Patents by Inventor Quan N. Lu

Quan N. Lu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Target angle matching cathode structure for an X-ray tube
    Patent number: 6256375
    Abstract: A rotating x-ray tube comprises an anode assembly having an anode target for distributing heat generated at a focal spot. The x-ray tube further comprises a cathode assembly for producing X-rays upon impact with the anode. A target angle matching cathode cup structure is associated with the cathode assembly. The angled cathode cup structure creates a parallel surface between the cathode and the target to provide a focused electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Quan N. Lu, Stephen W. Gravelle, Stephen S. Waite
  • Cathode cup assembly for an x-ray tube
    Patent number: 5623530
    Abstract: Cathode cup assemblies for an x-ray tube are described. In one embodiment, the cathode cup assembly includes a cathode cup and a focus tab. The cathode cup includes filament receiving channels, and each channel is sized to receive a filament. The focus tab is a plate having a filament aligning aperture. The focus tab cooperates with the cathode cup so that a periphery of the filament aligning aperture limits the positioning of the filaments within the filament receiving channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Quan N. Lu, Stephen S. Waite
  • Alignment of an x-ray tube focal spot using a deflection coil
    Patent number: 5550889
    Abstract: Precise alignment of the focal spot position on an x-ray CT system is achieved using a deflection coil that produces a magnetic field which acts on the electron beam path in the x-ray tube. A variable current power supply drives the deflection coil and is controlled by input signals to align the focal spot at a static reference position, to correct for focal spot drift between scans, and to wobble the focal spot position during a scan or between scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric
    Inventors: Michael F. Gard, Stephen W. Gravelle, Jiang Hsieh, Quan N. Lu, John W. Newman, Thomas L. Toth, Michael A. Wu