Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Stewart

Thomas E. Stewart 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: 7696018
    Abstract: Phase change devices, and particularly multi-terminal phase change devices, include first and second active terminals bridged together by a phase-change material whose conductivity can be modified in accordance with a control signal applied to a control electrode. This structure allows an application in which an electrical connection can be created between the two active terminals, with the control of the connection being effected using a separate terminal or terminals. Accordingly, the resistance of the heater element can be increased independently from the resistance of the path between the two active terminals. This allows the use of smaller heater elements thus requiring less current to create the same amount of Joule heating per unit area. The resistance of the heating element does not impact the total resistance of the phase change device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Agate Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonietta Oliva, Louis Charles Kordus, II, Narbeh Derharcobian, Vei-Han Chan, Thomas E. Stewart, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090320267
    Abstract: An expansion card carrier is disclosed, the expansion card carrier including a top portion for covering an expansion card, at least one side portion for supporting the top portion, and at least one pair of card guides for allowing an expansion card to slide along into the expansion card carrier. A method for assembling an expansion card carrier is also disclosed, the method including casting a panel including a top portion for covering an expansion card and at least one side portion for supporting the top portion, forming at least one side portion by deforming the panel, and attaching at least one pair of card guides inside the expansion card carrier for allowing an expansion card to slide along into the expansion card carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Mark H. Chen, Alan L. Winick, Michael S. White
  • Patent number: 7626826
    Abstract: An expansion card carrier is disclosed, the expansion card carrier including a top portion for covering an expansion card, at least one side portion for supporting the top portion, and at least one pair of card guides for allowing an expansion card to slide along into the expansion card carrier. A method for assembling an expansion card carrier is also disclosed, the method including casting a panel including a top portion for covering an expansion card and at least one side portion for supporting the top portion, forming at least one side portion by deforming the panel, and attaching at least one pair of card guides inside the expansion card carrier for allowing an expansion card to slide along into the expansion card carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Mark H. Chen, Alan L. Winick, Michael S. White
  • Patent number: 7573708
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a computer system includes a fan for flowing an air to a first assembly and a second assembly, a first filter for filtering an air to a first assembly, and a second filter for filtering an air to a second assembly. The first filter is disposed at a side of the first assembly and the second filter is disposed on an opening of a wall which separates the first assembly and the second assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Publication number: 20090134910
    Abstract: Reconfigurable electronic structures and circuits using programmable, non-volatile memory elements. The programmable, non-volatile memory elements may perform the functions of storage and/or a switch to produce components such as crossbars, multiplexers, look-up tables (LUTs) and other logic circuits used in programmable logic structures (e.g., (FPGAs)). The programmable, non-volatile memory elements comprise one or more structures based on Phase Change Memory, Programmable Metallization, Carbon Nano-Electromechanical (CNT-NEM), or Metal Nano-Electromechanical device technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Colin Neal Murphy, Narbeh Derhacobian, Louis Charles Kordus, II, Antonietta Oliva, Vei-Han Chan, Thomas E. Stewart, JR.
  • Patent number: 7494849
    Abstract: Phase change devices, and particularly multi-terminal phase change devices, include first and second active terminals bridged together by a phase-change material whose conductivity can be modified in accordance with a control signal applied to a control electrode. This structure allows an application in which an electrical connection can be created between the two active terminals, with the control of the connection being effected using a separate terminal or terminals. Accordingly, the resistance of the heater element can be increased independently from the resistance of the path between the two active terminals. This allows the use of smaller heater elements thus requiring less current to create the same amount of Joule heating per unit area. The resistance of the heating element does not impact the total resistance of the phase change device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Cswitch Inc.
    Inventors: Antonietta Oliva, Louis Charles Kordus, II, Narbeh Derharcobian, Vei-Han Chan, Thomas E. Stewart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7474530
    Abstract: An apparatus for dissipating heat in a computer system includes a heat sink, at least one fastener which secures the heat sink to at least one first support member, and at least one cup. The first support member has a top side and a bottom side. The at least one cup includes a cylindrical cavity, an upper protruding lip, and a lower base having a hole through which the at least one fastener passes. A method for dissipating heat in a computer system includes, mounting a heat emitting component onto a printed circuit board, pressing a heat sink into thermal contact with a heat emitting component, inserting a cup into an aperture of the heat sink, and supporting a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Daniel Hruska
  • Publication number: 20090002938
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a computer system includes a fan for flowing an air to a first assembly and a second assembly, a first filter for filtering an air to a first assembly, and a second filter for filtering an air to a second assembly. The first filter is disposed at a side of the first assembly and the second filter is disposed on an opening of a wall which separates the first assembly and the second assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Publication number: 20080206922
    Abstract: Phase change devices, and particularly multi-terminal phase change devices, include first and second active terminals bridged together by a phase-change material whose conductivity can be modified in accordance with a control signal applied to a control electrode. This structure allows an application in which an electrical connection can be created between the two active terminals, with the control of the connection being effected using a separate terminal or terminals. Accordingly, the resistance of the heater element can be increased independently from the resistance of the path between the two active terminals. This allows the use of smaller heater elements thus requiring less current to create the same amount of Joule heating per unit area. The resistance of the heating element does not impact the total resistance of the phase change device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Antonietta Oliva, Louis Charles Kordus, Narbeh Derhacobian, Vei-Han Chan, Thomas E. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20080180897
    Abstract: An expansion card carrier is disclosed, the expansion card carrier including a top portion for covering an expansion card, at least one side portion for supporting the top portion, and at least one pair of card guides for allowing an expansion card to slide along into the expansion card carrier. A method for assembling an expansion card carrier is also disclosed, the method including casting a panel including a top portion for covering an expansion card and at least one side portion for supporting the top portion, forming at least one side portion by deforming the panel, and attaching at least one pair of card guides inside the expansion card carrier for allowing an expansion card to slide along into the expansion card carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Mark H. Chen, Alan L. Winick, Michael S. White
  • Publication number: 20080165501
    Abstract: An apparatus for dissipating heat in a computer system includes a heat sink, at least one fastener which secures the heat sink to at least one first support member, and at least one cup. The first support member has a top side and a bottom side. The at least one cup includes a cylindrical cavity, an upper protruding lip, and a lower base having a hole through which the at least one fastener passes. A method for dissipating heat in a computer system includes, mounting a heat emitting component onto a printed circuit board, pressing a heat sink into thermal contact with a heat emitting component, inserting a cup into an aperture of the heat sink, and supporting a heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Daniel Hruska
  • Patent number: 7256992
    Abstract: A computer system may include one or more modules coupled to a backplane in a housing. A module support structure may allow cooling air to flow upwardly across the modules. In one embodiment, a power section of the module may be located downstream of a data section of the module. In another embodiment, offset brackets may hold a circuit board of a module at an offset relative to a pair of guides in a module support structure. In another embodiment, a heat sink may be coupled between heat producing components on a pair of adjacent modules. In another embodiment, a converter apparatus may support a plurality of modules in a different number of slots in a system. In another embodiment, a heat sink on a module may include a pair of heat pipes arranged such that the heat pipes diverge from one another toward the condenser ends of the heat pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Patent number: 7228242
    Abstract: A method and system of adaptive power control based on pre package characterization of integrated circuits. Characteristics of a specific integrated circuit are used to adaptively control power of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Read, Malcolm Wing, Louis C. Kordus, Thomas E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7187552
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly may include a heat sink that couples with a surface a circuit module installed on the circuit board. The heat sink may automatically couple to the surface of the circuit module when the circuit module is installed on the circuit board. The heat sink may include a thermal interface element that contacts the surface of the circuit module. A biasing element may be coupled between the body and the base to urge a body of the heat sink into contact with the circuit module when the circuit module is installed on the circuit board. In some embodiments, a heat sink may automatically couple with the circuit module when a locking member for the circuit module is actuated to a closed position. In some embodiments, a heat sink may automatically couple with a circuit module when an ejector for the circuit module is actuated. In some embodiments, a heat sink may include an ejector and a locking member for a circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Patent number: 7115817
    Abstract: An electrical assembly comprising a circuit board an electrical device, and a heat dissipation device. The electrical device is capable of emitting thermal energy and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The electrical device is secured to the circuit board. The heat dissipation device is secured to the circuit board and is in thermal communication with the electrical device. The heat dissipation device also includes a continuous EMI fence and a plurality of fins disposed in a matrix orientation. The fins are spaced from one another to allow for efficient heat dissipation and have a substantially square cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Steven J. Furuta
  • Patent number: 6921247
    Abstract: A fan tray assembly for an electronics enclosure includes two opposing, spaced apart shells made of a sheet material. The opposing shells are attached to each other by attachment features formed in the sheet material of each shell. Advantageously, the attachment features reduce or eliminate the need for separate fasteners, spring steels, or adhesives to attach the shells. Each shell has openings and grills. Each shell also has retention features formed in the sheet material around a periphery of their respective grills. A ventilation fan unit (e.g., two fans) is retained between the two shells by the retention features. An electrical connector is connected to the ventilation fan and retained by at least one of the shells. The shells may also include features for retaining the electrical connector without using fasteners or adhesives. Such features may allow the connector to float in a plane perpendicular to its principal axis of alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Stewart, Robert J. Lajara
  • Patent number: D590066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sportsheets International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stewart
  • Patent number: D596307
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Sportsheets International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stewart
  • Patent number: D599486
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sportsheets International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stewart
  • Patent number: D604425
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sportsheets International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stewart