Abstract: An x-ray tube having an improved focusing arrangement is provided. The x-ray tube includes an evacuated envelope and an anode disposed within the envelope. A positive electrical potential, with respect to ground, is applied to the anode. A filamentary cathode emits an electron beam toward the anode. A first negative electrical potential, with respect to ground, is coupled to the filament and to an electrically conductive cathode body, which focuses the electron beam onto the anode at a focal spot, the focal spot having a length, corresponding to the length of the filament, and a width. The cathode body has an opening disposed therein and supports the filament in such opening. An electrode is insulatingly disposed in the opening of the body and applied with a negative electrical potential with respect to the first negative potential.

Abstract: An X-ray tube including a tubular envelope having rotatably mounted therein an anode target disc provided with an annular focal track made of X-ray emissive material having an atomic number greater than forty and coated with a heat absorbent layer having a thickness in the range of 2 to 50 micrometers and made of an elemental or a compound material, comprising one or more elements having respective atomic numbers no greater than thirty.

Abstract: An X-ray generator system having control circuitry disposed for applying a selected voltage between cathode and anode electrodes of an X-ray tube and for sending a selected current through the tube during an X-ray exposure, the control circuitry including a voltage indicator network disposed for subtracting from the selected voltage anticipated losses in accordance with the level of selected current to indicate prior to the initiation of the X-ray exposure the actual voltage that will be applied between the cathode and anode electrode during the X-ray exposure.

Abstract: A motor control system for a rotating anode type of X-ray tube comprising an axially rotatable rotor provided with a radially extended target disc, an electrically wound stator encircling a portion of the rotor, and a motor controller electrically connected to the stator. The motor controller includes circuitry for initially energizing the stator a predetermined interval of time to accelerate rotation of the rotor, and then periodically energizing and de-energizing the stator at a frequency to utilize the inertia of the rotor and the target disc in maintaining the rotation of the rotor when the stator is deenergized.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube comprising a sealed envelope having therein means for controllably liberating oxygen within the envelope, and an input screen including an oxygen conditioned layer of fluorescent material and an overlying layer of photoemissive material which may be oxidized to improve the photon-to-electron conversion efficiency of the input screen.A method of improving the conversion efficiency of an image intensifier tube input screen including the steps of exposing a layer of fluorescent material to oxygen prior to the deposition of an overlying layer of photoemissive material, and subsequently exposing the layer of photoemissive material to oxygen, if desired, after the tube envelope has been sealed.

Abstract: A soft X-ray lithography system including an X-ray tube having an evacuated and sealed-off envelope provided with an X-ray transparent window made of beryllium material and enclosing a rotatable anode target made of graphite material, the target having an annular sloped surface carrying a focal track layer made of titanium carbide material and having a focal spot area aligned with an electron emitting cathode to generate characteristic titanium K alpha X-rays which pass in a beam through the window, a mask aligned with the window and having transparent portions which transmit the beamed X-rays, and a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, for example, having a surface coated with a photoresist film disposed in alignment with the mask to have selected portions of the film irradiated by the X-rays transmitted through the transparent portions of the mask.

Abstract: An X-ray collimator comprising an X-ray shielded enclosure having aligned entrance and exit apertures for permitting passage of an X-ray beam, the exit aperture having a generally rectangular configuration defined by edges of two orthogonally disposed pairs of opposing rotatable exit shutter elements. Each of the exit shutter elements has a generally semi-cylindrical configuration and is concentrically disposed about a respective axis of rotation. Each pair of semi-cylindrical exit shutter elements is mounted for opposing rotatable movement within the other pair of semi-cylindrical exit shutter elements. The entrace aperture of the housing may be defined by two orthogonally disposed pairs of opposing shutter plates, one pair thereof being directly linked to an associated pair of semi-cylindrical exit shutter elements for corresponding movement therewith.

Abstract: A fluoroscopic table having a table top for supporting a patient for irradiation by X-rays generated by a source located beneath the table top, which X-rays are directed through the table top and patient to a receptor located above the patient, the receptor comprising a heavy image intensifier and spot filming device, for example, movable longitudinally and transversely of the table, and the X-ray source comprising a heavy X-ray generator and collimator which are movable as a unit longitudinally and transversely of the table for constant alignment with the receptor, the mountings for the receptor and source being separate from one another and the movements thereof being individually controlled by servo mechanisms whereby precise alignment is automatically achieved and maintained.

Abstract: An X-ray tube comprising a tubular envelop having rotatably mounted therein an anode target disc provided with a peripheral rim surface wherein a focal track groove is disposed, the groove including a focal spot area spaced from an electron emitting cathode which is associated with a beam-forming structure including an X-ray transparent window in a portion of the envelope aligned with the focal spot area.

Abstract: An X-ray tube including a tubular envelope having therein an anode target provided with a surface portion made of X-ray emissive material and with another surface portion coated with amorphous carbon material, and an electron emitting cathode disposed to beam electrons onto the surface portion of the target made of X-ray emissive material.

Abstract: A control system for rotating anode x-ray tubes comprising an x-ray tube including an anode rotated by a motor having mounted therein photoelectric means for sensing rotational movement of the anode, and circuit means electrically connected to the tube, the photoelectric means, and the motor for regulating operation of the tube and rotational speed of the motor in accordance with parameters selected for operation of the tube.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a radiographic camera, a bed for supporting a subject in view of the camera, and a display. The camera provides X and Y coordinate signals of each radiographic event. The position of the bed relative to the camera is altered sequentially between each of a sequence of images provided by the camera. The sequentially occurring images are presented on the display, each image being positioned on the display in correspondence with the location of the bed relative to the camera. The coordinates of each image point presented on the display is equal to the sum of the respective X and Y coordinate signals from the camera with X and Y coordinate signals defining the location of the bed relative to the camera. The camera is electronically decoupled from the display during a movement of the bed relative to the camera from one location to the next location to prevent a smearing effect and a zippering effect within a composite image presented on the display.

Abstract: A voltage divider comprising a coaxial array of spaced parallel, capacitive plates connected to one another by respective resistive elements disposed between the plates.

Abstract: A radiographic system comprising an X-ray source disposed to direct an X-ray beam through an adjustable shutter aperture in an aligned collimator and onto an image receptor in a holder located at a preselected distance from the source; and automatic means for preventing an X-ray exposure until prescribed operating conditions have been satisfied, the automatic means including read-only-memory means for storing the prescribed conditions therein and ascertaining whether or not the prescribed conditions have been met.

Abstract: An X-ray tube comprising an evacuated envelope having therein a plurality of anode target materials suitably disposed for bombardment by respective electron beams, either simultaneously or alternatively, each of the electron beams being independently variable with respect to one another.

Abstract: A rotating anode target for X-ray tubes comprising a substrate disc provided with an annular marginal portion having opposed bevel surfaces convergent toward an outer peripheral edge of the disc, one of the surfaces being coated with a layer of X-ray emissive material which extends around the peripheral edge and terminates in an annular feathered edge merging with the opposed bevel surface of the disc.

Abstract: An extended radiating aperture for X-rays is provided by means of a stationary target of an X-ray emissive metal positioned for uniform illumination by high speed electrons emanating from a cathode and accelerating through a difference of potential between the cathode and the target. The target is in the form of a relatively thin film which can be deposited on a substrate transparent to X-radiation. The substrate cools the target. The generator is advantageously utilized with a zone plate which provides a coding on a roentgenogram which is then decoded by an optical processor to form a visible image of an object being X-rayed. An alternative embodiment of the invention includes the use of an inclined transmissive target for enhanced monochromaticity to emitted radiation.

Abstract: A flexible cable termination for high voltage cables such as used in x-ray apparatus, which termination has an outside diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the cable, and has flexibility provided by encasing the cable wires in a flexible sheath which provides the cable termination assembly with the ability to be bent to relatively small curvatures, and further includes means for attaching the cable grounding braid to an encircling grounding terminal.

Abstract: An X-ray cassette holder having adjustable track means for slidably receiving a film cassette and positioning it longitudinally, the holder also including automatic clamping means locked in the open position and actuated by insertion of the cassette to close on opposing sides thereof for centering the cassette transversely in the holder.

Abstract: X-Ray tube monitoring apparatus comprising a shockproof housing having insulatingly disposed therein for electrical connection between the anode of an X-ray tube and a high voltage source a current sensing means which is operatively connected to opto-electronic means for transmitting a linearized light output signal corresponding to an anode current passing through the sensing means safely out of the shockproof housing to a relatively low voltage amplifying and display means.