Patents by Inventor Charles Steffens

Charles Steffens 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: 11970725
    Abstract: Provided herein are E. coli host strains with improved capacity for producing recombinant proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Scarab Genomics LLC
    Inventors: Frederick R. Blattner, Robert E. Novy, David A. Frisch, Charles Landry, Hyunsic Choi, Eric A. Steffen, John Brandon
  • Publication number: 20230145181
    Abstract: A flight display is described. The flight display includes a display screen, a physical network interface, and multiple processors. The flight display interfaces with the flight deck by way of the physical network interface. The display screen displays images representative of avionics data in response to signals generated by one or more of the processors. The processors also generate command signals causing an actuator of the aircraft to control a flight control surface or a throttle. In this regard, the one or more of the processors perform various automatic flight control system (AFCS) functions. A system is further described including multiple of the flight displays. By hosting the AFCS functions across processors of the multiple flight displays, a level of command integrity may be reached. Furthermore, backups flight displays are available to be reconfigured to perform the AFCS functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Juan Segal, Charles Steffen, John P. Perich, Jason K. Dahlstrom, Thomas M. Scanlon, Ajay Karthik Ganesan
  • Publication number: 20070187937
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) provides inflation fluid to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes an inflator (24) actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). A conduit (22) directs inflation fluid into the protection device (14) from the inflator (24). A deflector (50) is arranged in fluid communication with the conduit (22) and has at least a portion in fluid communication with the protection device (14). The deflector (50) is configured to direct inflation fluid into the protection device (14) in opposing directions to reduce the magnitude of pressure waves experienced by a vehicle occupant (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Kwen Hsu, Songwei Zhang, Ivanna Malinow, Charles Steffens
  • Publication number: 20060145503
    Abstract: A storage box for a cargo bay of a vehicle including a conveyor on which items, e.g., tools and materials, are stored. The conveyor is actuatable to move the items in a pre-selected direction, preferably toward the side or rear of the vehicle cargo bay to provide easy access to the items. In another aspect, the storage box includes fold-out shelving. The shelving includes multiple panels hinged together. A first panel is hingedly connected to an intermediate panel, which is hingedly connected to a second panel, which is pivotally connected to the storage box. The panels are operable in (a) a collapsed mode, where the panels fold substantially vertically against one another, and (b) an extended mode, where the first panel moves outwardly to a substantially vertical position and the intermediate and pivot panel pivot downward to a substantially horizontal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Steffens, James Sheeran
  • Publication number: 20060097491
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps to protect an occupant (74) of a vehicle (12) that has a side structure (14) and an occupant compartment (70). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (100) that has a first portion (102) when inflated extending along the side structure (14) and a second portion (108) when inflated extending inboard from the side structure at or near a rear corner (112) of the occupant compartment (70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Al Saberan, Charles Steffens, Ali Bakhsh, Ayad Nayef
  • Publication number: 20050280295
    Abstract: An apparatus (8) includes a seat (10) for an occupant (12) of a vehicle (14). The seat (10) includes a cushion portion (16) and a backrest portion (18). The apparatus (8) also includes an occupant protection device (70) that, when actuated, resists rearward movement of the backrest portion (18) of the seat (10) relative to the cushion portion (16) of the seat (10). A deflection mechanism (72) of the apparatus (8) is located in the backrest portion (18) of the seat (10) and is movable from a first position to a second position for actuating the occupant protection device (70). The deflection mechanism (72) is adapted to move from the first position to the second position without the backrest portion (18) moving significantly relative to cushion portion (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventor: Charles Steffens
  • Publication number: 20050263975
    Abstract: A vehicle step tube comprising a one-piece elongated extrusion having a plurality of vertical ribs extending from the upper surface, the ribs define a plurality of channels between the ribs. The ribs may be relatively short in a step portion of the extrusion to form a step platform, and may be relatively tall in the flanking portions flanking the step portion. The ribs may further define transverse recesses in the step portion to enhance traction and aesthetics. A pair of end caps may be provided to cover the ends of the extrusion. The ends caps include openings aligned with the channels to allow fluid flow through the channels and the openings and into an environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Craig Mulder, Charles Steffens
  • Publication number: 20050156411
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (12, 112) for helping to protect an occupant (30, 130) of a seat (14, 114) of a vehicle (10, 110) includes a sensor (36, 200) responsive to at least one of a side impact event or a rollover event for providing a crash event signal. A first vehicle occupant protection device (94, 210) is inflatable into a first position located beside the seat (14, 114). A second vehicle occupant protection device (50, 150) is inflatable into a second position located forward of the seat (14, 114). A controller (44, 144) is responsive to the crash event signal for immediately inflating the first vehicle occupant protection device (94, 210) and, a predetermined time after inflating the first vehicle occupant protection device (94, 210), inflating the second vehicle occupant protection device (50, 150).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Charles Steffens, Navin Chopra
  • Publication number: 20050056104
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (40) for testing an occupant position sensing system (12) of a vehicle (10) includes a motor (42) having a stationary portion (44) and a movable portion (46). A test object (90) is fixed relative to the movable portion (46) of the motor (42). A motor position sensor (64) senses a position of the movable portion (46) of the motor (42) relative to the stationary portion (44) and for providing a motor position signal indicative thereof. Motor drive electronics (58) are responsive to the motor position signal for controlling the motor (42) for moving the test object (90). A data recorder (80) is adapted to receive and record data from the occupant position sensing system (12) and is adapted to receive and record the motor position signal provided by the motor position sensor (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Raymond David, Jon Wallace, Charles Steffens
  • Publication number: 20050040634
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (12) and a support member (40) having a vent opening (50) through which inflation fluid may flow. The apparatus (10) also includes a mechanism (58) for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). Inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device (12) tends to move the mechanism (58) for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). The mechanism (58) is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device (12) beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). The apparatus (10) further includes a locking member (96) for blocking the mechanism (58) from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50) after the inflatable occupant protection device (12) has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: William Braun, Kurt Fischer, Charles Steffens, Alex Meduvsky, John Clark, Joseph Zwolinski, Matthew Frank
  • Patent number: 4411395
    Abstract: The swivel mount of the present invention provides a low profile swivel for a deep trolling reel which can be permanently secured to the deck of a vessel and provides incremental rotational adjustment of the deep trolling reel mounted thereto through 360.degree. at 45.degree. intervals in the preferred embodiment. The structure compactness is made possible by the use of interengaging locking mechanism extending upwardly from a base plate to engage a plurality of angularly spaced notches communicating with the outer periphery of an annular groove in a swivel plate pivotally mounted to the base plate. The locking mechanism is spring-loaded and includes a control handle extending outwardly from the base plate to releasably lock the deep troller in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Riviera Marine & Tackle Co.
    Inventor: Charles Steffens