Abstract: The present invention relates to large area field emission devices based on the incorporation of macroscopic, microscopic, and nanoscopic field enhancement features and a designed forced current sharing matrix layer to enable a stable high-current density long-life field emission device. The present invention pertains to a wide range of field emission sources and is not limited to a specific field emission technology. The invention is described as an X-ray electron source but can be applied to any application requiring a high current density electron source.

Abstract: A device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.

Abstract: A device and method for creating controlled radio frequency (RF) modulated X-ray radiation is described. The device includes an anode housed within a vacuum enclosure which acts to accelerate and convert an electron beam into X-ray radiation. A RF enclosure is housed within the vacuum enclosure and houses a field emission device, such as a carbon nanotube field emission device or similar cold cathode field emission device. The field emission device is biased to emit the electron beam from a field emission cathode via an extraction electrode in the RF enclosure towards the anode. Additionally an RF impedance matching and coupling circuit is connected electrically to the field emission device. The field emission device is thus directly driven with a RF signal to produce an RF modulated electron current to produce an RF modulated X-ray radiation.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus comprises a digital X-ray detector housed in a radiation shielded enclosure with multiple pinhole apertures in the front panel of the housing. An X-ray source illuminates a target and X-rays are backscattered towards the X-ray imaging apparatus. The multiple pinhole apertures arranged in a pattern so that each pinhole generates a respective pinhole image on the X-ray detector. The size of each image is controlled by the thickness of the front panel and the width of the pinhole aperture (acting as optical stops), and the distance to the X-ray detector, and these values are selected to prevent overlap between any pair of pinhole images on the X-ray detector. An image processor is used to generate a synthetic combined image of the object form the multiple pinhole images.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile radiographic imaging apparatus including a component operable to emit radiation for imaging a subject, an arm rotatably connected at a proximal end thereof to a body section of the apparatus, such that it is supported by the body section and can slew relative to the body section about an upright axis, and to a distal end of which said component is connected, and a generator assembly arranged in the body section and including a generator arranged in the casing and electrically connected to said component, the apparatus being configured such that the generator assembly rotates with the arm, about said axis, wherein the generator assembly has a centre of mass which is radially offset from said axis in a second direction that is substantially opposite to said first direction.

Abstract: An articulated arm to suspend an X-ray head from a support section in a radiographic imaging apparatus comprising two pairs of linkages separated and joined to an intermediate linkage wherein the proximal end of the first pair of linkages is connected to the support section and the distal end of the second pair of linkages is connected to the X-ray head, and further wherein the linkages in the first pair of linkages are parallel and rotatable about the connection to the support section, the linkages in the second pair of linkages are parallel and rotatable about the intermediate linkage, and whereby a rotational orientation of a mounting for the X-ray head about an axis which is parallel to the axes about which the first pair of linkages are rotatable remains constant when the first pair of linkages is rotated relative to the support section and/or the second pair of linkages is rotated relative to the intermediate linkage.