# US 12,010,786 B2 · Scanning linear accelerator system for producing X-RAYS of separately controlled energy and dose

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- Number: US 12,010,786 B2
- Document ID: US12010786B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/111,459
- Filed: 2023-02-17
- Published: 2023-12-28
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-27
- Assignees: Teledyne ETM, Inc.
- Applicants: Teledyne ETM, Inc.
- Inventors: William L. Nighan, Jr.; Maarten Korringa; John Howard Rolin; Devin Kirk Henderlong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010786B2

## CPC

- H05G 2/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays, not involving X-ray tubes, e.g. involving generation of a plasma (X-ray lasers H01S4/00)
- H05H 9/02: Travelling-wave linear accelerators {(travelling-wave tubes H01J25/34)}
- G01V 5/22: Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
- H01J 35/04: Electrodes {; Mutual position thereof; Constructional adaptations therefor}
- H05G 1/20: with high-frequency AC; with pulse trains {(pulse generators in general H03K3/00, H03K4/00)}
- H05G 1/58: Switching arrangements for changing-over from one mode of operation to another, e.g. from radioscopy to radiography, from radioscopy to irradiation {or from one tube voltage to another}
- H05H 7/02: Circuits or systems for supplying or feeding radio-frequency energy
- H05H 9/048: {Lepton LINACS}
- H05H 2007/022: {Pulsed systems}
- H05H 2007/025: {Radiofrequency systems}
- H05H 2277/11: Radiotherapy
- 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)
- H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

A linac-based X-ray system for cargo scanning and imaging applications uses linac design, RF power control, beam current control, and beam current pulse duration control to provide stable sequences of pulses having different energy levels or different doses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An X-ray system for providing X-ray pulses of controlled dose per pulse comprising
a linear accelerator having an electron gun,
a control system for providing a first control signal to an RF source and a second control signal to an electron gun driver, the first and second control signals being independent of one another,
the RF source responsive to the first control signal to supply to the linear accelerator RF pulses having a power and a duration,
the electron gun driver responsive to the second control signal for providing a gun driver voltage to the electron gun for supplying to the linear accelerator pulses of controllable beam current at times substantially within the duration of a corresponding RF pulse,
the RF source and the electron gun driver being controlled independently but cooperating to cause the linear accelerator to emit pulses of electrons controlled on a pulse-by-pulse basis and configured to strike a target for producing X-rays of separately controlled energy and dose.

### Claim 2

An X-ray system for providing X-ray pulses of controlled dose per pulse comprising
a linear accelerator having an electron gun,
a control system for providing a first control signal to an RF source and a second control signal to an electron gun driver, the first and second control signals being independent of one another,
the RF source responsive to the first control signal to supply to the linear accelerator RF pulses having a power and forming an envelope,
the electron gun driver responsive to the second control signal for providing a gun driver voltage to the electron gun for supplying to the linear accelerator pulses of controllable beam current at times substantially within the envelope of a corresponding RF pulse,
the RF source and the electron gun driver being controlled independently but cooperating to cause the linear accelerator to emit pulses of electrons controlled on a pulse-by-pulse basis and configured to strike a target for producing X-rays of separately controlled energy and dose.