Patents by Inventor William Gerner

William Gerner 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: 5317481
    Abstract: A system for installing a circuit board edge connector into a motherboard connector from the side to accommodate high density card arrangements that obstruct overhead clearance. In one embodiment, the system utilizes an insertion tool which conveys the circuit board across the motherboard and positions it with the pins of both boards aligned. The tool locates the board adjacent the motherboard with the aligned connectors just touching and blocked against withdrawal. The cooperation between ramps and pins associated with the tool and circuit board applies a force, upon the withdrawal of the tool from the motherboard, to engage fully the pins of the circuit board with the pins of the motherboard. The extraction of the circuit board from the motherboard uses the tool in a reverse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Thinking Machines Corporation
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, William Gerner
  • Patent number: 5266838
    Abstract: A power supply system for powering a plurality of loads. The system includes a plurality of energizeable power supply circuits each associated with one of the loads for supplying power thereto in response to a power supply circuit control signal. An actuable power sharing arrangement is connected to all of the power supply circuits to facilitate sharing of power among the power supply circuits in response to a power sharing control signal. In addition, a control circuit generates the power supply control signals to individually controlling energization of each of the power supply circuits and the power sharing control signal to maintain the power sharing arrangement in an actuated condition when the power supply circuit control signals are controlling all of the power supply circuits to be energized, and otherwise maintaining the power sharing arrangement in a de-actuated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Thinking Machines Corporation
    Inventor: William Gerner
  • Patent number: 5238423
    Abstract: A system for installing a circuit board edge connector into a motherboard connector from the side to accommodate high density card arrangements that obstruct overhead clearance. In one embodiment, the system utilizes an insertion tool which conveys the circuit board across the motherboard and positions it with the pins of both boards aligned. The tool locates the board adjacent the motherboard with the aligned connectors just touching and blocked against withdrawal. The cooperation between ramps and pins associated with the tool and circuit board applies a force, upon the withdrawal of the tool from the motherboard, to engage fully the pins of the circuit board with the pins of the motherboard. The extraction of the circuit board from the motherboard uses the tool in a reverse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Thinking Machines Corporation
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, William Gerner, Theodore W. Bilodeau