Patents by Inventor Lance E. Christensen

Lance E. Christensen 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).

  • Publication number: 20220196550
    Abstract: An in-situ sensor system that is configured to be placed inside of an oxygen mask for a pilot. The sensor system is readily placed in a position over the exhalation valve such that it can capture data from the exhaled air of the pilot. The sensor system has an optical sensor element that can capture data real time and feed the data to a control module that can subsequently be use to generate output data for the pilot and/or ground elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lance E. Christensen, Kamjou Mansour
  • Patent number: 11299268
    Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for use in the detection, localization, and quantification of gas leaks are provided. More specifically the use of an in-situ sensor mounted to a UAS such that the sensor is positioned in a region unaffected by prop wash that is relatively undisturbed by the effects of the propeller(s) and other environmental conditions when in use is described. Additionally, methods of determining the optimal placement of the in-situ sensor on any given UAS are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lance E. Christensen, Brendan J. Smith, Vlad Manzatianu
  • Publication number: 20180127093
    Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for use in the detection, localization, and quantification of gas leaks are provided. More specifically the use of an in-situ sensor mounted to a UAS such that the sensor is positioned in a region unaffected by prop wash that is relatively undisturbed by the effects of the propeller(s) and other environmental conditions when in use is described. Additionally, methods of determining the optimal placement of the in-situ sensor on any given UAS are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Lance E. Christensen, Brendan J. Smith, Vlad Manzatianu
  • Patent number: 9671332
    Abstract: An open-path laser spectrometer (OPLS) for measuring a concentration of a trace gas, the OPLS including an open-path multi-pass analysis region including a first mirror, a second mirror at a distance and orientation from the first mirror, and a support structure for locating the mirrors, a laser coupled to the analysis region and configured to emit light of a wavelength range and to enable a plurality of reflections of the emitted light between the mirrors, a detector coupled to the analysis region and configured to detect a portion of the emitted light impinging on the detector and to generate a corresponding signal, and an electronic system coupled to the laser and the detector, and configured to adjust the wavelength range of the emitted light from the laser based on the generated signal, and to measure the concentration of the trace gas based on the generated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Lance E. Christensen
  • Publication number: 20140204382
    Abstract: An open-path laser spectrometer (OPLS) for measuring a concentration of a trace gas, the OPLS including an open-path multi-pass analysis region including a first mirror, a second mirror at a distance and orientation from the first mirror, and a support structure for locating the mirrors, a laser coupled to the analysis region and configured to emit light of a wavelength range and to enable a plurality of reflections of the emitted light between the mirrors, a detector coupled to the analysis region and configured to detect a portion of the emitted light impinging on the detector and to generate a corresponding signal, and an electronic system coupled to the laser and the detector, and configured to adjust the wavelength range of the emitted light from the laser based on the generated signal, and to measure the concentration of the trace gas based on the generated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Lance E. Christensen