This inventor holds 1 USPTO granted patent. Top assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Active years: 2026.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile
Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2026
Title: John Allen Christian and the StarNAV Optical Sensor System.
Introduction
John Allen Christian is an inventor associated with Marietta, Georgia, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His patent work includes a system for estimating spacecraft velocity using observations of starlight.
Latest Patents
Christian is credited with 1 patent, titled “StarNAV Optical Sensor System.” The invention describes a method for determining a spacecraft’s instantaneous velocity from a selected star-field image. It identifies pairs of stars, estimates the apparent bearing direction of stars in those pairs, and determines the apparent angle between each pair. A velocity estimation module then uses those angles to estimate the spacecraft’s velocity within a total velocity error.
Career Highlights
The StarNAV patent highlights Christian’s work on optical sensing and spacecraft navigation. By using apparent relationships between stars, the system offers an approach to estimating velocity from celestial observations.
Collaborations
Christian’s listed coworkers include Paul Dickson McKee and Michael Kudenov. His company affiliation is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Conclusion
John Allen Christian’s StarNAV patent describes a starlight-based method for estimating spacecraft velocity, reflecting an application of optical sensing to navigation.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile