Nested Faraday Cage Cathode Supply Assembly for X-Ray Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray imaging systems face challenges in managing high voltage discharges and parasitic capacitances, leading to rapid degradation of electronic components due to the proximity of sensitive electronics to high voltage transformers, especially in systems with unipolar cathodes and long cables.
Innovation Solution
A modular and compact cathode supply assembly is implemented, utilizing multiple Faraday cages and a dynamic damper network to protect electronics from high discharge currents, while allowing an in-line HV transformer configuration, which includes a plurality of boards organized in a nested geometry with different orientations to minimize packaging size and parasitic capacitances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If sensitive electronics are placed close to high voltage transformers to reduce packaging size, then packaging size is reduced, but electronic components degrade rapidly due to high voltage discharges and parasitic capacitances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested Faraday cages where an inner Faraday cage surrounds the sensitive electronic components (digital board, analog board, power boards) and is itself surrounded by an outer Faraday cage. This multi-layer nested structure provides progressive shielding against high voltage discharges and electromagnetic interference, allowing electronics to be positioned close to the HV transformer while maintaining reliability through multiple protective barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The Faraday cages act as intermediary protective structures between the high voltage transformer and sensitive electronics. The cages provide a conductive shield that intercepts and redirects high voltage discharges and electromagnetic fields, preventing direct interaction between the harmful high voltage environment and the vulnerable electronic components, thus enabling close proximity placement without degradation.
2Reliability
If traditional single Faraday cage configuration is used, then structure is simple, but protection against high discharge currents is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested Faraday cages with the inner cage surrounding critical digital and analog electronics, while the outer cage provides additional protection for the entire electronics assembly. This nested configuration creates multiple protective layers that progressively attenuate high voltage discharges and electromagnetic interference, significantly enhancing protection capability while adding manageable structural complexity through systematic layering.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective shielding is segmented into multiple discrete Faraday cage structures (inner and outer cages) rather than using a single monolithic shield. This segmentation allows each cage to be optimized for specific protection requirements, with the inner cage focusing on sensitive electronics and the outer cage providing broader protection, thereby achieving superior overall protection through divided functional zones.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If boards are arranged in nested geometry with different orientations, then parasitic capacitances are minimized, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the power boards and electronics in asymmetric nested geometries with different orientations rather than uniform symmetric layouts. This asymmetric positioning optimizes the spatial distribution of components to minimize parasitic capacitances between adjacent boards and high voltage elements, achieving electrical performance optimization through non-uniform component placement that requires careful but manageable assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional nested geometry where boards are positioned at different orientations and levels within the Faraday cages, transitioning from two-dimensional planar arrangements to three-dimensional spatial configurations. This dimensional change allows optimization of parasitic capacitance by strategically positioning components in space, creating vertical and angular separations that reduce electromagnetic coupling while maintaining compact packaging.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides robust protection against electrical discharges, reduces packaging size, and enhances the efficiency of the X-ray generator by saving energy, while maintaining high-frequency immunity and electromagnetic robustness.
Implementation Method 1
at least two Faraday cages nested within one another, the at least two Faraday cages comprising an inner Faraday cage surrounding the first digital board and an outer Faraday cage surrounding each of the plurality of boards and the inner Faraday cage
Implementation Method 2
The X-ray tube may include one or more emitters from which an electron beam is emitted toward a target in response to heat resulting from an applied electrical current via the thermionic effect
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are provided for a medical imaging system. In one example, an electronic assembly configured to control a cathode of an X-ray tube of the medical imaging system comprises a plurality of boards comprising a first analog board, a first digital board, a second power board, and a third power board, and at least two Faraday cages nested within one another, the at least two Faraday cages comprising an inner Faraday cage surrounding the first digital board and an outer Faraday cage surrounding each of the plurality of boards and the inner Faraday cage.