Electron Tube Patents (Class 378/121)
  • Patent number: 11651926
    Abstract: A cathode assembly component (CC) for X-ray imaging, comprising a monolithic outer shell (OS) with electron optical functionality and, insertable in said shell, an insulator structure (INS) for two or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Thorben Repenning
  • Patent number: 11257652
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a conductive coating on an insulator of an x-ray tube and a method for applying the conductive coating. The method may use a first process, such as brazing, to join a support to the insulator and a second process, such as vapor deposition, to apply the conductive coating onto a substrate surface of the insulator. The second process may be carried out after the first process without any damage to x-ray tube insulator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Min He, Norman Wandke, Thomas Muchowicz
  • Patent number: 11232926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cathode for an X-ray tube and a corresponding method for assembly. The cathode comprises a filament (22), at least two support structures (21), a body structure comprising a recess for the filament. The filament is provided to emit electrons towards an anode in an electron emitting direction (25). The filament is held by the support structures, which are fixedly connected to the body structure. The filament is totally recrystallized before assembly and has an at least partial helical structure. The support structures comprise a reception end (24) for releasably receiving two ends of the filament by means of a locking mechanism and the complete alignment of the filament and the recess is given by the geometry of the filament, the at least two support structures and the body structure which comprises a recess for the filament. An improved and facilitated cathode assembly with increased reliability of the precision of the positioning in operation is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Zoryana Terletska, Tobias Schlenk
  • Patent number: 11101096
    Abstract: A high dose output, through transmission and reflective target x-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an x-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through and reflective transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Rad Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Kent Ausburn
  • Patent number: 11043352
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an x-ray system, comprising: a support structure including a mounting surface; a target attached to the support structure on the mounting surface; wherein the target has a grain structure having a first dimension along an axis perpendicular to the mounting surface is longer than a longest dimension along any axis parallel to the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Snow
  • Patent number: 10879029
    Abstract: A charged particle device includes an electron emitting part for emitting electrons, an electron irradiated part configured to be irradiated with the electrons emitted from the electron emitting part, a container part configured to evacuate an interior thereof and contain the electron irradiated part in the interior thereof, an electric wire containing part configured to be inserted from an outside of the container part via an insertion part provided in the container part to contain an electric wire through which electricity is conducted to the electron irradiated part contained in the container part, and an insertion-part-side protrusion part configured to surround the electric wire containing part and protrude from a vicinity of the insertion part on an inner wall of the container part to an interior of the container part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamada, Shohei Suzuki, Takeshi Endo, Takashi Watanabe, Stephen Fletcher, Andriy Denysov
  • Patent number: 10825638
    Abstract: An X-ray tube includes a rod-shaped anode which includes a target receiving electrons and generating X-rays and has a main body portion extending in a direction of a tube axis; a vacuum housing which accommodates a distal end side of the anode having the target disposed therein and in which a proximal end side of the anode is fixed by a housing coupling portion; and a cover electrode which is disposed inside the vacuum housing, is coupled to the anode by a cover coupling portion, and surrounds the housing coupling portion. The anode has a third diameter increasing portion protruding from a front surface of the main body portion in a direction intersecting the tube axis. The cover coupling portion is disposed closer to the proximal end side of the anode than the third diameter increasing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishii, Tutomu Inazuru
  • Patent number: 10746672
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for producing an x-ray image of a sample using a lamella-shaped target to improve the usual tradeoff between imaging resolution and image acquisition time. A beam of electrons impacts the lamella-shaped target normal to the narrower dimension of the lamella which then determines the virtual source size along that axis. For low-energy x-ray generation, the small electron penetration depth parallel to the wider dimension of the lamella determines the virtual source size along that axis. Conductive cooling of the target is improved over post targets with the same imaging resolution. The lamella-shaped target is long enough to ensure that the electron beam does not impact the support structure which would degrade the imaging resolution. Target materials may be selected from the same metals used for bulk or post targets, including tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, scandium, vanadium, silver, or a refractory metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventor: Jorge Filevich
  • Patent number: 10701789
    Abstract: Provided is a method for driving an X-ray source, which includes a cathode electrode, an electron source provided on the cathode electrode and configured to emit an electron beam, and an anode target including an electron beam irradiation surface with the electron beam irradiated thereto, the method including providing the electron beam in a plurality of main pulses, wherein each of the main pulses includes a plurality of short pulses having an idle time and a pulse time, and each of the idle time and the pulse time is shorter than a duration time of the main pulse, wherein applying the plurality of short pulses comprises irradiating the electron beam from the electron source towards the electron beam irradiation surface during the pulse time; and idling the electron beam during the idle time, wherein a duty cycle of the short pulse is 0.4 to 0.6, which is obtained by dividing the idle time by a sum of the pulse time and the idle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sora Park, Yoon-Ho Song, Jin-Woo Jeong
  • Patent number: 10566170
    Abstract: Provided is an X-ray imaging device and a driving method thereof, the X-ray imaging device including an electron beam generation unit including a plurality of nano-emitters and a cathode, a first focusing electrode configured to focus an electron beam emitted from the electron beam generation unit, a deflector configured to deflect the electron beam focused by the first focusing electrode, a limited electrode configured to limit traveling of the electron beam deflected by the deflector, and an anode configured to be irradiated with the electron beam to emit an X-ray, wherein the limited electrode includes a limited aperture which the electron beam pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Jeong, Yoon-Ho Song
  • Patent number: 10555711
    Abstract: An apparatus for low dose mammography including: (1) a monochromatic X-ray beam generator that emits a first beam of monochromatic line emission X-ray photons having an energy at or nearly above an absorption edge of a first element to induce emission of Auger electrons when the first element is irradiated with the X-ray photons; and (2) an X-ray detector including (a) a pixel or plurality of pixels including an array of pixel sensors each of which has (i) a direct conversion layer configured for receiving the X-ray photons and for converting the X-ray photons into a transient electric charge, the direct conversion layer comprising the first element such that the line emission X-ray photons causes a cascade of Auger electrons that form the transient electric charge, and (ii) a semiconductor collection layer configured for receiving Auger electrons of said electric charge from the conversion layer; and (b) processing electronics for converting the electric charge received in the collection layer into a rad
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NANOX-MEDICAL CORP
    Inventors: Chia Gee Wang, Zhao Cheng
  • Patent number: 10361057
    Abstract: Provided is an X-ray generating apparatus, which includes: an X-ray generating tube configured to emit X-rays through a first window; an outer case configured to contain the X-ray generating tube and provided with a second window transmitting the X-rays at a position facing the first window; an insulating fluid with which an unoccupied space of the outer case is filled; an insulating member located between the first window and the second window and provided with an opening in an irradiation area of the X-ray through the first window; and an insulating third window removably fit into the opening of the insulating member, wherein a linear expansion coefficient of the third window is greater than a linear expansion coefficient of the insulating member, and the third window and the first window face each other via a gap through which the insulating fluid is flowable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Tsunoda, Koji Yamazaki, Shuji Aoki, Kazuyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 10349505
    Abstract: A high-voltage supply for an x-ray emitter, in particular to provide a cathode current and a cathode voltage, has at least two electrical conductors, which are incorporated in a common insulating body. Each electrical conductor is assigned a connector element, which is configured for electrically conducting contact with a corresponding connector of the x-ray emitter. Such a high-voltage supply for supplying the cathode voltage and the cathode current is provided in an x-ray emitter. The high-voltage supply extends at least in part over an inner region of a radiation protection housing of the x-ray emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Heidrich, Jan Matschulla, Raimund Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10328510
    Abstract: In a fixing structure and fixing method of a wire bobbin, the wire bobbin is abutted against the regulating member with the bolt inserted into the insertion hole of the wire bobbin. Then, a nut is inserted into a through hole while being kept inclined so that the axis of the through hole is substantially aligned with the axis of the bolt. Thereafter, the inclination of the nut is returned so that the axis of threaded hole becomes substantially aligned with the axis of the bolt, and then the nut is turned so as to insert part of a tapered portion into the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Meguru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10014149
    Abstract: In an X-ray radiation source, a counter wall made of alkali-containing glass, out of walls of a housing of an X-ray tube, is sandwiched between a filament and an electric field control electrode to each of which a negative high voltage is applied. This configuration prevents an electric field from being generated in the counter wall and thus suppresses precipitation of alkali ions from the glass. Therefore, it prevents change in potential relationship between electrodes at different potentials such as the filament, grid, and target and enables stable operation to be maintained, without occurrence of a trouble of failure in maintaining a desired X-ray amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: FUTABA CORPORATION, HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nakamura, Norimasa Kosugi, Naoki Okumura, Yoshitaka Sato, Akira Matsumoto, Yoshihisa Marushima, Kazuhito Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10002739
    Abstract: An X-ray emitter has a rotating anode rotatably mounted inside an X-ray tube by way of a multi-sliding surface bearing. The multi-sliding surface bearing has an inner and an outer sliding surface which are mounted so they can rotate relative to each other about an axis of rotation such that a gap is formed between the inner and outer sliding surfaces. A contour of the inner sliding surface, in a plane running perpendicular to the axis of rotation, is formed at least in certain sections by arc-shaped segments which are each centered around center points that are offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Sporbeck
  • Patent number: 9966217
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a high-voltage generator for an x-ray source, an x-ray gun, an electron beam apparatus, a rotary vacuum seal, a target assembly for an x-ray source, a rotary x-ray emission target, and an x-ray source. These various aspects may separately and/or together enable the construction of an x-ray source which can operate at energies of up to 500 kV and beyond, which is suitable for use in commercial and research x-ray applications such as computerised tomography. In particular, the high-voltage generator includes a shield electrode electrically connected intermediate of a first voltage multiplier and a second voltage multiplier. The electron beam apparatus includes control photodetectors and photo emitters having a transparent conductive shield arranged therebetween. The rotary vacuum seal includes a pumpable chamber at a position intermediate between high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a bore for a rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON METROLOGY NV
    Inventor: Roger Hadland
  • Patent number: 9847207
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube assembly includes a cathode includes a first non-magnetic metal member having high electrical conductivity, an anode target includes a second non-magnetic metal member having high electrical conductivity, a vacuum envelope having depressed portion depressed, and a first magnetic deflector provided outside the vacuum envelope, includes first magnetic pole pair generating the alternating magnetic field, the first magnetic pole pair being provided in close vicinity to a wall surface of the depressed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tezuka, Hidero Anno
  • Patent number: 9824847
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube includes a cathode, an anode target and an envelope. The cathode includes an insulating member, a conductive line, a pin assembly, a filament, a focusing electrode, and a terminal assembly. The conductive line is formed on the insulating member. The pin assembly includes a pin and a first sleeve. The terminal assembly is fixed to the insulating member, is supporting the filament, and is electrically connecting the filament to the conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kato
  • Patent number: 9818569
    Abstract: A high dose output, through transmission target X-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an X-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: RAD SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventor: Phillip Kent Ausburn
  • Patent number: 9808209
    Abstract: A collimator for use in a CT system made of an X-ray absorbing material, the collimator comprises an imaging aperture having a first width for passage of a first X-ray beam, the first X-ray beam being used for X-ray imaging, and a tracking aperture having a second width for passage of a second X-ray beam, the second X-ray beam being used for X-ray beam tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Jiang Hsieh, Xianjun Pan, Jiaqin Dong
  • Patent number: 9791391
    Abstract: A portable analyzer comprises a detector of ionizing radiation that is configured to detect radiation from spontaneous radioactive decay within an environment of the portable analyzer and or ionizing radiation that propagates past a front end of the portable analyzer towards its user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Industrial Analysis Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Jarvikivi, Jarmo Leino
  • Patent number: 9711322
    Abstract: An X-ray tube device in one embodiment has an X-ray tube and a container storing the X-ray tube, filled with insulating oil, and having an X-ray emission window. The X-ray tube includes a cylindrical glass envelope holding an anode and a cathode opposite to each other and keeping them in vacuum, and an insulating tube fit over the glass envelope and having an X-ray transmission section. The insulating tube has a base section attached to the container. The base section defines a space communicating between the X-ray transmission section of the insulating tube and the X-ray emission window of the container, and has a container-side end fixed to the container in a liquid-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Shimono
  • Patent number: 9681846
    Abstract: A radiation generator useful for medical applications, among others, is provided. The radiation generator includes a catheter; a plasma discharge chamber situated within a terminal portion of the catheter, a cathode and an anode positioned within the plasma discharge chamber and separated by a gap, and a high-voltage transmission line extensive through the interior of the catheter and terminating on the cathode and anode so as to deliver, in operation, one or more voltage pulses across the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Derzon, Alex Robinson, Paul C. Galambos
  • Patent number: 9607801
    Abstract: A structure and associated process for joining dissimilar materials to form various components of an x-ray tube is illustrated that utilizes one or more intermediate or interfacial filler material members positioned between the primary welding or mating surfaces of the base material components to be joined. The use of the interfacial or intermediate filler material preserves the multiple benefits of friction welding, as well as enabling the joining of highly dissimilar material components, decreasing the required joining temperature, and providing increased microstructural control of the resulting weld or joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ben David Poquette, Michael Scott Hebert, Kirk Alan Rogers, Michael Louis Szugye, Gregory Alan Steinlage, Donald Robert Allen
  • Patent number: 9576766
    Abstract: The present invention is a shielded anode having an anode with a surface facing an electron beam and a shield configured to encompass the anode surface. The shield has at least one aperture and an internal surface facing the anode surface. The shield internal surface and anode surface are separated by a gap in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm. The shield of the present invention is fabricated from a material, such as graphite, that is substantially transmissive to X-ray photons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morton, Russell David Luggar, Paul De Antonis
  • Patent number: 9502204
    Abstract: A transmission-type X-ray target includes a flat plate-shaped diamond substrate having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface and a target layer that is located on the first surface. A residual stress of the first surface is lower than a residual stress of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichi Ikarashi, Takao Ogura, Takeo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9490099
    Abstract: An imaging module includes a plurality of cathodes and respective gates, each cathode configured to generate a separate beam of electrons directed across a vacuum chamber and each gate matched to at least one respective cathode to enable and disable each separate beam of electrons from being directed across the vacuum chamber. A target anode is fixed within the vacuum chamber and arranged to receive the separate beam of electrons from each of the plurality of cathodes and, therefrom, generate a beam of x-rays. A deflection system is arranged between the plurality of cathodes and the target anode to generate a variable magnetic field to control a path followed by each of the separate beams of electrons to the target anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Mackie, Brandon J. Walker, Jonathon R. Seaton
  • Patent number: 9468777
    Abstract: A radiation therapy system comprises a radiation source generating a beam of radiation and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. An interface acts between the radiation source and the MRI apparatus that permits irradiation to be performed simultaneously with imaging. The MRI apparatus and radiation source are coupled such that the system can be used in a rotation mode whereby the radiation source can irradiate a subject from basically any angle without reducing MRI image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Alberta Health Services
    Inventors: B. Gino Fallone, Marco Carlone, Brad Murray
  • Patent number: 9401259
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation generating tube in which an insulating tube is prevented from being damaged by heat generation of a target or an electron emitting source during drive. Extending portions extending along an outer periphery of an insulating tube are provided to a cathode and an anode, respectively, and the insulating tube is joined to the extending portions to enhance the strength of joint portions. At the same time, the insulating tube can be deformed easily by setting a tube wall thickness of the insulating tube at a central portion in a longitudinal direction to be smaller than a tube wall thickness of an opening end, and thus the concentration of thermal stress on the joint portions caused by an increase in temperature of the cathode and the anode is alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritaka Ukiyo, Yasue Sato, Yoshihiro Yanagisawa, Kazuhiro Sando
  • Patent number: 9141885
    Abstract: A system may be configured as an image recognition machine that utilizes an image feature representation called local feature embedding (LFE). LFE enables generation of a feature vector that captures salient visual properties of an image to address both the fine-grained aspects and the coarse-grained aspects of recognizing a visual pattern depicted in the image. Configured to utilize image feature vectors with LFE, the system may implement a nearest class mean (NCM) classifier, as well as a scalable recognition algorithm with metric learning and max margin template selection. Accordingly, the system may be updated to accommodate new classes with very little added computational cost. This may have the effect of enabling the system to readily handle open-ended image classification problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jianchao Yang, Guang Chen, Jonathan Brandt, Hailin Jin, Elya Shechtman, Aseem Omprakash Agarwala
  • Patent number: 9125286
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to projection-based volumetric dose estimation for X-ray systems, such as X-ray imaging systems. For example, in one embodiment, an X-ray system is capable of estimating an X-ray dose based on an energy interaction of the X-rays with respective portions of an object. In another embodiment, the X-ray dose estimate may be provided on a per voxel, per region, and/or per organ basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Zhye Yin, Xiaoyu Tian
  • Patent number: 9053896
    Abstract: A rotating anode includes a focal track that has a microstructure on a surface of the focal track. The microstructure is produced using deep reactive ion etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Freudenberger, Stefan Lampenscherf, Wolfgang Schäff, Steffen Walter
  • Patent number: 9036786
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission type X-ray tube and a reflection type X-ray tube. The transmission type X-ray tube comprises a target and a filter material. The target has at least one element which produces X-rays as being excited. The X-rays comprise characteristic K? and K? emission energies of the element for producing images of an object impinged by the X-rays. The filter material through which the X-rays pass has a k-edge absorption energy that is higher than the K? emission energies and is lower than the K? emission energies. The thickness of the filter material is at least 10 microns and less than 3 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NanoRay Biotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce Briant Parsons, Chi-Chieh Cheng
  • Publication number: 20150131781
    Abstract: A movable diaphragm unit is configured such that, when a restricting blade is moved away from a normal line extending from a center of a focal spot of X-ray to a first virtual plane including a detector plane, a moving distance of a crossing line of a second virtual plane including an end surface of the restricting blade and a third virtual plane including the focal spot with respect to a center of the focal spot becomes shorter than a moving distance with respect to the normal line of the end surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohashi, Kazuyuki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20150124935
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems relating to an x-ray generation system. In some embodiments, the system includes an electron beam acceleration region that generates an electron beam and accelerates electrons in the beam and a radiation generation region that (i) receives the electron beam and (ii) generates an electric field having an energy of greater than about 10E7 V/m without electrical breakdown of vacuum gaps. The electric field is configured to decelerate electrons in the electron beam sufficiently to generate x-ray energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Steven D. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20150085989
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are for generating a flattening x-ray radiation field. The apparatus includes: plurality of electron accelerators for generating high-energy electron beam current; and a common target unit including a vacuum target chamber, a target and plurality of input connectors. The plurality of input connectors are connected to one side of the vacuum target chamber and the target is installed at the other side of the vacuum target chamber opposing the plurality of input connectors, the axes of which intersect in pairs at one point in an predetermined included angle. The plurality of electron accelerators are connected to the plurality of input connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kejun Kang, Chuanxiang Tang, Huaping Tang, Huaibi Chen, Wenhui Huang
  • Publication number: 20150078509
    Abstract: A two dimensional array distributed x-ray apparatus of this disclosure comprises: a vacuum box which is sealed at its periphery, and the interior thereof is high vacuum; a plurality of electron transmitting units arranged in one plane in a two dimensional array on the wall of the vacuum box; an anode having targets corresponding to the plurality electron transmitting unit arranged in parallel with the plane of the plurality of electron transmitting units in the vacuum box; a power supply and control system having a high voltage power supply connected to the anode, a filament power supply connected to each of the plurality of the electron transmitting units, a grid-controlled apparatus connected to each of the plurality of electron transmitting units, a control system for controlling each power supply; wherein the anode comprises: an anode plate made of metal and parallel to the upper surface of the electron transmitting unit; a plurality of targets arranged on the anode plate and disposed corresponding to the
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Huaping TANG, Chuanxiang TANG, Huaibi CHEN, Wenhui HUANG, Huayi ZHANG, Shuxin ZHENG, Jinsheng LIU
  • Publication number: 20150071410
    Abstract: An x-ray tube including dual, electrically-conductive emitter tubes to support and provide electrical power to an electron emitter. A method of evacuating and sealing the x-ray tube by drawing a vacuum on the x-ray tube through an inner tube of dual emitter tubes, then pinching the inner tube to seal off the enclosure and to maintain a vacuum therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Barnum, Dustin Peterson, Eric Miller, Eric Draper, Jon Barron
  • Patent number: 8976932
    Abstract: In an X-ray generator using an ultraviolet laser, the generation of the X-ray is stabilized. In an X-ray generation method for irradiating an ultraviolet laser beam emitted from an ultraviolet laser beam generator on an ultraviolet laser beam receiving surface of an electron beam emitting device, irradiating an electron beam emitted from an electron beam emitting surface of the electron beam emitting device distinguished from the ultraviolet laser beam receiving surface on a metal piece and generating an X-ray from the metal piece, denaturalization of substance of the ultraviolet laser beam receiving surface is prevented by controlling the ultraviolet laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: BSR Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ishida
  • Publication number: 20150043713
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a target on which electrons impinge to form a diverging x-ray beam. The target has a surface formed from first and second target materials, each tailored to emit a respective x-ray energy profile. A first x-ray optic may be provided for directing the beam toward the sample spot, the first x-ray optic monochromating the diverging x-ray beam to a first energy from the energy emitted by the first target material; and a second x-ray optic may be provided, for directing the beam toward the sample spot, the second x-ray optic monochromating the diverging x-ray beam to a second energy from the energy emitted by the second target material. Fluorescence from the sample spot induced by the first and second monochromated energies is used to measure the concentration of at least one element in the sample, or separately measure elements in a coating and underlying substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: X-RAY OPTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Zewu Chen
  • Patent number: 8948344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general, in particular, it relates to an anode disk element (1) for an X-ray generating device (21). The generation of electromagnetic radiation may be considered to be quite inefficient, since a substantial part of energy applied to a focal track is converted to heat rather than X-radiation. Thus, a limiting factor in the operation of X-ray tubes is the cooling of the anode element and more specifically the focal track. In the present invention, an anode disk element is provided, with an improved dissipation of heat from the focal track. Thus, the anode disk element may sustain increased heat while maintaining structural integrity. The anode disk element (1) comprises at least a first surface (2) and a second surface (3), with the first surface (2) comprising a focal track (4) and the second surface (3) comprising a conductive coating (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Kraft, Gerald James Carlson, Paul Xu
  • Patent number: 8948345
    Abstract: A high voltage sensing resistor disposed on a cylinder that at least partially surrounds an evacuated enclosure of an x-ray tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Dongbing Wang
  • Patent number: 8942353
    Abstract: A system and method for x-ray tube components is disclosed. The method of fabricating an x-ray tube component includes providing a powder into an electrically conductive die constructed to have a cavity shaped as the x-ray tube component being fabricated and simultaneously applying a mechanical pressure and an electric field to the die so as to cause sintering of the powder and thereby fabricate the x-ray tube component, wherein the electric field applied to the die directly passes through the die to the powder, so as to generate heat internally within the powder responsive to the applied electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Carson Tiearney, Jr., Gregory Alan Steinlage, Kirk Alan Rogers, Ben David Poquette
  • Patent number: 8933420
    Abstract: A particle beam therapy system comprising a treatment table, a treatment table control unit and an irradiation control unit configured to output an instruction for controlling the treatment table control unit, an accelerator and a scanning electromagnet, wherein after the treatment table control unit controls the treatment table so as for a patient isocenter which is reference position of an affected area of a patient to move to a position of an irradiation isocenter which is set at a position which is closer to an irradiation nozzle than an equipment isocenter which is reference of positional relation of the irradiation nozzle and the treatment table, the irradiation control unit outputs an instruction for irradiating the patient with a particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ikeda, Hisashi Harada, Kazushi Hanakawa, Toshihiro Otani, Tadashi Katayose, Taizo Honda, Yukiko Yamada, Yuehu Pu
  • Patent number: 8923484
    Abstract: A motion correction system and method for motion correction for an x-ray tube is presented. One embodiment of the motion correction system includes a sensing unit coupled to an x-ray tube to determine a distance with which an impingement location of an electron beam generated by the x-ray tube deviates from a determined location due to motion of the x-ray tube. The motion correction system further includes a control unit coupled to the sensing unit to generate a control signal corresponding to the distance with which the impingement location of the electron beam deviates. Also, the motion correction system includes a deflection unit coupled to the control unit to steer the electron beam to the determined location based on the generated control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yun Zou, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Fengfeng Tao, Timothy Powers, Thomas Edmund Sjoberg
  • Publication number: 20140369469
    Abstract: In an X-ray generation apparatus of transmission type including an electron passage surrounded by and formed in an electron passage forming member, and generating an X-ray by colliding electrons having passed through the electron passage against a target, wherein the electron passage includes a secondary X-ray generation portion that generates an X-ray with collision of electrons reflected by the target against the secondary X-ray generation portion, the secondary X-ray generation portion and the target are arranged such that the X-ray generated with direct collision of the electrons against the target and the X-ray generated with the collision of the electrons reflected by the target against the secondary X-ray generation portion are both radiated to an outside, and an atomic number of a material of the electron passage forming member is larger than that of the target. X-ray generation efficiency is increased by effectively utilizing the electrons reflected by the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takao Ogura, Miki Tamura, Yasue Sato, Tamayo Hiroki
  • Publication number: 20140369467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation generating tube. The radiation generating tube includes an envelope including an insulating tubular member having at least two openings, a cathode connected to one of the openings of the insulating tubular member, and an anode connected to the other of the openings of the insulating tubular member. At least one of the cathode and the anode and the insulating tubular member are bonded at a bonded portion with an electrically conductive bonding member; and the bonded portion bonded with the electrically conductive bonding member is coated with a dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Koji Yamazaki, Yasue Sato, Kazuyuki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20140369470
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation generating tube in which an insulating tube is prevented from being damaged by heat generation of a target or an electron emitting source during drive. Extending portions extending along an outer periphery of an insulating tube are provided to a cathode and an anode, respectively, and the insulating tube is joined to the extending portions to enhance the strength of joint portions. At the same time, the insulating tube can be deformed easily by setting a tube wall thickness of the insulating tube at a central portion in a longitudinal direction to be smaller than a tube wall thickness of an opening end, and thus the concentration of thermal stress on the joint portions caused by an increase in temperature of the cathode and the anode is alleviated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noritaka Ukiyo, Yasue Sato, Yoshihiro Yanagisawa, Kazuhiro Sando
  • Publication number: 20140369471
    Abstract: A transmissive target includes a target layer configured to include target metal and generate X-ray when receiving electrons and a substrate configured to support the target layer and include carbon as a main component. A carbide region including carbide of the target metal and a non-carbide region including the target metal are disposed in a mixed manner on a boundary surface between the substrate and the target layer on a target layer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Takao Ogura, Shuji Yamada, Masatoshi Watanabe, Takeo Tsukamoto, Yoichi Ikarashi, Tadayuki Yoshitake