High-voltage power supply and regulator circuit for an X-ray tube with closed-loop feedback for controlling X-ray exposure

Apparatus for supplying operating power to an X-ray generating source, wherein the source projects X-ray radiation toward a patient, a portion of the radiation passing through the patient and being utilized to produce an image of the patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a power supply means for receiving a low-voltage input signal and producing a high-voltage output signal, said power supply means comprising:
• first control means for receiving the low-voltage input signal of one or more phases, the first control means separately controlling the one or more phases of the input signal to produce one or more single-phase input signals;
• voltage transforming and combining means for receiving selective portions of the single-phase input signals from the first control means and producing a high-voltage supply signal;
• and
• means for monitoring the high-voltage supply signal and generating a first control signal which is sent to the first control means for controlling which selective portions of each of the single-phase input signals that are applied to the transforming means to cause the high-voltage supply signal to approach a predetermined magnitude, the first control means including solid-state switching devices which are selectively activated by the first control signal;
• second control means for receiving the high-voltage supply signal and regulating at least one of the duration and amplitude of the high-voltage supply signal to produce a high-voltage output signal for operating the X-ray generating source, said second control means including a plurality of solid-state switching means arranged in series, and feedback control means for controlling each of the switching means to produce the high-voltage output signal;
• means for receiving X-ray radiation which has passed through a patient and generating a feedback signal representative thereof, wherein the feedback control means is responsive to the feedback signal for controlling at least one of the magnitude and duration of the output signal and thus controlling the amount of X-ray radiation received by the patient.