Abstract: Apparatus for cooling charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging systems. The apparatus comprises a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the imaging system for transferring heat away from and cooling the imaging system portion of the imaging system. The thermoelectric cooler has a cold side and an opposing hot side, with the cold side thermally coupled to the imaging sensor to enable the transfer of heat from the sensor in response to a supply of power. A power supply is coupled to the cooler for supplying required power. The hot side of the cooler is thermally coupled to a heat pipe, which is composed of a heat-conducting material having a hollow portion containing a wicking material and a working fluid. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the heat pipe enabling heat dissipation. The working fluid cyclically evaporates into vapor and condenses into liquid to effect the heat transfer from the heat pipe to the heat sink.

Abstract: A mobile X-ray machine utilizes batteries to provide electrical power to produce high-voltage necessary to generate X-rays during a X-ray exposure. A battery charger circuit is used to supplement the battery during the X-ray exposure and charges the batteries during non-exposure periods. By using batteries to power the X-ray generating device, the X-ray machine is capable of being operated from 110 volt AC power sources permitting the machine to be mobile due to its ability of being operated from ordinary house current.

Abstract: A dynamic calibration and self-check circuit for a mobile X-ray machine. A high voltage regulator circuit provides dynamic regulation of peak anode voltage and a tube current regulator circuit provides dynamic regulation of the X-ray filament current which controls the X-ray tube current. In the regulation of the anode voltage, a voltage sensor provides continuous feedback of the actual anode voltage of the tube to the regulation circuit. A processor selects a predetermined value for the pulse width duration of the high voltage regulator. When an exposure cycle commences, the preselective value is compared with the actual sensed value in an error amplifier. The error amplifier generates an error signal which varies the pulse width of the drive signal to control the peak high voltage to the anode. In the control of the tube current, a sensor which measures the actual tube current is compared with a predetermined value selected by the processor in a second error amplifier.

Abstract: A mobile X-ray machine utilizes batteries to provide electrical power to produce high-voltage necessary to generate X-rays during a X-ray exposure. A battery charger circuit is used to supplement the battery during the X-ray exposure and charges the batteries during non-exposure periods. By using batteries to power the X-ray generating device, the X-ray machine is capable of being operated from 110 volt AC power sources permitting the machine to be mobile due to its ability of being operated from ordinary house current.