Field service flashable getter for x-ray tubes
AssigneePicker International, Inc.
InventorsLester D. Miller, Allan D. Kautz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An evacuated tube (24) includes an envelope (50) and an electrode (78) in the tube envelope (50). The electrode (78) is electrically connected to conductors (74a, 74b) that extend through the tube envelope (50). A getter (72) is included in the tube envelope (50) and is electrically connected to the conductors (74a, 74b) extending through the tube envelope (50). Diodes (82a, 82b) are connected to the electrode (78) and the getter (72) for selectively providing electrical energy through the conductors (74a, 74b) extending through the tube envelope (50) to one of the electrode (78) and the getter (72).
Claims57
An x-ray tube comprising:
- an envelope, the envelope substantially evacuated;
- an anode located within the envelope;
- a cathode filament located within the envelope;
- at least one getter located within the envelope;
- and
- at least one conductor electrically connected to both of the cathode filament and the getter.
An apparatus for use in an evacuated tube envelope, the apparatus comprising:
- an electrode in the tube envelope;
- a getter in the tube envelope;
- a conductor electrically connected to both of the electrode and the getter;
- and
- means for selectively providing electrical energy through the conductor to one of the electrode and the getter.
An apparatus for activating a getter in an enclosed tube, the getter electrically connected to a conductor extending through a wall of the tube, the apparatus comprising:
- means for providing a signal indicative of tube performance;
- and
- means for activating the getter in response to the signal indicative of tube performance.
An apparatus for controllably activating a getter in an envelope comprising:
- a pressure measuring device advantageously located to determine a measure of the gas pressure within the envelope, the pressure measuring device providing a signal indicative of the measure of gas pressure within the envelope;
- a source of electrical energy operatively connected to the getter;
- and
- a controller controllably connected to both of (i) the pressure measuring device and (ii) the source of electrical energy, the controller controlling the source of electrical energy in response to the signal provided by the pressure measuring device.
An apparatus comprising:
- an envelope that is substantially evacuated;
- a first getter located within the envelope, the first getter having a first end electrically connected to a first terminal extending through the envelope and a second end electrically connected to a second terminal extending through the envelope;
- and
- a second getter located within the envelope.
A method of maintaining a pressure level in an evacuated enclosed electrode tube, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a signal indicative of electrode tube performance;
- and
- activating getter material in response to the signal indicative of tube performance.
A method of maintaining a substantial vacuum in an x-ray tube, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing gas pressure in the tube and providing a signal indicative of the gas pressure;
- and
- activating the getter material in response to the signal.
An imaging apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- an x-ray source enclosed in the housing including:
- an envelope, the envelope substantially evacuated;
- an anode located within the envelope;
- a cathode filament located in the envelope;
- and
- at least one getter located within the envelope;
- means for activating the getter;
- and an x-ray detector.
A method of field flashing a getter in an x-ray tube in an installed imaging system, the method including the steps of:
- determining an operating characteristic of the x-ray tube;
- and
- activating the getter in response to the determined operating characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.