With Potential Stress Distribution Patents (Class 378/139)
  • Patent number: 11749489
    Abstract: A system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; an anode support structure penetrating the vacuum enclosure and including a plurality of first cooling passages; and an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure, coupled to and supported by the anode support structure, and including: a target; and a plurality of second cooling passages; wherein: each of the second cooling passages is coupled to a corresponding first cooling passage; and the anode is coupled to the anode support structure on a side of the anode different from a side of the anode including the target and different from axial ends of the anode on a major axis of the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dave Kirkham, Vance Scott Robinson
  • Patent number: 11728122
    Abstract: Electrons can rebound from an x-ray tube target, causing electrical-charge build-up on an inside of the x-ray tube. The charge build-up can increase voltage gradients inside of the x-ray tube, resulting in arcing failure of the x-ray tube. Also, the electrical charge can build unevenly on internal walls of the x-ray tube, causing an undesirable shift of the electron-beam. An x-ray tube (10 or 20) with multiple protrusions (19) on an interior wall of a drift-tube (18) can reduce this electrical-charge build-up. The protrusions (19) can reflect stray electrons back to the anode target (14), thus suppressing backscatter. Each protrusion (19) can have a peak (19p) extending into the hole (18h), and receding to a base (19b) farther from the electron-beam, on an entry-side (19en) nearest the drift-tube-entry (18en) and on an exit-side (19ex) nearest the drift-tube-exit (18ex).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Kasey Otho Greenland
  • Patent number: 11688578
    Abstract: An x-ray tube 10 can have (a) an enclosure electrically-insulating a cathode 11 from an anode 12; (b) a coating-ring 18 on an inner-face of the enclosure, the coating-ring 18 encircling a longitudinal-axis 16 of the enclosure; and (c) an interruption-ring 19 located at the inner-face of the enclosure at a different location than the coating-ring 18. The interruption-ring 19 can encircle the longitudinal-axis 16 at a different location along the longitudinal-axis 16 with respect to the coating-ring 18. The interruption-ring 19 can encircle the longitudinal-axis 16 at a different radius from the longitudinal-axis 16 than the coating-ring 18. The coating-ring 18 and the interruption-ring 19 can reduce uneven electrical charge build-up on the inner-face of the enclosure, and can protect the triple-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Moxtek, inc.
    Inventors: Todd S. Parker, Kasey Otho Greenland
  • Patent number: 10825641
    Abstract: An X-ray tube includes a metal portion in which an X-ray emission window is provided, an insulation valve which is joined to the metal portion and forms a vacuum region in cooperation with the metal portion, and a target and an electron gun which are accommodated in the vacuum region. The insulation valve has a low resistivity glass portion joined to the metal portion, and a high resistivity glass portion for fixing an anode including the target. A volume resistivity of a material forming the low resistivity glass portion is lower than a volume resistivity of a material forming the high resistivity glass portion. According to this configuration, electrification of the insulation valve is curbed, so that deterioration in withstand voltage ability of the insulation valve is curbed, and electric discharge caused by electrification is curbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishii, Tutomu Inazuru
  • Patent number: 8792619
    Abstract: An x-ray tube with a semiconductor coating disposed over an exterior the tube. The semiconductor material reduces voltage gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130077758
    Abstract: An x-ray tube with a semiconductor coating disposed over an exterior the tube. The semiconductor material reduces voltage gradients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Eric J. Miller
  • Patent number: 8130910
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled aperture body in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube is configured to be at least partially submerged in a liquid coolant. The x-ray tube includes a cathode at least partially positioned within a cathode housing, an anode at least partially positioned within a can, and an aperture body coupling the cathode housing to the can. The can is formed from a first material and the aperture body is formed from a second material. The aperture body defines an aperture through which electrons may pass between the cathode and the anode. The aperture body further defines at least two exterior surfaces that are each configured to be exposed to the liquid coolant in which the x-ray tube is at least partially submerged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Davies, Gregory C. Andrews, George Benjamin Naseath, Lincoln Curtis Jolley, Richard Alma Keyes, Ricky Burnett Smith
  • Patent number: 7881436
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes an anode, a first chamber enclosing the anode and having a first pressure therein, a cathode, and a second chamber enclosing the cathode and having a second pressure therein. A separator is positioned between the first and second chambers and has a conductance limiter therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carey Shawn Rogers, Richard Michael Roffers
  • Patent number: 7783012
    Abstract: An insulator for a vacuum tube is disclosed and includes an electrically insulative bulk material and a first antiferroelectric coating applied to a first portion of the bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yang Cao, Daniel Qi Tan, Richard Michael Roffers, Carey Shawn Rogers
  • Patent number: 7773726
    Abstract: In an X-ray source 1 and an X-ray tube 4, there is formed a shield portion 42 adapted to shield the portion W where a target support body 18 and an opening portion 34 on the other end side of a valve 20 are fixed to each other when viewed from the one end side of the valve 20. Therefore, the generation of discharge between the one end side of the valve 20 and the fixation portion W can be suppressed. Also, the other end portion of the valve 20 is formed as a narrowed portion 37 and the opening portion 34 on the other end side of the valve 20 is fixed to the target support body 18, whereby the shapes of the valve 20 and the shield portion 42 can be made simpler than in conventional X-ray tubes in which an inner cylindrical portion is formed in a valve. Such a simple structure can improve the stability of an electric field in the valve 20 when generating X-rays and thereby achieve an effective suppression of the generation of discharge in the valve 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Tutomu Inazuru
  • Patent number: 7443958
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electron window 1 for a liquid-metal anode 2 in the form of a membrane 4. It is provided according to the invention that the electron window 1 has ridges 10 and depressions 11. In addition, the invention relates to a liquid-metal anode 2 into which such an electron window 1 according to the invention is inserted. The invention further relates to an X-radiator which has a liquid-metal anode 2 according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for operating a liquid-metal anode 2 in which, during the production of X-radiation, stronger turbulence 5 is produced in the flow of the liquid metal below the electron window 1 at the ridges 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Harding
  • Patent number: 7430278
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for providing insulation in an X-ray generator are provided. The method includes providing an insulation member having a conductive element electrically coupled to a component within an X-ray system. The insulation member is located at a distance from the component with a thermal transfer fluid between the conductive element and the component. The method further includes configuring the conductive element to have an electric potential substantially equal to an electric potential of the component wherein the electric field within the thermal transfer fluid is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Senthil Kumar Sundaram, Rohini Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 7340036
    Abstract: An X-ray generator includes an electron source generating an electron beam, a target generating an X-ray by a collision of the electron beam and extending in a direction orthogonal to the electron beam, and a cylindrical electrode covering a collision portion of the target to which the electron beam collides and having a bore allowing the electron beam to pass through. The electron source and the target are arranged in such a way that the X-ray is radiated in the direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the electron beam. A depression equivalent to a notch of the target is provided in a collision face side of the electron beam on the target and also in a reverse location of a tip of the target located on an outgoing radiation side of the X-ray relative to a collision location of the electron beam on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Sadamu Tomita, Tomomi Tamura, Hidenobu Ishida
  • Patent number: 7236568
    Abstract: An x-ray source includes an insulating tube having a cylindrical inside surface defining a cylindrical vacuum cavity, a cathode located near a first end of the insulating tube and adapted to be optically heated for emitting electrons, an anode adapted for a voltage bias with respect to the cathode for accelerating electrons emitted from the cathode, an x-ray emitter target located near a second end of the insulating tube for impact by accelerated electrons, and a secondary emission reduction layer covering at least a portion of the inside surface and adapted to minimize charge build-up on the inside surface, wherein the insulating tube is adapted to be weakly conductive to support a uniform voltage gradient along the insulating tube and across the voltage bias between the cathode and the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: twX, LLC
    Inventors: Mark T. Dinsmore, David J. Caruso
  • Patent number: 7236569
    Abstract: The invention improves an insulating performance of an X-ray tube without increasing an insulation size. An X-ray tube in accordance with the invention keeps a mechanical strength of a glass insulation material and improves an insulation withstand voltage by a concavity and convexity, by forming a concavity and convexity having an arithmetic mean surface roughness of JIS B0601-1994 equal to or more than 1.0 ?m and equal to or less than 10 ?m in a vacuum side surface of a glass insulation material supporting electric conductors within a vacuum chamber for a range equal to or more than 2 mm from a position in an end of the electric conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryozo Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Tsumuraya
  • Patent number: 7127036
    Abstract: A device for generating X-rays having a source for emitting electrons accommodated in a vacuum space, a liquid metal for emitting X-rays as a result of the incidence of electrons, and a pump for causing a flow of the liquid metal through a constriction where the electrons emitted by the source impinge upon the liquid metal, the constriction having a cross-sectional area which, seen in a flow direction, increases so that during operation in the flow direction, a decrease of a flow velocity takes place such that a decrease of a pressure of the liquid metal in the constriction, caused by viscous flow losses, substantially corresponds with an increase of the pressure caused by the decrease of the velocity so that a uniform and relatively low mechanical load is exerted on a window separating the constriction from the vacuum space during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Harding, Volker Doormann, Bernd David
  • Patent number: 7020244
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides an X-ray tube. The X-ray tube includes an anode assembly configured to emit X-ray beams and a cathode assembly configured to emit electrons towards the anode assembly. The cathode assembly includes an insulator and a cathode post. The insulator includes a side surface, wherein the side surface includes a recessed portion. The cathode post includes a hollow interior region having an interior surface, wherein the interior surface is configured to engage with the side surface of the insulator. The cathode post may also include a foot portion that extends away from the interior surface at the end of the cathode post. The cathode post adjacent to the recessed portion of the insulator is configured to shield a triple point to reduce electrical stresses on the triple point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Colin Richard Wilson, Yang Cao, Richard Michael Roffers, Claire Alexandra Arnott, Ian Strider Hunt
  • Publication number: 20020054665
    Abstract: Miniature X-ray source comprising an insulation structure defining a cavity where an anode and a cathode are arranged, said cavity being evacuated, connecting means arranged to connect the anode and the cathode to a high voltage source in order to energise the X-ray source. The insulation structure includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer facing the cavity and has a low gas permeability, and the second layer is arranged outside said first layer and has a high electrical break-through voltage. The electrical break-through voltage for the insulation structure is above a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventor: Jonas Tiren
  • Publication number: 20010007587
    Abstract: An X-ray tube 1 in which a cathode 73 is heated to emit electrons 80, and the electrons 80 are bombarded against an anode target 32, thereby generating X-rays 81, includes a stem substrate 4 mounted on an opening 22 of a container 21 housing the cathode 73, a plurality of pins 5 extending through the insulating substrate 4 and adapted to supply a voltage into the container 21, and pin covers 6 mounted on the pins 5 in the container 21 and arranged at positions away from a surface of the stem substrate 4 to cover base portions of the pins 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Applicant: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Tadaoki Matsushita, Tutomu Inazuru
  • Patent number: 5402464
    Abstract: A high-voltage electronic tube includes a housing enclosing a vacuumized space. The housing has a cylindrical metal jacket and an annular insulating disc connected vacuumtight to an inner face of the jacket. An electrode support passes through a central opening of the annular insulating disc and is connected vacuumtight to the annular insulating disc. The electrode support positions an electrode in the vacuumized space. A metal sleeve divides the annular insulating disc into two separate annular disc parts arranged concentrically to the tube axis. The metal sleeve is connected vacuumtight to the annular disc parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignees: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH, Andrex Radiation Products A/S
    Inventors: Christian Schenk, Jens U. Madsen
  • Patent number: 5159618
    Abstract: A X-ray emissive vacuum tube is fully enclosed in an electrically conductive casing with electrical terminals through which bias potentials are applied to the tube. Occasionally an arc discharge occurs between electrodes within the tube generating a high frequency signal which ordinarily resonates with the conventional casings. However a resistive coating is applied to the inner surface of the case. That coating has a resistivity sufficient to lower the Q of the case to a value at which significant ringing does not result from the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James A. Blake
  • Patent number: 5136625
    Abstract: An improved metal center rotating anode x-ray tube is shown. The improved x-ray tube includes means for preventing the build-up of charge on the anode glass portion of the tube envelope where the glass flares by constraining the equipotential lines of the electric field in the vicinity of th eflare to parallel the flare surface. Parallelism may be achieved by (1) controlling the angle of the flare and sealing the flare directly to the metal section, (2) modifying the anode rotor to include a flare conforming to the glass flare, and (3) including a ground plane screen in the tube housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Varian Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Heiting, Robert C. Treseder, Brian D. Green
  • Patent number: 4985907
    Abstract: Dental X-ray apparatus for panoramic tomography in which an X-ray source and X-ray detection means are carried by a moving mechanism for panoramic imaging movements including translation and rotation of the X-ray source and of the detection means with respect to an object to be examined. The panoramic movements are controlled by data momentally supplied from a microcomputer for two individual translation movements in a plane and for rotation movement about an axis perpendicular to that plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Roberto Moteni
  • Patent number: 4618977
    Abstract: In an X-ray tube comprising a metal housing portion and an electrode which can be connected to a positive high voltage with respect thereto and which is mounted on a ceramic insulator portion, a conical insulator portion is enclosed by a wall portion, at least the inner surface of which has an insulating effect. A screening sleeve which electrically screens the connection between the insulator portion and the electrode projects into a recess in the wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Horst Brettschneider, Walter Hartl, Diethard Peter