Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Kowalski
Thomas R. Kowalski 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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Patent number: 11477917Abstract: A modular data center system includes an upper module including a roller assembly attached to a frame of the upper module, the roller assembly configured to engage at least a portion of a rail assembly attached to a structure of a data center building; and a lower module attachable to the upper module and configured to suspend above a floor of a human-occupiable workspace of the data center that supports a plurality of racks including a plurality of heat-generating electronic devices, the lower module including a power support assembly configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of heat-generating electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Pascal Kam, Grace Wu, Saurin Purohit, Kenneth Dale Shaul, Siddharth Sheli, Thomas R. Kowalski, Bruce Baxter, Jim O'Connor, Brandon Gries, Gerard V. Gioia, Steven K. Bowman
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Patent number: 10888030Abstract: Techniques for operating a data center include providing at least one fan coil unit operable to circulate a cooling airflow to a human-occupiable workspace of the data center; providing a plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows in the human-occupiable workspace; forming one or more warm air aisles between the one or more rows of the plurality of computer racks that are in fluid communication with an inlet of the fan coil unit through a warm air plenum, and also with an outlet of the fan coil unit through the human-occupiable workspace and the plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows; adjusting the associated electrical power density of one or more of the plurality of computer racks; and based on the adjustment, adjusting a characteristic of the data center.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Thomas R. Kowalski, Christopher G. Malone, Ankit Somani
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Publication number: 20200344917Abstract: A modular data center system includes an upper module including a roller assembly attached to a frame of the upper module, the roller assembly configured to engage at least a portion of a rail assembly attached to a structure of a data center building; and a lower module attachable to the upper module and configured to suspend above a floor of a human-occupiable workspace of the data center that supports a plurality of racks including a plurality of heat-generating electronic devices, the lower module including a power support assembly configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of heat-generating electronic devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Pascal Kam, Grace Wu, Saurin Purohit, Kenneth Dale Shaul, Siddharth Sheli, Thomas R. Kowalski, Bruce Baxter, Jim O'Connor, Brandon Gries, Gerard V. Gioia, Steven K. Bowman
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Patent number: 10785896Abstract: A data center cooling system includes a plurality of server racks aligned within a row in a human-occupiable workspace of a data center, the server racks supporting a plurality of heat-generating computing devices; a warm air aisle positioned adjacent the server racks opposite the human-occupiable workspace and including a warm air inlet adjacent to a back side of the row of server racks and a warm air outlet in fluid communication with a warm air plenum; a plurality of cooling modules each including at least one fan and a cooling coil; and a controller to perform operations including controlling the plurality of fans in the plurality of cooling modules to operate at a specified fan speed, and controlling a plurality of valves fluidly coupled to the plurality of cooling coils in the plurality of cooling modules to modulate to a specified valve position.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Eehern J. Wong, Pascal Kam, Thomas R. Kowalski, Ron Drew
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Patent number: 10721844Abstract: Techniques for operating a data center include providing at least one fan coil unit operable to circulate a cooling airflow to a human-occupiable workspace of the data center; providing a plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows in the human-occupiable workspace; forming one or more warm air aisles between the one or more rows of the plurality of computer racks that are in fluid communication with an inlet of the fan coil unit through a warm air plenum, and also with an outlet of the fan coil unit through the human-occupiable workspace and the plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows; adjusting the associated electrical power density of one or more of the plurality of computer racks; and based on the adjustment, adjusting a characteristic of the data center.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Thomas R. Kowalski, Christopher G. Malone, Ankit Somani
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Patent number: 10716236Abstract: Techniques for cooling a data center include circulating an airflow, to a warm air plenum of a first module, from rows of racks that support a heat-generating electronic devices; warming the airflow circulated through the racks; circulating the warmed airflow through a warm air inlet of the warm air plenum that is adjacent an open side of the racks and to a warmed air outlet adjacent a data center volume above the racks; circulating the airflow, with a fan positioned in a second module positioned in the data center volume above the racks, through at least one cooling module to cool the warmed airflow, and into a human-occupiable workspace of the data center adjacent the racks; and diverting the warmed airflow with an airflow partition mounted in the data center volume above the racks and adjusted to interrupt the warmed airflow between the warmed air plenum and the human-occupiable workspace.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Christopher G. Malone, Thomas R. Kowalski
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Patent number: 10716242Abstract: A modular data center system includes an upper module including a roller assembly attached to a frame of the upper module, the roller assembly configured to engage at least a portion of a rail assembly attached to a structure of a data center building; and a lower module attachable to the upper module and configured to suspend above a floor of a human-occupiable workspace of the data center that supports a plurality of racks including a plurality of heat-generating electronic devices, the lower module including a power support assembly configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of heat-generating electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Pascal Kam, Grace Wu, Saurin Purohit, Kenneth Dale Shaul, Siddharth Sheli, Thomas R. Kowalski, Bruce Baxter, Jim O'Connor, Brandon Gries, Gerard V. Gioia, Steven K. Bowman
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Patent number: 10716234Abstract: A server rack seismic restraint includes a rear restraint assembly configured to attach to a support surface that is operable to support a data center server rack. The rear restraint assembly includes at least one lateral member positioned to receive the server rack and restrain the server rack against lateral movement based on a force applied to the server rack; and an angled bracket positioned to receive the server rack and restrain the server rack against vertical movement based on the force applied to the server rack. The server rack seismic restraint also includes a front restraint assembly configured to attach to the support surface and engage the server rack to restrain the server rack against vertical movement based on the force applied to the server rack.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Kenneth Dale Shaul, Thomas R. Kowalski, Gary Joseph Hensley, Soheil Farshchian, Pascal Kam
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Patent number: 10492340Abstract: Techniques for operating a data center include providing at least one fan coil unit operable to circulate a cooling airflow to a human-occupiable workspace of the data center; providing a plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows in the human-occupiable workspace; forming one or more warm air aisles between the one or more rows of the plurality of computer racks that are in fluid communication with an inlet of the fan coil unit through a warm air plenum, and also with an outlet of the fan coil unit through the human-occupiable workspace and the plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows; adjusting the associated electrical power density of one or more of the plurality of computer racks; and based on the adjustment, adjusting a characteristic of the data center.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Thomas R. Kowalski, Christopher Gregory Malone, Ankit Somani
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Publication number: 20190320558Abstract: A data center cooling system includes a plurality of server racks aligned within a row in a human-occupiable workspace of a data center, the server racks supporting a plurality of heat-generating computing devices; a warm air aisle positioned adjacent the server racks opposite the human-occupiable workspace and including a warm air inlet adjacent to a back side of the row of server racks and a warm air outlet in fluid communication with a warm air plenum; a plurality of cooling modules each including at least one fan and a cooling coil; and a controller to perform operations including controlling the plurality of fans in the plurality of cooling modules to operate at a specified fan speed, and controlling a plurality of valves fluidly coupled to the plurality of cooling coils in the plurality of cooling modules to modulate to a specified valve position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Eehern J. Wong, Pascal Kam, Thomas R. Kowalski, Ron Drew
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Patent number: 10412854Abstract: A server rack seismic restraint includes a rear restraint assembly configured to attach to a support surface that is operable to support a data center server rack. The rear restraint assembly includes at least one lateral member positioned to receive the server rack and restrain the server rack against lateral movement based on a force applied to the server rack; and an angled bracket positioned to receive the server rack and restrain the server rack against vertical movement based on the force applied to the server rack. The server rack seismic restraint also includes a front restraint assembly configured to attach to the support surface and engage the server rack to restrain the server rack against vertical movement based on the force applied to the server rack.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Kenneth Dale Shaul, Thomas R. Kowalski, Gary Joseph Hensley, Soheil Farshchian, Pascal Kam
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Patent number: 10342163Abstract: A data center cooling system includes a plurality of server racks aligned within a row in a human-occupiable workspace of a data center, the server racks supporting a plurality of heat-generating computing devices; a warm air aisle positioned adjacent the server racks opposite the human-occupiable workspace and including a warm air inlet adjacent to a back side of the row of server racks and a warm air outlet in fluid communication with a warm air plenum; a plurality of cooling modules each including at least one fan and a cooling coil; and a controller to perform operations including controlling the plurality of fans in the plurality of cooling modules to operate at a specified fan speed, and controlling a plurality of valves fluidly coupled to the plurality of cooling coils in the plurality of cooling modules to modulate to a specified valve position.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Eehern J. Wong, Pascal Kam, Thomas R. Kowalski, Ron Drew
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Patent number: 9949410Abstract: Techniques for operating a data center include providing at least one fan coil unit operable to circulate a cooling airflow to a human-occupiable workspace of the data center; providing a plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows in the human-occupiable workspace; forming one or more warm air aisles between the one or more rows of the plurality of computer racks that are in fluid communication with an inlet of the fan coil unit through a warm air plenum, and also with an outlet of the fan coil unit through the human-occupiable workspace and the plurality of computer racks arranged in one or more rows; adjusting the associated electrical power density of one or more of the plurality of computer racks; and based on the adjustment, adjusting a characteristic of the data center.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Thomas R. Kowalski, Christopher G. Malone, Ankit Somani
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Publication number: 20180063990Abstract: Techniques for cooling a data center include circulating an airflow, to a warm air plenum of a first module, from rows of racks that support a heat-generating electronic devices; warming the airflow circulated through the racks; circulating the warmed airflow through a warm air inlet of the warm air plenum that is adjacent an open side of the racks and to a warmed air outlet adjacent a data center volume above the racks; circulating the airflow, with a fan positioned in a second module positioned in the data center volume above the racks, through at least one cooling module to cool the warmed airflow, and into a human-occupiable workspace of the data center adjacent the racks; and diverting the warmed airflow with an airflow partition mounted in the data center volume above the racks and adjusted to interrupt the warmed airflow between the warmed air plenum and the human-occupiable workspace.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Thomas R. Kowalski
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Publication number: 20180027701Abstract: A modular data center system includes an upper module including a roller assembly attached to a frame of the upper module, the roller assembly configured to engage at least a portion of a rail assembly attached to a structure of a data center building; and a lower module attachable to the upper module and configured to suspend above a floor of a human-occupiable workspace of the data center that supports a plurality of racks including a plurality of heat-generating electronic devices, the lower module including a power support assembly configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of heat-generating electronic devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: Pascal Kam, Grace Wu, Saurin Purohit, Kenneth Dale Shaul, Siddharth Sheli, Thomas R. Kowalski, Bruce Baxter, Jim O'Connor, Brandon Gries, Gerard V. Gioia, Steven K. Bowman
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Patent number: 9769953Abstract: Techniques for cooling a data center include circulating an airflow, to a warm air plenum of a first module, from rows of racks that support a heat-generating electronic devices; warming the airflow circulated through the racks; circulating the warmed airflow through a warm air inlet of the warm air plenum that is adjacent an open side of the racks and to a warmed air outlet adjacent a data center volume above the racks; circulating the airflow, with a fan positioned in a second module positioned in the data center volume above the racks, through at least one cooling module to cool the warmed airflow, and into a human-occupiable workspace of the data center adjacent the racks; and diverting the warmed airflow with an airflow partition mounted in the data center volume above the racks and adjusted to interrupt the warmed airflow between the warmed air plenum and the human-occupiable workspace.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Thomas R. Kowalski
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Publication number: 20170231111Abstract: Techniques for cooling a data center include circulating an airflow, to a warm air plenum of a first module, from rows of racks that support a heat-generating electronic devices; warming the airflow circulated through the racks; circulating the warmed airflow through a warm air inlet of the warm air plenum that is adjacent an open side of the racks and to a warmed air outlet adjacent a data center volume above the racks; circulating the airflow, with a fan positioned in a second module positioned in the data center volume above the racks, through at least one cooling module to cool the warmed airflow, and into a human-occupiable workspace of the data center adjacent the racks; and diverting the warmed airflow with an airflow partition mounted in the data center volume above the racks and adjusted to interrupt the warmed airflow between the warmed air plenum and the human-occupiable workspace.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Christopher G. Malone, Thomas R. Kowalski
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Publication number: 20170164522Abstract: A data center cooling system includes a plurality of server racks aligned within a row in a human-occupiable workspace of a data center, the server racks supporting a plurality of heat-generating computing devices; a warm air aisle positioned adjacent the server racks opposite the human-occupiable workspace and including a warm air inlet adjacent to a back side of the row of server racks and a warm air outlet in fluid communication with a warm air plenum; a plurality of cooling modules each including at least one fan and a cooling coil; and a controller to perform operations including controlling the plurality of fans in the plurality of cooling modules to operate at a specified fan speed, and controlling a plurality of valves fluidly coupled to the plurality of cooling coils in the plurality of cooling modules to modulate to a specified valve position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Eehern J. Wong, Pascal Kam, Thomas R. Kowalski, Ron Drew
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Patent number: 9091496Abstract: A data center cooling system includes a data center having electronic equipment that is supported in multiple racks; a cooling fluid source; multiple cooling units in the data center, where each cooling unit is configured to cool air warmed by a sub-set of the electronic equipment in the data center; multiple control valves, including a control valve associated with a particular cooling unit of the cooling units; and a controller arranged to modulate the control valve associated with a particular cooling unit, to open or close the control valve to substantially maintain an approach temperature set point of the particular cooling unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Gregory P. Imwalle, Thomas R. Kowalski, Andrew B. Carlson
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Patent number: 8659895Abstract: A computer data center system includes stacks of computers, each of the stacks computer motherboard assemblies arranged vertically with respect to one another, a first row of stacks, the row defined by stacks arranged adjacent to each other in a horizontal line of stacks, and a cool air supply plenum adjacent to the first row of stacks. The cool air supply plenum supplies cool air to a first side of the first row of stacks for cooling computers placed in the stacks, and has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with an average air flow of cooling air in the plenum. Computer assemblies in the first row of stacks include portions that are closer to the longitudinal axis of the cool air supply plenum than other portions of the same assemblies, or portions of adjacent computer assemblies that are closest to the longitudinal axis for the adjacent assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Andrew B. Carlson, Christopher G. Malone, Thomas R. Kowalski, Jimmy Clidaras