Patents by Inventor Robert C. SHEEHY

Robert C. SHEEHY 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: 11955306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to large area field emission devices based on the incorporation of macroscopic, microscopic, and nanoscopic field enhancement features and a designed forced current sharing matrix layer to enable a stable high-current density long-life field emission device. The present invention pertains to a wide range of field emission sources and is not limited to a specific field emission technology. The invention is described as an X-ray electron source but can be applied to any application requiring a high current density electron source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MICRO-X LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert C. Sheehy, Brian Gonzales, Peter Yaron, Anthony Skeats, Steven Trewartha, Susanne Sahlos, Gandalf Du Preez
  • Patent number: 11576249
    Abstract: A device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MICRO-X LIMITED
    Inventors: Brian Gonzales, Robert C. Sheehy
  • Patent number: 11570878
    Abstract: A device and method for creating controlled radio frequency (RF) modulated X-ray radiation is described. The device includes an anode housed within a vacuum enclosure which acts to accelerate and convert an electron beam into X-ray radiation. A RF enclosure is housed within the vacuum enclosure and houses a field emission device, such as a carbon nanotube field emission device or similar cold cathode field emission device. The field emission device is biased to emit the electron beam from a field emission cathode via an extraction electrode in the RF enclosure towards the anode. Additionally an RF impedance matching and coupling circuit is connected electrically to the field emission device. The field emission device is thus directly driven with a RF signal to produce an RF modulated electron current to produce an RF modulated X-ray radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MICRO-X LIMITED
    Inventors: Brian Gonzales, Robert C. Sheehy
  • Publication number: 20210212189
    Abstract: A device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Brian GONZALES, Robert C. SHEEHY
  • Publication number: 20210027972
    Abstract: The present invention relates to large area field emission devices based on the incorporation of macroscopic, microscopic, and nanoscopic field enhancement features and a designed forced current sharing matrix layer to enable a stable high-current density long-life field emission device. The present invention pertains to a wide range of field emission sources and is not limited to a specific field emission technology. The invention is described as an X-ray electron source but can be applied to any application requiring a high current density electron source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Robert C. SHEEHY, Brian GONZALES, Peter YARON, Anthony SKEATS, Steven TREWARTHA, Susanne SAHLOS, Gandalf DU PREEZ
  • Publication number: 20200163196
    Abstract: A device and method for creating controlled radio frequency (RF) modulated X-ray radiation is described. The device includes an anode housed within a vacuum enclosure which acts to accelerate and convert an electron beam into X-ray radiation. A RF enclosure is housed within the vacuum enclosure and houses a field emission device, such as a carbon nanotube field emission device or similar cold cathode field emission device. The field emission device is biased to emit the electron beam from a field emission cathode via an extraction electrode in the RF enclosure towards the anode. Additionally an RF impedance matching and coupling circuit is connected electrically to the field emission device. The field emission device is thus directly driven with a RF signal to produce an RF modulated electron current to produce an RF modulated X-ray radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Brian GONZALES, Robert C. SHEEHY