Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Dean

Thomas A. Dean 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: 8713295
    Abstract: A Cost-Reduced Enterprise Server (CRES) system includes a flexible resource-efficient server having a plurality of Processor Memory Boards (PMBs) coupled to an Input/Output Module (IOM). The IOM provides all networking and storage interfaces for the server. The IOM is implemented as a field-replaceable pluggable module, and thus all Input/Output (I/O) capabilities or resources of a CRES system may be upgraded via replacement of the IOM. Each PMB is dividable into a pair of Symmetric MultiProcessor (SMP) complexes, and each complex is coupled to a respective portion of the I/O resources provided by the IOM. Each portion of the IOM provides a pair of I/O daughter-module connectors compatible with standard I/O interfaces, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-X and PCI-Express. One or more CRES systems may be coupled to one or more Enterprise Server (ES) systems to form a multi-chassis server managed collectively as one or more provisioned servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel H. Bax, William Jackson Bibb, Jr., Russell M. Clapp, Tom Gourley, Geoffrey H. Hanson, Allen Hirashiki, Thomas Dean Lovett, Sharad Mehrotra, Shyam Mittur, Nakul Pratap Saraiya
  • Publication number: 20140113789
    Abstract: A machine for forming and sealing a top of a container is provided. The machine includes a conveyor configured to transport the container through the machine, a forming section including at least one bullet arm configured to fold a trailing centering tab of the container, and a compression section downstream from the forming section and including a compression device configured to fold a leading centering tab of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Amer Aganovic, Thomas Dean Graham
  • Publication number: 20140113787
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a blank is provided. The apparatus includes a blank feeder assembly, and a compression assembly including a mandrel assembly, an upper folding arm assembly including a plurality of folding arms moveable between a first position and a second position, a compression plate, and a rollover arm assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Amer Aganovic, Thomas Dean Graham
  • Patent number: 8601053
    Abstract: Multi-chassis fabric-backplane enterprise servers include a plurality of chassis managed collectively to form one or more provisioned servers. A central client coordinates gathering of provisioning and management information from the chassis, and arranges for distribution of control information to the chassis. One of the chassis may perform as a host or proxy with respect to information and control communication between the client and the chassis. Server provisioning and management information and commands move throughout the chassis via an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol. Alternatively, the client may establish individual communication with a subset of the chassis, and directly communicate with chassis in the subset. Server provisioning and management information includes events generated when module status changes, such as when a module is inserted and becomes available, and when a module fails and is no longer available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Sharad Mehrotra, Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Thomas Dean Lovett, Cosmos Nicolaou, Mangesh Shingane, Yuri Finkelstein, Curtis M. Collins, Geoffrey H. Hanson
  • Patent number: 8579778
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material is provided. The blank includes a reinforcing panel assembly for forming a reinforcing corner assembly. The machine includes a hopper station for storing the blank in a substantially flat configuration and a forming station for forming the blank into the container. The forming station includes an initial forming station that rotates a first portion of the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second portion of the reinforcing panel assembly, and a secondary forming station having male and female forming members with shapes corresponding to an interior shape and an exterior shape of the reinforcing corner assembly, respectively. The male and the female forming members are configured to form the reinforcing corner assembly by compressing together the first and second portions of the reinforcing panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Aganovic, Thomas Dean Graham, Kenneth Charles Smith, John Hershcel Conley, Robert Bradley Teany, Gregory Scott Gulik, Paul Andrew Spurlock
  • Patent number: 8550839
    Abstract: A cable connector includes a cable clamp having a cable end and a mating end. The cable clamp has an upper housing and a lower housing joined to the upper housing. An aperture is formed in at least one of the upper housing or the lower housing. The upper housing and the lower housing are moveable between a pre-assembled position and an assembled position. An insert is provided having a wire end and a mating end. The insert has a tab configured to engage the aperture to secure the insert within the mating end of the cable clamp in the pre-assembled position. The upper housing and the lower housing are moveable to the assembled position to retain the insert within the mating end of the cable clamp and a cable within the cable end of the cable clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David James Fabian, Thomas Dean Ratzlaff, Paul Craig Tally, William H. Bernhart
  • Patent number: 8542801
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to off-focal X-ray radiation attenuation within X-ray tubes, for example X-ray tubes used in CT imaging. In one embodiment, an X-ray tube for off-focal X-ray radiation attenuation is provided. The X-ray tube includes a cathode, a target, and a magnetic focal spot control unit having at least one electromagnet encased in a resin loaded with X-ray attenuating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan James Westcot, Thomas Dean Schaefer, Kalyan Koppisetty
  • Patent number: 8511736
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for selectively enclosing a space within a cargo box. The cover has an elongate channel laterally extending between a proximate end located proximate a side edge of the cover and a distal end at which the channel terminates. The cover includes a clamp mechanism slidably engaged with the channel, and the clamp mechanism includes a handle, a block member slidably received in the channel, an elongate rod member coupled to the handle, and a latch or hook member connected to the rod member. The latch member is moveable between a clamped position for operatively engaging a portion of the cargo box and a released position for spacing the latch member from and placing the latch member out of operative engagement with the cargo box. The handle and rod member are positioned in the channel in the clamp mechanism stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rugged Liner, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Williamson, Michael Williamson, David Kosinski, Thomas Dean Walser
  • Patent number: 8512059
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to off-focal X-ray radiation attenuation within a connector. In one embodiment, a connector X-ray shielding capabilities is provided. The connector includes a housing with openings for an electrical cable as well as an electrical connection. The connector further includes an X-ray shielding liner made of moldable synthetic material doped with an X-ray attenuating material. The X-ray shielding liner is disposed within the housing, and also includes openings for the electrical cable and electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Schaefer, Ron Kent Hockersmith, Edward Emaci
  • Patent number: 8495620
    Abstract: A system and method allow a user to extract the set of customizations performed on an application and use these to estimate the time and effort and cost of (a) migrating to a new version of the application and/or (b) consolidating systems. The user can browse the extracted data and select configuration elements for re-use. After downloading the one or more configurations and comparing them, the user selects elements of the configurations for re-use. The first step is to scan one or more application systems and extract the configuration data using a surveyor. The method according to the invention automatically identifies configuration differences. The user then selects configuration elements for re-use. A graphic user interface (GUI) can be provided which allows the user to make these selections by dragging and dropping selected elements to a “To Be” configuration. The selected configurations are then uploaded and installed on an instance of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Chopra, SweeFen Goh, Richard Thomas Goodwin, Anca-Andreea Ivan, Stephen K. Kibby, Rakesh Mohan, Igor Naumov, Thomas Dean Rosinski, George A. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8458390
    Abstract: Pluggable modules communicate via a switch fabric dataplane accessible via a backplane. Various embodiments are comprised of varying numbers and arrangements of the pluggable modules in accordance with a system architecture that provides for provisioning virtual servers and clusters of servers from underlying hardware and software resources. The system architecture is a unifying solution for applications requiring a combination of computation and networking performance. Resources may be pooled, scaled, and reclaimed dynamically for new purposes as requirements change, using dynamic reconfiguration of virtual computing and communication hardware and software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Sharad Mehrotra, Thomas Dean Lovett, Cosmos Nicolaou, Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Shreyas B. Shah
  • Patent number: 8443066
    Abstract: A networked computing system is taught that may be operated as one or more provisioned servers, each of the provisioned servers including capabilities as identified by a corresponding set of specifications and attributes, according to various embodiments. Typically the specifications (or constraints) and attributes are specified with a Server Configuration File. The networked computing system may be provisioned into any combination and number of servers according to needed processing and I/O capabilities. Each of these servers may include distinct compute, storage, and networking performance. Provisioned servers may be managed similar to conventional servers, including operations such as boot and shutting down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Curtis M. Collins, Yuri Finkelstein, Thomas Dean Lovett, Shyam Mittur, Cosmos Nicolaou, Shreyas B. Shah, Fabio Onofrio Ingrao
  • Publication number: 20130117426
    Abstract: A networked computing system is taught that may be operated as one or more provisioned servers, each of the provisioned servers including capabilities as identified by a corresponding set of specifications and attributes, according to various embodiments. Typically the specifications (or constraints) and attributes are specified with a Server Configuration File. The networked computing system may be provisioned into any combination and number of servers according to needed processing and I/O capabilities. Each of these servers may include distinct compute, storage, and networking performance. Provisioned servers may be managed similar to conventional servers, including operations such as boot and shutting down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Curtis M. Collins, Yuri Finkelstein, Thomas Dean Lovett, Shyam Mittur, Cosmos Nicolaou, Shreyas B. Shah, Fabio Onofrio Ingrao
  • Publication number: 20130117766
    Abstract: A Cost-Reduced Enterprise Server (CRES) system includes a flexible resource-efficient server having a plurality of Processor Memory Boards (PMBs) coupled to an Input/Output Module (IOM). The IOM provides all networking and storage interfaces for the server. The IOM is implemented as a field-replaceable pluggable module, and thus all Input/Output (I/O) capabilities or resources of a CRES system may be upgraded via replacement of the IOM. Each PMB is dividable into a pair of Symmetric MultiProcessor (SMP) complexes, and each complex is coupled to a respective portion of the I/O resources provided by the IOM. Each portion of the IOM provides a pair of I/O daughter-module connectors compatible with standard I/O interfaces, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-X and PCI-Express. One or more CRES systems may be coupled to one or more Enterprise Server (ES) systems to form a multi-chassis server managed collectively as one or more provisioned servers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel H. Bax, William Jackson Bibb, JR., Russell M. Clapp, Tom Gourley, Geoffrey H. Hanson, Allen Hirashiki, Thomas Dean Lovett, Sharad Mehrotra, Shyam Mittur, Nakul Pratap Saraiya
  • Publication number: 20130107872
    Abstract: A hybrid server and multi-layer switch system architecture, referred to hereinafter as the Enterprise Fabric (EF) architecture, forms the basis for a number of Enterprise Server (ES) chassis embodiments. Each ES embodiment generally includes one or more Processor Memory Modules (PMMs, each generally having one or more symmetric multiprocessor complexes), one or more Network Modules, and a System Control Module (SCM). The SCM includes a cellified switching-fabric core (SF) and a System Intelligence Module (SIM). Each PMM has one or more resident Virtual IO Controller (VIOC) adapters. Each VIOC is a specialized I/O controller that includes embedded layer-2 forwarding and filtering functions and tightly couples the PMM to the SF. Thus the layer-2 switch functionality within the ES chassis is distributed over all of the SCM, NM, and PMM modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2005
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Lovett, Sharad Mehrotra, Cosmos Nicolaou, Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Shreyas B. Shah, Myron White, Rajesh H. Jagannathan, Mangesh Shingane
  • Publication number: 20130111095
    Abstract: Multi-chassis fabric-backplane enterprise servers include a plurality of chassis managed collectively to form one or more provisioned servers. A central client coordinates gathering of provisioning and management information from the chassis, and arranges for distribution of control information to the chassis. One of the chassis may perform as a host or proxy with respect to information and control communication between the client and the chassis. Server provisioning and management information and commands move throughout the chassis via an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol. Alternatively, the client may establish individual communication with a subset of the chassis, and directly communicate with chassis in the subset. Server provisioning and management information includes events generated when module status changes, such as when a module is inserted and becomes available, and when a module fails and is no longer available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Sharad Mehrotra, Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Thomas Dean Lovett, Cosmos Nicolaou, Mangesh Shingane, Yuri Finkelstein, Curtis M. Collins, Geoffrey H. Hanson
  • Publication number: 20130103880
    Abstract: Pluggable modules communicate via a switch fabric dataplane accessible via a backplane. Various embodiments are comprised of varying numbers and arrangements of the pluggable modules in accordance with a system architecture that provides for provisioning virtual servers and clusters of servers from underlying hardware and software resources. The system architecture is a unifying solution for applications requiring a combination of computation and networking performance. Resources may be pooled, scaled, and reclaimed dynamically for new purposes as requirements change, using dynamic reconfiguration of virtual computing and communication hardware and software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Sharad Mehrotra, Thomas Dean Lovett, Cosmos Nicolaou, Nakul Pratap Saraiya, Shreyas B. Shah
  • Patent number: 8388378
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a terminal subassembly having inserts holding terminals. The terminals extend between a mating end and a cable end. The cable end is configured to be terminated to corresponding wires of a cable. A front shell surrounds a front portion of the terminal subassembly. The front shell provides electrical shielding around the mating ends of the terminals. The front shell is configured to be mated to a mating connector. A back shell surrounds a rear portion of the terminal subassembly. The back shell provides electrical shielding around the cable ends of the terminals. The back shell is configured to be terminated to an overbraid of the cable. The back shell includes a plurality of contacts that extend from a front of the back shell. The contacts engage, and are electrically connected to, the front shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Ratzlaff, Paul Craig Tally
  • Publication number: 20130015678
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for selectively enclosing a space within a cargo box. The cover includes a substantially rigid panel provided with an elongate channel laterally extending between a proximate end located proximate a side edge of the cover and a distal end at which the channel terminates. The cover includes a clamp mechanism slidably engaged with the channel, and the clamp mechanism includes a handle, a block member slidably received in the channel, an elongate rod member coupled to the handle, and a latch or hook member connected to the rod member. The latch member is moveable between a clamped position for operatively engaging a portion of the cargo box and a released position for spacing the latch member from and placing the latch member out of operative engagement with the cargo box. The handle and rod member are positioned in the channel in the clamp mechanism stowed position. Also a clamp mechanism, and a method of operating a clamp mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: RUGGED LINER, INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Williamson, Michael Williamson, David Kosinski, Thomas Dean Walser
  • Patent number: D701095
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Dean Arvan