With Electron Focusing Or Intensity Control Means Patents (Class 378/138)
  • Patent number: 11894209
    Abstract: A component part in a vacuum area of an X-ray tube with an opening through which an electron beam is guided. The component part includes a base body made of a first material, wherein the first material is a metal. Arranged on a surface forming the opening is a second material having an atomic number which is smaller than an atomic number of the first material. A target support is attached to an end of the component part. The target support supports a target which is aligned with a lens diaphragm formed at the end of the component part. The target support has a base body made of a first material which is a metal, and a second material formed on a surface of the base body that is selectively exposed to the electron beam and which extends between the target and the lens diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: COMET AG
    Inventor: André Schu
  • Patent number: 11875965
    Abstract: An X-ray tube includes an electron gun unit, a target that generates X-rays, and a vacuum housing unit. The vacuum housing unit has a metal housing unit for supporting the target and a bulb unit formed of an insulating material and connected to the metal housing unit. The electron gun unit has a focusing electrode portion at an end portion on an emission side of the electrons, the focusing electrode portion having a tubular shape for focusing the emitted electrons. In the electron gun unit, at least a part of the focusing electrode portion is supported by the bulb unit so as to be located in the metal housing unit. When viewed from an X-ray generation position on the target, the focusing electrode portion blocks a line of sight from the X-ray generation position to the bulb unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 11823860
    Abstract: An X-ray generating apparatus includes an electron gun, a target configured to generate X-rays by being irradiated with an electron beam emitted from the electron gun, and a controller configured to control a first mode for thinning the target by irradiating the target with an electron beam with a current adjusted within a first current range and a second mode for generating X-rays by irradiating the target with an electron beam with a current adjusted within a second current range. The first current range has a lower limit larger than an upper limit of the second current range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Ando
  • Patent number: 11791123
    Abstract: Provided is an X-ray tube which includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a target disposed in a lower portion of the second electrode, an emitter on the first electrode, a third electrode which is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and includes an opening at a position perpendicularly corresponding to the emitter, and a spacer provided on the third electrode and surrounding the second electrode. The spacer includes a first section located adjacent to the third electrode and a second section disposed on the first section. The spacer includes a ceramic insulator and conductive dopants dispersed within the ceramic insulator. A concentration of the conductive dopants in the first section of the spacer is greater than a concentration of the conductive dopants in the second section. The third electrode is in contact with the first section of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Yoon-Ho Song, Jun-Tae Kang, Jae-Woo Kim, Jin-Woo Jeong
  • Patent number: 11717139
    Abstract: A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel includes a power source, a light guide and a plasma target. In various embodiments, the light guide receives power from the power source. The light guide has a distal tip, and the light guide emits light energy in a direction away from the distal tip. The plasma target is spaced apart from the distal tip of the light guide by a target gap distance. The plasma target is configured to receive light energy from the light guide so that a plasma bubble is generated at the plasma target. The power source can be a laser and the light guide can be an optical fiber. In certain embodiments, the catheter system can also an inflatable balloon that encircles the distal tip of the light guide. The plasma target can be positioned within the inflatable balloon. The target gap distance can be greater than 1 ?m. The plasma target can have a target face that receives the light energy from the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: Bolt Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Massimini, Roger McGowan, Haiping Shao, Christopher A. Cook
  • Patent number: 11651927
    Abstract: An X-ray source including a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target in an interaction region of the X-ray source, an electron source adapted to provide an electron beam directed towards the interaction region, such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target to generate X-ray radiation, and an electron collector arranged at a distance downstream of the interaction region, as seen along a travel direction of the electron beam. The electron collector includes an impact portion configured to absorb electrons of the electron beam impinging thereon, and the impact portion is arranged so as to be oblique with respect to the travel direction of the electron beam at the impact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: EXCILLUM AB
    Inventors: Tomi Tuohimaa, Ulf Lundström, Björn Hansson
  • Patent number: 11615937
    Abstract: An emitter support structure for a field emission device, the emitter support structure includes: a support portion disposed to be moved in a direction of both ends of a vacuum chamber of the field emission device, and configured to support an emitter of the field emission device; a protruding portion formed at one end portion of the support portion which confronts a target of the field emission device, and to which the emitter is inserted and mounted; a slit formed in a circumference wall portion of the protruding portion in a height direction of the circumference wall portion; and a redundant brazing material groove formed in an outside of the protruding portion along the circumference wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Ochi, Rena Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11569055
    Abstract: Provided are a scanning-type X-ray source and an imaging system therefor. The scanning-type X-ray source comprises a vacuum cavity (1), wherein a cathode (2) and a plurality of anode target structures (3) are arranged in the vacuum cavity (1); a gate electrode (4) is arranged in a position, close to the cathode (2), in the vacuum cavity (1); a focusing electrode (5) is arranged in a position, close to the gate electrode (4), in the vacuum cavity (1); and a deflection coil (6) is arranged in a position, close to the gate electrode (4), at the outer periphery of the vacuum cavity (1). The scanning-type X-ray source generates electron beams by using cathode (2), controls the powering-on/off of the electron beams by the gate electrode (4), and the deflection coil (6) controls the direction of motion of the electron beams, so as to complete the switching between multiple focuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NANOVISION TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Zhili Cui, Jian Gao, Jinhui Xing
  • Patent number: 11562876
    Abstract: A system for generating X-ray beams from a liquid target includes a vacuum chamber, a diamond window assembly, an electron source, a target material flow system, and an X-ray detector/imager. An electron beam from the electron source travels through the diamond window assembly and into a dynamic target material of the flow system. Preferably, the dynamic target material is lead bismuth eutectic in a liquid state. Upon colliding with the dynamic target material, X-rays are generated. The generated X-rays exit through an X-ray exit window to be captured by the X-ray detector/imager. Since the dynamic target material is constantly in fluid motion within a pipeline of the flow system, the electron beam always has a new target area which is at a controlled operational temperature and thus, prevents overheating issues. By providing a small focus area for the electron beams, the overall imaging resolution of the X-rays is also improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Jihad Al-Sadah, Jafar Albinmousa
  • Patent number: 11437218
    Abstract: System and method for nanoscale X-ray imaging. The imaging system comprises an electron source configured to generate an electron beam along a first direction; an X-ray source comprising a thin film anode configured to receive the electron beam at an electron beam spot on the thin film anode, and to emit an X-ray beam substantially along the first direction from a portion of the thin film anode proximate the electron beam spot, such that the X-ray beam passes through the sample specimen. The imaging apparatus further comprises an X-ray detector configured to receive the X-ray beam that passes through the sample specimen. Some embodiments are directed to an electron source that is an electron column of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and is configured to focus the electron beam at the electron beam spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard C. Lanza, Berthold Klaus Paul Horn, Akintunde I. Akinwande, George Barbastathis, Rajiv Gupta
  • Patent number: 11404235
    Abstract: An x-ray generating unit includes an x-ray tube that is substantially transparent to x-rays and that defines a vacuum therein. A cathode is disposed within the x-ray tube and defines a plurality of spaced apart cavities. An anode is spaced apart from the cathode and includes a material that emits x-rays when impacted by electrons. A plurality of filaments is each disposed in a different one of the cavities defined by the cathode and each is electrically coupled to the cathode. Each filament emits a focused electron beam directed to a different predetermined spot on the anode upon application of a predetermined voltage between the cathode and the anode, thereby causing the anode to generate x-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: John Thomas Canazon
  • Patent number: 11373835
    Abstract: An X-ray tube of an embodiment includes an anode; and an electron emission device. In an embodiment, the electron emission device includes at least one electron emitter including at least one emission surface and at least one barrier grid, the at least one barrier grid being spaced apart from the at least one emission surface of the electron emitter and includes a definable number of individually controllable grid segments. According to an embodiment, at least one individually definable grid voltage is applicable to each of the grid segments. In a simple manner, an electron-emission device of an embodiment permits the image quality to be adjusted with minimal anode loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Deuringer, Joerg Freudenberger
  • Patent number: 11101097
    Abstract: A source for generating ionizing radiation and in particular x-rays, to an assembly includes a plurality of sources and to a process for producing the source. The source comprises: a vacuum chamber; a cathode that is able to emit an electron beam into the chamber; an anode that receives the electron beam and that comprises a target that is able to generate ionizing radiation from the energy received from the electron beam; an electrode that is placed in the vicinity of the cathode and that allows the electron beam to be focused; a stopper ensuring the seal tightness of the vacuum chamber; and a mechanical part that is made of dielectric and that forms a portion of the vacuum chamber; and the stopper is fastened to the mechanical part by means of a conductive brazing film that is used to electrically connect the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: Pascal Ponard
  • Patent number: 10971323
    Abstract: A solid X-ray target for generating X-ray radiation is disclosed. The X-ray target includes at least one material selected from a list including trivalent elements; and at least one material selected from a list including pentavalent elements, wherein a first one of the materials is capable of generating the X-ray radiation upon interaction with an electron beam, and a second one of the materials forms a compound with the first one of the materials. An X-ray source including such an X-ray target and an electron source is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: EXCILLUM AB
    Inventors: Björn Hansson, Andrii Sofiienko, Ulf Lundström
  • Patent number: 10930464
    Abstract: A method for generating X-ray radiation, the method including providing a liquid target in a chamber, directing an electron beam towards the liquid target such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target to generated X-ray radiation, estimating a number of particles produced from the interaction between the electron beam and the liquid target by measuring a number of positively charged particles in the chamber and eliminating a contribution from scattered electrons to the estimated number of particles, and controlling the electron beam, and/or a temperature in a region of the liquid target in which the electron beam interacts with the target, such that the estimated number of particles is below a predetermined limit. Also, a corresponding X-ray source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: EXCILLUM AB
    Inventors: Per Takman, Tomi Tuohimaa
  • Patent number: 10923307
    Abstract: An electron beam generator includes a cathode having a distal end portion emitting an electron beam, a first electrode accommodating the distal end portion, and a second electrode surrounding the first electrode when viewed from a direction along an emission axis of the electron beam. The first electrode has a first side wall surrounding the distal end portion. The second electrode has a second side wall separated from the first side wall and surrounding the first side wall. The first side wall is provided with a first opening portion allowing a first space surrounded by the first side wall and a second space between the first side wall and the second side wall to communicate with each other. The second electrode is provided with a second opening portion opening in the direction along the emission axis such that the second space and an external space communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yabushita, Atsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 10916401
    Abstract: An X-ray tube includes: an envelope that is a case; a cathode assembly that emits electrons in the envelope; and an anode including a first member of which at least a portion extends to the outside of the envelope, a second member that is provided in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the first member, comes into contact with the first member, and has a higher X-ray shielding performance than the first member, and a target that receives the electrons emitted from the cathode assembly and generates X-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Matsuura, Takeyasu Kobayashi, Shunsuke Kodaira
  • Patent number: 10895652
    Abstract: An object radiography apparatus includes a radiation source configured to generate and emit an electromagnetic radiation for radiographing an object, a detector device, which is arranged in such a way that the emitted electromagnetic radiation which passes at least partly through the object impinges at least proportionally on the detector device, and which is configured to generate a radiograph of the object. In addition to the detector device, a sensor arrangement is provided, which is configured to determine a radiation characteristic variable assigned to the radiation source. An evaluation unit is configured to determine or to receive a quality parameter of the detected radiograph, to evaluate the radiation characteristic variable and to make a statement about a state of the detector device and/or of the radiation source on the basis of the quality parameter and the radiation characteristic variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Erler
  • Patent number: 10617401
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, in part, to a scanning sufficiency apparatus that computes whether a handheld scanning device has scanned a volume for a sufficiently long time for there to be detections and then indicate to the user that the time is sufficient in 3-D rendered voxels. Also described is a hand held medical navigation apparatus with system and methods to map targets inside a patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ZITEO, INC.
    Inventors: Lucian Mihailescu, Michael J. Quinlan, Victor Arie Negut
  • Patent number: 10504680
    Abstract: An X-ray generation tube including a magnetic deflection portion configured to deflect an electron beam to reduce lines of magnetic force extending to the outside of the tube, where a subject is arranged, by placement of a magnetic shielding portion including a portion that is closer to an anode than the magnetic deflection portion in a tube axial direction and that is closer to the tube center axis than the magnetic deflection portion in a tube radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Tsujino, Yasuo Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10461727
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a plurality of short RF pulses. The system and method comprises a first circuit comprising a first power supply and a plurality of first networks for generating a first output signal in a form of a high voltage pedestal pulse supplied to a common node, and a second circuit comprising a second power supply and a plurality of second networks for generating a second output signal in a form of a high voltage short pulse which is supplied to the common node. The pedestal pulse passes through a blocking inductor before being combined with the short pulse at the common node, and the short pulse is stacked on top of the pedestal pulse to form a combined high voltage pulse. A low frequency magnetron is coupled to the common node for receiving the stacked combined high voltage pulse and generating a short RF pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: H6 SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Michael William Hunter
  • Patent number: 10453579
    Abstract: An X-ray generator capable of reliably reducing an X-ray focal spot size without depending on the focal spot size of an electron beam on a target. Providing, within the irradiation range of an electron beam B of a target laminated structure 3 comprising a target 2 and an X-ray irradiation window 1, a low X-ray absorptivity region 3a of localized low X-ray absorptivity in the irradiation direction of the electron beam B results in the suppression of emission to the outside of X-rays from among the X-rays generated as a result of the irradiation of the electron beam B onto the target 2 that are from regions other than the low X-ray absorptivity region 3a, and an X-ray focal spot of a size corresponding to the size of the low X-ray absorptivity region 3a is obtained regardless of the size of the irradiation region of the electron beam B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Miyaoka
  • Patent number: 10149988
    Abstract: An x-ray apparatus includes a source configured to generate electrons, a target configured to produce x-rays upon impingement of electrons, and a detector configured to detect electrons penetrating the target or reflected from the incident face of the target, indicative of damage to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond D. McIntyre
  • Patent number: 9922793
    Abstract: An image capture device and an x-ray emitting device are introduced comprising an electron receiving construct and an electron emitting construct separated by a spacer. The electron receiving construct comprises a faceplate, an anode and an inward facing photoconductor. The electron emitting construct comprises: a backplate; a substrate; a cathode; a plurality of field emission type electron sources arranged in an array; a stratified resistive layer between the field emission type electron source and the cathode; a gate electrode; a focus structure and a gate electrode support structure configured to support the gate electrode at a required cathode-gate spacing from the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hori, Hitoshi Masuya, Hidenori Kenmotsu
  • Patent number: 9831060
    Abstract: Heat dissipation of a target is enhanced in a transmissive X-ray generating apparatus where an anode member constitutes a part of a container. An anode member configured to hold a target is divided into an outer anode member, which is configured to hold the target and is connected to a container, and an inner anode member, which is joined to an insulating tube and is closer to an electron emitting portion than the outer anode member is. The outer circumferential surface of the inner anode member is joined to the outer anode member via a joining member. Heat generated by the electron emitting portion is dissipated mainly from the inner anode member via the insulating tube, or directly, to an insulating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junya Kawase
  • Patent number: 9741524
    Abstract: Heat dissipation of a target is enhanced in a transmissive X-ray generating apparatus where an anode member constitutes a part of a container. An anode member configured to hold a target is divided into an outer anode member, which is configured to hold the target and is connected to a container, and an inner anode member, which is joined to an insulating tube and is closer to an electron emitting portion than the outer anode member is. The outer circumferential surface of the inner anode member is joined to the outer anode member via a joining member. Heat generated by the electron emitting portion is dissipated mainly from the inner anode member via the insulating tube, or directly, to an insulating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junya Kawase
  • Patent number: 9666322
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an X-ray tube, X-ray optics, one or more coils and control circuitry. The X-ray tube is configured to direct an electron beam onto an anode so as to emit an X-ray beam. The X-ray optics which configured to receive the X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray tube and to direct the X-ray beam onto a target. The coils are configured to steer the electron beam in the X-ray tube using electrical currents flowing through the coils. The control circuitry is configured to compensate for misalignment between the X-ray tube and the X-ray optics by analyzing the X-ray beam output by the X-ray optics, and setting the electrical currents based on the analyzed X-ray beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BRUKER JV ISRAEL LTD
    Inventors: Isaac Mazor, Asher Peled, Alex Brandt, Matthew Wormington
  • Patent number: 9577766
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a grid-controlled X-ray source, a space X-ray communication system and a space X-ray communication method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: XI'AN INSTITUTE OF OPTICS AND PRECISION MECHANICS OF CAS
    Inventors: Baosheng Zhao, Qiurong Yan, Lizhi Sheng, Yongan Liu
  • Patent number: 9453803
    Abstract: An X-ray radiography system for differential phase contrast imaging of an object under investigation by phase-stepping is provided. The X-ray radiography has an X-ray emitter for generating a beam path of quasi-coherent X-ray radiation, an X-ray image detector with pixels arranged in a matrix, and a diffraction or phase grating, in which the X-ray emitter has an X-ray tube with a cathode and an anode. The X-ray tube is constructed in such a way that an electron ray beam originating from the cathode is associated with focusing electronics which produce, from electrons which are incident on an anode, at least one linear-shaped electron fan beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Marcus Radicke
  • Patent number: 9271683
    Abstract: A radiation focal position detecting method for detecting a positional displacement of a focal point of a radiation source in a radiation tomographic imaging apparatus is provided. The method includes providing a radiation absorber that covers parts of first and second detecting element regions, the parts lying on mutually adjoining sides of the first and second detecting element regions in a radiation detector including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in channel and slice directions, and specifying, based on intensities of radiation detected by the detecting elements in the first and second detecting element regions, a position of the focal point or an amount of movement of the focal point from a reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Haruo Kurochi, Ikhlef Abdelaziz
  • Patent number: 9251995
    Abstract: A radiation generating tube 1 includes: an electron emitting source 3; a target 9 spaced from the electron emitting source 3, for generating radiation 11 responsive to irradiation with an electron beam from the electron emitting source 3; and a tubular shielding member 10 having an electron passing hole 8, wherein the electron passing hole 8 has an electron incident aperture at one end thereof and has a target supporting surface 9b supporting the target 9 at the other end thereof, wherein the target supporting surface 9b is connected through a brazing filler 14 to a periphery of a surface of the target at a side on which the electron is incident, and an opening size of the other end of the electron passing hole 8 is larger than an opening size of the electron incident aperture at the one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takao Ogura, Kazuyuki Ueda, Yasue Sato, Ichiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 9214312
    Abstract: An x-ray tube has a backscatter electron trap to prevent extra focal radiation caused by backscattered electrons from the focal spot from passing through the beam exit window to an exterior of the x-ray tube. The backscatter electron trap has a surface that faces the x-ray beam in the x-ray tube. No portion of that surface is visible both from an arbitrary point in the x-ray beam outside of the x-ray tube and from an arbitrary point at the focal spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Freudenberger, Lothar Werner
  • Patent number: 9208988
    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 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Rapiscan Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morton, Russell David Luggar, Paul De Antonis
  • Patent number: 9159524
    Abstract: The X-ray generating apparatus 100 applies an electron beam e1 onto a target 150 to generate X-rays x1, and includes a permanent magnet lens 120 configured to focus the electron beam e1, a correction coil 130 provided on a side of the electron beam e1 with respect to the permanent magnet lens 120 and configured to correct a focus position formed by the permanent magnet lens 120 in a traveling direction of the electron beam e1, and a target 150 onto which the focused electron beam is applied. Accordingly, the apparatus configuration can be extremely compact and lightweight in comparison with general apparatuses. Furthermore, by the correction coil 130, the intensity of the magnetic field can be finely adjusted and the focus position in the traveling direction of the electron beam e1 can be finely adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: RIGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Horvarth, Jiri Marsik, Ladislav Pina, Vaclav Jelinek, Naohisa Osaka, Kazuhiko Omote, Makoto Kambe, Licai Jiang, Bonglea Kim
  • Patent number: 9149242
    Abstract: A multi-source computed tomography system has a first x-ray source and a second x-ray source that are respectively optimized for different imaging procedures and can be used simultaneously in the multi-source CT system. The first x-ray source can be optimized for higher power short-term operation and the second x-ray source can be optimized for lower power, longer term operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Fritzler, Jan Matschulla
  • Patent number: 9153409
    Abstract: Issues related to maintaining the size of a focal spot on the target material of an X-ray source are addressed by linking the currents used in a magnetic focusing system employed in the X-ray source. The size of the focal spot on the target is less sensitive to current changes applied to the magnetic focusing system due to this linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Uwe Wiedmann, Antonio Caiafa, Dominique Poincloux
  • Patent number: 9142382
    Abstract: An x-ray source is described. During operation of the x-ray source, an electron source emits a beam of electrons. This beam of electrons is focused to a spot on a target by a magnetic focusing lens. In particular, the magnetic focusing lens includes an immersion lens in which a peak in a magnitude of an associated magnetic field occurs proximate to a plane of the target. Moreover, in response to receiving the beam of focused electrons, the target provides a transmission source of x-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss X-ray Microscopy, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Adler, Wenbing Yun, Thomas Anthony Case
  • Patent number: 9099280
    Abstract: An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes a cathode electrode which is disposed in one end of a vacuum container and includes an emitter emitting an electron; a gate electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container to be adjacent to the cathode electrode; an anode electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container of the other end of a direction in which the vacuum container extends and inclines with respect to the cathode electrode; and a focusing electrode which is disposed in the vacuum container along an inner circumference surface of the vacuum container between the gate electrode and the anode electrode. The focusing electrode has an opening of which a plan cross section has a maximum width and a minimum width different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jin Woo Jeong, Yoon-Ho Song, Sungyoul Choi, Jun Tae Kang, Jae-woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9093247
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a casing having a cathode and an anode enclosed therein, and a separator attached to an inner wall of the casing and having a conductance limiter therein, the separator positioned to separate the anode from the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carey Shawn Rogers, Richard Michael Roffers
  • Publication number: 20150117617
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube includes an anode target, a cathode including a filament and a convergence electrode which includes a groove portion, and an envelope. The groove portion includes a pair of first bottom surfaces which are located in the same plane as the filament and between which the filament is interposed in a width direction of the groove portion, and a pair of second bottom surfaces between which the filament and the pair of first bottom surfaces are interposed in a length direction of the groove portion and which are located closer to an opening of the groove portion than the pair of first bottom surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonari ISHIHARA, Naoki Akahori, Hidero Anno
  • Publication number: 20150110251
    Abstract: Issues related to maintaining the size of a focal spot on the target material of an X-ray source are addressed by linking the currents used in a magnetic focusing system employed in the X-ray source. The size of the focal spot on the target is less sensitive to current changes applied to the magnetic focusing system due to this linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Uwe Wiedmann, Antonio Caiafa, Dominique Poincloux
  • Publication number: 20150110252
    Abstract: We disclose a compact source for high brightness x-ray generation. The higher brightness is achieved through electron beam bombardment of multiple regions aligned with each other to achieve a linear accumulation of x-rays. This may be achieved by aligning discrete x-ray sources, or through the use of novel x-ray targets that comprise a number of microstructures of x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate with high thermal conductivity. This allows heat to be more efficiently drawn out of the x-ray generating material, and in turn allows bombardment of the x-ray generating material with higher electron density and/or higher energy electrons, leading to greater x-ray brightness. The orientation of the microstructures allows the use of an on-axis collection angle, allowing the accumulation of x-rays from several microstructures to be aligned to appear to have a single origin, also known as “zero-angle” x-ray emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Wenbing Yun, Sylvia Jia Yun Lewis, Janos Kirz, Alan Francis Lyon
  • Publication number: 20150092923
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an image capture device comprising an electron receiving construct and an electron emitting construct, and further comprising an inner gap providing an unobstructed space between the electron emitting construct and the electron receiving construct. The disclosure further relates to an x-ray emitting device comprising an x-ray emitting construct and an electron emitting construct, said x-ray emitting construct comprising an anode, the anode being an x-ray target, wherein the x-ray emitting device may comprise an inner gap providing an unobstructed space between the electron emitting construct and the x-ray emitting construct. The disclosure further relates to an x-ray imaging system comprising an image capture device and an x-ray emitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Koichi Iida, Hidenori Kenmotsu, Jun Yamazaki, Hitoshi Masuya
  • 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: 20150063540
    Abstract: An X-ray generator may comprise: an electron emission device comprising a plurality of electron emission units configured to emit electrons; an X-ray emission device configured to emit X-rays due to the electrons emitted from the electron emission device; and/or a parallel light extraction member configured to extract X-rays having directivity from among the X-rays emitted from the X-ray emission device and to allow the extracted X-rays having directivity to pass through the parallel light extraction member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Il-Hwan KIM, Yong-Chul KIM, Shang-Hyeun PARK, Tae-Won JEONG
  • Patent number: 8879690
    Abstract: Provided is an X-ray generator for generating X-rays from an X-ray focal point that is a region in which electrons emitted from a filament impinge upon a rotating anode. The X-ray generator has a Wehnelt electrode for surrounding the filament, an attachment part formed integrally with the Wehnelt electrode, a pedestal to which the attachment part is attached, and a casing for housing the pedestal and the anticathode. The width of the space in which the anticathode is housed by the casing is less than the width of the space in which the pedestal is housed by the casing. The Wehnelt electrode extends into the space in which the anticathode is housed by the casing, in a state in which the attachment part is attached to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Chaki, Koichi Kato, Masahiro Nonoguchi, Masashi Kageyama, Masaru Kuribayashi
  • Publication number: 20140314164
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a grid-controlled X-ray source, a space X-ray communication system and a space X-ray communication method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: XI'AN INSTITUTE OF OPTICS AND PRECISION MECHANICS OF CAS
    Inventors: Baosheng Zhao, Qiurong Yan, Lizhi Sheng, Yongan Liu
  • Publication number: 20140270081
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems for selectively inhibiting radiation from being generated by a radiation source are provided. A radiation source comprises an electrically conductive gate situated between a cathode and an anode. When a voltage potential is created between the gate and the cathode, a flow of electrons between the cathode and the anode is mitigated, thus inhibiting radiation from being generated by the radiation source. When the voltage potential is removed or lessened, electrons may more freely flow between the cathode and the anode to generate radiation. In some embodiments, a calibration, such as a dark calibration, may be performed while the gate mitigates the flow of electrons. Moreover, in some embodiments, an accelerating voltage applied to the radiation source may be held substantially constant when radiation is generated as well as when radiation generation is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: Smiths Heimann GmbH, Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Neil Urchuk, Stephen J. Quigley, Hans Weedon, Aissa Abdulmagid, Knut Beneke, Claus Meder, Dirk Naumann
  • Patent number: 8831179
    Abstract: During operation of an x-ray source, an electron source emits a beam of electrons. Moreover, a repositioning mechanism selectively repositions the beam of electrons on a surface of a target based on a feedback parameter, where a location of the beam of electrons on the surface of the target defines a spot size of x-rays output by the x-ray source. In response to receiving the beam of electrons, the target provides a transmission source of the x-rays. Furthermore, a beam-parameter detector provides the feedback parameter based on a physical characteristic associated with the beam of electrons and/or the x-rays output by the x-ray source. This physical characteristic may include: at least a portion of an optical spectrum emitted by the target, secondary electrons emitted by the target based on a cross-sectional shape of the beam of electrons; an intensity of the x-rays output by the target; and/or a current from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss X-Ray Microscopy, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Adler, Wenbing Yun, Thomas Anthony Case
  • Publication number: 20140247923
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an X-ray source having cooling and shielding functions. The X-ray source includes an X-ray generation unit (100) which has one or more insulation columns (160) and emits X-rays in a vacuum; a cooling unit (180) which is provided around a periphery of the X-ray generation unit and removes heat generated from the X-ray generation unit; and a shielding unit (190) which is provided around a periphery of the cooling unit and shields an area exposed to X-rays other than the areas related to the emission of the X-rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COOPERATION GROUP OF KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hun Kuk Park, Je Hwang Ryu, Kyu Chang Park