Emitter-cup cathode for high-emission x-ray tube
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorTimothy John Sommerer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray tube has at least one approximately planar electron emitter and an emitter-cup cathode configured to provide an electron beam of substantially greater perveance and beam compression ratio than otherwise obtainable with conventional cathode designs. The cup is optimized for use in a line-focus, planar-anode tube and has a slot in which the emitter is situated, an adjacent face region which is planar and angled so as to properly form the initial electron beam, a recess to allow the initial electron beam to be accelerated without significant shaping, and an overhanging portion which completes the electron beam forming.
Claims14
An x-ray tube for generating x-ray radiation, comprising:
- an anode;
- a cathode opposing the anode and spaced apart therefrom, the cathode being maintained during operation of the x-ray tube at a negative potential with respect to the anode, the cathode comprising an emitter for emitting an electron beam to a focal spot on the anode during operation of the x-ray tube;
- an emitter-cup having sidewalls and a slot defined by the sidewalls for situating the emitter therein, the emitter-cup being configured to shape and accelerate the electron beam and guide the electron beam to the focal spot on the anode, the emitter-cup having planar wall faces extending at a predetermined angle from the sidewalls of the emitter-cup, which planar wall faces extend into a recess region of the emitter-cup, the emitter-cup having an overhanging portion which overhangs and bounds the recess region.
An emitter-cup for an x-ray tube cathode, the cathode comprising an emitter for emitting an electron beam to a focal spot on an x-ray tube anode for production of x-ray radiation, comprising:
- an emitter-cup having sidewalls and a slot defined by the sidewalls for situating the emitter therein, the emitter-cup being configured to shape and accelerate the electron beam and guide the electron beam to the focal spot on the anode, the emitter-cup having planar wall faces extending at a predetermined angle from the sidewalls of the emitter-cup, which planar wall faces extend into a recess region of the emitter-cup, the emitter-cup having an overhanging portion which overhangs and bounds the recess region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.