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US 2013/0170623 A1Published application
Small x-ray tube with electron beam control optics
AssigneeMoxtek, Inc.
InventorsDavid Reynolds, Eric J. Miller, Sterling W. Cornaby, Derek Hullinger, Charles R. Jensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An x-ray tube comprising an anode and a cathode disposed at opposing ends of an electrically insulative cylinder. The x-ray tube includes an operating range of 15 kilovolts to 40 kilovolts between the cathode and the anode. The x-ray tube has an overall diameter, defined as a largest diameter of the x-ray tube anode, cathode, and insulative cylinder, of less than 0.6 inches. A direct line of sight exists between all points on an electron emitter at the cathode to a target at the anode.
Claims20
An x-ray tube, comprising:
- a. an electrically insulative cylinder;
- b. an anode disposed at one end of the insulative cylinder, the anode including a target which is configured to emit x-rays in response to electrons impinging upon the target;
- c. a cathode disposed at an opposing end of the insulative cylinder from the anode, the cathode including an electron emitter;
- d. a primary optic, comprising a cavity in the cathode, having an open end facing the electron emitter, and disposed on an opposite side of the electron emitter from the anode;
- e. an operating range of 15 kilovolts to 40 kilovolts between the cathode and the anode;
- f. an overall diameter, defined as a largest diameter of the x-ray tube anode, cathode, and insulative cylinder, being less than 0.6 inches;
- g. a cylindrical, electrically conductive electron optic divergent lens, attached to the anode and electrically connected to the anode, and having a far end extending from the anode towards the cathode;
- h. a cylindrical, electrically conductive electron optic convergent lens, attached to and surrounding the cathode and electrically connected to the cathode, and having a far end extending from the cathode towards the anode;
- i. an electron flight distance, from the electron emitter to the target, of less than 0.8 inches;
- j. a maximum voltage standoff length, from the far end of the divergent lens to the far end of the convergent lens, being less than 0.25 inches;
- k. an insulative cylinder length from closest contact with the cathode to closest contact with the anode being less than 0.7 inches;
- and
- l. a direct line of sight between all points on the electron emitter through a central portion of the convergent lens, through a central portion of the divergent lens, to the target.
10 more elements
An x-ray tube, comprising:
- a. an electrically insulative cylinder;
- b. an anode disposed at one end of the insulative cylinder, the anode including a target which is configured to emit x-rays in response to electrons impinging upon the target;
- c. a cathode disposed at an opposing end of the insulative cylinder from the anode, the cathode including an electron emitter;
- d. a primary optic, comprising a cavity in the cathode, having an open end facing the electron emitter, and disposed on an opposite side of the electron emitter from the anode;
- e. an operating range of 15 kilovolts to 40 kilovolts between the cathode and the anode;
- f. an overall diameter, defined as a largest diameter of the x-ray tube anode, cathode, and insulative cylinder, being less than 0.6 inches;
- g. a cylindrical, electrically conductive electron optic convergent lens, attached to and surrounding the cathode and electrically connected to the cathode, and having a far end extending from the cathode towards the anode;
- h. an electron flight distance, from the electron emitter to the target, of less than 0.7 inches;
- i. a maximum voltage standoff length, from the far end of the divergent lens to the far end of the convergent lens, being less than 0.25 inches;
- j. a direct line of sight between all points on the electron emitter through a central portion of the convergent lens to the target;
- and
- k. wherein 90% of electrons emitted by the electron emitter are absorbed within a 0.75 millimeter radius of a center of the target.
9 more elements
An x-ray tube, comprising:
- a. an electrically insulative cylinder;
- b. an anode disposed at one end of the insulative cylinder, the anode including a target which is configured to emit x-rays in response to electrons impinging upon the target;
- c. a cathode disposed at an opposing end of the insulative cylinder from the anode, the cathode including an electron emitter;
- d. an operating range of 15 kilovolts to 40 kilovolts between the cathode and the anode;
- e. an insulative cylinder length from closest contact with the cathode to closest contact with the anode being less than 0.7 inches;
- f. an overall diameter, defined as a largest diameter of the x-ray tube anode, cathode, and insulative cylinder, being less than 0.6 inches;
- g. a direct line of sight between all points on the electron emitter to the target;
- and
- h. wherein 90% of electrons emitted by the electron emitter are absorbed within a 0.75 millimeter radius of a center of the target.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.