67results about "X-ray tube multi-cathode assembly" patented technology

A method for reducing electron emission of an electron emitter comprises: emitting electrons from a first current path via at least one first field effect emitter element, subject to an emission voltage between a gate electrode and an emission surface; determining a property of the first current path; and activating a first current limiting unit subject to the properties of the first current path to reduce the electron emission of the electron emitter.

An X-ray source device includes an anode and an electron beam cathode system arranged to emit a plurality of electron beams therefrom toward the anode. A deflector device is disposed adjacent to the electron beam cathode system to manipulate interaction of one or more of the electron beams emitted by the electron beam cathode system with the anode. An associated method of forming an X-ray source device is also provided.

One or more example embodiments relates to a cathode device and an X-ray source. The cathode device for an X-ray source has an electron emitter including a plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel to form an emission surface on the upper side of the plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel a gate electrode, arranged above the emission surface, a multiple first contact elements for at least two independently current-carrying current paths of the electron emitter, electrons from at least one of the current paths are emittable depending on an emission voltage between the gate electrode and the emission surface via the field effect emitter elements; and an emitter seat including multiple second contact elements, the multiple second contact elements connectable with the multiple first contact elements for closing the current paths.

One or more example embodiments relates to an X-ray source comprising a grid voltage unit including an interface configured to receive a control signal. The grid voltage unit is configured to regulate, via regulation of a first grid voltage at a first grid and via regulation of a second grid voltage at a second grid, a charge quantity available in a capacitor and a generator current as a function of the control signal.

The present invention relates to an electron emitter device, a method for generating an electron flow, an X-ray source, and a computer program product. The electron emitter device according to the present invention has: - field effect emitter pins of a first ring, the field effect emitter pins of the first ring forming a first emitter surface on the inner side of the first ring, and - field effect emitter pins of a second ring, the field effect emitter pins of the second ring forming a second emitter surface on the inner side of the second ring, wherein the first ring and the second ring are arranged such that the first emitter surface and the second emitter surface form a substantially continuous three-dimensional total emitter surface, the total emitter surface being hollow along a longitudinal axis.

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

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

The present disclosure relates to a field emission device that generates X-rays by emitting an electron beam, and an X-ray generating apparatus using the same, including a semiconductor substrate; a bottom electrode disposed below the semiconductor substrate; an insulating layer disposed above the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the insulating layer; and, a top electrode disposed on the gate electrode; wherein the gate electrode is composed of a material satisfying at least one of a first condition for work function, a second condition for Gibbs free energy of a redox reaction with the insulating layer, a third condition for sublimation energy, and a fourth condition for electron mean free path.

An x-ray imaging apparatus 10 comprising a support 30 having two arms, wherein on one arm an x-ray emitter 50 is arranged, and on the other arm a flat panel digital detector 60 is arranged, the emitter and detector arranged opposite each other providing a space therebetween for the positioning of an object for x-ray imaging by the apparatus, the x-ray emitter comprising an array of emitters, the apparatus arranged such that in use different emitters are energisable independently from one another such that 3-dimensional tomosynthesis images are obtainable of the object, with the object, emitter and detector maintained stationary relative to one another.

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.

The present invention relates to a high voltage connector (100) for selecting an active power drain (210) of an X-ray tube (200). The connector (100) comprises a first connection unit (110) comprising a plurality of first contact elements (111) connectable to the power source, and a second connection unit (120) comprising a plurality of second contact elements (121) connectable to power drains of the X-ray tube. The first connection unit (110) and the second connection unit (S120) are configured to be detachably connectable to each other in at least a first orientation (131) and a second orientation (132). The first contact elements (111) and the second contact elements (121) are configured to engage with each other when the first connection unit (110) is connected to the second connection unit (120) such that an electrical contact of the first contact elements (111) with a subset of the second contact elements (121) is established. The subset of second contact elements (121) to which electric contact is established is different between the first orientation (131) and the second orientation (132). At least one (112) of the first contact elements (111) is configured to establish the electric contact with a first one (122) of the second contact elements (121) when the first connection unit (110) and the second connection unit (120) are connected in the first orientation (131), and to establish the electric contact with a different second one (123) of the second contact elements (121) when the first connection unit (110) and the second connection unit (120) are connected in the second orientation (132).

Some embodiments include a method comprising: providing a substrate, the substrate comprising a nanotube layer, the nanotube layer comprising nanotubes; the nanotube layer is heated; and destroying at least a portion of the nanotube layer by heating such that the nanotubes in the at least a portion of the nanotube layer are activated for electron emission. Other embodiments include an X-ray device including a substrate including nanotubes formed by the method.

Some embodiments include an x-ray source, comprising: an anode; a field emitter configured to generate an electron beam; a first grid configured to control field emission from the field emitter; a second grid disposed between the first grid and the anode; a third grid disposed between the first grid and the anode; and a middle electrode disposed between the first grid and the anode wherein the second grid is either disposed between the first grid and middle electrode or between the middle electrode and the anode; wherein the third grid is a mesh grid.

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.

The present disclosure relates to an X-ray generating apparatus capable of providing an X-ray image and an X-ray system using the same, including: a field emitting part having a plurality of electron beam emitting regions arranged; an X-ray generating part generating X-rays by collision with electrons emitted from the field emitting part; and, a collimator transmitting X-rays generated from the X-ray generating part in a specific direction, in which a plurality of through-holes are arranged on the collimator to transmit the X-rays in a specific direction, and the X-ray can be blocked in a region other than the through-hole.

The invention relates to a cathode device and an X-ray source. The cathode device according to the invention for an X-ray source has - an electron emitter and - an emitter seat, where the electron emitter - a plurality of parallel aligned field effect emitter elements to form an emission surface, - a gate electrode arranged above the emission surface, - and has a plurality of first contact elements, characterized by - that the emitter seat has a plurality of second contact elements which can be connected to the plurality of first contact elements at the end of the current paths, - that the plurality of first contact elements are arranged on a side of the plurality of parallel aligned field effect emitter elements facing away from the emission surface.

The invention relates to a method for reducing electron emission of an electron emitter, to an associated computer program product, to an electron emitter and to an X-ray source. The invention relates to a method for reducing electron emission of an electron emitter, comprising the following steps: emitting electrons from the first current path by means of the at least one first field-effect emitter element as a function of an emission voltage between the gate electrode and the emission surface, a characteristic of the first current path is determined, and the first current limiting unit is activated according to the determined characteristic of the first current path to reduce the electron emission of the electron emitter.

An X-ray therapy method using an X-ray device includes: arranging the cathode device of an X-ray source in an imaging mode to focus electrons onto a focal region of a first size on the anode. In imaging mode, the X-ray source is actuated to emit an X-ray beam toward an X-ray detector to obtain a first X-ray image of a target. Based on a comparison of the first X-ray image and a diagnostic image, the X-ray source or object is adjusted to register the target with its diagnostic image, and the X-ray source is directed toward the target. The cathode device is switched to a power mode to focus electrons onto a second focal region of a second size on the anode, which is larger than the first size. In power mode, the X-ray source is actuated to deliver a therapeutic X-ray dose to the target.

Some embodiments include a system having multiple x-ray sources, each x-ray source including an electron source configured to generate an electron beam and a target configured to receive the electron beam and convert the electron beam into an x-ray beam, where a first one of the x-ray sources is different from a second one of the x-ray sources, and the target of the x-ray source is a portion of the linear target.

Embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a conductive base; an insulating substrate; an electron emitter disposed on the insulating substrate; a grid disposed adjacent to the electron emitter, the grid including a first conductive side and a second conductive side separate from the first conductive side; a plurality of posts; wherein: the first conductive side is attached to the insulating substrate through a first group of the posts; the second conductive side is attached to the insulating substrate through a second group of the posts; and the conductive base is attached to the insulating substrate through a third group of the posts.

One or more example embodiments relates to a cathode device and an X-ray source. The cathode device for an X-ray source has an electron emitter including a plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel to form an emission surface on the upper side of the plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel a gate electrode, arranged above the emission surface, a multiple first contact elements for at least two independently current-carrying current paths of the electron emitter, electrons from at least one of the current paths are emittable depending on an emission voltage between the gate electrode and the emission surface via the field effect emitter elements; and an emitter seat including multiple second contact elements, the multiple second contact elements connectable with the multiple first contact elements for closing the current paths.

The present disclosure relates to an X-ray generating apparatus capable of providing an X-ray image and an X-ray system using the same, including: a field emitting part having a plurality of electron beam emitting regions arranged; an X-ray generating part generating X-rays by collision with electrons emitted from the field emitting part; and, a collimator transmitting X-rays generated from the X-ray generating part in a specific direction, in which a plurality of through-holes are arranged on the collimator to transmit the X-rays in a specific direction, and the X-ray can be blocked in a region other than the through-hole.

Various systems are provided for a cathode of an X-ray imaging system. In one example, a shield for a cathode comprises a cathode mask comprising a u-shaped central opening configured to receive a cathode cup, where a perimeter of the u-shaped central opening comprises a rolled over edge.

Some embodiments include a system, comprising: at least one x-ray source, each x-ray source including: an electron source configured to generate an electron beam; and a target configured to receive the electron beam and convert the electron beam into an x-ray beam; and a collimator. A first edge of the collimator closest to the electron source is closer to the electron source than a central axis of the x-ray beam before entering the collimator; and a second edge of the collimator opposite to the first edge is at the central axis of the x-ray beam before entering the collimator or closer to the electron source than the central axis of the x-ray beam before entering the collimator.

A method for reducing electron emission of an electron emitter comprises: emitting electrons from a first current path via at least one first field effect emitter element, subject to an emission voltage between a gate electrode and an emission surface; determining a property of the first current path; and activating a first current limiting unit subject to the properties of the first current path to reduce the electron emission of the electron emitter.

The present invention relates to a device of controlling an electron emission device generating X-rays, the device comprising: an electron emission device including at least one of at least one cathode electrode, an anode electrode paired with the cathode electrode, and a gate electrode for controlling a current flowing through the anode electrode; a cathode current detection part for detecting a current flowing through the cathode electrode of the electrode emission device; a reference voltage generation part for generating a reference voltage; and a gate voltage control part which receives the reference voltage and a detection voltage of the cathode current detection part, determines a gate voltage for controlling the electron emission device so that the detection voltage of the cathode current detection part becomes equal to the reference voltage, and applies the determined gate voltage to the gate electrode of the electron emission device.

The present invention discloses a single-electron-source X-ray tube, an X-ray tube assembly, and a corresponding CT device. The X-ray tube includes a single electron source and at least two anode target surfaces. The single electron source is fixed to the center of the X-ray tube's tube core structure. Two exposure windows are symmetrically installed at both ends of the X-ray tube, each corresponding to one of the at least two anode target surfaces. At least two gates are installed on the electron path of the single electron source toward each anode target surface. Applying gate voltages to the gates controls the deflection field, thereby controlling the on / off and flow direction of the electron flow toward the anode target surfaces, thereby controlling the X-ray output. The present invention solves the problem of space utilization and connection method limitations when adding multiple sources to an existing X-ray tube, and improves controllability of the exposure operation of the dual target surfaces during the exposure process. Meanwhile, a CT device using this single-electron-source X-ray tube can expand the X-ray coverage area and eliminate cone-angle artifacts.

An X-ray tube has a tube body, which encloses a tube volume in a gas-tight manner. An emitter electrode, a gate electrode and an anode are arranged within the tube volume. The emitter electrode is embodied as an unheated electrode which has a plurality of emitter needles arranged on a substrate in a region facing the gate electrode. The gate electrode is divided into a main region and a number of additional regions by insulating structures introduced into the gate electrode. An emission voltage is applied to the main region relative to the emitter electrode. The additional regions are electrically conductively connected to the main region only by way of connecting bridges. At least one cutout of the gate electrode is arranged in the additional regions in each case.

Embodiments include an apparatus, comprising: a conductive base; an insulating substrate; an electron emitter disposed on the insulating substrate; a grid disposed adjacent to the electron emitter, the grid including a first conductive side and a second conductive side separate from the first conductive side; a plurality of posts; wherein: the first conductive side is attached to the insulating substrate through a first group of the posts; the second conductive side is attached to the insulating substrate through a second group of the posts; and the conductive base is attached to the insulating substrate through a third group of the posts.

This invention relates to cathode devices and X-ray sources. A cathode device for an X-ray source according to the invention comprises: - an electron emitter; and - an emitter holder, wherein the electron emitter comprises: - a plurality of parallel-oriented field-effect emitter elements constituting an emitting surface, - a gate electrode disposed above the emitting surface, - and a plurality of first contact elements, characterized in that: - the emitter holder has a plurality of second contact elements, the second contact elements being connectable to the plurality of first contact elements to close a current path, - the plurality of first contact elements being disposed on the side of the plurality of parallel-oriented field-effect emitter elements opposite to the emitting surface.