Patents by Inventor Vinod Kamath

Vinod Kamath 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: 20130192794
    Abstract: Several apparatuses and methods for providing cooling system interchangeability. One apparatus includes a thermally conductive plate thermally coupled to an integrated circuit. The thermally conductive plate is configured to couple interchangeably to a liquid cooling assembly or an air cooling assembly, and the liquid cooling assembly and the air cooling assembly are separate devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    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
  • Patent number: 8493738
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: 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: 20130168068
    Abstract: A cold plate comprises a cold plate body having a base for thermally engaging a heat-generating device, a plurality of internal channels extending through the cold plate body for the passage of a liquid coolant, a first region between the base and the plurality of internal channels, and a second region between the plurality of internal channels and a top that is generally opposite the base from the plurality of internal channels. The cold plate body is made from a first thermally conductive material. The cold plate also comprises at least one thermally conductive member extending around the plurality of channels from the first region below the plurality of channels to the second region above the plurality of channels. The at least one thermally conductive member has a greater thermal conductivity than the first thermally conductive material to move heat from the first region to the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhen Huang, Vinod Kamath, Howard V. Mahaney, JR., Chunjian Ni, Mark E. Steinke, Jamil A. Wakil
  • Publication number: 20130147503
    Abstract: A liquid cooled planer including: one or more computing components mounted on the planer, wherein at least one or more of the computing components is liquid cooled; one or more conductive cooling components mounted on the planer; and one or more convective cooling components mounted on the planer, wherein the convective cooling components are removable from the planer without removing the conductive cooling components from the planer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vinod Kamath, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Publication number: 20130135812
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled computer memory system includes first and second blocks in fluid communication with a chilled liquid source. A plurality of spaced-apart heat transfer pipes extend along a system board between memory module sockets from the first manifold block to the second manifold block. The heat transfer pipes may be liquid flow pipes circulating the chilled liquid between the memory module sockets. Alternatively, the heat transfer pipes may be closed heat pipes that conduct heat from the memory modules to the liquid-cooled blocks. A separate heat spreader is provided to thermally bridge each memory module to the adjacent heat transfer pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard M. Barina, Vinod Kamath, Chunjian Ni, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Publication number: 20130120926
    Abstract: A cooling system for a memory module comprises a heat conduction assembly for conducting heat from the memory module to liquid-cooled mounting blocks. In one embodiment, each heat conduction assembly includes a frame having opposing first and second supports, first and second heat spreader plates each extending from the first support to the second support, and a pair of flattened heat pipes each extending along a respective one of the heat spreader plates from the first support to the second support. The liquid-cooled mounting blocks releasably support the heat conduction assembly over a memory module socket with the memory module between the heat spreader plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard M. Barina, Vinod Kamath, Chunjian Ni, Derek I. Schmidt, Mark E. Steinke, James S. Womble
  • Publication number: 20130107453
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an electronics rack is provided which includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, one or more coolant-cooled structures and a tube. The heat exchanger, which is associated with the electronics rack and disposed to cool air passing through the rack, includes a plurality of distinct, coolant-carrying tube sections, each tube section having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, one of which is coupled in fluid communication with a coolant loop to facilitate flow of coolant through the tube section. The coolant-cooled structure(s) is in thermal contact with an electronic component(s) of the rack, and facilitates transfer of heat from the component(s) to the coolant. The tube connects in fluid communication one coolant-cooled structure and the other of the coolant inlet or outlet of the one tube section, and facilitates flow of coolant directly between that coolant-carrying tube section of the heat exchanger and the coolant-cooled structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. CHAINER, Patrick A. COICO, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Bejoy J. KOCHUPARAMBIL, Roger R. SCHMIDT, Mark E. STEINKE
  • Publication number: 20130096720
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises accessing historical operating data for a unit of information technology equipment, wherein the historical operating data includes power consumption, fan speed, inlet air temperature, workload, and any processor throttling events at various points in time. The method further comprises receiving user input selecting a fan speed, and using the historical operating data to determine a performance impact that is expected from operating the unit at the selected fan speed, where the power consumption is a proxy for performance. The estimated performance impact of the selected fan speed and one or more alternative fan speeds is then displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas M. Brey, Vinod Kamath, Jason A. Matteson, Billy W. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20130074339
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for forming an overmolded dual in-line memory module (DIMM) cooling structure are provided. Embodiments include identifying, by a tagging module, contextual information indicating circumstances in which the photograph was taken; based on the contextual information, selecting, by the tagging module, candidate profiles from a plurality of friend profiles associated with a profile of a user; and suggesting, by the tagging module to the user, the selected candidate profiles as potential friends to tag in the photograph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Boraas, Vinod Kamath, Michael S. Miller, Mark E. Steinke, Jamil A. Wakil
  • Publication number: 20130073096
    Abstract: A fluid-cooled computer system includes a plurality of heat-generating components and a cooling system configured for supplying a cooling fluid at a controlled cooling fluid flow rate to cool the heat-generating components. A temperature-based cooling control circuit includes a temperature sensor configured for sensing a temperature of the heat-generating components and control logic for increasing a cooling fluid flow rate in response to the temperature exceeding a temperature threshold. A power-based cooling control circuit is configured for identifying and quantifying an increasing power consumption trend over a target time interval and, during a period that the temperature of the electronic device does not exceed the temperature threshold, increasing a cooling fluid flow rate to the electronic device in response to the magnitude of the increasing power consumption trend exceeding a power threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas M. Brey, Vinod Kamath, Jason A. Matteson
  • Patent number: 8385069
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a memory module installed in a computer system includes a liquid coolant conduit that is connected to a conduit support structure having a form factor selectively securable within a first preconfigured memory module socket of the computer system in order to position the liquid coolant conduit above the first socket. A heat pipe provides direct thermal contact between the liquid conduit and a heat spreader assembly in direct thermal contact with a face of the memory module. The apparatus may include a second heat pipe and second heat spreader assembly for similarly cooling a second memory module. In alternative configurations, the apparatus may cool memory modules on opposing sides of the conduit or memory modules that are both on the same side of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Vinod Kamath, Howard V. Mahaney, Jr., Mark E. Steinke, Aparna Vallury
  • Publication number: 20120297807
    Abstract: A cooling unit and cooling method are provided for a container-type data center. The cooling unit includes a heat rejection unit, for rejecting heat from coolant passing through a coolant loop to air passing across the heat rejection unit, and a refrigeration unit controllable to selectively provide auxiliary cooling to at least a portion of the coolant passing through the coolant loop. The heat rejection unit includes a heat exchange assembly, having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and one or more air-moving devices providing airflow across the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger couples in fluid communication with the coolant loop, and the second heat exchanger is coupled in fluid communication with a refrigeration loop of the refrigeration unit for rejecting heat from refrigerant passing through the refrigeration loop to the airflow passing across the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian A. CANNEY, David P. GRAYBILL, Madhusudan K. IYENGAR, Vinod KAMATH, Roger R. SCHMIDT
  • 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: 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: 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: 20120254400
    Abstract: A system to improve operation of a data center with heterogeneous computing clouds may include monitoring components to track data center climate controls and individual heterogeneous computing clouds' operating parameters within the data center. The system may also include a controller that regulates the individual heterogeneous computing clouds and data center climate controls based upon data generated by the monitoring components to improve the operating performance of the individual heterogeneous computing clouds as well as the operating performance of the data center. The system may further include spilling computing clouds to receive excess workload of an individual heterogeneous computing cloud without violating individual heterogeneous computing clouds contracts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
  • Patent number: 8255740
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include computer-implemented methods for selectively applying remedial actions, according to a predefined order, for reducing the error rate in a computer memory system. In one embodiment, an ordered set of remedial actions are sequentially invoked in response to a single-bit error (SBE) in a DIMM reaching successive error thresholds. For example, in an air-cooled system, the remedial actions may include dynamically increasing a DIMM refresh rate, dynamically increasing a rate of airflow used to cool the DIMMs, and dynamically throttling the DIMMs. The remedial actions may be layered as they are successively invoked, to provide a cumulative remedial effect. At least two of the remedial actions may be simultaneously invoked in response to a multi-bit error rate reaching an associated threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vinod Kamath, Jason A. Matteson, Gregory J. McKnight, Mark E. Steinke
  • Publication number: 20120123595
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling fluid coolant flow in cooling systems of computing devices are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method may include determining a temperature of a fluid coolant in a cooling system of a computing device. For example, a temperature of water exiting a cooling system of a server may be determined. The method may also include determining an operational condition of the computing device. For example, a temperature of a processor, memory, or input/output (I/O) component may be determined. Further, the method may include controlling a flow of the fluid coolant through the cooling system based on the temperature of the fluid coolant and/or the operational condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fred A. Bower, III, Vinod Kamath, Michael S. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120079314
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include computer-implemented methods for selectively applying remedial actions, according to a predefined order, for reducing the error rate in a computer memory system. In one embodiment, an ordered set of remedial actions are sequentially invoked in response to a single-bit error (SBE) in a DIMM reaching successive error thresholds. For example, in an air-cooled system, the remedial actions may include dynamically increasing a DIMM refresh rate, dynamically increasing a rate of airflow used to cool the DIMMs, and dynamically throttling the DIMMs. The remedial actions may be layered as they are successively invoked, to provide a cumulative remedial effect. At least two of the remedial actions may be simultaneously invoked in response to a multi-bit error rate reaching an associated threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vinod Kamath, Jason A. Matteson, Gregory J. McKnight, Mark E. Steinke