Patents by Inventor Dave Kirkham

Dave Kirkham 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: 12621946
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a partition; a feedthrough penetrating the partition and hermetically sealed to the partition, the feedthrough having a major axis; a first wall extending from the partition in a first direction along the major axis; and a second wall extending from the partition in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the major axis, the second wall forming a connector interface with the feedthrough; wherein a ratio of a length of the first wall to a thickness of the first wall is greater than or equal to 3:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vance Scott Robinson, Jake Riggle, Dave Kirkham, Travis Harding
  • Patent number: 12592354
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a vacuum enclosure including an opening; a support structure disposed in the vacuum enclosure, the support structure comprising: a first portion attached to the vacuum enclosure at the opening; and a second portion extending within the vacuum enclosure; and a plurality of getters disposed on the second portion of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Amber McMullin, Vance Scott Robinson, Jake Riggle
  • Publication number: 20250391626
    Abstract: Embodiments include an x-ray source, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; one or more field emitters disposed along a line within the vacuum enclosure, each field emitter configured to generate an electron beam; an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure and including a target configured to generate x-rays in response to the electron beams; and a getter extending along the line within the vacuum enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Anton Morris, Dave Kirkham, Travis Harding
  • Patent number: 12465296
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an x-ray system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; a plurality of electron sources disposed within the vacuum enclosure; an anode including at least one target with a plurality of focal spots disposed in a planar array within the vacuum enclosure, each focal spot configured to generate an x-ray beam in response to an electron beam from a corresponding one of the electron sources; a plurality of first collimators disposed within the vacuum enclosure, each first collimator associated with a corresponding one of the focal spots and configured to collimate the x-ray beam of the corresponding focal spot; and a second collimator integrated with a housing of the vacuum enclosure or external to the vacuum enclosure, the second collimator configured to collimate each of the x-ray beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dave Kirkham
  • Publication number: 20250201506
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a support substrate; a field emitter device disposed on the support substrate, including a gate and a contact electrically connected to the gate; a conductive plate, including: a protrusion electrically connected to the contact of the field emitter device; and a clamp coupled to the support substrate and the conductive plate such that the conductive plate electrically connects to the contact of the field emitter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Dave Kirkham
  • Patent number: 12230468
    Abstract: An x-ray tube, comprising: a field emitter including an emission surface; an anode; and a focus electrode disposed between the field emitter and the anode; wherein: the focus electrode includes: a first surface that is substantially perpendicular to the field emitter emission surface and nearest to the field emitter; a second surface that is axially nearest to the anode, wherein the field emitter and the anode form an axis; and a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface; and a first location on the focus electrode between the first surface and the third surface is further from the anode than a second location on the focus electrode between the third surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Colton B. Woodman
  • Publication number: 20240290569
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a vacuum enclosure including an opening; a support structure disposed in the vacuum enclosure, the support structure comprising: a first portion attached to the vacuum enclosure at the opening; and a second portion extending within the vacuum enclosure; and a plurality of getters disposed on the second portion of the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Amber McMullin, Vance Scott Robinson, Jake Riggle
  • Publication number: 20240224455
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a partition; a feedthrough penetrating the partition and hermetically sealed to the partition, the feedthrough having a major axis; a first wall extending from the partition in a first direction along the major axis; and a second wall extending from the partition in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the major axis, the second wall forming a connector interface with the feedthrough; wherein a ratio of a length of the first wall to a thickness of the first wall is greater than or equal to 3:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Vance Scott Robinson, Jake Riggle, Dave Kirkham, Travis Harding
  • Publication number: 20240065643
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an x-ray system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; a plurality of electron sources disposed within the vacuum enclosure; an anode including at least one target with a plurality of focal spots disposed in a planar array within the vacuum enclosure, each focal spot configured to generate an x-ray beam in response to an electron beam from a corresponding one of the electron sources; a plurality of first collimators disposed within the vacuum enclosure, each first collimator associated with a corresponding one of the focal spots and configured to collimate the x-ray beam of the corresponding focal spot; and a second collimator integrated with a housing of the vacuum enclosure or external to the vacuum enclosure, the second collimator configured to collimate each of the x-ray beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Dave Kirkham
  • Publication number: 20240071707
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an x-ray device comprising: an access port configured to receive a cathode within an interior volume of an enclosure of the x-ray device; a first vacuum seal configured to seal a cover over the access port; and a second seal configured to seal the cover over the access port, the second seal maintained between the first vacuum seal and the interior volume of the enclosure during removal of the first vacuum seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Vance Scott Robinson, Colton B. Woodman, Jake Riggle
  • Publication number: 20240006144
    Abstract: An x-ray tube, comprising: a field emitter including an emission surface; an anode; and a focus electrode disposed between the field emitter and the anode; wherein: the focus electrode includes: a first surface that is substantially perpendicular to the field emitter emission surface and nearest to the field emitter; a second surface that is axially nearest to the anode, wherein the field emitter and the anode form an axis; and a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface; and a first location on the focus electrode between the first surface and the third surface is further from the anode than a second location on the focus electrode between the third surface and the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Colton B. Woodman
  • Publication number: 20230352261
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; an anode support structure penetrating the vacuum enclosure and including a plurality of first cooling passages; and an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure, coupled to and supported by the anode support structure, and including: a target; and a plurality of second cooling passages; wherein: each of the second cooling passages is coupled to a corresponding first cooling passage; the anode is coupled to the anode support structure on a side of the anode different from a side of the anode including the target and different from axial ends of the anode on a major axis of the anode; and the anode is a linear anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Vance Scott Robinson
  • Patent number: 11749489
    Abstract: A system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; an anode support structure penetrating the vacuum enclosure and including a plurality of first cooling passages; and an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure, coupled to and supported by the anode support structure, and including: a target; and a plurality of second cooling passages; wherein: each of the second cooling passages is coupled to a corresponding first cooling passage; and the anode is coupled to the anode support structure on a side of the anode different from a side of the anode including the target and different from axial ends of the anode on a major axis of the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Vance Scott Robinson
  • Publication number: 20220208503
    Abstract: A system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; an anode support structure penetrating the vacuum enclosure and including a plurality of first cooling passages; and an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure, coupled to and supported by the anode support structure, and including: a target; and a plurality of second cooling passages; wherein: each of the second cooling passages is coupled to a corresponding first cooling passage; and the anode is coupled to the anode support structure on a side of the anode different from a side of the anode including the target and different from axial ends of the anode on a major axis of the anode
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: VEC Imaging GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Vance Scott Robinson