Patents by Inventor Neil Fox

Neil Fox 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: 11905594
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process for producing diamond includes providing a CVD Growth Chamber containing a growth substrate, charging the CVD growth chamber with a source gas mixture that includes a carbon source gas, activating the gas mixture to facilitate growth of diamond on the growth substrate, and providing for a period of diamond growth in a static mode during which the gas mixture is sealed within the CVD growth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Neil Fox, Hugo Dominguez Andrade, Thomas B Scott, Edward JD Mahoney, Alexander Croot
  • Patent number: 11798703
    Abstract: A radiation powered device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a semiconductor disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a radioactive source configured to generate a flow of electrons through the semiconductor between the first and second electrodes, wherein the semiconductor comprises diamond material, wherein the radioactive source is embedded within the diamond material, wherein the radioactive source comprises a beta-emitting radioisotope, and atoms of the radioisotope are either substitutionally or interstitially integrated into the diamond material, wherein the diamond material comprises a plurality of regions in the form of layers within a continuous crystal lattice of the diamond material, and wherein at least one layer of the diamond material comprises the radioactive source and at least one layer of the diamond material does not comprise the radioactive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Thomas Scott, Neil Fox, Liam Payne, Chris Hutson, Hugo Dominguez Andrade
  • Publication number: 20220325406
    Abstract: Described herein is a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process for producing diamond, the process comprising: providing a CVD growth chamber containing a growth substrate; charging the CVD growth chamber with a gas mixture, the gas mixture comprising a carbon source gas; activating the gas mixture to facilitate growth of diamond on the growth substrate; and providing for a period of diamond growth during which the gas mixture is sealed within the CVD growth chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Neil FOX, Hugo Dominguez ANDRADE, Thomas B SCOTT, Edward JD MAHONEY, Alexander CROOT
  • Publication number: 20220223310
    Abstract: A radiation powered device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a semiconductor disposed between the first and second electrodes, and a radioactive source configured to generate a flow of electrons through the semiconductor between the first and second electrodes, wherein the semiconductor comprises diamond material, wherein the radioactive source is embedded within the diamond material, wherein the radioactive source comprises a beta-emitting radioisotope, and atoms of the radioisotope are either substitutionally or interstitially integrated into the diamond material, wherein the diamond material comprises a plurality of regions in the form of layers within a continuous crystal lattice of the diamond material, and wherein at least one layer of the diamond material comprises the radioactive source and at least one layer of the diamond material does not comprise the radioactive source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Thomas SCOTT, Neil FOX, Liam PAYNE, Chris HUTSON, Hugo DOMINGUEZ ANDRADE
  • Patent number: 11302456
    Abstract: Provided herein is a radiation powered device comprising a semiconductor comprising a diamond material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Thomas Scott, Neil Fox, Liam Payne, Chris Hutson, Hugo Dominguez Andrade
  • Publication number: 20200203033
    Abstract: Provided herein is a radiation powered device comprising a semiconductor comprising a diamond material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Thomas SCOTT, Neil FOX, Liam PAYNE, Chris HUTSON, Hugo DOMINGUEZ ANDRADE
  • Patent number: 8617651
    Abstract: A surface with a low work function is formed from a starting material of diamond or diamond-like carbon. An oxygenation treatment is performed, so that the surface of the diamond or diamond-like carbon is oxygenated. Lithium is then deposited onto the oxygenated surface by means of a physical vapour deposition process. Excess lithium is then removed to form a lithium monolayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Neil Fox, Tomas Liam Martin, Kane Michael O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20120244281
    Abstract: A surface with a low work function is formed from a starting material of diamond or diamond-like carbon. An oxygenation treatment is performed, so that the surface of the diamond or diamond-like carbon is oxygenated. Lithium is then deposited onto the oxygenated surface by means of a physical vapour deposition process. Excess lithium is then removed to form a lithium monolayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: The University of Bristol
    Inventors: Neil Fox, Tomas Liam Martin, Kane Michael O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20060261719
    Abstract: An electron emitter including a high work function metal 18 encapsulating a metal-doped, nanocrystalline diamond particle layer 14 in contact with a planar surface of a low workfunction metal cathode 12, and a method of fabrication of the same is disclosed. The method may include formulating the conductive nanodiamond powder with a metallic solution, containing the high workfunction metal, and disposing it on the metal cathode 12 to form a composite material layer containing surface areas exhibiting low electron affinity. The resulting cold cathode structure has a low extraction field needed for efficient emission, a means to limit the emission current per unit area, and a reduced emission sensitivity to surface adsorption/desorption effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: Neil Fox