# US 2017/0290136 A1 · X-ray systems having individually measurable emitters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0290136 A1 - Document ID: US20170290136A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/090,852 - Filed: 2016-04-05 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-05 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Uwe Wiedmann; Philippe Ernest; Denis Perrillat-Amede; Dominique Poincloux; Jean-Francois Larroux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170290136A1 ## CPC - H05G 1/265: {Measurements of current, voltage or power} - 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)} - H05G 1/34: Anode current, heater current or heater voltage of X-ray tube - H05G 1/70: Circuit arrangements for X-ray tubes with more than one anode; Circuit arrangements for apparatus comprising more than one X ray tube {or more than one cathode (H05G1/58 takes precedence)} - 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) ## Abstract An x-ray system for simultaneously or concurrently measuring currents of multiple emitters is provided. The x-ray system includes a high voltage direct current (DC) supply configured to supply tube current to the multiple emitters and plural emitter circuits. Each of these circuits includes each comprising an alternating current (AC) voltage supply, at least one of the multiple emitters operatively coupled to the AC voltage supply and the high voltage DC supply, and a circuit coupling the AC voltage supply and the high voltage DC voltage supply to the at least one of the multiple filaments. At least one of the emitter circuits has a current measurement device between the high voltage DC supply and the emitter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An x-ray system for simultaneously or concurrently measuring currents of multiple emitters, the x-ray system comprising: a high voltage direct current (DC) supply configured to supply tube current to the multiple emitters; and plural emitter circuits each comprising: an alternating current (AC) voltage supply; at least one of the multiple emitters operatively coupled to the AC voltage supply and the high voltage DC supply; and a circuit coupling the AC voltage supply and the high voltage DC voltage supply to the at least one of the multiple filaments, wherein at least one of the emitter circuits has a current measurement device between the high voltage DC supply and the emitter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein each of the emitter circuits further comprises a transformer coupling the AC voltage supply to the at least one of the multiple filaments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein each of the emitter circuits further comprises a transformer that transforms electric current from the AC voltage supply to the at least one of the multiple filaments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein the measurement device also is coupled to the transformer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein the high voltage DC supply potential is used for shielding of capacitive current in the emitter circuits. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein each of the emitter circuits further comprises at least one of a capacitor or a filament drive current inductor coupling the AC voltage supply to the at least one of the multiple filaments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The x-ray system of claim 6, wherein each of the emitter circuits further comprises a filament inductor in parallel with the at least one of the multiple filaments. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The x-ray system of claim 7, wherein the filament inductor has an inductance that is larger than an inductance of the filament drive current inductor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein each of the emitter circuits further comprises plural filament inductors connected in series with each other and in parallel to the at least one of the multiple filaments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The x-ray system of claim 9, wherein the emitter circuits include a filament drive current inductor coupling the AC voltage supply to the at least one of the multiple filaments and wherein each of the filament inductors has a greater inductance than the filament drive current inductor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The x-ray system of claim 9, wherein the measurement device is connected between the filament inductors and the high power DC voltage supply. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: supplying tube current from a high voltage direct current (DC) voltage supply to plural emitter circuits to cause filaments in the filament circuits to generate x-rays; supplying an alternating current (AC) for each of the emitter circuits to cause the filaments in the filament circuits to generate the x-rays; and independently measuring current for the filaments in the emitter circuits through a current measurement device disposed between the high voltage DC supply and the emitter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein supplying the AC includes conducting the AC through a filament transformer between an AC voltage supply and at least one of the filaments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein supplying the AC includes conducting the AC through an inductor within a circuit path between an AC voltage supply and at least one of the filaments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein supplying the AC includes conducting the AC through a plurality of inductors or transformers with an AC voltage supply coupled to a middle point of the plurality of inductors or transformers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein supplying the AC includes conducting the AC through a separate filament transformer for each of the filaments. ### Claim 17 An x-ray system comprising: one or more alternating current (AC) power supplies configured to supply drive currents; plural filaments configured to receive the drive currents to generate x-rays; and plural current measurement devices coupled with the filaments and with a high voltage supply, the current measurement devices configured to independently measure tube currents of each of the filaments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The x-ray system of claim 17, further comprising at least one of a transformer or an inductor between the one or more AC power supplies and the filaments. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The x-ray system of claim 18, wherein the current measurement devices are disposed between the at least one of the transformer or the inductor and the high voltage supply. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The x-ray system of claim 17, further comprising emitter circuits that each include one of the filaments and one of the AC power supplies, wherein the emitter circuits are electrically isolated from each other prior to coupling a high voltage (HV) power supply. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The x-ray system of claim 17, further comprising emitter circuits that each include one of the filaments and one of the AC power supplies, wherein the emitter circuits are conductively coupled with each other.