# US 11,310,898 B2 · Compact high-voltage power supply and radiation apparatus systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,898 B2 - Document ID: US11310898B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/722,769 - Filed: 2019-12-20 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-20 - Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Inventors: Jani Reijonen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310898B2 ## CPC - H05G 1/10: Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube {(supply circuits with converters in general H02M; supply circuits for emitters and amplifiers H04B1/16 - H04B1/1623)} - H01J 1/14: characterised by the material - H01J 35/064: {Details of the emitter, e.g. material or structure (H01J35/065 takes precedence)} - H01J 35/065: {Field emission, photo emission or secondary emission cathodes} - H01J 35/066: {Details of electron optical components, e.g. cathode cups} - H01J 35/14: Arrangements for concentrating, focusing, or directing the cathode ray - H01J 37/241: {High voltage power supply or regulation circuits} - H05G 1/34: Anode current, heater current or heater voltage of X-ray tube - H05G 1/52: Target size or shape; Direction of electron beam, e.g. in tubes with one anode and more than one cathode - H05G 1/06: X-ray tube and at least part of the power supply apparatus being mounted within the same housing - H05G: X-RAY TECHNIQUE (investigating or analysing materials by the use of X-rays G01N23/00; apparatus for X-ray photography G03B42/02; X-ray tubes H01J35/00; TV systems having X-ray input H04N5/321) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract A apparatus may include a power supply to receive a first voltage potential and output a second voltage potential that is greater than the first voltage potential and a cathode emitter to emit ions in response to application of the second voltage potential. The apparatus may also include a step down transformer to receive the second voltage potential and output a third voltage potential that is less than the second voltage potential. The apparatus may also include a heating element to, in response to application of the third voltage potential, heat the cathode emitter and lower a work function of the cathode emitter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a power supply configured to receive a first voltage potential and output a second voltage potential, wherein the second voltage potential is greater than the first voltage potential; a cathode emitter configured to: receive the second voltage potential; and in response to application of the second voltage potential, emit ions; a step down transformer configured to receive the second voltage potential and output a third voltage potential, wherein the third voltage potential is less than the second voltage potential; and a heating element configured to: receive the third voltage potential; and in response to application of the third voltage potential, heat the cathode emitter to lower a work function of the cathode emitter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a voltage multiplier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power supply comprises a boosting coil configured to resonate with the voltage multiplier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the step down transformer comprises at least two coils, wherein a first coil of the at least two coils comprises the boosting coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the step down transformer comprises a magnetic core and a plurality of conductive coils. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one coil of the plurality of coils is shared with the power supply. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second voltage potential is greater than 50 kilovolts (kV) relative to a ground reference. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising regulator circuitry configured to regulate an ion beam current. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the regulator circuitry comprises: an electrode configured to bias at least a portion of the ions to remain on the cathode emitter; and a resistor coupled between the cathode emitter and the electrode and configured to allow self-regulation of a fourth voltage potential on the electrode based at least in part on the ion beam current. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electrode is configured to focus the emitted ions into an ion beam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitted ions are aimed at a target, wherein the target is configured to emit radiation in response to the ions hitting the target. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radiation comprises x-ray radiation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured to receive the second voltage potential such that the heating element is powered via a voltage difference between the second voltage potential and the third voltage potential. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: receiving a power input at a first voltage potential; increasing, via a voltage multiplier, the first voltage potential to a second voltage potential; decreasing, via a transformer, the second voltage potential to a third voltage potential; providing the second voltage potential to a cathode emitter configured to emit ions; and providing the third voltage potential to a heating element of the cathode emitter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the transformer comprises a plurality of step down coils disposed around a magnetic core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a coil of the plurality of step down coils is configured to resonate with the voltage multiplier to increase the second voltage potential relative to the first voltage potential. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, comprising regulating, via regulator circuitry, an ion beam current of the cathode emitter, wherein the regulator circuitry comprises an electrode configured to bias at least a portion of the ions to remain on the cathode emitter.