Thermal Protection Patents (Class 702/132)
  • Patent number: 6928380
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring thermal distributions of an electronic device during operation is disclosed. The system includes an electronic device, a heat sink adjacent to the electronic device and an electrical-insulating layer disposed on the electronic device so as to separate the electronic device and the heat sink. The system further includes a plurality of thermal sensors located on the electrical-insulating layer, each of the plurality of thermal sensors in a different location. The plurality of thermal sensors is located within one or more thin film circuit layers disposed adjacent to the electrical insulating layer. The system further includes a module for receiving thermal information from the plurality of thermal sensors during operation of the electronic device. The system further includes a processor coupled to the module for generating a thermal distribution of the electronic device based on the thermal information received from the plurality of thermal sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: S. Jay Chey, Hendrik Hamann, James A. Lacey, James Vichiconti, Robert J. von Gutfeld
  • Patent number: 6927961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a data processing apparatus having temperature sensors, at least one fan for cooling the data processing apparatus, and a monitoring unit connected to the temperature sensors and to one or more fans. The monitoring unit controls the fans as a function of measured values from the temperature sensors. The data processing apparatus also includes at least one hard disk that has a temperature sensor. According to the invention, the data processing apparatus is characterized in that an interface apparatus is provided for checking the hard disk temperature sensor or sensors and for supplying the measured temperature values for the monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schestak
  • Patent number: 6925409
    Abstract: A system method for determining temperature anomalies that would affect the proper operation of a computer and, upon receipt of a determined temperature anomaly, causing certain data to be saved within a storage device in a file location appropriate for such data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin H. Smith, Andrew H. Dickson
  • Patent number: 6907359
    Abstract: A superconducting radiation detector relies upon the abruptness of a superconducting transition edge to converts a slight heat generated by an X-ray into a high signal current and uses an electrothermal self-feedback mechanism to provide a high energy resolution and a high counting rate. A calorimeter incorporating such a radiation detector has an absorber for absorbing X-rays, a resistor formed of a superconductor provided under the absorber and having a resistance value that varies with heat generated in the absorber, superconducting wires for connecting the resistor to an external current detector, a membrane on which the resistor is provided, and an insulating film provided between the resistor and the absorber and having at least one hole penetrating therethrough, the resistor and the absorber being in contact through the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tanaka, Toshimitsu Morooka, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6904378
    Abstract: A method for measuring the temperature of a cooking vessel or saucepan using a radiant heater. The radiant heater has a heating coil with a corresponding control and an induction coil as an inductive sensor and which is located in a metal tray. With the inductive sensor, measurement takes place of the frequency of the inductive resonant circuit comprising saucepan, heating coil, induction coil and metal tray, which is dependent on the temperature of the components. In the control is stored known slopes or paths of the temperature and therefore the frequency of the metal tray over the time. From this the control gathers correction values in order to produce from the measured curve a compensated curve. At characteristic points, such as the start of a cooking or boiling process or an empty cooking or boiling of the saucepan, it is possible to detect the temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Schilling, Mathias Bellm
  • Patent number: 6889332
    Abstract: The maximum performance state available to a processor in a computer system, in terms of operating frequency and/or voltage, changes according to thermal criteria. When the temperature increases above a predetermined threshold, the maximum performance state available is reduced. Multiple temperature thresholds may be utilized providing for a gradually reduced maximum performance state as temperature increases. When the temperature returns to a lower level, the maximum performance state available is increased. Changing the maximum available performance state according to temperature provides for more gradual reduction in performance as temperature increases, which results in higher average system performance as temperature increases. Thus, a more gradual reduction in performance is provided while still maintaining a high speed rating of the processor in more ideal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank P. Helms, Jeffrey A. Brinkley
  • Patent number: 6885964
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for thermal analysis, a target region is divided by dividing the geometry of the target object of the thermal analysis into a finite number of finite elements or cells. The thermal analysis on the target region is conducted using the results of the division. A temperature distribution on the target object is obtained from the heat transfer coefficients by a temperature distribution calculating unit. The actual temperatures at specific points are obtained based on temperature distribution obtained by the specific point temperature calculating unit. Differences between the actually obtained temperatures at the specific points and the predetermined target temperatures at the specific points are obtained by a difference calculating/determining unit. If the differences are determined to be out of the prescribed range, the heat transfer coefficients are changed by a heat transfer coefficient updating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ogino, Hirotaka Murakami
  • Patent number: 6879929
    Abstract: A system and method of adjusting a sense amplifier includes providing an amplification control parameter to the sense amplifier. A temperature of the sense amplifier is monitored and the amplification control parameter to the sense amplifier is adjusted according to the temperature of the sense amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Shaishav A. Desai, Raymond Heald
  • Patent number: 6873929
    Abstract: A heat dissipation system used in an electronic device includes a casing, an inlet, an outlet, two thermal sensors, at least one fan, and a microprocessor. The fan is disposed in the casing and configured to guide airflow into the casing through the inlet and out of the casing through the outlet. The two thermal sensors are disposed in the casing and respectively located near the inlet and the outlet to measure a first temperature and a second temperature. The microprocessor has at least one relation table, which is a function of ratio of the second temperature to the first temperature, between the first temperature and speed of the fan. The microprocessor selects one relation table in accordance with the ratio of the second temperature value to the first temperature value to control the speed of the first fan according to the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Min Lai, Ren-Cheng Chao
  • Patent number: 6873883
    Abstract: A temperature control system for an electronics system minimizes fan noise as much as possible. The system, which may be a computer, is capable of implementing a plurality of temperature control protocols. Each protocol generally specifies fan speed as a function of temperature. When the system initializes, a protocol is selected that, on average, is quieter than at least one other protocol, and preferably all other protocols. The system monitors its own temperature and, if the temperature reaches a threshold, the system causes the initial temperature control protocol to be changed to a different protocol that is better able to cool the system, albeit with a resulting louder sound level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory P. Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 6856921
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus, method and article of manufacture are disclosed which provide for selectively providing power to an attached heat-dissipating apparatus having a cooling probe in thermal contact with a cooling unit, to remove heat generated by a heat-generating source within the computer to an external environment outside of the computer. Power may be conserved, portable battery life extended, higher-speed processors utilized, and overall dimensional characteristics of a personal computer may be slimmed and reduced by utilizing the apparatus with a personal computer. Heat energy is transferred across a thermal connection interface from the heat-generating source of the personal computer to a collection face of the apparatus, and thereafter collected heat energy is dissipated in relation to the available power of the power source and/or the planned operating speed of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Cohen, Joseph Anthony Ho-Lung, Vinod Kamath, Leo Harold Webster, Jr., Tin-Lup Wong
  • Patent number: 6851064
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring memory system performance and controlling an operating parameter is provided. A plurality of digital events indicative of memory system operations is detected, from which a subset of digital events to count is periodically selected, the subset being those digital events occurring during a sampling window time interval. Responsive to each digital event of the subset, a transistor is switched on to conduct current from a power supply to a capacitor. The transistor is biased by the capacitor to operate in a constant current region providing a substantially fixed amount of charge added to the capacitor responsive to each digital event of the subset. The operating parameter is controlled responsive to the charge accumulated in the capacitor, representative of the count of digital events in the subset. In one embodiment, the sampling window time interval is selected pseudo-randomly within a periodic base time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Weiyeh Ku, Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Patent number: 6847911
    Abstract: A method of throttling the frequency with which an integrated circuit is accessed includes sensing the temperature of the integrated circuit die and converting the sensed temperature to a digital signal. The digital signal is stored in a register of the integrated circuit. The digital signal is read, and the frequency with which the integrated circuit is accessed is adjusted dependent at least in part upon the temperature of the die as indicated by the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jennifer Faye Huckaby, Torsten Partsch, Johnathan Edmonds
  • Patent number: 6847187
    Abstract: A thermal protection apparatus for an AC traction motor including a stator, a rotor, a blower fan and an inverter includes a method and apparatus for predicting the motor temperature assuming that the blower is operational. The method and apparatus also determines an estimated motor temperature by measuring the motor resistance or the rotor slip. The estimated motor temperatures compared to the predicted motor temperature to determine the condition of the motor cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Publication number: 20040267491
    Abstract: A computer component operating temperature inspecting method and system is proposed, which is designed for use with a computer component that is equipped with a built-in temperature detecting function and is based on a standardized bus architecture, such as SMBus (System Management Bus) and I2C (Inter Integrated Circuit) compliant SMBus/I2C bus architecture, for the purpose of inspecting the current operating temperature of the computer component via the bus architecture, and which is capable of, in the event of the computer component being subjected to a deadlock condition, restoring the computer component back to normal operation to allow the computer component's current operating temperature to be able to be inspected. This feature can help protect the computer component from being burned out due to overheat that is otherwise undetectable in the event of deadlock, thereby ensuring the operating reliability of the entire computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Jia-Shiung Kuo
  • Patent number: 6829556
    Abstract: A method and system for operating an electrical system including an electrical machine to predict an incipient fault in the electrical machine. A neutral-to-ground leakage signal representative of current between a neutral point of the machine and an electrical ground is generated and stored in a memory. If the leakage signal exceeds a selected threshold, the electrical system is operated at a reduced power condition to control the current. Temperature criteria of the electrical system at which any moisture that could cause the high leakage current is determined with a temperature sensing system and the temperature is monitored and compared to the selected temperature criteria. The electrical system returns to operations at normal power conditions if the leakage signal returns to within the selected threshold. The leakage current signal information stored in the memory is analyzed to predict an incipient fault in the electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 6826456
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling server chassis cooling fans includes monitoring operating temperatures associated with each of a plurality of temperature sensors. The temperature sensors may be coupled with a plurality of respective server processing cards. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the operating speed of each of a plurality of server chassis cooling fans coupled with a server chassis is increased, in response to an operating temperature exceeding a predetermined maximum operating temperature measured at any one of the plurality of temperature sensors. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the operating speed of each of the plurality of server chassis cooling fans is decreased in response to an operating temperature below a predetermined minimum operating temperature measured at each of the plurality of temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: RLX Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy B. Irving, Stephen P. Rousset, David M. Kirkeby
  • Publication number: 20040204899
    Abstract: An integrated, on-chip thermal management system providing closed-loop temperature control of an IC device and methods of performing thermal management of an IC device. The thermal management system comprises a temperature detection element, a power modulation element, a control element, and a visibility element. The temperature detection element includes a temperature sensor for detecting die temperature. The power modulation element may reduce the power consumption of an IC device by directly lowering the power consumption of the IC device, by limiting the speed at which the IC device executes instructions, by limiting the number of instructions executed by the IC device, or by a combination of these techniques. The control element allows for control over the behavior of the thermal management system, and the visibility element allows external devices to monitor the status of the thermal management system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Frank Binns, Jack D. Pippin, Linda J. Rankin, Edward A. Burton, Douglas M. Carmean, John M. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20040193383
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus incorporating hardware based logic and a predetermined default list of software affecting responses to be taken in connection with temperatures sensed by thermal sensors checking the temperature of portions of computer logic. At the time application software is loaded, the software can modify the default response list. The list of responses to be taken and the over temperature conditions at which they are to be activated are stored in hardware directly accessible by hardware based thermal sensor monitoring logic for direct control of the hardware. The control can alter conditions such as clock frequency, stopping use of application software, interrupting OS functionality, removing power from components and so forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Gerhard Clabes, Lawrence Joseph Powell, Daniel Lawrence Stasiak, Michael Fan Wang
  • Publication number: 20040186629
    Abstract: A cooling fan including a fan module, a microcontroller, and a bus interface. The microcontroller is coupled to the fan module and is capable of adjusting a speed of the cooling fan based on a status of a second cooling fan and adjusting the speed of the cooling fan based on a temperature detected. The bus interface is in communication with the microcontroller, the second cooling fan, and the system to receive and output data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Minebea Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Frankel, Peter Martin, Eric Hardt
  • Publication number: 20040181358
    Abstract: Fuel flow information is generated in an engine compartment and transmitted for display on the fuel page(s) of a GPS signal receiver located in view of a vehicle operator. A fuel transducer coupled to a pre-programmed micro-controller are provided as an integrated single unit in the engine compartment of the vehicle (e.g., an aircraft). The integrated transducer/micro-controller unit outputs RS232 fuel flow signals to the GPS signal receiver without requiring any extra panel space. Since the transducer/micro-controller is already pre-programmed to compensate for the proportionality or “K” factor, no further calibration or compensation programming is needed at installation time (or when one composite transducer/computer unit is substituted for another). Separate transducer/micro-controller power supply and grounding connections suppress common mode noise. A blinking LED power/fuel flow visual display on the unit in the engine compartment helps trouble shoot power and/or transducer problems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: John S. Youngquist
  • Patent number: 6789037
    Abstract: An integrated, on-chip thermal management system providing closed-loop temperature control of an IC device and methods of performing thermal management of an IC device. The thermal management system comprises a temperature detection element, a power modulation element, a control element, and a visibility element. The temperature detection element includes a temperature sensor for detecting die temperature. The power modulation element may reduce the power consumption of an IC device by directly lowering the power consumption of the IC device, by limiting the speed at which the IC device executes instructions, by limiting the number of instructions executed by the IC device, or by a combination of these techniques. The control element allows for control over the behavior of the thermal management system, and the visibility element allows external devices to monitor the status of the thermal management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Frank Binns, Jack D. Pippin, Linda J. Rankin, Edward A. Burton, Douglas M. Carmean, John M. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20040167741
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a secondary battery control circuit which can perform a reliable charge/discharge control without activating Positive Temperature Coefficient element. The secondary battery control circuit includes a temperature detection section for detecting a temperature of the secondary battery and a system logic for controlling charging/discharging of the secondary battery based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection section. The system logic interrupts the charging of the secondary battery in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature detection section is out of a predetermined first temperature range, and interrupts the discharging of the secondary battery in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature detection section is out of a predetermined second temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Iwaizono
  • Publication number: 20040162697
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for thermal self-monitoring of integrated circuits. Temperature is sensed, digitized, encoded, and compared to one or more threshold values by circuits added within an integrated circuit. A signal produced by a thermal diode within an integrated circuit is applied to an analog to digital converter and may be compared to one or more threshold values to produce a digital over temperature condition signal. An appropriate cooling action may be initiated by processing of the digital signal so produced. Also provided are methods and systems to alter the range and resolution of the temperature threshold comparisons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Fred Smith, Gabriel Romero
  • Publication number: 20040162698
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a secondary battery control circuit which can perform a reliable charge/discharge control without activating Positive Temperature Coefficient element. The secondary battery control circuit includes a temperature detection section for detecting a temperature of the secondary battery and a system logic for controlling charging/discharging of the secondary battery based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection section. The system logic interrupts the charging of the secondary battery in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature detection section is out of a predetermined first temperature range, and interrupts the discharging of the secondary battery in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature detection section is out of a predetermined second temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Iwaizono
  • Publication number: 20040162696
    Abstract: A method and system for operating an electrical system including an electrical machine to predict an incipient fault in the electrical machine. A neutral-to-ground leakage signal representative of current between a neutral point of the machine and an electrical ground is generated and stored in a memory. If the leakage signal exceeds a selected threshold, the electrical system is operated at a reduced power condition to control the current. Temperature criteria of the electrical system at which any moisture that could cause the high leakage current is determined with a temperature sensing system and the temperature is monitored and compared to the selected temperature criteria. The electrical system returns to operations at normal power conditions if the leakage signal returns to within the selected threshold. The leakage current signal information stored in the memory is analyzed to predict an incipient fault in the electrical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 6778937
    Abstract: A combustion chamber graphic analyzer (CCGA) computer software application has been developed for analyzing the performance of individual combustion chambers in an operating gas turbine. The CCGA identifies combustion chambers that are sustaining abnormally hot or cold combustion temperatures. The identification of hot or cold combustion chambers is graphically displayed by the CCGA on a computer display, printed report or other computer output. Whether a combustion chamber is operating hot or cold is determined based on a circumferential profile of the temperatures of the exhaust gases from the gas turbine. This circumferential temperature profile is rotated using a swirl angle to correlate the exhaust gas temperature profile with the circular array of combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark James Cleary
  • Patent number: 6777900
    Abstract: A method for controlling heat dissipation of an electronic device, such as a central processing unit, by controlling rotational speed of a fan and supplying a clock signal with slower clock frequency to the electronic device is disclosed. The fan rotates at a speed in proportion to the temperature of the electronic device when the temperature of the electronic device is below a maximum reference temperature. The fan rotates at a maximum rotational speed when the temperature of the electronic device is beyond the maximum reference temperature. The fan rotates at a maximum rotational speed and a clock signal with slower clock frequency is supplied to the electronic device when the temperature of the electronic device is beyond both the maximum reference temperature and a slowing-clock starting reference temperature, until the temperature of the electronic device drops below a slowing-clock ending reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mitac Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Hung-Pin Lee
  • Patent number: 6774653
    Abstract: A sensor and method are provided for sensing a physical stimulus in an integrated amount, such as thermal energy and produce a signal that indicates a quantitative value of the physical stimulus along with a value that indicates the operability of the sensor and a value that indicates a sense operation is in process. The sensor and method minimize the number of input and output pins necessary for a sensor to report a measurement response of a physical stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer M. Gold, Kenneth House, Claude R. Gauthier
  • Patent number: 6745149
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a system for controlling acoustical noise generated by electrical or electronic equipment. The invention consists of a sealed enclosure having acoustically absorbent inner walls, a transparent sealed front door, a hinged sealed rear access panel to facilitate equipment wiring and installation and a high volume/low pressure air cooling system and additional sound and vibration absorption elements. Means for monitoring and controlling internal cabinet temperature and sealed electrical ports for interfacing the equipment housed within the enclosure to the outside while substantially reducing acoustical noise generated by that equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Inventor: Todd W Beeten
  • Patent number: 6735499
    Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the fan noise taking the human sense into consideration. Specifically, it is possible to ergonomically mitigate the discomfort due to the short-term variation of the working rate of the CPU by increasing the rotational frequency gradually and by decreasing the rotational frequency with the temperature fall taking the human sense of noise into account. The present invention reduces noise produced by a cooling fan by controlling the fan rotation to a minimum rotational frequency in accordance with the specification and performance of the heat source. Additionally, an embodiment of the present invention controls a cooling fan to a minimum allowable rotational frequency within a rated temperature range of the object to be cooled, thereby controlling the internal temperature of a computer system in such a way to minimize noise generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ohki, Minoru Kida
  • Patent number: 6735546
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for temperature-based control over write and/or read operations. In one preferred embodiment, the temperature of a memory array is monitored, and a write operation to the memory array is prevented in response to the monitored temperature reaching a threshold temperature. In another preferred embodiment, the temperature of a memory array is monitored, and a read operation from the memory array is prevented in response to the monitored temperature reaching a threshold temperature. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Matrix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy E. Scheuerlein
  • Publication number: 20040088134
    Abstract: A system and method of adjusting a sense amplifier includes providing an amplification control parameter to the sense amplifier. A temperature of the sense amplifier is monitored and the amplification control parameter to the sense amplifier is adjusted according to the temperature of the sense amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Shaishav A. Desai, Raymond Heald
  • Patent number: 6725132
    Abstract: A cooling fan including a fan module, a microcontroller, and a bus interface. The microcontroller is coupled to the fan module and is capable of adjusting a speed of the cooling fan based on a status of a second cooling fan and adjusting the speed of the cooling fan based on a temperature detected. The bus interface is in communication with the microcontroller, the second cooling fan, and the system to receive and output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Frankel, Peter Martin, Eric Hardt
  • Patent number: 6725180
    Abstract: A system for monitoring conditions relating to the status of items such as perishable food products stored in enclosed spaces has a number of sensors mounted in the spaces. Tables maintained by the system hold a description of the spaces to be monitored and the location and identity of the sensors within each space. The values detected by each sensor are periodically recorded and tested against benchmark values established for the stored items adjacent to the sensor. Values outside of the benchmark values create an alarm condition, and a set of alarm messages are displayed on a display unit. The alarm messages include suggested corrective actions. The user has the opportunity to signal to the system the corrective actions taken, and the system stores a record of these corrective actions in association with the corrective actions and the alarm condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: John Mayer, James E. Van't Slot, Daniel Rawlings
  • Publication number: 20040068386
    Abstract: A system and method for determining temperature anomalies that would affect the proper operation of a computer and, upon receipt of a determined temperature anomaly, causing certain data to be saved within a storage device in a file location appropriate for such data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin H. Smith, Andrew H. Dickson
  • Patent number: 6718277
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling atmospheric conditions within a building. A conditioned fluid is supplied inside of the building and one or more atmospheric parameters in various locations inside of the building are sensed. An empirical atmospheric map is then generated and compared to a template atmospheric map. Pattern differentials are identified therebetween and corrective action to reduce the pattern differentials is determined. One or more of the quantity, quality, and distribution of the conditioned fluid is varied in accord with the corrective action determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ratnesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 6717530
    Abstract: A temperature sensing system (30) that providing at least one detect signal related to temperature in an integrated circuit is presented. This system uses one thermal sensing circuit (40) to detect two or more temperature thresholds (t2, t3) and differentiates the temperature thresholds using time multiplexed logic control. The system (80) capable of detecting more than two temperatures includes the thermal sensing circuit (90) and a decode circuit (92) with at least one detect latch (100). Optionally, the system may include a hysteresis circuit (60). The thermal sensing circuit (40), connected to the integrated circuit, generates a detect signal (D4) in response to the a temperature selection signal (T1). This flexible on-board temperature monitoring solution reduces the cost of thermal feedback sensing by reducing die area and improves the correlation of detected temperatures. In addition, this solution reduces the possibility of mismatch and tracking errors between two or more sense elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas A. Schmidt, Andrew Marshall, Jingwei Xu
  • Patent number: 6714890
    Abstract: The present invention allows enhancement of a microprocessor's performance. Microprocessor-operated devices are designed for worst-case operating conditions, a thermal design power limit, such as software application instruction mix, and ambient temperature around the microprocessor. Designing for these worst-case conditions reduces the capabilities of microprocessors that do not continuously operate under worst-case operating conditions. The present invention comprises a method, apparatus, and machine-readable medium to increase a microprocessor's speed by facilitating operation of the microprocessor above the thermal design power limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Xia Dai
  • Patent number: 6714891
    Abstract: The temperature of a component of a processor power supply that delivers chip core current to a data processor performing in a computer system is sensed. The system has a separate, main power supply from which the processor power supply draws the chip core current. A reduction in, and not a complete stoppage, of the performance of the data processor is requested, in response to the temperature having risen to a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley M. Dendinger
  • Patent number: 6704681
    Abstract: This method and device collect relative humidity data, then evaluate that data using an algorithm to determine if conditions are permissible for fungal growth. The growth condition meter, placed in a building's wall or ceiling, includes a simple controller attached to a memory, a timer, a relative humidity sensor, and a user interface. The device executes an algorithm for determining growth conditions based on a 24-hour history of relative humidity samples. First, the algorithm determines if relative humidity levels follow a cyclical profile similar to typical environmental conditions. In addition, it verifies that enough time is spent below a temporal humidity threshold. Second, the algorithm performs a baseline analysis comparing all samples over the previous 24-hour period to determine if all samples are over a fixed threshold. This allows for a situation where enough time is spent below the temporal threshold but overall relative humidity remains too high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Envirnomics Southwest, LLC
    Inventors: Russell S. Nassof, Ryan Kuhn, Michael Lee
  • Patent number: 6701273
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises a circuit, such as a semiconductor circuit, a temperature detection unit provided in the circuit, and a controlling unit. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature of the circuit and outputs a signal outside of the circuit when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold. The controlling unit powers off the electronic apparatus in accordance with the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobutaka Nishigaki, Ryoji Ninomiya, Makoto Sakai
  • Patent number: 6701272
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining throttle settings of a system, such as a chipset. A first bandwidth may be applied to a first area (or interface) of the system and a temperature of the first area may be sensed using a thermal sensor. The bandwidth passing through this first area may be increased or decreased based on the sensed temperature to obtain an ideal or optimized setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Barnes Cooper, David A. Wyatt, Terry M. Fletcher, Matt King
  • Patent number: 6697254
    Abstract: A computer system, for example a network server, comprises a service processor for providing system management functions for the system, and at least one peripheral component that communicates with, and/or is controlled by, the service processor via a communication or control line. The system includes a timer that is initialised by the service processor at a predetermined rate. If the timer is not initialised within a certain time period, it will reset the peripheral device to a different state, e.g. a quiescent state or one that is independent of the service processor. The timer is separate from the service processor and the service processor sends initialisation signals to the timer along the communication or control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward King, Stephen Richard Hanson
  • Patent number: 6694282
    Abstract: A method and a device determine an operating temperature of a semiconductor component during operation, wherein the semiconductor component has a PROM memory area which can be read from the outside. The device further has a programming device for programming the PROM memory area of the semiconductor component in which the operating temperature is obtained by interpolation in between a first calibration temperature value and a second calibration temperature value in dependence from an actual measurement. The device has a multivibrator for generating a measurement signal which has a measuring circuit and a driver circuit. The frequency of the measurement signal depends on the temperature of the measuring circuit in the semiconductor component. A frequency counter for senses the frequency of the measurement signal in a predefined measuring interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Martin Perner
  • Publication number: 20040024561
    Abstract: A method of throttling the frequency with which an integrated circuit is accessed includes sensing the temperature of the integrated circuit die and converting the sensed temperature to a digital signal. The digital signal is stored in a register of the integrated circuit. The digital signal is read, and the frequency with which the integrated circuit is accessed is adjusted dependent at least in part upon the temperature of the die as indicated by the digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Jennifer Faye Huckaby, Torsten Partsch, Johnathan Edmonds
  • Patent number: 6678628
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring, characterizing, and testing coolant recirculation systems has, in combination, a heat load, a flow meter measuring flow rate of the coolant, inlet and outlet thermometers, and a data recorder connected to the flow meter, inlet thermometer, and outlet thermometer for recording their data outputs. The data recorder has an output representing flow rate, coolant inlet temperature, and coolant outlet temperature, whereby the coolant-recirculating heat exchanger system is characterized. A computer connected to the data recorder output is operable for computing heat removal capacity. The apparatus is specially adapted for methods of monitoring, characterizing, and testing coolant recirculation systems, including determining their maximum heat removal capacities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventors: William J. Ryan, John W. Berube, Peter D. Hazelton
  • Patent number: 6675360
    Abstract: Functions for simulating, burning and controlling integrated fuses of a device are provided by a dedicated circuit which, instead of differing from other circuits, is integrated by sharing part of the registers with the circuit that normally exists to scan test the integrity of the state of the device. The architecture is simplified and only requires an additional pin as compared to a common scan test circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Cantone, Roberto Cappelletti
  • Patent number: 6662136
    Abstract: A memory subsystem package has a memory controller interface ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) and a plurality of memory modules. The ASIC has a bi-directional serial protocol i2C communication bus to off chip drivers for monitoring temperature and for adjusting the environment surrounding the package by controlling fans using fan switches and variable voltage controls. In addition there is provided an Alternating Current Built in Self Test (AC BIST) with variable data receiver voltage reference for performing high-speed AC memory subsystem self-test for that ASIC enabling writing of pseudo-random patterns to memory, reading them back and comparing the expected results at hardware speeds. Vref can be made to vary across its allowable range during AC self test to provide improved coverage. The system monitors Vddq during normal system operation using an ADC. The system varies Vref as a function of Vddq, using a combination of a DAC and ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk D. Lamb, Kevin C. Gower
  • Patent number: 6662278
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to adaptively throttle accesses to memory employ a masking tool to specify the percentage of memory bandwidth available for access. The apparatus applies the mask and monitors the number of memory accesses during a throttle-monitoring window. If the number of memory accesses during the throttle-monitoring window exceeds or is fewer than the percentage of memory bandwidth specified by the mask, access to the memory continues until the end of the throttle-monitoring window. At the end of the throttle-monitoring window, the apparatus selects the next lower mask, which has a lower memory bandwidth allocation, applies the next lower mask, and monitors the number of memory accesses during the next throttle-monitoring window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Opher Kahn, Erez Birenzwig