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US 7,192,031 B2Granted
Emitter array configurations for a stationary CT system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson, John Scott Price
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An field emitter array system (10) includes a housing (50). An emitter array (80) generates an electron beam and has multiple emitter elements (81) that are disposed within the housing (50). Each of the emitter elements has multiple activation connections (92).
Claims27
An x-ray source comprising:
- a vacuum housing;
- at least one emitter array generating at least one electron beam and having a plurality of emitter elements disposed within said vacuum housing, each of said emitter elements in said plurality of emitter elements having at least three activation connections;
- a source further comprising a plurality of AND gates coupled between said plurality of emitter elements and said plurality of activation connections, said plurality of AND gates activating said plurality of emitter elements;
- and
- a target disposed within said vacuum housing, receiving said at least one electron beam, and generating x-rays.
2 more elements
A stationary computed tomography source comprising:
- at least one vacuum housing;
- an elongated cathode emitter array generating a plurality of electron beams and having a plurality of emitter elements disposed within said at least one vacuum housing;
- at least one emitter array block, said elongated cathode emitter array disposed within said at least one emitter array block;
- a source further comprising a plurality of AND gates coupled between said plurality of emitter elements and said plurality of activation connections, said plurality of AND gates activating said plurality of emitter elements;
- each of said emitter elements in said plurality of emitter elements having a plurality of activation connections;
- and
- an elongated anode disposed within said at least one vacuum housing and spaced apart from said plurality of emitter elements.
4 more elements
A stationary computed tomography system comprising:
- a stationary gantry comprising;
- a plurality of x-ray sources surrounding a patient volume and generating at least one electron beam comprising:
- a vacuum housing;
- a plurality of emitter elements disposed within said vacuum housing;
- and
- each of said emitter elements in said plurality of emitter elements having a plurality of activation connections;
- a source further comprising a plurality of AND gates coupled between said plurality of emitter elements and said plurality of activation connections, said plurality of AND gates activating said plurality of emitter elements;
- and
- at least one detector receiving at least one x-ray beam generated in response to said at least one electron beam.
6 more elements
A method of activating emitter elements of a stationary x-ray source of a stationary CT system comprises:
- activating a first emitter element of an emitter array block corresponding to the value of a counter comprising:
- receiving a first activation signal by a first series of emitter elements of the stationary x-ray source, said first series of emitter elements activated by an AND gate coupled between said first series of emitter elements and a first activation connection;
- and
- receiving a second activation signal by a second series of emitter elements of the stationary x-ray source, said second series of emitter elements activated by an AND gate coupled between said second series of emitter element and a first activation connection;
- and
- emitting electrons from said first emitter element in response to said first activation signal and said second activation signal.
3 more elements
An x-ray source comprising:
- a vacuum housing;
- at least one emitter array generating at least one electron beam and having a plurality of emitter elements disposed within said vacuum housing;
- each of said emitter elements in said plurality of emitter elements having a plurality of activation connections;
- a source further comprising a plurality of AND gates coupled between said plurality of emitter elements and said plurality of activation connections, said plurality of AND gates activating said plurality of emitter elements;
- at least one emitter array block, said at least one emitter array disposed within said at least one emitter array block;
- and
- a target disposed within said vacuum housing, receiving said at least one electron beam, and generating x-rays.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.