Connector assembly and method for SATA drives
Granted: December 27, 2011
Patent Number:
8083536
A connector assembly and method suitable for making data and power connections with mass storage devices that use the SATA interface standard. The connector assembly includes a connector having a pair of oppositely-disposed surfaces, a face between the surfaces, and data and power connector portions disposed in the face. The data and power connector portions are adapted to establish data and power connections between the connector and a SATA interface of a mass storage device. The…
Method and system for monitoring power consumption of a computer component
Granted: July 19, 2011
Patent Number:
7983860
A system (10) and method for monitoring power consumption of a computer system component, such as a central processing unit (CPU), of a desktop computer system. The component is supplied with supply power from a power supply unit (22) of the computer through a power supply cable (14). A coupling (12) is disposed between the power supply unit (22) and a substrate (e.g., motherboard) on which the component is mounted, and is electrically connected to at least one power supply line (18) of…
Method and apparatus for thermal management of computer memory modules
Granted: June 15, 2010
Patent Number:
7738252
A heat spreader and method for thermal management of a computer memory module by promoting natural convection cooling of the memory module. The heat spreader includes a frame surrounding a planar body adapted to be mounted to a memory module of a computer, and a grid defined in the planar body by a plurality of uniformly distributed perforations. The perforations extend through the planar body to allow natural convention between an interior space beneath the planar body and an exterior…
Memory module having on-package or on-module termination
Granted: June 2, 2009
Patent Number:
7542305
A memory module adapted for installation in an open memory socket on a mainboard of a computer. The memory module includes a substrate with an edge connector comprising pins along an edge of the substrate, and at least one memory package mounted to the substrate and containing a memory die electrically connected to input/output leads located along the perimeter of the memory package and through which data signals are transmitted to and from the memory die. Data signal lines electrically…
On-device data compression to increase speed and capacity of flash memory-based mass storage devices
Granted: October 7, 2008
Patent Number:
7433994
A mass storage device having at least one flash memory device and DRAM or SRAM-based cache within a package, and which comprises a co-processor within the package for performing compression and decompression of cached data before writing the cached data to the flash memory device.
Method for increasing stability of system memory through enhanced quality of supply power
Granted: December 18, 2007
Patent Number:
7310240
An apparatus for buffering power transients in a supply power for expansion cards inserted into expansion slots on a computer motherboard. The apparatus comprises a printed circuit board, a connector on the printed circuit board, and at least one capacitor on the printed circuit board. The connector is configured to fit into one of the expansion slots on the motherboard, and comprises at least one power pin and at least one ground pin. The at least one capacitor is connected to the power…
Method and apparatus for increasing computer memory performance
Granted: November 27, 2007
Patent Number:
7301846
A method and apparatus for providing power to a memory array of a computer's memory subsystem, and more particularly power at a level greater than that available through the computer motherboard so as to boost memory performance and operational stability. The apparatus includes a supply device for supplying an input voltage to the memory subsystem at a level that is higher than the power level provided to the memory subsystem by the motherboard. The method entails electrically connecting…
