Patents by Inventor Stephen R. Christensen

Stephen R. 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).

  • Patent number: 11970089
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an interior configuration of a vehicle following a collision. Sensor data that includes, or is derived from data that includes, data collected by one or more sensors is received, and a vehicle accident condition indicative of an accident having occurred is detected by processing the sensor data. After detecting the vehicle accident condition, an actuator component is caused to prevent a passenger from adjusting an interior vehicle component outside a predetermined range of physical configurations, while allowing the passenger to adjust the interior vehicle component within the predetermined range of physical configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott T. Christensen, Brian M. Fields, Stephen R. Prevatt, Steve Roberson
  • Publication number: 20240075942
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a vehicle. An example system for controlling operation of a vehicle includes one or more data collection components and one or more processors. The one or more data collection components are configured to collect data representative of a physical configuration of an interior vehicle component. The one or more processors are configured to access the collected data, determine, by processing the collected data, the physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, select a manner of operation based upon the determined physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, and cause the vehicle to operate according to the manner of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Thomas Christensen, Brian Mark Fields, Stephen R. Prevatt, Steve Roberson
  • Patent number: 8779278
    Abstract: An air supported photovoltaic system includes a primary inflatable member with at least one facet thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the inflatable member and change the orientation of the facet to angle it towards the sun. A flexible array of photovoltaic cells is applied to the facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Stephen R. Christensen
  • Publication number: 20120073625
    Abstract: An air supported photovoltaic system includes a primary inflatable member with at least one facet thereon and a curved surface configured to rock the inflatable member and change the orientation of the facet to angle it towards the sun. A flexible array of photovoltaic cells is applied to the facet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Stephen R. Christensen
  • Patent number: 4816727
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for inserting pins in holes wherein either the pin or the hole is chamfered or beveled. One part is vibrated with respect to the other in a plane orthogonal to the direction of insertion. One part is incrementarlly moved in the direction of insertion. When interference caused by the contact is sensed, the magnitude of the interference is determined and used to reposition the center-line of the one part in the orthogonal plane until the pin is fully inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: University of Lowell
    Inventors: G. Dudley Shepard, I. Stuart Smith, Stephen R. Christensen, Xiaochuan R. Lu
  • Patent number: 4804896
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for inserting pins in holes wherein either the pin or the hole is chamfered or beveled. One part is vibrated with respect to the other in a plane orthogonal to the direction of insertion. One part is incrementally moved in the direction of insertion. When interference caused by the contact is sensed, the magnitude of the interference is determined and used to reposition the center-line of the one part in the orthogonal plane until the pin is fully inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: University of Lowell
    Inventors: G. Dudley Shepard, I. Stuart Smith, Stephen R. Christensen, Richard Lu