One-dimensional grid mesh for a high-compression electron gun

An x-ray tube for an imaging system comprising:

• a housing enclosing a vacuum-sealed chamber therein;
• a target generally located at a first end of the chamber and configured to produce x-rays when impinged by a plurality of electron beams;
• a field emitter array generally located at a second end of the chamber to generate the plurality of electron beams and transmit the electron beams toward the target, the field emitter array including a plurality of field emitter units therein;
• and
• wherein each of the plurality of field emitter units further comprises:
• a substrate;
• an emitter element positioned on the substrate and configured to generate an electron beam;
• an extracting electrode positioned adjacent to the emitter element to extract the electron beam out therefrom;
• a dielectric element between the substrate and the extracting electrode, the dielectric element having a cavity therein;
• and
• a non-circular metallic grid disposed between the emitter element and the extraction element and extending across the cavity to enhance an electric field at a surface of the emitter element, the metallic grid comprising a plurality of parallelly aligned wires spaced apart a desired distance to form a one-dimensional grid.

A cathode assembly for an x-ray source comprising:

• a substrate layer;
• an extraction element having an opening therein and a surface having two angular cuttings thereon;
• a dielectric element between the substrate and the extraction element, the dielectric element having a cavity therein;
• a field emitter element disposed in the cavity of the dielectric element and configured to emit a stream of electrons when an emission voltage is applied across the extraction element;
• and
• a one-directional non-circular grid comprising a plurality of parallelly aligned wires extending across the cavity and connected to the extraction element to lower the emission voltage supplied to the extraction element.