# US 2014/0153698 A1 · Flat filament for an x-ray tube, and an x-ray tube > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153698 A1 - Document ID: US20140153698A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/706,145 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation - Applicants: Shimadzu Corporation - Inventors: Tatsuya YOSHIZAWA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153698A1 ## CPC - H01J 35/064: {Details of the emitter, e.g. material or structure (H01J35/065 takes precedence)} - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract A flat filament includes a first electron emission surface, a first current supply leg, a second current supply leg, a second electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface and connected to a first end region of the first electron emission surface, a third current supply leg, a third electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface, opposite from the second electron emission surface, and connected to a second end region of the first electron emission surface, and a fourth current supply leg. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flat filament for an X-ray tube, comprising: a first electron emission surface; a first current supply leg connected to a first end region of the first electron emission surface; a second current supply leg connected to a second end region opposite from the first end region of the first electron emission surface; a second electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface and connected to the first end region of the first electron emission surface; a third current supply leg connected to a second end region of the second electron emission surface; a third electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface, opposite from the second electron emission surface, and connected to the second end region of the first electron emission surface; and a fourth current supply leg connected to a first end region of the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flat filament according to claim 1, wherein heat radiation areas of reduced heat conduction are formed in the second electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the first electron emission surface, and in the third electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the first electron emission surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flat filament according to claim 2, wherein the heat radiation areas are areas having bores formed in the second electron emission surface and the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flat filament according to claim 1, further comprising: a fourth electron emission surface disposed laterally of the second electron emission surface, opposite from the first electron emission surface, and connected to the second end region of the second electron emission surface; a fifth current supply leg connected to a first end region of the fourth electron emission surface; a fifth electron emission surface disposed laterally of the third electron emission surface, opposite from the first electron emission surface, and connected to the first end region of the third electron emission surface; and a sixth current supply leg connected to a second end region of the fifth electron emission surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flat filament according to claim 4, wherein heat radiation areas of reduced heat conduction are formed in the fourth electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the second electron emission surface, and in the fifth electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flat filament according to claim 5, wherein the heat radiation areas are areas having bores formed in the fourth electron emission surface and the fifth electron emission surface. ### Claim 7 An X-ray tube having a cathode with a flat filament for generating an electron beam, and an anode for generating X-rays upon collision with the electron beam generated from the cathode, wherein the flat filament includes: a first electron emission surface; a first current supply leg connected to a first end region of the first electron emission surface; a second current supply leg connected to a second end region opposite from the first end region of the first electron emission surface; a second electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface and connected to the first end region of the first electron emission surface; a third current supply leg connected to a second end region of the second electron emission surface; a third electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface, opposite from the second electron emission surface, and connected to the second end region of the first electron emission surface; and a fourth current supply leg connected to a first end region of the third electron emission surface; the X-ray tube comprising a heating current supply source for supplying a heating current selectively to the first and second current supply legs and to the third and fourth current supply legs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The X-ray tube according to claim 7, wherein heat radiation areas of reduced heat conduction are formed in the second electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the first electron emission surface, and in the third electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the first electron emission surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The X-ray tube according to claim 8, wherein the heat radiation areas are areas having bores formed in the second electron emission surface and the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The X-ray tube according to claim 7, wherein the flat filament further includes: a fourth electron emission surface disposed laterally of the second electron emission surface, opposite from the first electron emission surface, and connected to the second end region of the second electron emission surface; a fifth current supply leg connected to a first end region of the fourth electron emission surface; a fifth electron emission surface disposed laterally of the third electron emission surface, opposite from the first electron emission surface, and connected to the first end region of the third electron emission surface; and a sixth current supply leg connected to a second end region of the fifth electron emission surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The X-ray tube according to claim 10, wherein heat radiation areas of reduced heat conduction are formed in the fourth electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the second electron emission surface, and in the fifth electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flat filament according to claim 11, wherein the heat radiation areas are areas having bores formed in the fourth electron emission surface and the fifth electron emission surface. ### Claim 13 An X-ray tube of envelope rotation type having a cathode with a flat filament for generating an electron beam, an anode for generating X-rays upon collision with the electron beam generated from the cathode, a deflection coil for controlling a focal position where the electron beam collides with the anode by deflecting the electron beam generated from the cathode, and an envelope containing the cathode and the anode, the anode being rotatable with the envelope, wherein the flat filament includes: a first electron emission surface; a first current supply leg connected to a first end region of the first electron emission surface; a second current supply leg connected to a second end region opposite from the first end region of the first electron emission surface; a second electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface and connected to the first end region of the first electron emission surface; a third current supply leg connected to a second end region of the second electron emission surface; a third electron emission surface disposed laterally of the first electron emission surface, opposite from the second electron emission surface, and connected to the second end region of the first electron emission surface; and a fourth current supply leg connected to a first end region of the third electron emission surface; the X-ray tube comprising a heating current supply source for supplying a heating current selectively to the first and second current supply legs and to the third and fourth current supply legs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The X-ray tube according to claim 13, wherein heat radiation areas of reduced heat conduction are formed in the second electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the first electron emission surface, and in the third electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the first electron emission surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The X-ray tube according to claim 14, wherein the heat radiation areas are areas having bores formed in the second electron emission surface and the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The X-ray tube according to claim 13, wherein the flat filament further includes: a fourth electron emission surface disposed laterally of the second electron emission surface, opposite from the first electron emission surface, and connected to the second end region of the second electron emission surface; a fifth current supply leg connected to a first end region of the fourth electron emission surface; a fifth electron emission surface disposed laterally of the third electron emission surface, opposite from the first electron emission surface, and connected to the first end region of the third electron emission surface; and a sixth current supply leg connected to a second end region of the fifth electron emission surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The X-ray tube according to claim 16, wherein heat radiation areas of reduced heat conduction are formed in the fourth electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the second electron emission surface, and in the fifth electron emission surface adjacent a connection thereof to the third electron emission surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The flat filament according to claim 17, wherein the heat radiation areas are areas having bores formed in the fourth electron emission surface and the fifth electron emission surface.