Miniature x-ray source
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsJames E. Trebes, Perry M. Bell, Ronald B. Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A miniature x-ray source utilizing a hot filament cathode. The source has a millimeter scale size and is capable of producing broad spectrum x-ray emission over a wide range of x-ray energies. The miniature source consists of a compact vacuum tube assembly containing the hot filament cathode, an anode, a high voltage feedthru for delivering high voltage to the cathode, a getter for maintaining high vacuum, a connector for initial vacuum pump down and crimp-off, and a high voltage connection for attaching a compact high voltage cable to the high voltage feedthru. At least a portion of the vacuum tube wall is fabricated from highly x-ray transparent materials, such as sapphire, diamond, or boron nitride.
Claims22
In a miniature x-ray source having a vacuum housing containing at least one anode and a cathode, the improvement comprising:
- said cathode being of a hot filament type, and a getter operative connected to said cathode.
A millimeter scale size x-ray source comprising:
- an evacuated housing having at least a section of highly x-ray transparent material;
- an anode mounted in said housing;
- a hot filament type cathode located in said housing;
- at least one standoff mounted in said housing and having at least one opening therein;
- at least one feedthru mounted in said at least one opening in said standoff;
- said hot filament type cathode including a filament and a focusing ring;
- said filament having a pair of leg sections interconnected by a curved section;
- at least one of said leg sections of said filament extending into said at least one feedthru and adapted to be connected to a high voltage power source, and
- a getter located in said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.