Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Chainer

Timothy J. Chainer 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).

  • Publication number: 20120279233
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled structure, a thermal conduction path coupling the electronic component and the liquid-cooled structure, a coolant loop in fluid communication with a coolant-carrying channel of the liquid-cooled structure, and an outdoor-air-cooled heat exchange unit coupled to facilitate heat transfer from the liquid-cooled structure via, at least in part, the coolant loop. The thermoelectric array facilitates transfer of heat from the electronic component to the liquid-cooled structure, and the heat exchange unit cools coolant passing through the coolant loop by dissipating heat from the coolant to outdoor ambient air. In one implementation, temperature of coolant entering the liquid-cooled structure is greater than temperature of the outdoor ambient air to which heat is dissipated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20120279047
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid-cooled electronic system is provided which includes an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold rail at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader to couple the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, Michael A. GAYNES, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark D. SCHULTZ, Daniel P. SIMCO, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20120279686
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20120281358
    Abstract: Liquid-cooled electronic systems are provided which include an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket or removal of the card from the socket. A liquid-cooled cold rail is disposed at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader couples the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The thermally conductive extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, Michael A. GAYNES, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark D. SCHULTZ, Daniel P. SIMCO, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20120053874
    Abstract: An electric potential is applied to first and second electrodes on opposite sides of a gap between an electronic component and a heat spreader. At least one of a thermal interface material in the gap, the electronic component and the heat spreader is subjected to a changing physical condition. The electrical capacitance between the electrodes is monitored during the changing physical condition. Such a method can be practiced using an array of components sharing a common heat spreader. An assembly for testing thermal interfaces includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of electronic components mounted to and operatively associated with the printed circuit board, a heat spreader positioned for absorbing heat generated by the electronic components, a first electrode associated with the heat spreader, a plurality of second electrodes associated, respectively, with the electronic component, and a device for monitoring electrical capacitances between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Michael A. Gaynes, Edward J. Yarmchuk
  • Publication number: 20110213995
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to operate a power advisor. The method includes, reading a first instruction set; reading a data bus; and reading register value(s) stored in at least one data register. This information is analyzed for energy usage purposes. If a set of instruction can provide the same result with a lower energy usage, the first instruction set is replaced with the lower power usage instruction set. An apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer
  • Publication number: 20110101540
    Abstract: A silicon chip includes a silicon substrate, a plurality of pads, and a plurality of through vias to connect back-end-of-line wiring to the plurality of pads. The silicon substrate includes a layer of active devices and the back-end-of-line wiring connected to the active devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer
  • Publication number: 20110094096
    Abstract: A structure for attaching a heat sink to an integrated circuit chip includes a servo control system and at least one voice coil motor for actuating the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer
  • Patent number: 7898087
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: at least one electronic chip comprising a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); and a carrier including a top surface connected to the bottom surface of the chip by solder bumps. The carrier further includes a second CTE that approximately matches the first CTE, and a plurality of through vias from the bottom surface of the carrier to the top surface of the carrier layer. Each through via includes a collar exposed at the top surface of the carrier, a pad exposed at the bottom surface of the carrier, and a post disposed between the collar and the pad. The post extends thorough a volume of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer
  • Patent number: 7888792
    Abstract: A system and method of attaching a heat sink to an integrated circuit chip includes providing a compliant material for constraining the heat sink's mechanical motion while simultaneously allowing for thermal expansion of the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J Chainer
  • Patent number: 7834445
    Abstract: A heat dissipating structure includes: a heat spreader; and a plurality of compliant beams attached to the heat spreader. The beams are formed of a high-conductive material such that a maximum stress of each beam is less than a fatigue stress of the high-conductive material; said beams are placed at an angle relative to a chip surface such that the beams are able to exert bending compliance in response to x, y, and z forces exerted upon them. The structure also includes a thermal material interface for bonding said structure to the chip surface. Both the heat spreader and the compliant beams can be machined from a copper block. An alternative heat dissipating structure includes compliant beams soldered to the chip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J Chainer
  • Patent number: 7790511
    Abstract: A system and method of attaching a heat sink to an integrated circuit chip includes providing a compliant material for constraining the heat sink's mechanical motion while simultaneously allowing for thermal expansion of the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J Chainer
  • Patent number: 7749812
    Abstract: A heat dissipating structure includes: a heat spreader; and a plurality of compliant beams attached to the heat spreader. The beams are formed of a high-conductive material such that a maximum stress of each beam is less than a fatigue stress of the high-conductive material; said beams are placed at an angle relative to a chip surface such that the beams are able to exert bending compliance in response to x, y, and z forces exerted upon them. The structure also includes a thermal material interface for bonding said structure to the chip surface. Both the heat spreader and the compliant beams can be machined from a copper block. An alternative heat dissipating structure includes compliant beams soldered to the chip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J Chainer
  • Patent number: 7751924
    Abstract: An apparatus for placing solder bumps on a mold plate includes: a solder fill head configured for dispensing molten solder onto the mold plate, the solder fill head also configured for relative movement over the mold plate; and a control mechanism configured for controlling positions of the solder fill head relative to the mold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J Chainer, Peter A Gruber, Dennis G Manzer
  • Patent number: 7707060
    Abstract: Products include autonomic logic to self-monitor one or more parameters associated with the products to provide product usage information. Data relating to the product usage information generated by the products is automatically disseminated to interested entities. The interested entities may analyze the provided data and automatically forward information relating to the provided data back towards the products. The interested entities may also effect changes to products based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Yasuo Amemiya, Steven W. Depp
  • Publication number: 20100052891
    Abstract: Data pertaining to environmental information is acquired using sensors on a multiplicity of networked pervasive devices, and analyzed to determine occurrence of at least one environmental event. Such data can be obtained, for example, from an inventive wireless communications device including an antenna, transmit circuitry coupled to the antenna for transmission of radio frequency radiation therefrom, at least one environmental sensor configured to obtain environmental data, and a communications module coupled to the at least one environmental sensor and configured to cause transmission of a representation of the data via the antenna and the transmit circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Nitendra Rajput, Bernice E. Rogowitz
  • Publication number: 20100033935
    Abstract: A system and method of attaching a heat sink to an integrated circuit chip includes providing a compliant material for constraining the heat sink's mechanical motion while simultaneously allowing for thermal expansion of the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer
  • Publication number: 20090302459
    Abstract: A heat dissipating structure includes: a heat spreader; and a plurality of compliant beams attached to the heat spreader. The beams are formed of a high-conductive material such that a maximum stress of each beam is less than a fatigue stress of the high-conductive material; said beams are placed at an angle relative to a chip surface such that the beams are able to exert bending compliance in response to x, y, and z forces exerted upon them. The structure also includes a thermal material interface for bonding said structure to the chip surface. Both the heat spreader and the compliant beams can be machined from a copper block. An alternative heat dissipating structure includes compliant beams soldered to the chip surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer
  • Patent number: 7513410
    Abstract: An air bearing gap control arrangement for injection molded solder filler heads. Also provided is a method of providing for a gap control for injection molded solder filler heads utilizing an air bearing arrangement. Provided is a C-ring seal, at the lower or dispensing region of the solder filler head structure, wherein the C-shape is open at the leading edge thereof. Hereby, a prevalent leading edge gap is tightly controlled by means of pressurized air in order to form an air bearing. Downstream of this leading edge is the molten solder, which is contained within a very narrow gap height between the solder filler head and the mold. As the solder fills the pits or recesses which are formed in the mold surface, air will rush out or be displaced from the pits towards the air bearing and is then expelled, while the deposited solder remains in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Glen N. Biggs, Timothy J. Chainer, John P. Karidis, Dennis G. Manzer, Christopher L. Tessler
  • Publication number: 20090039499
    Abstract: A heat dissipating structure includes: a heat spreader; and a plurality of compliant beams attached to the heat spreader. The beams are formed of a high-conductive material such that a maximum stress of each beam is less than a fatigue stress of the high-conductive material; said beams are placed at an angle relative to a chip surface such that the beams are able to exert bending compliance in response to x, y, and z forces exerted upon them. The structure also includes a thermal material interface for bonding said structure to the chip surface. Both the heat spreader and the compliant beams can be machined from a copper block. An alternative heat dissipating structure includes compliant beams soldered to the chip surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Chainer