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).
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Publication number: 20230327478Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Banha SOK, Rameez K. KAZI, Shaun L. HARRIS, John J. SIEGLER
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Patent number: 11715973Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 5, 2019Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Banha Sok, Rameez K. Kazi, Shaun L. Harris, John J. Siegler
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Patent number: 11501194Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
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Patent number: 11016750Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Shaun L. Harris, John Joseph Siegler, Banha Sok, Rameez Kadar Kazi
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Publication number: 20210135487Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2019Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Banha SOK, Rameez K. KAZI, Shaun L. HARRIS, John J. SIEGLER
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Patent number: 10928845Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Charles Joseph Williams, Gabriel Kliot, Chia-Chi Lin, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20200302327Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
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Patent number: 10784712Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shaun L. Harris, John J. Siegler, Banha Sok
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Publication number: 20200293298Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Shaun L. HARRIS, John Joseph SIEGLER, Banha SOK, Rameez Kadar KAZI
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Patent number: 10719773Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: David Tennyson Harper, III, Eric C. Peterson, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady
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Publication number: 20190363410Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: John Joseph SIEGLER, Shaun L. HARRIS, Robert Jason LANKSTON, II, Brandon Aaron RUBENSTEIN, Michael Geoffrey TRICKER
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Patent number: 10461572Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shaun L. Harris, Eric C. Peterson
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Publication number: 20190310697Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shaun L. Harris, William R. Harris, John J. Siegler, Banha Sok
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Patent number: 10409349Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Bryan Kelly, Shaun L. Harris, Mark A. Shaw, Badriddine Khessib
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Patent number: 10296073Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Gregory Joseph McKnight, Shaun L. Harris, Sean M. James
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Publication number: 20190148975Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Shaun L. HARRIS, John J. SIEGLER, Banha SOK
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Publication number: 20190072992Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Charles Joseph Williams, Gabriel Kliot, Chia-Chi Lin, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
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Patent number: 10199860Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shaun L. Harris, John J. Siegler, Banha Sok
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Patent number: 10126771Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Charles Joseph Williams, Gabriel Kliot, Chia-Chi Lin, Shaun L. Harris, Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
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Patent number: 10126804Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Shaun L. Harris, Brandon Aaron Rubenstein, Mark E. Shaw, John Joseph Siegler