X-ray tube, x-ray generator, and inspection system

An x-ray generator comprising:

• a casing for accommodating components of the x-ray generator;
• an x-ray tube including an emitting window provided on a top portion thereof from which an x-ray is emitted, the x-ray tube having at least one side portion forming a substantially flat vertical surface, wherein the substantially flat vertical surface includes an edge portion forming at least a portion of a periphery surrounding the emitting window;
• and
• an electron gun connected to and extending in a predetermined direction from an outer side portion of the x-ray tube for emitting an electron from an electron emitting surface of the electron gun toward a target surface within the x-ray tube, thereby causing the x-ray tube to generate the x-ray, wherein the substantially flat vertical surface of the x-ray tube is parallel with respect to the predetermined direction and perpendicular with respect to the emitting window, and the electron emitting surface of the electron gun substantially faces toward at least a portion of the target surface within the x-ray tube.

An inspection system comprising:

• an x-ray tube device including:
• an x-ray tube including an emitting window provided on a top portion thereof from which an x-ray is emitted, the x-ray tube having at least one side portion forming a substantially flat vertical surface, wherein the substantially flat vertical surface includes an edge portion forming at least a portion of a periphery surrounding the emitting window;
• and
• an electron gun connected to and extending in a predetermined direction from an outer side portion of the x-ray tube for emitting an electron from an electron emitting surface of the electron gun toward a target surface within the x-ray tube, thereby causing the x-ray tube to generate the x-ray, wherein the substantially flat vertical surface of the x-ray tube is parallel with respect to the predetermined direction and perpendicular with respect to the emitting window, and the electron emitting surface of the electron gun substantially faces toward at least a portion of the target surface within the x-ray tube;
• means for rotating an object under inspection about an axis intersecting the x-ray emitting direction;
• and
• x-ray detecting means linearly arranged with the rotating means in the x-ray emitting direction for detecting x-rays generated by the x-ray tube device and transmitted through the object.

A x-ray generator comprising:

• a casing, and
• an x-ray tube extending from a top surface of the casing;
• the x-ray tube comprising:
• an electron generating portion including an electron gun and connected to an outer side portion of the x-ray tube, the electron generating portion being located outside of the casing;
• and
• an x-ray generating portion including a target provided within a housing, the target being arranged to emit x-rays in a first direction through a window provided in a top face of the housing when bombarded by electrons from the electron gun, the housing further comprising a first housing taper surface inclined with respect to the first direction and formed between the top face and a first surface perpendicular to the top face, and a second housing taper surface extending between the top face and a second surface perpendicular to the top face, the first and second taper surfaces being provided on opposite sides of the emitting window;
• wherein the electron generating portion is coupled to one side of the housing of the x-ray generating portion so that said electrons are incident on said target in a second direction that is generally transverse to said first direction, and
• the casing comprises a first inclined taper surface extending between said casing top surface and a first surface perpendicular to said top surface, and a second inclined taper surface extending between said casing top surface and a second surface spaced from and generally parallel to the first surface.

An inspection system comprising:

• an x-ray generator including:
• a casing, and
• an x-ray tube extending from a top surface of the casing;
• the x-ray tube comprising:
• an electron generating portion including an electron gun and connected to an outer side portion of the x-ray tube, the electron generating portion being located outside of the casing;
• and
• an x-ray generating portion including a target provided within a housing, the target being arranged to emit x-rays in a first direction through a window provided in a top face of the housing when bombarded by electrons from the electron gun, the housing further comprising a first housing taper surface inclined with respect to the first direction and formed between the top face and a first surface perpendicular to the top face, and a second housing taper surface extending between the top face and a second surface perpendicular to the top face, the first and second taper surfaces being provided on opposite sides of the emitting window;
• wherein the electron generating portion is coupled to one side of the housing of the x-ray generating portion so that said electrons are incident on said target in a second direction that is generally transverse to said first direction, and
• the casing comprises a first inclined taper surface extending between said casing top surface and a first surface perpendicular to said top surface, and a second inclined taper surface extending between said casing top surface an a second surface spaced from and generally parallel to the first surface;
• means for rotating an object under inspection about an axis intersecting the first direction;
• and
• x-ray detecting means linearly arranged with he rotating means in the first direction for detecting x-rays generated by the x-ray generator an transmitted through the object.

A x-ray generator comprising:

• a casing, and
• an x-ray tube extending from a top surface of the casing;
• the x-ray tube comprising:
• an electron generating portion including an electron gun and connected to an outer side portion of the x-ray tube, the electron generating portion being located outside of the casing;
• and
• an x-ray generating portion including a target provided within a housing, the target being arranged to emit x-rays in a first direction through a window provided in a top face of the housing when bombarded by electrons from the electron gun, the housing further comprising a first housing taper surface inclined with respect to the first direction and extending from the top face, and a second housing taper surface extending from the top face, the first and second taper surfaces being provided on opposite sides of the emitting window;
• wherein the electron generating portion is coupled to one side of the housing of the x-ray generating portion so that said electrons are incident in said target in a second direction that is generally transverse to the first direction,
• the casing comprises a first inclined taper surface extending between the casing top surface and a first casing surface perpendicular to the casing top surface, and a second inclined taper surface extending between the casing top surface and a second surface spaced from and generally parallel to the first casing surface,
• the first housing taper surface is formed between the top housing face and the casing top surface, and
• the second housing taper surface is formed between the top housing face and the casing top surface.