Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Thibodeau

Thomas R. Thibodeau 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: 11808819
    Abstract: A Battery Backup (BBU) device, method, and system is disclosed. A BBU cell includes a battery with an internal impedance. The BBU cell includes monitoring circuitry connected to the battery for monitoring a Status of Health (SOH) of the battery. The monitoring circuitry includes a MOSFET and a resistor connected in series and a master control unit connected to the MOSFET for controlling the MOSFET and determining the SOH of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Thibodeau, Haijin Zhang, Cui Xizhi
  • Patent number: 11644880
    Abstract: A method, device, and system for balancing a supply current in a Power Supply Units (PSUs). The system includes a plurality of PSUs connected in parallel to a power bus. The method includes detecting a falling edge in a common Load Share (LS) signal and, in response to detecting the falling edge of the LS signal, enabling a field effect transistor (FET) and starting a timer. Prior to starting the timer, a time trigger is determined for the timer based on a current output level of a power source in the PSU. The method includes outputting a current at the current output level for the duration of the time trigger and, at the time trigger, releasing the FET and resetting the timer. The PSU includes a processor that monitors the LS signal. The LS signal determines a timing for outputting current by the PSU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Thibodeau, Haijin Zhang, Cui Xizhi
  • Publication number: 20230129347
    Abstract: A Battery Backup (BBU) device, method, and system is disclosed. A BBU cell includes a battery with an internal impedance. The BBU cell includes monitoring circuitry connected to the battery for monitoring a Status of Health (SOH) of the battery. The monitoring circuitry includes a MOSFET and a resistor connected in series and a master control unit connected to the MOSFET for controlling the MOSFET and determining the SOH of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas R. Thibodeau, Haijin Zhang, Cui Xizhi
  • Patent number: 11126250
    Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies are each configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, to provide input power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are receiving good input power, and to provide a output power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are providing good power to the power rail. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail. The hold-up signal is based upon the input power indications and upon the output power indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Mark A. Muccini, Guangyong Zhu, Thomas R. Thibodeau, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 10948959
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU is coupled to the power rail, and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark A. Muccini, Guangyong Zhu, Thomas R. Thibodeau, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 10951051
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU is coupled to the power rail, and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power. When the controller does not receive the enable signal, the controller directs the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: John E. Jenne, Thomas R. Thibodeau
  • Publication number: 20200133379
    Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies are each configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, to provide input power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are receiving good input power, and to provide a output power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are providing good power to the power rail. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail. The hold-up signal is based upon the input power indications and upon the output power indications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Mark A. Muccini, Guangyong Zhu, Thomas R. Thibodeau, Lei Wang
  • Publication number: 20200136418
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU is coupled to the power rail, and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power. When the controller does not receive the enable signal, the controller directs the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: John E. Jenne, Thomas R. Thibodeau
  • Publication number: 20200133364
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU is coupled to the power rail, and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Mark A. Muccini, Guangyong Zhu, Thomas R. Thibodeau, Lei Wang
  • Publication number: 20120229277
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to monitoring/alert systems, devices, and methods useable with animal housing units. Embodiments include a primary component, such as a system controller device, for monitoring maintenance and operational events in a housing unit and a secondary component, such as a environmental monitoring device for analyzing environmental conditions. For example, the system controller device monitors unit functions (e.g., relating to power, pre-filter(s), filter(s), fan(s), air pressure, air temperature, electrical connections, etc.) and causes alert(s) to be sent (e.g., via email or text message) if there is a malfunction or abnormal operational data. The environmental monitoring device collects environmental data (e.g., time, temperature, humidity, light, sound, carbon dioxide levels, or ammonia levels) and causes alert(s) to be sent if an abnormal environmental condition is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: George S. Gabriel, Neil E. Campbell, Edward K. Eldreth, Rodney E. Gerringer, Josh C. Tang, Adam Cohen, Thomas R. Thibodeau
  • Patent number: 6904799
    Abstract: A system for measuring the velocity of a fluid can comprise a temperature sensor, for measuring the ambient temperature of the fluid, an RTD placed in the flow path of a fluid, the RTD being included as part of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, a digital potentiometer, the digital potentiometer also being included as part of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the RTD and the digital potentiometer. In the system, the controller adjusts the digital potentiometer in response to an ambient fluid temperature signal from the temperature sensor such that the temperature of the RTD remains at a constant differential temperature above the ambient fluid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Polar Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Cohen, Josh E. Tang, Thomas R. Thibodeau
  • Publication number: 20040055374
    Abstract: A system for measuring the velocity of a fluid can comprise a temperature sensor, for measuring the ambient temperature of the fluid, an RTD placed in the flow path of a fluid, the RTD being included as part of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, a digital potentiometer, the digital potentiometer also being included as part of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor, the RTD and the digital potentiometer. In the system, the controller adjusts the digital potentiometer in response to an ambient fluid temperature signal from the temperature sensor such that the temperature of the RTD remains at a constant differential temperature above the ambient fluid temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Adam J. Cohen, Josh E. Tang, Thomas R. Thibodeau