Patents by Inventor Travis North

Travis North 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: 20230413491
    Abstract: A hot/cold aisle containment system includes a frame structure partially covered by one or more panels to define an interior space, at least one electronic equipment enclosure installed at an end of the frame structure, an adjustable wall assembly positionable against a side of the at least one electronic equipment enclosure, and at least one mounting rail attached to the frame structure to permit forward and rearward adjustment of the adjustable wall assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Travis NORTH, Steven BORNFIELD, Samuel RODRIGUEZ
  • Patent number: 11599168
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling components in an information handling system contained in a portable chassis comprises a die plate for receiving heat from a component, a heat pipe for transferring heat from the die plate to a single heat exchanger, a fan for generating an airflow across the heat exchanger and a thermal battery. The heat pipe comprises at least one curvature and the thermal battery is coupled to the die plate and has a length and a width such that the thermal battery is in contact with the heat pipe from the die plate to a point past the at least one curvature. The thermal battery may be formed from a thermally conductive material, be a vapor chamber or otherwise facilitate heat transfer to a heat pipe from the die plate to a point past the curvature for improved cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Allen B. McKittrick, Pomin Shih, Travis North
  • Patent number: 11592893
    Abstract: A quality of a mechanical connection within an information handling system may be inferred based on pressure. An electronic pressure sensor is disposed between two components operating within the information handling system. The electronic pressure sensor generates an output signal in response to a clamping pressure and/or clamping force between the two components. Performance of a processor operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force. A speed of a cooling fan operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force. Any internal components operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kamepalli, Travis North
  • Patent number: 11596084
    Abstract: A thermal module with a heat pipe configured with a first portion configured for contact with an edge of a plurality of fins in a fin stack, a second portion configured for contact with a side of one fin in the fin stack and a sharp angled bend is formed between the first portion and the second portion to fluidly isolate the first portion from the second portion. The first portion comprises a usable length of the heat pipe that efficiently transfers heat based on phase transitioning by the fluid. The second portion is formed from at least some of the unusable length of the heat pipe. By configuring the heat pipe such that more fins contact the usable length of the heat pipe, heat transfer from the heat pipe to the fin stack is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Qinghong He, Travis North
  • Publication number: 20230035904
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling components in an information handling system contained in a portable chassis comprises a die plate for receiving heat from a component, a heat pipe for transferring heat from the die plate to a single heat exchanger, a fan for generating an airflow across the heat exchanger and a thermal battery. The heat pipe comprises at least one curvature and the thermal battery is coupled to the die plate and has a length and a width such that the thermal battery is in contact with the heat pipe from the die plate to a point past the at least one curvature. The thermal battery may be formed from a thermally conductive material, be a vapor chamber or otherwise facilitate heat transfer to a heat pipe from the die plate to a point past the curvature for improved cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Allen B. McKittrick, Pomin Shih, Travis North
  • Publication number: 20220346275
    Abstract: A thermal module with a heat pipe configured with a first portion configured for contact with an edge of a plurality of fins in a fin stack, a second portion configured for contact with a side of one fin in the fin stack and a sharp angled bend is formed between the first portion and the second portion to fluidly isolate the first portion from the second portion. The first portion comprises a usable length of the heat pipe that efficiently transfers heat based on phase transitioning by the fluid. The second portion is formed from at least some of the unusable length of the heat pipe. By configuring the heat pipe such that more fins contact the usable length of the heat pipe, heat transfer from the heat pipe to the fin stack is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Qinghong He, Travis North
  • Publication number: 20220221918
    Abstract: A quality of a mechanical connection within an information handling system may be inferred based on pressure. An electronic pressure sensor is disposed between two components operating within the information handling system. The electronic pressure sensor generates an output signal in response to a clamping pressure and/or clamping force between the two components. Performance of a processor operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force. A speed of a cooling fan operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force. Any internal components operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Srinivas Kamepalli, Travis North
  • Publication number: 20220221919
    Abstract: A quality of a mechanical connection within an information handling system may be inferred based on pressure. An electronic pressure sensor is disposed between two components operating within the information handling system. The electronic pressure sensor generates an output signal in response to a clamping pressure and/or clamping force between the two components. Performance of a processor operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force. A speed of a cooling fan operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force. Any internal components operating within the information handling system may be controlled in response to the clamping pressure and/or clamping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Srinivas Kamepalli, Travis North
  • Patent number: 11199886
    Abstract: A method for regulating power dissipation at an information handling system may include determining a present value of a first parameter, the first parameter controlling an operating frequency, frequency boost, and a supply voltage at a central processing unit. The method may further include determining a present value of a second parameter, the second parameter defining a user's preference for optimizing operation of the system for noise level, skin temperature, and performance. The method may further include determining that a program executing at the system is specified at a list of software applications. In response to determining that a skin temperature of the system exceeds a threshold, the first parameter may be adjusted to reduce power dissipation of the CPU by a first amount if the value of the second parameter is equal to a first value. The first parameter may be adjusted by a second amount if the present value of the second parameter is equal to a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Travis North, Qinghong He, Alex Shows, Mitchell Markow
  • Patent number: 11092986
    Abstract: Performance of a system may be boosted with a boost dock that seals fan interfaces to improve airflow through an information handling system. An apparatus may include a first port configured to seal a first interface between the apparatus and an information handling system. The apparatus may also include a first blower configured to receive ambient air as cool intake air and to blow the cool intake air into the information handling system through the first interface sealed by the first port. The apparatus may further include a second blower configured to receive warm exhaust air from the information handling system through the first interface sealed by the first port and to blow the warm exhaust air out of the apparatus. A method may include steps of sealing a first interface, receiving ambient air, blowing cool intake air, receiving warm exhaust air, and blowing warm exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Travis North, Austin Shelnutt, Philip Grossmann, Chris Helberg
  • Patent number: 11017823
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically adjusting a critical temperature threshold of non-volatile memory to ensure full capture of information to non-volatile memory before the information handling system hibernates. If the operating temperature of the non-volatile memory reaches a critical temperature threshold, a controller determines the memory size of information in volatile memory. If there is a maximum memory size, the controller uses the default critical temperature threshold as the critical temperature threshold and initiates a process to write information to the non-volatile memory and hibernates the system. If there is less than the maximum memory size, the controller may dynamically increase the critical temperature threshold based on the memory size such that the information in volatile memory can be written to the non-volatile memory before the information handling system hibernates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kamepalli, Kan Lip Vui, Travis North
  • Patent number: 10971421
    Abstract: An information handling system, including a substrate including a plurality of exposed electrical components on a top surface of the substrate; a bare die positioned on the top surface of the substrate; a gasket positioned on the top surface of the substrate, the gasket is non-electrically conductive; and an electrically conductive thermal interface material (TIM) positioned on a top surface of the bare die, wherein a top surface of the gasket and a top surface of the electrically conductive TIM are substantially flush, wherein the top surface of the electrically conductive TIM and the top surface of the gasket are opposite the top surface of the substrate, wherein the gasket inhibits contact between the electrically conductive TIM and the exposed electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Qinghong He, Travis North
  • Publication number: 20200323107
    Abstract: A data processing equipment structure includes a plurality of sidewalls and a ceiling panel, which, together, define an enclosed space. The structure further includes at least one equipment enclosure and at least one cooling unit arranged in side-to-side relationship in a row within the enclosed space. At least one separation panel divides the enclosed space into a front plenum at a front side of the row and a rear plenum at a rear side of the row. Cool air in the front plenum is isolated from heated exhaust air in the rear plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Travis NORTH, Steven BORNFIELD, Samuel RODRIGUEZ
  • Patent number: 10709039
    Abstract: A data processing equipment structure includes a plurality of sidewalls and a ceiling panel, which, together, define an enclosed space. The structure further includes at least one equipment enclosure and at least one cooling unit arranged in side-to-side relationship in a row within the enclosed space. At least one separation panel divides the enclosed space into a front plenum at a front side of the row and a rear plenum at a rear side of the row. Cool air in the front plenum is isolated from heated exhaust air in the rear plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Chatsworth Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis North, Steven Bornfield, Samuel Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10678278
    Abstract: Controlling an activation status of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller for an information handling system cooling system, such as the on/off status of the PID controller, can reduce power consumption and processing and memory requirements for such a system. A decrease in resource consumption can be realized by deactivating the PID controller during certain periods and activating the PID controller during others. For example, the PID controller can be deactivated when a temperature of a system component falls below a threshold temperature and activated when the temperature of the system component rises above the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Locke, Travis North, Joohyun Woo
  • Patent number: 10571979
    Abstract: Adjusting a cooling fan speed control profile to account for system implementation factors, such as ambient temperature and usage history, can optimize power consumption and reduce the volume and variation of sound generated by shifts in fan speed in response to changes in system and component temperature. Adjusting a cooling fan speed control profile may include adjusting a maximum fan speed based on an ambient temperature or component temperature of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Joohyun Woo, Kevin Locke, Travis North, Andrew Ingalls
  • Patent number: 10485135
    Abstract: A system provides cooling to a storage device, such as solid-state drive, installed within a sealed compartment of an IHS (Information Handling System). The heat pipe extends between the storage device and a fan housing that seals a cooling fan in a physically isolated compartment from the sealed compartment of the IHS. A plurality of clips allow the heat pipe to be removably secured to an outer surface of the fan housing. A cooling plate is used to removably secure the heat pipe to a surface of the storage device. Once installed, the heat pipe transfers heat directly from the surface of the storage device to the outer surface of the sealed fan housing. The heat pipe may be uninstalled by removing screws that secure the cooling plate to the storage device and the heat pipe to the fan housing, allowing the storage device to be removed as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Qinghong He, Travis North
  • Patent number: 10274977
    Abstract: Control signals, such as PWM control signals, can be used to control aspects of a cooling system and can be generated using proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. PID control systems for cooling systems are designed based on default environmental and system characteristics and pre-programmed for operation prior to delivery to customers or end users. Changes in environmental and system characteristics, such as component aging, environmental variations, and variation in manufacturing from system to system, such as heat sink effectiveness and application of thermal pastes, can impact system level performance of the control system. Adjusting gain parameters for the P, I, and D components of a PID control signal can reduce negative impact on system performance resulting from such changes and allow the control system to better adjust to external factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Travis North, Chris Helberg, Austin Shelnutt, Kevin Locke, Joohyun Woo
  • Patent number: 10191522
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling an IHS (Information Handling System) that may be docked in docking station. The IHS includes a docking plate exposed on the outer surface. When docked, the docking plate interfaces with a corresponding conductive element provided by the docking station in order to transfer heat from the IHS to the docking station. Within the IHS, an adaptive heatsink provides passive cooling to a processor of the IHS. When the IHS is docked, a portion of the adaptive heatsink contacts the docking plate and, via the conductive element of the docking station, completes a thermal pathway to auxiliary cooling systems provided by the docking station, thus allowing the IHS to supporting higher operating temperatures. When the IHS is undocked, the adaptive heatsink is separated from the docking plate by an air gap, thus limiting the transfer of heat to the docking plate and maintaining safe surface temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: John Trevor Morrison, Travis North
  • Publication number: 20190004551
    Abstract: Performance of a system may be boosted with a boost dock that seals fan interfaces to improve airflow through an information handling system. An apparatus may include a first port configured to seal a first interface between the apparatus and an information handling system. The apparatus may also include a first blower configured to receive ambient air as cool intake air and to blow the cool intake air into the information handling system through the first interface sealed by the first port. The apparatus may further include a second blower configured to receive warm exhaust air from the information handling system through the first interface sealed by the first port and to blow the warm exhaust air out of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Travis North, Austin Shelnutt, Philip Grossmann, Chris Helberg