Rotary Patents (Class 378/144)
  • Patent number: 11594394
    Abstract: An x-ray micro-beam radiation production system is provided having: a source of accelerated electrons, an electron focusing component configured to focus the electrons provided by the source, and a target which produces x-rays when electrons impinge thereon from the source. The electron focusing component is configured to focus the electrons provided by the source such that they impinge at a focal spot having a width ? formed on a surface of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Institute of Cancer Research: Royal Cancer Hospital
    Inventors: Stefan Bartzsch, Uwe Oelfke
  • Patent number: 11545332
    Abstract: Technology is described for an anode including a substrate, a target, and an anode shield. The substrate including a substrate material includes a first portion with a first cross-sectional dimension, and a second portion with a second cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension. The target includes a target material attached to a first surface of the first portion of the substrate. The anode shield includes a shield material attached to a second surface of the second portion of the substrate, and the substrate material differs from the target material and the shield material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Miller, Gregory C. Andrews
  • Patent number: 11469071
    Abstract: The rotatable anode of a rotating anode X-ray source has demanding requirements placed upon it. For example, it may rotate at a frequency as high as 200 Hz. X-ray emission is stimulated by applying a large voltage to the cathode, causing electrons to collide with the focal track. The focal spot generated at the electron impact position may have a peak temperature between 2000° C. and 3000° C. The constant rotation of the rotating anode protects the focal track to some extent, however the average temperature of the focal track immediately following a CT acquisition protocol may still be around 1500° C. Therefore, demanding requirements are placed upon the design of the rotating anode. The present application proposes a multi-layer coating for the target region of a rotating X-ray anode which improves mechanical resilience and thermal resilience, whilst reducing the amount of expensive refractory metals required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Rolf Karl Otto Behling, Christoph Helmut Bathe, Wolfgang Chrost
  • Patent number: 10968768
    Abstract: A turbocharger (1) with variable turbine geometry (VTG). A multiplicity of guide vanes (7) each have a vane shaft (8) mounted in the vane bearing ring (6). An adjusting ring (5) is operatively connected to the guide vanes (7) by way of associated vane levers (20) which are fastened to the vane shafts (8) at one of their ends. Each vane lever (20) has, at the other end, a lever head (23) which can be placed in engagement with an associated engagement recess (24) of the adjusting ring (5). An actuation device (11) has an inner lever (26) which is arranged in the turbine housing (2) and which is connected by means of an adjustment pin (25) to the adjusting ring (5). The adjustment pin (25) has a welding bolt (27) on which a wear-resistant sleeve (28) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Ramb
  • Patent number: 10943759
    Abstract: An X-ray tube includes a vacuum housing, an electron gun, and an anode that includes a target emitting X-rays and a target supporting portion supporting the target. The target supporting portion has an anode main body portion and a protrusion portion including a side surface portion. The anode main body portion includes an outer circumferential surface extending in a direction of a tube axis, and a connection portion formed between the side surface portion of the protrusion portion and the outer circumferential surface. An angle formed by the outer circumferential surface and the connection portion is an obtuse angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishii, Ryosuke Yabushita, Tutomu Inazuru
  • Patent number: 10825636
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electron antenna as an anode for a micro- or nano-focus X-ray generation comprising an antenna base and an antenna element arranged on the antenna base such that the antenna element protrudes from a front surface of the antenna base, wherein the antenna is arranged to guide and attract the electrons in its vicinity to the top the antenna element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Luxbright AB
    Inventor: Qiu-Hong Hu
  • Patent number: 10431415
    Abstract: In the present invention, a cathode is formed with one or more emitters energized to emit electrons that are accelerated towards an anode or target spaced from the cathode. Between the cathode and the target is disposed an ion barrier electrode defining an aperture therein disposed in alignment with the emitters to enable the electron beam to pass through the electrode. The barrier electrode is operably connected to a voltage supply to positively bias the barrier electrode, and the barrier electrode is shaped to minimize the required supply voltage. This positive voltage bias creates a positive potential barrier across the electrode sufficient to repel positive ions generated by the electron beam, protecting the cathode from contact with the ions and increasing the stability of the focal spot generated by the tube by maintaining the ions within the drift region between the ion barrier and the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sergio Lemaitre
  • Patent number: 10418222
    Abstract: A radiation emitting target, a radiation generating device, and a radiography system are provided in which adhesion between a target layer and a diamond substrate is improved and stable radiation emitting properties are exhibited. A transmission type target includes a target layer, a carbon-containing region including sp2 bonds, and a diamond substrate that supports the target layer. The carbon-containing region is positioned between the target layer and the diamond substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Yamada, Tatsuya Suzuki, Takeo Tsukamoto, Yoichi Ikarashi, Tadayuki Yoshitake, Takao Ogura
  • Patent number: 10254436
    Abstract: A scanning system, corresponding bracket and method are for scanning an object. The system has a frame defining a scanning chamber in which the object to be scanned is placed. The system also has a displacement assembly which displaces the object into and out of the scanning chamber. The system can also have a source which emits electromagnetic radiation or X-rays against the object within the scanning chamber such that the EM radiation passes through the object. The system can also have detectors arranged around the scanning chamber which detect the EM radiation which passes through the object. Each of the detectors forms a detector angle with a plane which can vary from one detector to the next. Similarly, the source can form an angle with the horizontal plane. The system, bracket, and method allow for the production of representative three-dimensional views of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: VOTI INC.
    Inventors: William Awad, Simon Archambault
  • Patent number: 10056222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating anode (100) comprising: an outer ring compound (6) comprising a first carbon material with a first material property and carbon fibers substantially aligned to a contour of the outer ring compound (6), wherein the outer ring compound (6) is configured to mechanically stabilize the rotating anode (100); an intermediate ring compound (5) comprising a second carbon material with a second material property differing from the first material property; a inner disc compound (2) comprising a layered fiber structure and a third carbon material with a third material property differing from the first and the second material property, wherein the inner disc compound (2) and the intermediate ring compound (5) are configured to provide a thermally conductive interface between the intermediate ring compound (5) and the inner disc compound (2); and an interface compound (3) comprising a metallic or a semi-metallic material, wherein the interface compound is coupled to the intermedi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Klaus Bachmann, Hans Joachim Meys, Gereon Vogtmeier, Christoph Tobias Wirth
  • Patent number: 9139898
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a target for the generation of radiation of photons, protons or electrons by means of a laser, including: forming a support including first and second surfaces connected by openings, and forming in an enclosure a layer of material on the first surface by protecting the first surface with a protection element, injecting into the enclosure a gas of filling material, adjusting the pressure in the enclosure and the temperature of the support to form plugs of material in the openings of the support, and maintaining the temperature of the support and the pressure in the enclosure at values to maintain the plugs, followed by withdrawing the protection element from the first surface, and forming a layer of metallic material on the first surface of the support and on the plugs. The pressure and support temperature are then modified to remove the plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Perin
  • Patent number: 9053898
    Abstract: A method (100) creates a braze joint (58) between an anode plate (52) and a piece of graphite (56) of an x-ray tube (38). The method (100) includes receiving (102) the anode plate (52) and the piece of graphite (56). A barrier layer (66) and a braze layer (62) are arranged (104, 106, 108) between the anode plate (52) and the piece of graphite (56), where the barrier layer (66) is between the piece of graphite (56) and the brazing layer (62). The barrier layer (66) is heated (110) with the braze layer (62) to create the braze joint (58) between the anode plate (52) and the piece of graphite (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Charles Kraft, Ming-Wei Paul Xu, Min He, Gerald James Carlson
  • Patent number: 9036785
    Abstract: In a high-voltage apparatus according to this invention, a predetermined voltage is applied to a rotating anode after waiting until the number of rotations increases to such an extent that the rotating anode is not damaged. That is, X-rays of desired intensity are already outputted from a point of time when the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. Therefore, diagnosis can be performed immediately after the voltage is applied to the rotating anode. That is, unlike the prior art, there is no need to wait until X-ray intensity becomes suitable for diagnosis after X-ray emission is started, and there is no need to irradiate the patient with unnecessary X-rays. Therefore, the patient can be inhibited from being irradiated with excessive X-rays (with an improvement made in a response from when the operator gives instructions for starting fluoroscopy until emission of X-rays suitable for diagnosis).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tasuku Saito, Hideki Fujii
  • Patent number: 9031202
    Abstract: A rotary anode for a rotary anode X-ray tube has an anode disc with a supporting portion. A focal track is located in the vicinity of an outer diameter of the anode disc. The supporting portion has inhomogeneous material properties along a radial coordinate of the anode disc to provide a high mechanical load capacity in the area of an inner diameter of the anode disc and a high thermal load capacity at the focal track. These measures provide for a rotary anode for a rotary anode X-ray tube that meets the extreme thermal and mechanical loads during operation. Further, a method for manufacturing such a rotary anode is described as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Plansee SE
    Inventors: Ulrich Hove, Zoryana Terletska, Christoph Bathe, Peter Rödhammer, Jürgen Schatte, Wolfgang Glatz, Thomas Müller
  • Publication number: 20150103978
    Abstract: An anode 30 for an X-ray tube 10 comprising at least a stem 29 for rotary supporting the anode 30 and a disc 34, being coaxially attached to the stem 29 and having a peripheral target area 32 as target for an electron beam 27 on its frontal side, can be efficiently cooled if the anode 30 has at least one cavity extending into the disc 34 and in particular, if the cavity has a coating 50 of at least one inorganic salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Ki CHAN
  • Patent number: 8964941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing system (1) for a rotary anode (24) of an X-ray tube (23). The bearing system comprises a shaft (2) for supporting the rotary anode (24), the shaft being surrounded by two swash rings (7). Further, a gimbal ring (4) surrounding the shaft (2) and being arranged in between the two swash rings (7) is provided. This gimbal ring (4) is hingeably connected with the shaft (2) such that the gimbal ring (4) is tiltable relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft (2). Further, the invention relates to an X-ray tube (19) and an imaging system (15) having such a bearing system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Volker Onken
  • Publication number: 20150023473
    Abstract: A rotating x-ray anode has an annular focal track. The surface of the focal track has a directed ground structure. Over the circumference of the annular focal track and over the radial extent of the focal track, the alignment of the ground structure is inclined relative to a tangential reference direction in the respective surface portion in each case by an angle that lies in the range from 15°, including, up to and including 90°. A corresponding method for producing a rotating x-ray anode is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Rödhammer, Jürgen Schatte, Wolfgang Glatz, Thomas Müller
  • Patent number: 8923485
    Abstract: An anode disk element for the generation of X-rays that provides improved dissipation of heat from a focal track includes an anisotropic thermal conductivity. The anode disk element includes a focal track and at least one heat dissipating element. The anode disk element is rotatable about a rotational axis with the focal track being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis. The at least one heat dissipating element is configured for heat dissipation from the focal track in the direction of reduced thermal conductivity of the anode disk element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Kraft, Gerald J. Carlson, Paul Xu
  • Publication number: 20140348301
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of acquiring a plurality of focal spots for X-rays. The method includes radiating an electron beam from a cathode of a magnetic field generating apparatus toward a movable anode of the magnetic field generating apparatus, and irradiating a target with an X-ray that is produced from the radiated electron beam by the anode. The anode comprises an inclined side in which a part of the inclined side protrudes, and the plurality of focal spots for X-rays are acquired based on the radiated electron beam and the inclined side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Jae-sung Lee, Ki-yeo Kim, Ja-woo Lee, Min-kook Cho, Byung-sun Choi
  • Patent number: 8897420
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a cathode adapted to emit electrons, a bearing assembly comprising a rotatable shaft having a rotor hub, a target assembly attached to the rotatable shaft and positioned to receive the emitted electrons in order to generate x-rays therefrom, a rotor attached to the rotor hub at an attachment face, wherein the attachment face comprises a first material compressed against a second material, and a first anti-wear coating attached to one of the first material and the second material and positioned between the first material and the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Strider Hunt, Andrew Thomas Triscari
  • Publication number: 20140334606
    Abstract: A high-temperature-resistant composite body is formed by joining over an area of a first, nonmetallic section via a bonding solder layer to a second, metallic section composed of Mo, an Mo-based alloy, W or a W-based alloy. A first arrangement composed of the first section, a first Zr solder and an intermediate layer is firstly soldered together in a first soldering step. A second arrangement of the resulting partial composite body, a second solder adjoining the intermediate layer and the second section is subsequently soldered together in a second soldering step. The intermediate layer at least 90 atom % of at least one of the elements Ta, Nb, W. The second solder is formed by precisely one material selected from Ti, Ti-based solder combination, V-based solder combination, Zr or Zr-based solder combination and it melts at a lower temperature than the first Zr solder in the second arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Mueller, Klaus Ennemoser, Wolfgang Glatz, Andreas Menhard
  • Publication number: 20140307853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modulating a generated X-ray beam. In order to provide an increased, i.e. faster, periodic modulation of the X-ray intensity, an anode disk (28) for a rotating anode in an X-ray tube for modulating a generated X-ray beam is provided, the anode disk comprising a circumferential target area (34) with a target surface area, a focal track centre line (38), and a beam-dump surface area. The target surface area is provided such that, when being hit by an electron beam, X-rays for X-ray imaging can be generated; and the beam-dump surface area is provided such that, when being hit by an electron beam, no useful X-rays for X-ray imaging can be generated. The target surface area comprises a plurality of target portions (80,82), and the beam-dump surface area comprises a plurality of beam-dump portions (88).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Patent number: 8654928
    Abstract: A target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate comprising molybdenum and having a beveled surface according to a desired track angle, a track comprising tungsten and configured to generate x-rays from high-energy electrons impinging thereon, wherein the track comprises a brazing surface having an area that is less than an area of the beveled surface of the target substrate, and a braze joint attaching the brazing surface of the track to the beveled surface of the target substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
  • Publication number: 20130308758
    Abstract: A rotary X-ray anode has a support body and a focal track formed on the support body. The support body and the focal track are produced as a composite by powder metallurgy. The support body is formed from molybdenum or a molybdenum-based alloy and the focal track is formed from tungsten or a tungsten-based alloy. Here, in the conclusively heat-treated rotary X-ray anode, at least one portion of the focal track is located in a non-recrystallized and/or in a partially recrystallized structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: PLANSEE SE
    Inventors: Johann Eiter, Jürgen Schatte, Wolfgang Glatz, Wolfram Knabl, Gerhard Leichtfried, Stefan Schönauer
  • Patent number: 8582723
    Abstract: In a rotatable anode (4) of an X-ray tube, a heat transfer between the rotating disc of the anode (4a) and the second bearing element (11) is achieved by providing a contact material (14) within a gap (16a, b) between the anode disc (4a) and the second bearing element (11). Contact elements (15) protrude from the second bearing element (11) into the contact material (14), thus allowing a heat transfer from anode disc (4a) to second bearing element (11) via contact material (14) and contact element (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Rolf Karl Otto Behling, Michael Lübcke, Christoph Bathe, Wolfgang Chrost
  • Patent number: 8553843
    Abstract: The present invention refers to hybrid anode disk structures for use in X-ray tubes of the rotary anode type and is concerned more particularly with a novel light weight anode disk structure (RA) which comprises an adhesion promoting protective silicon carbide (SiC) interlayer (SCI) deposited onto a rotary X-ray tube's anode target (AT), wherein the latter may e.g. be made of a carbon-carbon composite substrate (SUB?). Moreover, a manufacturing method for robustly attaching a coating layer (CL) consisting of a high-Z material (e.g. a layer made of a tungsten-rhenium alloy) on the surface of said anode target is provided, whereupon according to said method it may be foreseen to apply a refractory metal overcoating layer (RML), such as given e.g. by a tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), vanadium (V) or rhenium (Re) layer, to the silicon carbide interlayer (SCI) prior to the deposition of the tungsten-rhenium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Michael David Drory
  • Patent number: 8523448
    Abstract: An X-ray tube bearing includes an outer housing having an axial bore, a shaft at least partially received within the axial bore, a first outer ring positioned within the axial bore and surrounding a first portion of the shaft, and a second outer ring at least partially received within the axial bore and surrounding a second portion of the shaft. The second outer ring includes a radially outwardly extending flange engaged with the outer housing to limit the extent to which the second outer ring is received within the axial bore. The X-ray tube bearing also includes a first biasing member biasing the flange into engagement with the outer housing, and a second biasing member positioned within the axial bore for exerting an axial preload force between the first and second outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Frank Damato
  • Patent number: 8520803
    Abstract: The present invention refers to X-ray tubes for use in imaging applications with an improved power rating and more particularly, to a multi-segment anode target (102?) for an X-ray based scanner system using an X-ray tube of the rotary anode type; the X-ray tube including a rotatably supported essentially disk-shaped rotary anode (102) with an anode target (102?) for emitting X-radiation when being exposed to an electron beam (105a) incident on a surface of the anode target (102?), wherein the rotary anode disk (102) is divided into at least two anode disk segments (102a and 102b) having a conical surface inclined by a distinct acute angle (?) with respect to a plane normal to the rotational axis (103) of the rotary anode disk (102), thus having its own focal track width. An advantage of the invention consists in an enhanced image quality compared to conventional rotary anodes as known from the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Publication number: 20130208871
    Abstract: An x-ray arrangement includes a vacuum container in, which a rotary anode and a rotor of an electrical machine are disposed. The rotary anode and the rotor have a torque-proof connection to one another and are rotatably supported in the vacuum container, so that the rotary anode and the rotor are rotatable around an axis of rotation. Viewed in a direction of the axis of rotation, a laminated stator core is disposed in an area of the rotor. The area of the rotor, in relation to the axis of rotation, surrounds the vacuum container radially outwards. A stator winding system is disposed in the laminated stator core. The stator winding system has windings embodied as a yoke winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Baral, Andreas Rohrmoser, Carsten Voss, Thomas Weidinger
  • Patent number: 8509386
    Abstract: In one example, an x-ray target comprises a target track, a substrate, and an optional backing. The target track includes a base material and a grain growth inhibitor to reduce or prevent microstructure grain growth in the base material. The target track can be included as part of an x-ray tube anode, either of a rotary form or a stationary form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. K. Lee, John E. Postman
  • Patent number: 8483361
    Abstract: Anode targets for an x-ray tube and methods for controlling x-ray tubes for x-ray systems are provided. One x-ray system includes a field-generator configured to generate a field, an electron beam generator configured to generate an electron beam directed towards a target and a voltage controller configured to control the electron beam generator to produce an electron beam at a first energy level and an electron beam at a second energy level. The x-ray system also includes a field-generator controller configured to control a field to deflect at least one of the electron beams, wherein the electron beam, at the first energy level, impinges on the target at a first contact position and the electron beam, at the second energy level, impinges on the target at a second contact position. The at the first contact position and at the second contact position is configured to filter x-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paavana Sainath, Xiaoye Wu, Girijesh K. Yadava
  • Publication number: 20130170624
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Jörg Freudenberger, Stefan Lampenscherf, Wolfgang Schäff, Steffen Walter
  • Patent number: 8428222
    Abstract: An x-ray tube target and method of repairing a damaged x-ray tube target. The x-ray tube target includes an original substrate and a portion of the original substrate that includes a new portion of a substrate and a new target track that is attached to a void in the original substrate. The method includes removal and replacement of damaged materials on used anode targets of x-ray tubes, thereby enabling recovery of used anode targets without the use of expensive and time consuming layer deposition methods. The method also avoids the high costs and long development cycles associated with known repair and refabrication methods for anode targets of x-ray tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Scott Hebert
  • Patent number: 8426834
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating EUV radiation from a gas discharge plasma. The object of the invention, to generate EUV radiation from a gas discharge plasma by with is optimized conversion efficiency of the EUV emission while locally limiting the electric discharge channel, is met in that a channel-generating beam of pulsed high-energy radiation is supplied in at least two partial beams which are focused in a pulse-synchronized manner into a superposition region along a spacing axis between the electrodes, and an electrically conductive discharge channel is generated along the superposition region due to an ionization at least of a buffer gas present in the discharge space, wherein the pulsed high-energy radiation of the channel-generating beam is triggered in such a way that the discharge channel is generated before a discharge current pulse has reached its maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: XTREME technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Kleinschmidt
  • Publication number: 20130070904
    Abstract: A rotary anode for an X-ray tube includes a ceramic base body that carries a focal path for emitting X-rays during electron irradiation. The ceramic base body is made of a mixture of silicon carbide and at least one high temperature-resistant diboride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Joerg Freudenberger, Stefan Lampenscherf, Gia Khanh Pham, Steffen Walter
  • Patent number: 8280008
    Abstract: Described is an X-ray rotating anode plate having a base and X-ray active layer having the described acceptable properties and a method for producing same. The base comprises carbon nanoparticles in quasi-homogeneous spatial distribution. Carbon nanoparticles can be selected from among carbon nanotubes, nano-graphite powder particles having a substantially spherical shape, and mixtures thereof. The inclusion of described additives improves the stability and heat conductivity of the base. With the described method, the starting materials for the base and X-ray active layer, and other optional materials which may form functional layer are compressed to a preselected shape in a pressing mold with simultaneous application of pressure, elevated temperature and varied electric currents, compressing the shape to a final density exhibiting high-strength diffusion bonds between these starting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: Hans-Henning Reis, Dieter Melzer
  • Patent number: 8243885
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray generator capable of preventing electric corrosion and exerting stable performance over long periods. The X-ray generator includes: a rotary anticathode having a rotary anticathode part and a shaft part; an anticathode accommodating case including an air-tight case part for keeping an area surrounding the rotary anticathode part in a vacuum atmosphere, and a journaling case part for rotatively supporting the shaft part via a bearing; and an electric motor to rotatably drive the anticathode (target). A water-cooled jacket, through which cooling water for cooling the rotary anticathode part and the shaft part flows, is provided in the rotary anticathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Bruker AXS K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Kawasaki, Yutaka Inari, Hiroshi Chiba
  • Patent number: 8227779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas discharge source, for generating EUV radiation and/or soft X-radiation, comprising at least two electrode bodies (110,120), of which a first electrode body (110) comprises a rotatably mounted electrode disk (100). The source further comprises a rotary drive (130) for the electrode disk, a device for applying a liquid film of a target material (140) onto a radial outer surface of the electrode disk (100), and a laser that is focussed, within a discharge area (240), onto the radial outer surface of the electrode disk (100) to evaporate target material. The source is characterized by an intermediate space (160) is formed between the electrode bodies, which intermediate space has a reduced width of <5 mm outside the discharge area (240), which is smaller than the intermediate space in the discharge area. The source enables the generated radiation to be emitted in a simple manner through a larger solid angle, without being shadowed by the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Jakob Willi Neff
  • Patent number: 8189742
    Abstract: A fast dose modulation using a z-deflection in a rotating anode or a rotating frame tube, where the electron beam is deflected from a first focal spot region to a second focal spot region being formed on the anode, wherein only the electromagnetic beam generated in the first focal spot region contributes to the useful electromagnetic exposure beam, wherein the second focal spot region is designed to avoid emission of electromagnetic beams into the direction of a useful electromagnetic beam direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
    Inventor: Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Patent number: 8165269
    Abstract: In one example, an x-ray target comprises a substrate, a target core, and a target track. The substrate and target core are attached together utilizing a carbide layer and a braze layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. K. Lee, John E. Postman
  • Patent number: 8149992
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an X-ray tube target. The X-ray tube target has a structure in which a carbon base material is bonded with an Mo base material or Mo alloy base material with a joint layer. The joint layer includes an MoNbTi diffusion phase, an NbTi alloy phase, an Nb-rich phase and a ZrNb alloy phase when the ratios of components in the joint layer are detected by EPMA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihisa Nitta, Shinichi Yamamoto, Hiromichi Horie
  • Patent number: 8126116
    Abstract: An anode plate for an X-ray tube includes an outer edge, a center region, and a plurality of slots disposed along the outer edge and extending toward the center region (210b) with each of the plurality of slots including a slot end. The anode plate further includes slot termination material disposed around a least a portion of the periphery of one or more of the slot ends, the slot termination material operable to reduce the tension stress or compression stress at the slot end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Christoph Bathe
  • Patent number: 8116432
    Abstract: A target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate comprising at least one layer of a target material, a track comprising at least one layer of a track material, the track configured to generate x-rays from high-energy electrons impinging thereon, and a braze joint attaching the target substrate to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Hebert
  • Patent number: 8102969
    Abstract: An x-ray device has a cathode aligned on a target region in a tube housing with a rotating anode unit. The rotating anode unit is borne to rotate around a rotational axis inside the tube housing. The rotating anode unit has a rotating anode plate with the target region and a shaft rotationally connected with the rotating anode plate. A magnetic bearing supports the shaft without contact in the tube housing. The rotating anode plate has an axial extension facing away from the shaft. The axial extension dips into a fluid-filled receptacle space of the tube housing for heat dissipation. Such an x-ray device allows high rotation speeds of the rotating anode unit, and thus a high operational power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Herbert Bittl
  • Publication number: 20110311028
    Abstract: An x-ray tube rotating anode. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube rotating anode includes a hub configured to attach to a bearing assembly, rings positioned radially outward from the hub, bridges connecting the rings together, annular ring fins each attached to one of the rings, a focal track positioned radially outward from the annular ring fins, and annular focal track fins attached to the focal track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Todd S. Parker
  • Patent number: 8059785
    Abstract: The x-ray target assemblies have an oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) refractory metal alloy substrate that is bonded to a carbon-containing heat sink. The x-ray target assemblies have excellent bonding between the substrate and the heat sink. The improved bonding is achieved by placing an oxide-free barrier layer between the ODS metal substrate and the heat sink. The oxide-free barrier layer minimizes or eliminates chemical reactions that would otherwise be possible between the dispersed oxides and the carbon-based heat sink during the manufacturing process. Preventing these undesired reactions while manufacturing the x-ray target assembly yields a device with improved bonding between the heat sink and the substrate, compared to devices manufactured without the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. K. Lee, John E. Postman
  • Publication number: 20110235784
    Abstract: The present invention refers to X-ray tubes of the rotary-anode type for generating a fan beam of X-rays. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a system and method for compensating a class of system-related disturbances of the focal spot position FS on a target area AT of the rotating anode RA and particularly for compensating the anode wobble in an X-ray tube XT of the aforementioned type, which occurs as a periodically wobbling inclination angle of the anode disk's rotational plane with respect to an ideal rotational plane (z=0) which is oriented normal to the rotational axis z of the rotary shaft S on which the anode disk RA is inclinedly mounted due to an inaccuracy during its production process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Rolf Karl Otto Behling
  • Patent number: 8027434
    Abstract: A rotating anticathode X-ray generating apparatus which is configured such that an X-ray is generated by an irradiation of an electron beam emitted from a cathode includes a rotating anticathode with an electron beam irradiating portion to generate the X-ray through the irradiation of the electron beam so that a direction of the electron beam is set equal to a direction of a centrifugal force caused by a rotation of the rotating anticathode; and a film for covering at least the electron beam irradiating portion so as to prevent an evaporation of a material making the rotating anticathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Sakabe
  • Publication number: 20110228905
    Abstract: In a rotatable anode (4) of an X-ray tube, a heat transfer between the rotating disc of the anode (4a) and the second bearing element (11) is achieved by providing a contact material (14) within a gap (16a, b) between the anode disc (4a) and the second bearing element (11). Contact elements (15) protrude from the second bearing element (11) into the contact material (14), thus allowing a heat transfer from anode disc (4a) to second bearing element (11) via contact material (14) and contact element (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Rolf Karl Otto Behling, Michael Luebcke, Christoph Bathe, Wolfgang Chrost
  • Patent number: 8014495
    Abstract: A rotating anode plate for rotating anode x-ray tubes, has a curved disc to be attached positively on a rotation center. The curved disc is formed of a material with high thermal shock resistance that is creep-resistant and simultaneously highly heat-conductive. Particularly suitable materials are ceramics made of silicon carbide (SiC) or alloys made of molybdenum-titanium-zirconium (TZM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eberhard Lenz