Patents by Inventor Vince Hileman

Vince Hileman 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: 6594150
    Abstract: A computer system comprising a chassis and housing removable servers supported in subchassis, each chassis having optional front or read cable access. Power and signal connectivity to the servers may be made from the front or rear of the system. The subchassis may be half the width of the chassis or a quarter of a width of the chassis. The subchassis further include an upper bay and a lower bay as well as a plurality of field replaceable units, which all may be access through the front of the chassis. One or more of the field replaceable units connect to the system through a midplane, located within the subchassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Creason, Clifford B. Willis, Denise Silverman, Michael Sean White, David M. Arstein, Victor E. JoChiong, Timothy E. Mautz, Steve M. Wilson, Raymond Kai Ho, Kaamel Kermaani, Carl Meert, Adiymar Bigio, Vince Hileman
  • Publication number: 20020012232
    Abstract: A computer system comprising a chassis and housing removable servers supported in subchassis, each chassis having optional front or read cable access. Power and signal connectivity to the servers may be made from the front or rear of the system. The subchassis may be half the width of the chassis or a quarter of a width of the chassis. The subchassis further include an upper bay and a lower bay as well as a plurality of field replaceable units, which all may be access through the front of the chassis. One or more of the field replaceable units connect to the system through a midplane, located within the subchassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Richard Creason, Clifford B. Willis, Denise Silverman, Michael Sean White, David M. Arstein, Victor E. JoChiong, Timothy E. Mautz, Steve M. Wilson, Raymond Kai Ho, Kaamel Kermaani, Carl Meert, Adiymar Bigio, Vince Hileman
  • Patent number: 5963424
    Abstract: A computer housing which includes a chassis that has a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment includes a first electronic assembly and a first fan that creates a flow of air through the compartment to create a compartment pressure that is less than an ambient pressure. The second compartment contains a second electronic assembly and a second fan which produces a flow of air that creates pressure within the compartment that is greater than the ambient pressure. The housing also contains an inner wall which separates the first compartment from the second compartment to inhibit air flow between the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Steven J. Furuta, Kenneth Kitlas, Kenneth Gross, Quyen Vu, Lee Winick, Nagaraj P. Mitty, Clifford B. Willis
  • Patent number: 5751551
    Abstract: A bracket for an electronic card that is inserted into a slot of a chassis. The chassis has a pair of opposing walls with guide channels that guide the card into a motherboard. The bracket includes a pair of low friction guide rails that slide along the guide channels. Attached to the guide rails are a pair of grommet dampers which are pressed between the edges of the card and the guide channels when the card is inserted into the chassis. The grommets dampen any shock or vibrational load that is transferred from the chassis to the card. The bracket also has a pair of spring clips that are attached to the card and pressed into the guide channels to provide an electrical path between the card and the chassis. The electrical path discharges electrostatic charges on the card and provides a ground path for any electromagnetic fields generated or received by the card. The bracket further includes a lever pivotally connected to one of the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Khim H. Foo
  • Patent number: 5734551
    Abstract: A computer chassis cover that pushes an electronic card into a motherboard. The cover is pivotally connected to the chassis and can be rotated between an open position and a closed position. The cover encloses an electronic card that is plugged into a motherboard. When in the closed position, the inner surface of the cover is separated from the motherboard by a distance that is approximately equal to the distance between the motherboard and a top edge of the electronic card. When the cover is in the closed position the card is pushed into a fully mated position when the card is in a fully mated position. If the electronic card is higher than the fully mated position, the cover will engage and push the card into the motherboard. To install an electronic card, the card is initially partially plugged into a connector mounted to the motherboard. The cover is then rotated into the closed position to engage and push the electronic card further into the motherboard connector to the fully mated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Kenneth Kitlas
  • Patent number: 5680296
    Abstract: A card guide that both restrains an installed electronic card and allows the card to be inserted into a computer chassis in a direction that is parallel to the motherboard of the computer. The card guide extends from a beam that is cantilevered from a frame of a computer chassis. The card guide has a groove that guides an edge of the electronic card so that the card is aligned with a connector of the motherboard. The card guide also has a ramp that guides the card into the groove in a direction parallel with the motherboard and perpendicular to the groove. The card is installed by initially pushing the electronic card along the ramp until the edge of the card snaps into the groove. The cantilevered beam is deflected by the installation force of the user to allow the card to move down the ramp. Once in the groove the electronic card is pushed in a direction perpendicular to the motherboard to plug the card into the motherboard connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Kenneth Kitlas, Clifford B. Willis
  • Patent number: 5259783
    Abstract: An easy to engage and disengage dual height card retainer that facilitates removal of daughterboards is disclosed. Daughterboards have a two-tier staggered arrangement above the motherboard. Each daughterboard has a signal transfer end that electrically connects to the motherboard through one of the dual height bus connectors, and a back panel connector end that couples to the back panel with an accessory connector or with a filler panel that functions as an electromagnetic interference shield. Dual height card retainers that require no tools to operate function as retaining means to prevent daughterboards from working lose from bus connectors during shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Steven J. Furuta, Clifford B. Willis, Robert J. Lajara
  • Patent number: 5260854
    Abstract: A modular circuit board placement system is disclosed that provides for flexible placement of daughterboards, for minimal bus signal path lengths between motherboard and daughterboards, and for ease of installation and removal of daughterboards. The placement system employs dual height bus connectors, a stepped back panel, easy to engage and disengage dual height card retainers, filler panels that also function as module mounts, and multipurpose circuit card handles that facilitate removal of daughterboards. Daughterboards have a two-tier staggered arrangement above the motherboard. Each daughterboard has a signal transfer end that electrically connects to the motherboard through one of the dual height bus connectors, and a back panel connector end that couples to the back panel with an accessory connector or with a filler panel that functions as an electromagnetic interference shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Hileman, Steven J. Furuta, Clifford B. Willis, Robert J. Lajara, James Testa