System and method for providing a digitally switchable x-ray sources

A method for generating pulses of x-rays, the method comprising:

• providing a digitally switchable x-ray emission system comprising:
• a field emission type electron emitting construct;
• an anode target;
• a low voltage driving circuit configured to provide a potential difference between a positive terminal wired to a gate electrode and a negative terminal wired to an array of electron sources of the electron emitting construct;
• a high voltage supply wired between said electron emitting construct and said anode;
• a digital switching unit operable to selectively connect and disconnect said low voltage driving circuit;
• and
• a controller in communication with the digital switching unit;
• the high voltage supply establishing an electron accelerating potential between said electron emitting construct and said anode;
• the controller generating an activation signal comprising at least one gate pulses;
• sending the activation signal to the digital switching unit;
• the digital switch unit activating the low voltage driving circuit to provide the potential difference between the gate electrode and the array of electron sources of the electron emitting construct for the duration of each gate pulse;
• the electron emitting construct emitting electrons;
• the high voltage supply accelerating the electrons towards the anode target;
• and
• the anode target generating x-rays for the duration of each gate pulse.

A method for monitoring periodically moving mechanical components, the method comprising:

• providing a digitally switchable x-ray emission system comprising:
• a field emission type electron emitting construct;
• an anode target;
• a low voltage driving circuit configured to provide a potential difference between a positive terminal wired to a gate electrode and a negative terminal wired to an array of electron sources of the electron emitting construct;
• a high voltage supply wired between said electron emitting construct and said anode;
• a digital switching unit operable to selectively connect and disconnect said low voltage driving circuit;
• a controller in communication with the digital switching unit;
• and
• providing a scintillator target;
• providing an optical imager having a triggered shutter;
• providing a shutter controller;
• providing a synchronizer;
• the high voltage supply establishing an electron accelerating potential between said electron emitting construct and said anode;
• the controller generating an activation signal comprising a series of gate pulses generated at a regular intervals At and having a fixed gate-pulse duration δt1;
• the shutter controller generating a shutter signal comprising a series of trigger pulses generated at a regular intervals At and having a fixed shutter-pulse duration δt2;
• the synchronizer synchronizing the activation signal with the shutter signal such that the start of each shutter-pulse is offset from the start of a gate-pulse by a phase shift ϕ;
• the synchronizer synchronizing the activation signal with the periodically moving mechanical components;
• sending the activation signal to the digital switching unit;
• the digital switch unit activating the low voltage driving circuit to provide the potential difference between the gate electrode and the array of electron sources of the electron emitting construct for the duration of each gate pulse;
• the electron emitting construct emitting electrons;
• the high voltage supply accelerating the electrons towards the anode target;
• the anode target generating x-rays for the duration of each gate pulse;
• directing the x-ray pulses towards the moving mechanical components;
• sending the shutter signal to the optical imager;
• the triggered shutter of the optical imager opening for the duration of each shutter-pulse;
• and
• the optical imager accumulating optical stimulation for a duration δt3 equal to the difference between the gate-pulse duration and the phase shift.