath, Kristofer Andrew Johnson, Mark Joseph Baracani, Scott Thomas Seaton, Osvaldo Patricio Morales, Steven Solomon, David Thomas Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20210185848
    Abstract: A design for the electrical infrastructure of a data center enables two different configurations to be utilized, including a distributed, redundant configuration that provides higher reliability and a non-redundant configuration that provides higher capacity. In the distributed, redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from at least two different power supply systems. This enables load shifting when a power supply system becomes unavailable, which can have the effect of increasing server reliability. In the non-redundant configuration, each server in the data center draws power from only one power supply system. Load shifting is not utilized in the non-redundant configuration, which eliminates the need to maintain reserve capacity and thereby increases capacity. Advantageously, it is possible to switch between these two configurations without making any internal changes to the data center other than modifying connections between sets of server racks and power buses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Scott Thomas SEATON, Ryan Douglas CARVER, Osvaldo P. MORALES, Keith Allen KRUEGER, Lalu Vannankandy KUNNATH, Peter Odongo WANGIA, Kris Sean REDDING, Eric Matthew BEAL, Jose Seah DELAPAZ, Steve Todd SOLOMON
  • Publication number: 20200293101
    Abstract: A first power train that includes a first plurality of components, and a second power train includes a second plurality of components. The first power train is configured to provide power to a first plurality of server racks of a first data center at a first level of high-availability service associated with a first uptime. The first plurality of components includes a first subset of the first plurality of components and a second subset of the first plurality of components. The second power train is configured to provide power to a second plurality of server racks of the first data center at a second level of high-availability service that is associated with a second uptime that is less than the first uptime. The second plurality of components includes a first subset of the second plurality of components and the second subset of the first plurality of components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Keith A. KRUEGER, Lalu Vannankandy KUNNATH, Kristofer Andrew JOHNSON, Mark Joseph BARACANI, Scott Thomas SEATON, Osvaldo Patricio MORALES, Steven SOLOMON, David Thomas GAUTHIER
  • Patent number: 9894810
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Publication number: 20160338229
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Patent number: 9318919
    Abstract: A power distribution system among a set of units (e.g., server blocks) may comprise, for each unit, a utility line and a unit generator, and a reserve generator providing failover transient performance and redundancy improvement to the power for the unit generators. The reserve generator may connect to the units via a reserve bus, and the unit generators may selectively connect to a wraparound bus connected to the reserve bus. When the failover load exceeds the available failover transient capability of one generator, one or more unit generators may (automatically or by operator selection) be connected with the wraparound bus to apply available transient capability to satisfy the excess failover load with minimal increase in power distribution resources and complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Steven Ray Steinert, Courtney Shepherd Jones
  • Patent number: 9071083
    Abstract: Super capacitor supplemented server power is described. In embodiments, a power system manager is implemented to monitor the capability of one or more power supplies to provide power for a server system. The power system manager can determine that the capability of the power supplies to provide the power is deficient, and then engage one or more super capacitor power modules to provide supplemental power for the server system to mitigate the power deficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan J. Wenzel, Daniel G. Costello, Christian L. Belady
  • Publication number: 20130342012
    Abstract: A power distribution system among a set of units (e.g., server blocks) may comprise, for each unit, a utility line and a unit generator, and a reserve generator providing failover transient performance and redundancy improvement to the power for the unit generators. The reserve generator may connect to the units via a reserve bus, and the unit generators may selectively connect to a wraparound bus connected to the reserve bus. When the failover load exceeds the available failover transient capability of one generator, one or more unit generators may (automatically or by operator selection) be connected with the wraparound bus to apply available transient capability to satisfy the excess failover load with minimal increase in power distribution resources and complexity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Steven Ray Steinert, Courtney Shepherd Jones
  • Publication number: 20120242151
    Abstract: Equipment in a data center may be wired in a topology in which each piece of equipment is served by one Static Transfer Switch (STS). Each group of equipment is assigned a main UPS and a reserve UPS, which may be connected to an underlying power source such as a utility. The main UPS and the reserve UPS are connected to the first and second inputs of an STS. For dual-corded equipment, the first cord is served by the output of the STS, while the second cord is served by the main UPS without an intervening STS. Thus, if the main UPS fails, the STS transfers power to the second UPS, thereby allowing the first cord to be powered. The second cord, not being served by the STS, simply loses power, thereby doubling the power draw at the first cord at roughly the same time that the transfer occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20120055012
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Patent number: 8077457
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Publication number: 20110302432
    Abstract: Super capacitor supplemented server power is described. In embodiments, a power system manager is implemented to monitor the capability of one or more power supplies to provide power for a server system. The power system manager can determine that the capability of the power supplies to provide the power is deficient, and then engage one or more super capacitor power modules to provide supplemental power for the server system to mitigate the power deficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan J. Wenzel, Daniel G. Costello, Christian L. Belady
  • Publication number: 20100223085
    Abstract: In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center's utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Thomas Gauthier, Scott Thomas Seaton, Allan Joseph Wenzel, Cheerei Cheng, Brian Clark Andersen, Daniel Gerard Costello, Christian L. Belady, Jens Conrad Housley, Brian Jon Mattson, Stephan W. Gilges, Kenneth Allen Lundgren
  • Publication number: 20100141039
    Abstract: Unlike symmetric power feeds for dual-corded server environments, an asymmetrical power system for high availability environments uses an imbalanced power feed system, allowing lower cost implementation and, in some cases, reduced energy loss in the primary power supply path. One asymmetric power feed uses a direct power feed to supply normal operating power and uses a second system to supply back up power via a switched, conditioned, path with UPS and generator. Because the main power delivery is through the direct line, reliability and power loss are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Scott Thomas Seaton, Sean Michael James