Abstract: The present invention relates to the generation of multiple energy X-ray radiation. In order to provide multiple energy X-ray radiation with increased switching frequencies, a rotating anode (10) for an X-ray tube is provided with an anode body (12), a circular focal track (14), and an axis of rotation (16). The focal track is provided on the anode body and comprises at least one first focal track portion (18) and at least one second focal track portion (20). Transition portions (22) are provided between the at least one first and second focal track portions. The at least one first focal track portion is inclined towards an X-ray radiation projection direction (24) of the X-ray tube.

Abstract: A rotatable anode for an X-ray tube comprises a first unit (901) for being hit by a first electron beam, and at least a second unit (902) being hit by at least a second electron beam, the second unit being electrically isolated from the first. In addition, an X-ray system comprises the anode, a main cathode for generating an electron beam, and first electrical potential, and an auxiliary cathode for influencing a second electrical potential. The main cathode deflects the electron beam to heat the auxiliary cathode. Furthermore, a device determines electrical potential by detecting a point of impact of the electron beam onto the anode and/or by detecting an X-ray spectrum of radiation starting from the anode. The electron beam hits the first unit and is deflected, wherein the deflected beam hits the second unit the point of impact. The first unit and/or second unit emit radiation.

Abstract: An X-ray tube including a target adapted for generating X-rays upon impact of an electron beam on a focal spot, and a further electrode. The further electrode is arranged and adapted for measuring thermo ionic electron emission from the target. The X-ray tube is adapted for providing a signal relating to a temperature of the target based on thermo ionic electron emission measured by the further electrode.

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).

Abstract: This invention relates to high power X-ray sources, in particular to those equipped with a rotating X-ray anode capable of delivering a higher short time peak power than conventional rotating x-ray anodes. This invention can overcome the thermal limitation of peak power by allowing fast rotation of the anode and by introducing a lightweight material with high thermal conductivity in the region adjacent to the focal track material. The fast rotation can be provided by using sections of the rotating anode disk made of anisotropic high specific strength materials with high thermal stability that can be specifically adapted to the high stresses of anode operation. Uses include high speed image acquisition for X-ray imaging, for example, of moving objects in real-time such as in medical radiography.

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.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an X-ray tube of the rotary-anode type which comprises at least one temporarily negatively biased auxiliary grid electrode (119) with an aperture through which an electron beam (115) emitted by a tube cathode's thermoionic electron emitter (111) can pass. As an alternative thereto, the auxiliary grid electrode (119) may also be positively biased so as to enhance electron emission from a thermoionic electron emitter (111). The auxiliary grid electrode may thereby be connected to a supply voltage UAUX of a controllable voltage supply unit by means of a feedthrough cable (120) serving as a feeding line for providing the main control grid (112) with a grid supply voltage UG.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray tube (12) with a rotatable anode (30) for generating X-rays and an X-ray apparatus (10) with such an X-ray tube and a method for balancing a rotary anode of an X-ray tube. In order to provide a balancing of the rotary anode applicable to an anode mounted inside an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube with a rotatable anode (30) for generating X-rays is provided, wherein the anode comprises an anode disc (32) fixedly mounted to a rotatably driven support body (44, 46), which support body is rotatably supported by a bearing arrangement (34). The anode comprises at least one balancing cavity (70) to adjust the center of gravity of the anode, which balancing cavity (70) is partly filled with a balancing material (72) being solid at operating temperature of the X-ray tube and liquid at a higher temperature.

Abstract: An X-ray tube (1) comprising a cathode (3), an anode (5) and a further electrode (7) is proposed. Therein, the further electrode is arranged and adapted such that, due to impact of 'free electrons (27) coming from the anode (5), the further electrode (7) negatively charges to an electrical potential lying between a cathode's potential and an anode's potential. The further electrode (7) may be passive, i.e. substantially electrically isolated and not connected to an active external voltage supply. The further electrode (7) may act as an ion pump removing ions from within a primary electron beam (21) and furthermore also removing atoms of residual gas within the housing (11) of the X-ray tube (1). In order to further increase the ion pumping capability of the further electrode (7), a magnetic field generator (61) can be arranged adjacent to the further electrode (7).

Abstract: The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general. Providing X-radiation having multiple photon energies may help differentiating tissue structures when generating X-ray images. Consequently, an X-ray generating device that allows the switching of a potential of an electron collecting element versus an electron emitting element for providing different energy modes is presented. According to the present invention, an X-ray generating device is provided, comprising an electron emitting element (16) and electron collecting element (20). The electron emitting element (16) and the electron collecting element (20) are operatively coupled for the generation of X-radiation (14). A potential is arranged between the electron emitting element (16) and the electron collecting element (20) for acceleration of electrons from the electron emitting element 16 to the electron collecting element (20), the electrons constituting an electron beam (7).

Abstract: The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general. Providing X-ray generating device internal voltage sources or potentials may help reduce necessary feed-throughs into an evacuated envelope of an X-ray generating device. Consequently, an X-ray generating device comprising an electron scattering element is presented. According to the present invention, an X-ray generating device is provided, comprising an electron emitting element 16, an electron collecting element 20 and an electron scattering element 42. A primary electron beam 17a is arrangeable between the electron emitting element 16 and the electron collecting element 20. The electron emitting element 16 and the electron collecting element 20 are operatively coupled for generating X-radiation 14.

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.

Abstract: In an X-ray generating device (2) a temperature of a focal spot (21) may be determined. Furthermore a load condition is determined, which may also take into account a planned operation procedure of the X-ray generating device (2). The focal spot of the X-ray generating device is then automatically resizable based at least in part on the load condition.

Abstract: The invention describes an X-ray tube for generating X-radiation, wherein the tube comprises a rotary structure, which comprises a rotating anode, a stationary structure for rotatably supporting the rotary structure, a hydrodynamic bearing, which is arranged between the rotary structure and the stationary structure, wherein the bearing comprises a gap between the rotary structure and the stationary structure, means for stabilising the dimensions of the gap with respect to distortions because of thermo-mechanical causes. A further aspect, which is described, is a method for manufacturing the tube according to the invention, wherein means for stabilising the dimensions of the gap are arranged. It is also described an X-ray system for diagnostic use comprising the tube according to the invention, wherein the X-ray system is adapted to stabilise the dimensions of the gap. Another aspect of the specification is a method for manufacturing the X-ray system.

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.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an X-ray tube of the rotary-anode type which comprises at least one temporarily negatively biased auxiliary grid electrode (119) with an aperture through which an electron beam (115) emitted by a tube cathode's thermoionic electron emitter (111) can pass. As an alternative thereto, the auxiliary grid electrode (119) may also be positively biased so as to enhance electron emission from a thermoionic electron emitter (111). The auxiliary grid electrode may thereby be connected to a supply voltage UAUX of a controllable voltage supply unit by means of a feedthrough cable (120) serving as a feeding line for providing the main control grid (112) with a grid supply voltage UG.

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).

Abstract: The application describes a rotatable anode for an X-ray tube, wherein the anode comprises a first unit (901) adapted for being hit by a first electron beam at least a second unit (902) adapted for being hit by at least a second electron beam, wherein the first unit and the at least second unit are electrically isolated from each other. Further, the application describes an X-ray system, wherein the system comprises an anode according to the specification, a main cathode for generating an electron beam, wherein the main cathode is adapted to generate a first electrical potential, an auxiliary cathode for influencing a second electrical potential, wherein the main cathode is adapted to deflect the electron beam in order to heat the auxiliary cathode.

Abstract: An X-ray tube (1), a medical device (21) comprising an X-ray tube, a program element and a computer readable medium are proposed. The X-ray tube comprises a target (3) adapted for generating X-rays upon impact of an electron beam (7) on a focal spot (9), and a further electrode (11). The further electrode (11) is arranged and adapted for measuring thermo ionic electron emission from the target (3). The X-ray tube is adapted for providing a signal relating to a temperature of the target based on thermo ionic electron emission measured by the further electrode (11). The medical device (21) comprises an X-ray tube (1) according to the invention and a temperature evaluation unit (23) connected to the X-ray tube.

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, said X-ray tube comprising 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 said anode target (102?), wherein said rotary anode disk (102) is divided into at least two anode disk segments (102a and 102b) with each of said anode disk segments having a conical surface inclined by a distinct acute angle (?) with respect to a plane normal to the rotational axis (103a) of said rotary anode disk (102) and thus having its own focal track width.