Fast switching circuit for x-ray imaging applications

A power supply, comprising:

• a fixed voltage source configured to input a voltage to a switching module having a number of identical switching stages, wherein the identical switching stage comprises:
• a first switch configured to charge a capacitor in a conducting state and output a first voltage;
• a second switch configured to connect the fixed voltage source and the capacitor in series to output a second voltage in a conducting state;
• and
• a diode configured to block a reverse current from the capacitor to the power supply.

A method of generating an x-ray image, comprising:

• projecting a beam of x-ray energy having a first voltage toward an object;
• acquiring a first set of measured projections;
• switching from the first voltage to a second voltage;
• projecting a beam of x-ray energy having a second voltage toward the object;
• acquiring a second set of measured projection;
• and
• constructing the x-ray image from the first set of measured projections and the second set or measured projections, wherein switching from the first voltage to the second voltage comprises:
• charging at least one capacitor from a fixed voltage source by a first switch and outputting the first voltage;
• connecting the at least one capacitor and the fixed voltage source in series by a second switch and outputting the second voltage;
• and
• blocking a reverse current from the at least one capacitor to the fixed voltage source by a diode.