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US 7,599,471 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for rotating an anode in an x-ray system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMorteza Safai, Gary E. Georgeson, William Talion Edwards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for an x-ray apparatus. The x-ray apparatus comprises a vacuum tube. A cathode is located in the vacuum tube and capable of emitting electrons. A rotatable magnetic anode located in the vacuum tube, capable of being rotated by a motor located outside of the vacuum tube, and capable of generating an x-ray beam in response to receiving the electrons emitted by the cathode.
Claims20
An x-ray apparatus comprising:
- a vacuum tube;
- a cathode located in the vacuum tube and capable of emitting electrons;
- a rotatable magnetic anode is located in the vacuum tube, is capable of being rotated by a motor located outside of the vacuum tube, and is capable of generating an x-ray beam in response to receiving the electrons emitted by the cathode, wherein rotating the rotatable magnetic anode causes the x-ray beam to be rotated about an axis of rotation of the rotatable magnetic anode;
- and
- a detector capable of detecting x-ray back scatter data received from the x-ray beam striking an object.
2 more elements
A method for operating an x-ray apparatus comprising:
- providing a vacuum tube having a cathode and a rotatable magnetic anode located in the vacuum tube, the cathode capable of emitting electrons and the rotatable magnetic anode capable of being rotated by a motor located outside of the vacuum tube and capable of generating an x-ray beam in response to receiving the electrons emitted by the cathode;
- changing a magnetic field with a motor located outside of the vacuum tube to rotate the rotatable magnetic anode between a first position in which the rotatable magnetic anode directs an x-ray beam at a first location on an object to a second position in which the rotatable magnetic anode directs the x-ray beam at a second location on the object, wherein rotating the rotatable magnetic anode causes the x-ray beam to be rotated about an axis of rotation of the rotatable magnetic anode;
- and
- detecting, by a detector, x-ray back scatter data received from the x-ray beam striking an object.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.