Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating X-ray pulses during X-ray imaging. A high voltage of an X-ray tube is automatically switched off. The tube voltage decays and upon reaching a predefined threshold value of the tube voltage or a predefined waiting time after switching off the high voltage, a grating voltage of a grating arranged between an emitter and an anode of the X-ray tube is automatically switched on. No electrons reach the anode from the emitter, and the tube current drops to the value zero.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating X-ray pulses during X-ray imaging. A high voltage of an X-ray tube is automatically switched off. The tube voltage decays and upon reaching a predefined threshold value of the tube voltage or a predefined waiting time after switching off the high voltage, a grating voltage of a grating arranged between an emitter and an anode of the X-ray tube is automatically switched on. No electrons reach the anode from the emitter, and the tube current drops to the value zero.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting x-ray quanta incident on a multi-pixel x-ray detector having a two-dimensional matrix composed of measurement-signal-generating pixels, wherein the multi-pixel x-ray detector is embodied as a direct solid-state detector, wherein the pixels, which generate a measurement signal within a predefined time interval and which in addition lie in a contiguous cluster composed of a plurality of pixels, are assigned to an event cluster by an evaluation unit and wherein their measurement signals are drawn upon for the purpose of approximating the position at which the x-ray quantum interacted with the multi-pixel x-ray detector.

Abstract: An X-ray detector of conventional design having photodiodes and scintillator material arranged thereon is able, given a suitable read-out frequency matching a low dose to which the flat-panel X-ray detector is subjected, to obtain images during each read-out operation, from which images the energy of individual X-ray quanta can be derived. An item of X-ray-spectrum information about pixels in a grid pattern can be obtained thereby.

Abstract: A sensor element is provided for conversion of x-radiation into an electrical measurement signal, the sensor element including an x-radiation-absorbing fluid arranged in a housing, and a pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure of the fluid on the pressure sensor and convert the detected pressure into an electrical measurement signal. A plurality of such sensor elements may be arranged in a matrix-type arrangement to form an x-ray detector.

Abstract: In order to optimize the recording time, provision is made of a method for recording an X-ray image using an X-ray system with an X-ray detector, an X-ray source, a system control, and a computational unit, wherein information relating to the relative direct radiation component in a reference X-ray image and information relating to the utilized recording geometry and/or the utilized primary X-ray dose and/or the utilized filtering is used to determine a relaxation time, during which a ghosting effect of the X-ray detector resulting from a preceding X-ray image decays at least in part, which relaxation time is adapted to the X-ray image to be recorded, and the determined relaxation time is utilized to actuate the recording of the X-ray image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to enable a simple installation of a sensor unit (in one example an intra-oral x-ray sensor) on a network. The sensor unit is preferably a sensor in the medical field, and it is provided that the sensor unit is itself fashioned as an access point and establishes its own network on which a computer automatically logs on in order to enable a data transfer between the sensor unit and the computer. Due to this measure no expertise is necessary for the installation of the sensor unit.

Abstract: An X-ray detector of conventional design having photodiodes and scintillator material arranged thereon is able, given a suitable read-out frequency matching a low dose to which the flat-panel X-ray detector is subjected, to obtain images during each read-out operation, from which images the energy of individual X-ray quanta can be derived. An item of X-ray-spectrum information about pixels in a grid pattern can be obtained thereby.

Abstract: A sensor element is provided for conversion of x-radiation into an electrical measurement signal, the sensor element including an x-radiation-absorbing fluid arranged in a housing, and a pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure of the fluid on the pressure sensor and convert the detected pressure into an electrical measurement signal. A plurality of such sensor elements may be arranged in a matrix-type arrangement to form an x-ray detector.

Abstract: In order to optimize the recording time, provision is made of a method for recording an X-ray image using an X-ray system with an X-ray detector, an X-ray source, a system control, and a computational unit, wherein information relating to the relative direct radiation component in a reference X-ray image and information relating to the utilized recording geometry and/or the utilized primary X-ray dose and/or the utilized filtering is used to determine a relaxation time, during which a ghosting effect of the X-ray detector resulting from a preceding X-ray image decays at least in part, which relaxation time is adapted to the X-ray image to be recorded, and the determined relaxation time is utilized to actuate the recording of the X-ray image.

Abstract: In a method for producing a parylene coating on a substrate containing an integrated electronic component which is e.g. an x-ray detector, the following steps are provided: vaporization of parylene; pyrolyzation of the vaporized parylene; polymerization of the pyrolyzed parylene, the polymerized parylene being deposited on a cooled substrate. The method provides controllable, patterned deposition of parylene on the cooled and/or heated substrate, the advantage being that x-ray converters, for example, can be anticorrosively encapsulated and a penetration depth of the parylene between phosphor needles or storage phosphor needles can be controlled, resulting in an improved resolution and improved modulation transfer function of electronic components.

Abstract: In a method for estimating the remaining life span of an X-ray radiator that has been installed in an X-ray apparatus and is operational, under specified test conditions and at time intervals, a measurement value that is indicative for the remaining life span of the X-ray radiator is determined and stored in a memory. A forecasted progression of future measurement values is then forecasted from the instantaneous measurement value and previous measurement values that were determined under identical test conditions, which also are stored in the memory. The forecasted remaining life span of the X-ray radiator is then determined based on the forecasted progression and a limit value that is associated with the individual X-ray radiator, which is stored in the memory.

Abstract: An x-ray detector has a light sensitive detector that is substantially transparent to x-rays, and has opposite sides that are permeated by incoming x-rays. At each of said opposite sides, a scintillator is arranged on the sensor that converts the incoming x-rays into light at each of said opposite sides.

Abstract: In a method for estimating the remaining life span of an X-ray radiator that has been installed in an X-ray apparatus and is operational, under specified test conditions and at time intervals, a measurement value that is indicative for the remaining life span of the X-ray radiator is determined and stored in a. A forecasted progression of future measurement values is then forecasted from the instantaneous measurement value and previous measurement values that were determined under identical test conditions, which also are stored in the memory. The forecasted remaining life span of the X-ray radiator is then determined based on the forecasted progression and a limit value that is associated with the individual X-ray radiator, which is stored in the memory. Alternatively or additionally, a characteristic curve that is associated with the measurement value and with the individual X-ray radiator is stored in the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to enable a simple installation of a sensor unit (in one example an intra-oral x-ray sensor) on a network. The sensor unit is preferably a sensor in the medical field, and it is provided that the sensor unit is itself fashioned as an access point and establishes its own network on which a computer automatically logs on in order to enable a data transfer between the sensor unit and the computer. Due to this measure no expertise is necessary for the installation of the sensor unit.

Abstract: In a method to detect the pressure in an x-ray tube having a cathode of the x-ray tube that is heated with a heater current, and wherein electrons are accelerated between the cathode and an anode by an applied x-ray tube voltage, the heater current is measured, a tube current corresponding to the tube -ray voltage is measured, the difference between the measured heater current and the measured tube current is determined or the temporal change of the measured heater current or of the measured tube current is determined, the difference or the temporal change is compared with predetermined calibration values, and a value representing the pressure in the x-ray tube is determined from the comparison.

Abstract: In a method to detect the pressure in an x-ray tube having a cathode of the x-ray tube that is heated with a heater current, and wherein electrons are accelerated between the cathode and an anode by an applied x-ray tube voltage, the heater current is measured, a tube current corresponding to the tube -ray voltage is measured, the difference between the measured heater current and the measured tube current is determined or the temporal change of the measured heater current or of the measured tube current is determined, the difference or the temporal change is compared with predetermined calibration values, and a value representing the pressure in the x-ray tube is determined from the comparison.

Abstract: A directly thermionic flat emitter is presented whose emitting surface contains meandering conductor tracks. The conductor tracks are formed by slots in the emitting surface. The slots are arranged as claimed in a pattern of cuts which comprises a multiplicity of straight slots (3; 8, 9) which run at least transverse to the course of the main current direction and are arranged in a plurality of rows offset from one another. Meandering current paths (4) are thereby produced.

Abstract: A thermionic emitter for use in an X-ray tube with a rotating cathode, particularly in rotating bulb X-ray tubes, is composed of an alloy of a refractory metal, such as tungsten, with an additive of at least 20 ppm potassium. This emitter material avoids deterioration of the emitter due to grain creep.

Abstract: A thermionic emitter has a flat emission surface that is subdivided by slits into generally spiral or serpentine conductor sections, the surface having legs extending therefrom that form part of the current supply terminals and that also serve for securing the emitter. Each of these legs has a portion with a longitudinal electrical resistance that is elevated compared to that of the conductor sections, such that areas of maximum temperature migrate from the middle of the emitter to its edges as the heating current increases.