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Christenson, US

Bruce A. Christenson, Forest Grove, OR US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080320249FULLY BUFFERED DIMM READ DATA SUBSTITUTION FOR WRITE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - A memory controller uses a scheme to retire two entries from a replay queue due to a single non-error response. Advantageously, entries in a replay queue may be retired earlier than conventional systems, minimizing the size of the replay queue.12-25-2008
20090327596MEMORY CONTROLLER USING TIME-STAGGERED LOCKSTEP SUB-CHANNELS WITH BUFFERED MEMORY - Memory control techniques for dual channel lockstep configurations are disclosed. In accordance with one example embodiment, a memory controller issues two burst-length 4 DRAM commands to two double-data-rate (DDR) DRAM sub-channels behind a memory buffer (e.g., FB-DIMM or buffer-on-board). The two commands are in time-staggered lockstep. The time-stagger allows data coming back from the two back-side DDR sub-channels to flow naturally on the host channel without conflict. Multiple DIMMs can be used to obtain chip-fail ECC capabilities and to reclaim at least some of the lost performance imposed by the burst-length of 4 s typically associated with dual channel lockstep memory controllers. The techniques can be implemented, for instance, with a buffered memory solution such as fully buffered DIMM (FB-DIMM) or buffer-on-board configurations.12-31-2009

Patent applications by Bruce A. Christenson, Forest Grove, OR US

Bruce G. Christenson, Canton, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090000421COMPRESSED HUB DAMPER - A torsional vibration damper includes front and rear hub members with an inertia mass between the two hub members. Annular elastomeric rings are positioned between the front and rear hub members and the inertia mass holding the inertia mass. Fasteners extend through the front hub member, the inertia mass, and fixed to the rear hub member. A clearance between the fastener and the inertia mass allows relative motion to absorb torsional vibration.01-01-2009
20090000422RECESSED BELT DAMPER - A torsional vibration damper includes an inertia mass and a rotating shaft or hub with an elastomeric ring between the inertia mass and the rotating shaft or hub. A large portion of said elastomeric member is located in a channel located either in the inertia mass or in the hub. This allows one to achieve high contact pressure without creating a significant fatigue on the elastomeric member. This can be used with either a crankshaft damper or an internal or external drive shaft damper.01-01-2009
20090078079DECOUPLED VIBRATION DAMPER - A torsional vibration damper includes a one-piece integral hub and annular inertia mass assembly. Between the hub and the inertia mass are intermediate rings connected integrally with the mass and the hub connected integral spokes. Elastomeric members are compression fitted within spaces formed between the hub and the mass. With this design, the damper can be formed from a polymeric material with an embedded annular weight.03-26-2009

Charles A. Christenson, Omaha, NE US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110250936SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PERFORMANCE FACTOR FOR A PITCHER - The present invention provides a visual representation of and unique, universal definition for a strike zone, said strike zone having a plurality of sub-zones. The strike zone representation allows for a signaling methodology to be developed in which a coach may discretely communicate signals during a game to his pitcher (ex.—baseball or softball pitcher) which request both a specific type and location for a particular pitch, based upon the game situation. Further, implementation of said signaling methodology based upon said strike zone representation allows for a performance factor to be determined for the pitcher. The performance factor may be determined based on results generated through use of the signaling methodology and may provide a universally-recognized gauge or measure of a pitcher's command of his pitches.10-13-2011

Christopher P. Christenson, Midland, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110259416ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER PROTECTION FOR DEVICES - Embodiments of the invention provide an article comprising a photovoltaic device structure and a barrier layer comprising mica on the photovoltaic device structure. The barrier layer is flexible and light transmissive.10-27-2011

David Christenson, St. Louis, MO US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20120123804Systems and Methods for Providing an Inducement to Purchase Incident to a Physician's Prescription of Medication - Systems and methods for providing targeted content to a patient who has received a prescription for medication. The systems and methods generally provide the content prior to the Point of Sale (POS) of the actual prescription allow patients to review the content and possibly act on it prior to actually obtaining the medication. Depending on embodiment, the content may be provided by a pharmacy at or around the time of dispensing or by a physician at or around the time of prescribing.05-17-2012

Joel Christenson, Fort Lauderdale, FL US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090134169MULTI SECTIONAL BUCKET - A bucket having three or more sections for separating wash liquid. Dividers create the sections and are placed in an up position when filling the bucket so that the water will flow throughout the entire bucket. The dividers can then slide back down to create the separated sections of clean liquid. The dividers can be connected to each other by means of horizontal bars attached on the top of the dividers which run along the sides of the bucket along the inside. Lifting the horizontal bar up will lift all of the attached dividers up simultaneously. The horizontal bars can be provided in two sections that can be connected to each other. When the two sections are disconnected, when one lifts one bar section, only the attached dividers will lift up simultaneously, while the other bar section and its attached divider will remain in its down position.05-28-2009

John C. Christenson, Kokomo, IN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080248604Post-logic isolation of silicon regions for an integrated sensor - In producing an integrated sensor, regions of silicon between compensating electronics and a sensor are electrically isolated, while the sensor is delineating and released. The described process can be performed at the end of a fabrication process after electronics processing (i.e., CMOS processing) and compensating electronics are formed. In an aspect, the sensor and a conductive bridge are simultaneously developed from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. In an aspect, the sensor is undercut from a silicon substrate utilizing a lateral etch. A cavity is concurrently defined by the same lateral etch in the silicon layer, forming the conductive bridge connecting the sensor to a logic component. An isolation trench is defined in the silicon layer between the sensor components and the logic component. A polymer masks vertical surfaces from the lateral etch, and an insulator layer and photosensitive film mask horizontal surfaces from the lateral etch.10-09-2008
20080277380PROCESSES AND APPARATUSES FOR PRODUCING POROUS MATERIALS - Processes and apparatuses for producing a porous material, such as nano-porous silicon (npSi) media suitable for storage and retrieval of elemental hydrogen. Processes of this invention generally entail applying a magnetic field to a substrate that contains charge carriers and is in contact with an etchant, and then etching the substrate with the etchant while relative movement occurs between the substrate and the magnetic field. During etching, the charge carriers move relative to the substrate and the magnetic field, and porosity forms at surfaces of the substrate contacting the etchant.11-13-2008
20090188318Silicon integrated angular rate sensor - A motion sensor in the form of an angular rate sensor and a method of making a sensor are provided and includes a support substrate and a silicon sensing ring supported by the substrate and having a flexive resonance. Drive electrodes apply electrostatic force on the ring to cause the ring to resonate. Sensing electrodes sense a change in capacitance indicative of vibration modes of resonance of the ring so as to sense motion. A plurality of silicon support rings connect the substrate to the ring. The support rings are located at an angle to substantially match a modulus of elasticity of the silicon, such as about 22.5 degrees and 67.5 degrees, with respect to the crystalline orientation of the silicon.07-30-2009
20090191660Method for manufacturing a sensor device - A motion sensor in the form of an angular rate sensor and a method of making a sensor are provided and includes a support substrate and a silicon sensing ring supported by the substrate and having a flexive resonance. Drive electrodes apply electrostatic force on the ring to cause the ring to resonate. Sensing electrodes sense a change in capacitance indicative of vibration modes of resonance of the ring so as to sense motion. A plurality of silicon support rings connect the substrate to the ring. The support rings are located at an angle to substantially match a modulus of elasticity of the silicon, such as about 22.5 degrees and 67.5 degrees, with respect to the crystalline orientation of the silicon.07-30-2009

Patent applications by John C. Christenson, Kokomo, IN US

John Carl Christenson, Kokomo, IN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090104485AUXILIARY POWER UNIT FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER - An auxiliary power unit for generating electrical power. The auxiliary power unit includes a fuel cell system for combining hydrogen and oxygen to provide electrical power, and a system for storing and retrieving elemental hydrogen for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell system. The storing and retrieving system contains at least one hydrogen storage member formed by a mass of porous silicon having interior and exterior surfaces, in which at least the interior surfaces have dangling bond sites at which reversible chemisorption of hydrogen atoms occurs. The storing and retrieving system further includes a control system for liberating the chemisorbed hydrogen atoms from the dangling bond sites and releasing the liberated hydrogen atoms as hydrogen gas for use by the fuel cell system.04-23-2009

Julie Christenson, Albuquerque, NM US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100145556MODULAR SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE - A method for developing software as a layered, segmented system having diverse functionalities, based on a software architecture and an aerial vehicle utilizing the software architecture are provided. The software architecture for the aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes an electrical segment, a propulsion segment, a flight management segment, a navigation segment, a data link segment, and perhaps a payload segment. Each segment includes a number of software modules and objects, and each segment interfaces with or controls one or more devices. The software architecture also includes a number of layers, including an executive layer for managing execution rates of the segments, a vehicle controller layer for coordinating activities across segments, and various layers providing utilities, common services, and computing support including operating system support. Rules of engagement guiding interaction between software entities within the software architecture are specified.06-10-2010

Keith A. Christenson, Canton, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080258553REMOTE CONTROL REACTIVATION - A remote control system includes a portable control unit with a user interface. A radio frequency transceiver communicates with the remote control system to determine if the portable unit is within a secure space. Commands from the remote control system are ignored when the portable control unit is within the secure space until a predetermined code is entered on the user interface.10-23-2008
20090066497Automotive Tire Pressure Monitoring System - An automotive tire pressure monitoring system is provided including a group of tire pressure monitor sensors each comprising a pressure sensor element, a dual-axis accelerometer, and a transmitter generating a pressure signal including accelerometer information. A front antenna and a rear antenna are both in communication with a tire pressure monitoring receiver. The tire pressure monitoring receiver includes logic adapted to: determine a pressure signals left/right designation from the accelerometer information and determine a pressure signal's front/rear designation using comparative signal strength from the front antenna and the rear antenna.03-12-2009
20100245038AUTOMATIC WALK-AWAY DETECTION - A method and system for walk-away locking of a vehicle. The vehicle may be automatically locked when an occupant walks away from the vehicle in a passive manner. The automatic locking capabilities may be incorporated within an energy conservation strategy that allows one or more vehicle components and a fob to enter a sleep mode or otherwise become inactive at particular intervals when signals necessary to automatically locking the vehicle are less likely.09-30-2010
20110291799DEBOUNCE STRATEGY FOR VALIDATING SWITCH ACTUATION - A debounce strategy is disclosed for use with a switch detection circuit to validate whether the switch is properly actuated or whether interferences, switch bounce, or other interruptions are presenting indications of switch activation. The debounce strategy may be implemented in a multi-stage process so that systems relying on debounce validation can begin processing, or other so that other time depending operations begin processing, prior to completing debounce validation.12-01-2011

Patent applications by Keith A. Christenson, Canton, MI US

Logan Christenson, Logan, UT US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110217764Rotating Bioreactor and Spool Harvester Apparatus for Biomass Production - An apparatus that exposes a biofilm growth surface to liquid media as it rotates. A biofilm growth substratum is wound around a rotatable body in the form of a non-rigid material capable of supporting biofilm growth. A harvester receives the biofilm laden substratum, collects the biofilm as a biomass and reloads the substratum onto the rotatable body.09-08-2011

Paul D. Christenson, Omaha, NE US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080271952Device for handling manufacturing rings, a forklift including the same, and a method of handling a manufacturing ring - A lifting apparatus for lifting manufacturing rings is provided. The lifting apparatus includes an attachment part having an opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of elongated legs extending from the attachment part. Each of the elongated legs has a slit disposed therein. A plurality of support rods are movably disposed in the slits. The support rods are pivotable between a lowered position in which each support rod extends from the associated slit and a raised position in which each support rod is disposed within the associated slit. The lifting apparatus further includes an actuating part operably associated with the support rods and for moving the support rods between the raised position and the lowered position.11-06-2008
20110243705DEVICE FOR HANDLING MANUFACTURING RINGS, FORKLIFT INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF HANDLING MANUFACTURING RING - A lifting apparatus for lifting manufacturing rings is provided. The lifting apparatus includes an attachment part having an opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of elongated legs extending from the attachment part. Each of the elongated legs has a slit disposed therein. A plurality of support rods are movably disposed in the slits. The support rods are pivotable between a lowered position in which each support rod extends from the associated slit and a raised position in which each support rod is disposed within the associated slit. The lifting apparatus further includes an actuating part operably associated with the support rods and for moving the support rods between the raised position and the lowered position.10-06-2011

Richard Christenson, Mansfield Center, CT US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110193277Smart Vibration Absorber For Traffic Signal Supports - Disclosed herein is a smart vibration absorber for traffic signal supports. In exemplary embodiments, the vibration absorber utilizes the mass of the signal head as a damped vibration absorber. The system may also include a spring and damper in mechanical communication with the signal head. The spring provides resistance to the compression force of the signal head while the damper provides a damping force removing energy from the system. Also disclosed herein is a controllable damper which may be connected to a computing device for varying the damping of the system. The controllable damper may be a magneto-rheological fluid damper. The smart vibration absorber may be constructed as a retrofit for installation on current traffic signals supports.08-11-2011

Todd Christenson, Albuquerque, NM US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110140814Miniaturized Switch Device - The present invention provides a switch suitable for efficient microfabrication. The switch elements are disposed in several layers. Various embodiments provide various switching capabilities and operational characteristics. The switches can be protected by suitable packaging, and can be efficiently fabricated in groups or arrays.06-16-2011

Todd C. Christenson, Tucson, AZ US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080297911Liquid-lens variable-control optics in array microscope - A liquid lens includes a segmented electrode that allows the simultaneous application of different potentials across the lens's meniscus to obtain a predetermined aberration correction condition and to adjust focal length as necessary to conform to the topography of the object being scanned. The lens also includes a gas plenum interfacing with one of the liquids of the lens to allow for volume changes in the lens cell due to temperature variations. This combination of features produces a liquid-lens cell capable of maintaining substantially constant transverse magnification and diffraction-limited image quality over a useful range of focal length. As such, the lens is particularly suitable for incorporation in an array of micro-objectives used in a scanning microscope.12-04-2008

Todd R. Christenson, Albuquerque, NM US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090237188Integrated Reed Switch - This invention relates to reed switches, and more particularly to micro-miniaturized reed switches and batch microfabrication techniques used to fabricate micro-miniaturized reed switches. The present invention can provide miniaturized reed switches with more consistent operating parameters, and that can be produced more efficiently than conventional reed switches. The present invention can also provide methods of making miniaturized reed switches using microfabrication techniques. The present invention can use lithographic-based fabrication to enable monolithic construction of a reed switch. Microlithography can repeatedly form micrometer dimensions with tight tolerances over large arrays of devices which, if the patterns are translated into materials appropriate for electromechanical devices, can provide for repeatable and consistent electromechanical operation. For example, tight dimensional control of the gap between two reeds in a reed switch or a reed and a fixed contact can provide consistency of performance between reed switches. Thus, the present invention can allow the commonly regarded reed switch specification of sensitivity, or “Ampere-turns” required to close a reed switch, to be tightly controlled with a commensurate reduction in spread in sensitivity across reed switch production lots.09-24-2009

Todd Richard Christenson, Albuquerque, NM US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100171577Integrated Microminiature Relay - A micro-relay that overcomes some of the limitations and drawbacks of the prior art is disclosed. The micro-relay comprising: (1) a first substrate comprising one or more monolithically integrated planar coils for generating a magnetic field; and (2) a second substrate comprising a magnetically actuated switch having a moving contact that selectively moves in a plane parallel to its substrate. The first and second substrate are aligned and bonded to collectively provide a closed magnetic circuit that efficiently channels the generated magnetic field through the switch.07-08-2010