Patents by Inventor Shaun L. Harris

Shaun L. Harris 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: 20230327478
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes a rectifier configured to receive alternating current (AC) power. The UPS further includes a first output connected to the rectifier through an inverter. The first output is configured to output an AC power supply. The UPS also includes a second output connected to the rectifier through a battery backup and a stepdown converter. The second output is configured to output a direct current (DC) power supply in response to a detected power anomaly condition, thereby providing extra redundancy that allows for increased power availability and uptime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Banha SOK, Rameez K. KAZI, Shaun L. HARRIS, John J. SIEGLER
  • Patent number: 11715973
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes a rectifier configured to receive alternating current (AC) power. The UPS further includes a first output connected to the rectifier through an inverter. The first output is configured to output an AC power supply. The UPS also includes a second output connected to the rectifier through a battery backup and a stepdown converter. The second output is configured to output a direct current (DC) power supply in response to a detected power anomaly condition, thereby providing extra redundancy that allows for increased power availability and uptime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Banha Sok, Rameez K. Kazi, Shaun L. Harris, John J. Siegler
  • Patent number: 11501194
    Abstract: A method described herein includes an act of receiving data that is indicative of predicted weather conditions for a particular geographic region, wherein the particular geographic region has an energy generation system therein, and wherein the energy generation system utilizes at least one renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. The method also includes the act of scheduling a computational workload for at least one computer in a data center based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the predicted weather conditions for the particular geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
  • Patent number: 11016750
    Abstract: A system includes reception of a first portion of a firmware image, determination, based on the first portion of the firmware image, of whether to update the firmware based on the firmware image, transmission of an acknowledgement signal if it is determined to update the firmware based on the first portion of the firmware image, reception of a remaining portion of the firmware image, and updating of the firmware based on the firmware image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, John Joseph Siegler, Banha Sok, Rameez Kadar Kazi
  • Publication number: 20210135487
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes a rectifier configured to receive alternating current (AC) power. The UPS further includes a first output connected to the rectifier through an inverter. The first output is configured to output an AC power supply. The UPS also includes a second output connected to the rectifier through a battery backup and a stepdown converter. The second output is configured to output a direct current (DC) power supply in response to a detected power anomaly condition, thereby providing extra redundancy that allows for increased power availability and uptime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Banha SOK, Rameez K. KAZI, Shaun L. HARRIS, John J. SIEGLER
  • Patent number: 10928845
    Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to predicting an amount of electrical power that is to be generated by a power system at a future point in time, wherein the power system utilizes a renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. A camera is positioned to capture an image of sky over a geographic region of interest. The image is analyzed to predict an amount of solar radiation that is to be received by the power source at a future point in time. The predicted solar radiation is used to predict an amount of electrical power that will be output by the power system at the future point in time. A computational resource of a data center that is powered by way of the power source is managed as a function of the predicted amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Joseph Williams, Gabriel Kliot, Chia-Chi Lin, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20200302327
    Abstract: A method described herein includes an act of receiving data that is indicative of predicted weather conditions for a particular geographic region, wherein the particular geographic region has an energy generation system therein, and wherein the energy generation system utilizes at least one renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. The method also includes the act of scheduling a computational workload for at least one computer in a data center based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the predicted weather conditions for the particular geographic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
  • Patent number: 10784712
    Abstract: A power supply unit (PSU) dynamically limits total recovery current. The PSU includes at least a power input, a power output, a historic maximum power draw memory, an update logic, and a recovery current limiting logic. Some implementations include a latest power measurement register, an hourly max power register, and a rolling max register, and controlling firmware. The update logic monitors a power level. The update logic updates the historic maximum power draw memory to match the monitored level. After a power interruption, the recovery current permitted to flow into the PSU is limited based on the historic usage. The recovery current may be limited in a constant, stepped, or ramped manner. The PSU may also provide power distribution. Multiple PSUs may be treated as a group, allowing an individual PSU to exceed its historic usage while the group's recovery currents are limited to the sum of historic usage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, John J. Siegler, Banha Sok
  • Publication number: 20200293298
    Abstract: A system includes reception of a first portion of a firmware image, determination, based on the first portion of the firmware image, of whether to update the firmware based on the firmware image, transmission of an acknowledgement signal if it is determined to update the firmware based on the first portion of the firmware image, reception of a remaining portion of the firmware image, and updating of the firmware based on the firmware image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Shaun L. HARRIS, John Joseph SIEGLER, Banha SOK, Rameez Kadar KAZI
  • Patent number: 10719773
    Abstract: A method described herein includes an act of receiving data that is indicative of predicted weather conditions for a particular geographic region, wherein the particular geographic region has an energy generation system therein, and wherein the energy generation system utilizes at least one renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. The method also includes the act of scheduling a computational workload for at least one computer in a data center based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the predicted weather conditions for the particular geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
  • Publication number: 20190363410
    Abstract: A system includes a battery, a thermally-conductive element in thermal communication with the battery, a housing defining an internal volume, the internal volume including the battery and a first end of the thermally-conductive element, and a heat dissipation unit disposed outside of the internal volume, where a second end of the thermally-conductive element is disposed outside of the internal volume and is in thermal communication with the heat dissipation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: John Joseph SIEGLER, Shaun L. HARRIS, Robert Jason LANKSTON, II, Brandon Aaron RUBENSTEIN, Michael Geoffrey TRICKER
  • Patent number: 10461572
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which magnetic flux is used to provide backup power. A transformer has a line power source controllably coupled to a first input winding, and secondary power source controllably coupled to a second input winding. A controller monitors the line power and switches to the secondary power source if the line power voltage drops too low, or uses the secondary power source to augment the line power source if the line power current gets too high. Also described is incrementally transitioning from the secondary power source back to the line power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, Eric C. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20190310697
    Abstract: A power supply unit includes a set of primary circuits operably coupled to a set of phase pair electrical inputs. The electrical inputs provide an input voltage via alternating current. Each primary circuit receives a phased pair electrical input of the set of phase pair electrical inputs and provides a tap output. A single transformer is operably coupled to each tap output. A single secondary circuit is operably coupled to the transformer to provide an output voltage via a direct current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, William R. Harris, John J. Siegler, Banha Sok
  • Patent number: 10409349
    Abstract: Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for remediating power loss at a server. Aspects of the invention increase the likelihood of gracefully shutting down a server and associated components in a data center when mains power is lost for a specified amount of time (e.g., an amount of time beyond transition to generator power). A server can include a management module (e.g., a BMC) and a watchdog module. When the management controller detects loss of power at a power supply unit, the management controller orchestrates a graceful shutdown of the server in response to power loss. When the management module is unresponsive, the watchdog module provides backup functionality for orchestrating a graceful shutdown in response to power loss. As such, data can be saved from RAM to more durable storage even when the management module is unresponsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Kelly, Shaun L. Harris, Mark A. Shaw, Badriddine Khessib
  • Patent number: 10296073
    Abstract: Computing devices receive power from multiple fuel cells, consuming natural gas and outputting electrical energy natively consumable by the computing devices. The fuel cells are sized to provide power to a set of computing devices, such as a rack thereof. The computing devices of a failed fuel cell can receive power from adjacent fuel cells. Additionally, the fuel cells and computing devices are positioned to realize thermal symbiotic efficiencies. Controllers instruct the computing devices to deactivate or throttle down power consuming functions during instances where the power consumption demand is increasing faster than the power being sourced by fuel cells, and instruct the computing devices to activate or throttle up power consuming functions during instances where the power consumption demand is decreasing faster than the power being sourced by the fuel cells. Supplemental power sources, supplementing the fuel cells' inability to quickly change power output, are not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Joseph McKnight, Shaun L. Harris, Sean M. James
  • Publication number: 20190148975
    Abstract: A power supply unit (PSU) dynamically limits total recovery current. The PSU includes at least a power input, a power output, a historic maximum power draw memory, an update logic, and a recovery current limiting logic. Some implementations include a latest power measurement register, an hourly max power register, and a rolling max register, and controlling firmware. The update logic monitors a power level. The update logic updates the historic maximum power draw memory to match the monitored level. After a power interruption, the recovery current permitted to flow into the PSU is limited based on the historic usage. The recovery current may be limited in a constant, stepped, or ramped manner. The PSU may also provide power distribution. Multiple PSUs may be treated as a group, allowing an individual PSU to exceed its historic usage while the group's recovery currents are limited to the sum of historic usage levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Shaun L. HARRIS, John J. SIEGLER, Banha SOK
  • Publication number: 20190072992
    Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to predicting an amount of electrical power that is to be generated by a power system at a future point in time, wherein the power system utilizes a renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. A camera is positioned to capture an image of sky over a geographic region of interest. The image is analyzed to predict an amount of solar radiation that is to be received by the power source at a future point in time. The predicted solar radiation is used to predict an amount of electrical power that will be output by the power system at the future point in time. A computational resource of a data center that is powered by way of the power source is managed as a function of the predicted amount of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Joseph Williams, Gabriel Kliot, Chia-Chi Lin, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10199860
    Abstract: A power supply unit (PSU) dynamically limits total recovery current. The PSU includes at least a power input, a power output, a historic maximum power draw memory, an update logic, and a recovery current limiting logic. Some implementations include a latest power measurement register, an hourly max power register, and a rolling max register, and controlling firmware. The update logic monitors a power level. The update logic updates the historic maximum power draw memory to match the monitored level. After a power interruption, the recovery current permitted to flow into the PSU is limited based on the historic usage. The recovery current may be limited in a constant, stepped, or ramped manner. The PSU may also provide power distribution. Multiple PSUs may be treated as a group, allowing an individual PSU to exceed its historic usage while the group's recovery currents are limited to the sum of historic usage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, John J. Siegler, Banha Sok
  • Patent number: 10126771
    Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to predicting an amount of electrical power that is to be generated by a power system at a future point in time, wherein the power system utilizes a renewable energy resource to generate electrical power. A camera is positioned to capture an image of sky over a geographic region of interest. The image is analyzed to predict an amount of solar radiation that is to be received by the power source at a future point in time. The predicted solar radiation is used to predict an amount of electrical power that will be output by the power system at the future point in time. A computational resource of a data center that is powered by way of the power source is managed as a function of the predicted amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Joseph Williams, Gabriel Kliot, Chia-Chi Lin, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10126804
    Abstract: Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for balancing input phases across server rack power supplies. A rack manager can monitor individual Alternating Current (AC) phase currents at the rack level. The rack manager knows (or can at least determine) which power supplies are connected to which phase. The rack manager can micro adjust individual PSU output voltages to balance current phases at the rack level. Balancing can occur in response to changed server workloads, hot-unplug of one or more servers, etc. When there is one PSU per server, phase balancing can be accomplished by connecting outputs of power supplies together via busbar or wire. Output voltages of individual power supplies can be adjusted to achieve better phase balancing. Phase imbalance can be corrected by a bus bar or wire carrying enough load to correct phase imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun L. Harris, Brandon Aaron Rubenstein, Mark E. Shaw, John Joseph Siegler