X-ray testing system

A system for testing an X-ray tube comprising:

• anode current sensing means disposed for electrical connection to the anode of the tube for producing an analog voltage signal representative of anode current during an operational interval of the tube;
• voltage to frequency converter means connected to the output of the anode current sensing means for producing a train of pulses having an instantaneous frequency proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the analog voltage signal,
• voltage pulse gating means connected to the output of the voltage to frequency converter means for permitting the passage of pulses in the train only during the operational interval;
• time digitizing means for producing a uniform train of pulses, each being representative of substantially equal increments of time;
• time pulse gating means connected to the output of the time digitizing means for permitting the passage of pulses in the train during a time interval equivalent to the operational interval;
• trigger signal means connected to the voltage pulse gating means and to the time gating means for rendering the gating means conductive during the operational interval;
• voltage pulse counting means connected to an output of the voltage pulse gating means for counting pulses passed through the voltage pulse gating means during the operational interval and obtaining a quantity corresponding to the product of the anode current and the time transpired during the operational interval;
• time pulse counting means connected to an output of the time pulse gating means for counting the pulses passed through the time pulse gating means during the equivalent time interval and obtaining a quantity corresponding to the equivalent time interval;
• and
• circuit means for modifying the quantity corresponding to the product of the anode current and the time transpired during the operational interval with the quantity corresponding to the equivalent time interval and obtaining a resulting quantity corresponding to the average anode current during the operational interval.