Christopher Michael West

US Patent:

7394281, Jul 1, 2008

Filed:

Jan 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/023659

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Moises Cases - Austin TX, US
Bradley D. Herman - Cary NC, US
Erdem Matoglu - Austin TX, US
Bhyrav M. Mutnury - Austin TX, US
Thomas D. Pahel - Chapel Hill NC, US
Pravin S. Patel - Cary NC, US
Nam H. Pham - Round Rock TX, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H03K 17/16

US Classification:

326 22, 326 26, 326 83, 326 92

Abstract:

A bi-directional universal serial bus (“USB”) circuit for boosting a signal on a USB bus disclosed. The circuit includes a first stage inverting buffer coupled to a second stage inverting buffer to form a non-inverting buffer circuit. A high pass filter is coupled in series with the non-inverting buffer circuit to provide AC coupling to the USB bus and to allow fast signal edges through the circuit. The booster circuit is arranged to improve signal quality over a USB bus to allow additional USB devices and longer USB busses to be utilized.

US Patent:

7474117, Jan 6, 2009

Filed:

May 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/127165

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Moises Cases - Austin TX, US
Bradley D. Herman - Cary NC, US
Erdem Matoglu - Austin TX, US
Bhyrav M. Mutnury - Austin TX, US
Thomas D. Pahel - Chapel Hill NC, US
Pravin S. Patel - Cary NC, US
Nam H. Pham - Round Rock TX, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H03K 17/16

US Classification:

326 22, 326 92

Abstract:

A method of transmitting a signal on a bi-directional universal serial bus (“USB”) circuit for boosting a signal on a USB bus disclosed. The circuit includes a first stage inverting buffer coupled to a second stage inverting buffer to form a non-inverting buffer circuit. A high pass filter is coupled in series with the non-inverting buffer circuit to provide AC coupling to the USB bus and to allow fast signal edges through the circuit. The booster circuit is arranged to improve signal quality over a USB bus to allow additional USB devices and longer USB busses to be utilized.

US Patent:

7475295, Jan 6, 2009

Filed:

Oct 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/193677

Inventors:

Challis Llewellyn Purrington - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Collier West - Raleigh NC, US
Jack P. Wong - Apex NC, US
Maya Yarbrough - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 55, 714 36, 714 39

Abstract:

A simple, but intelligent watchdog circuit uses an up/down counter for its delay element. A watchdog event will occur if the counter is allowed to over flow or under flow its boundaries (in either direction). The system objective is to keep the counter within its boundaries by controlling the direction of the count. The count direction is simply a function of the Most Significant Bit (MSB) of the counter. Thus, the system must simply monitor the counters MSB and perform a little intelligent to determine the desired count direction.

US Patent:

7667980, Feb 23, 2010

Filed:

Oct 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/539990

Inventors:

Brian A. Baker - Raleigh NC, US
James E. Hughes - Apex NC, US
Pravin Patel - Cary NC, US
Challis L. Purrington - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H05K 7/00

US Classification:

361782, 174262

Abstract:

Printed circuit boards for countering signal distortion are disclosed that include: a conductive pathway on a printed circuit board between a transmitter and a receiver, the conductive pathway comprised of traces and vias connected together for conductive transfer of a signal from the transmitter to the receiver; a parasitic element on the printed circuit board, the parasitic element having a parasitic effect that distorts the signal; and one or more passive elements mounted adjacent to the conductive pathway without connecting to the conductive pathway, the passive elements having a corrective effect to reduce the distortion from the parasitic effect on the signal.

US Patent:

7696890, Apr 13, 2010

Filed:

Aug 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/837982

Inventors:

Justin Potok Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary Benson Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton Ehrich Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph Eric Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin Michael Reinberg - Durham NC, US
Kevin S. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip Louis Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher Collier West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G08B 21/00
G01R 27/26

US Classification:

340627, 340617, 340620, 624686

Abstract:

A system and method are used for electronically detecting the accumulation of dust within a computer system using a capacitive dust sensor. The dust detection system may be implemented on a smaller computer, such as an individual PC, or in a more expansive system, such as a rack-based server system (“rack system”) having multiple servers and other hardware devices. In one embodiment, each server in a rack system includes a capacitive sensor responsive to the accumulation of dust. The capacitive sensor may include one or more capacitive plates integral with a heatsink. As dust collects on the capacitive plates, the capacitance increases. When a capacitance setpoint is reached, indicating the dust has reached a critical level, an alert is generated. The alerts may be received by a management console for the attention of a system administrator. Each alert may contain the identity of the server generating the alert, so that the system administrator knows which server(s) are to be removed for cleaning.

US Patent:

7937537, May 3, 2011

Filed:

Sep 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/859835

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. D. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 12/00
G06F 13/00
G06F 13/28

US Classification:

711148, 711170, 711171, 711172, 710316

Abstract:

A memory switching data processing system including one or more central processing units (‘CPUs’); random access memory organized in at least two banks of memory modules; one or more memory buses providing communications paths for data among the CPUs and the memory modules; and a flexibly configurable memory bus switch comprising a first configuration adapting the first CPU to a first bank of memory modules and a second CPU to a second bank of memory modules and a second configuration adapting the first CPU to both the first bank of memory modules and the second bank of memory modules.

US Patent:

7945740, May 17, 2011

Filed:

May 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/114992

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. D. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 12/00
G06F 13/00
G06F 13/28

US Classification:

711148, 711170, 711171, 711172, 710316

Abstract:

A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a memory switching data processing system is provided. The memory switching data processing system includes one or more central processing units (‘CPUs’); random access memory organized in at least two banks of memory modules; one or more memory buses providing communications paths for data among the CPUs and the memory modules; and a flexibly configurable memory bus switch comprising a first configuration adapting the first CPU to a first bank of memory modules and a second CPU to a second bank of memory modules and a second configuration adapting the first CPU to both the first bank of memory modules and the second bank of memory modules.

US Patent:

7954007, May 31, 2011

Filed:

Oct 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/551961

Inventors:

Henry G. McMillan - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher C. Moody - Durham NC, US
Challis L. Purrington - Raleigh NC, US
Terry L. Sawyers - Raleigh NC, US
Michael L. Scollard - Raleigh NC, US
Richard P. Southers - Durham NC, US
Troy S. Voytko - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher L. Wood - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

714 31

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to the detection of faulty CPU heat sink coupling during system power-up. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: monitoring a slope of a CPU temperature rise from initial system power-up; determining if the slope of the CPU temperature rise exceeds an expected value; and in the case that the slope of the CPU temperature rise exceeds the expected value, indicating an existence of a possible fault (PFA) related to a heat sink coupled to the CPU.