Method of aging X-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitter
AssigneesSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SRI International
InventorsDo-yoon Kim, Il-hwan Kim, Shang-hyeun Park, Chang-soo Lee, Tae-won Jeong, Paul R. Schwoebel, Yong-chul Kim
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Abstract
Provided are methods of aging an x-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitters. The method of aging an x-ray generator that includes a cathode, a gate electrode, and an anode, includes applying a desired, or alternatively predetermined anode voltage to the anode, and applying a direct current pulse voltage to the gate electrodes to emit electrons from electron emitters. The method further includes maintaining an anode current formed by electrons generated from the electron emitters constant.
Claims8
A method of aging an x-ray generator, the x-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitters and including a cathode on which a plurality of electron emitters are formed, an anode facing the cathode, a target on the anode facing the plurality of electron emitters to emit an x-ray, a plurality of spacers on the cathode to expose the plurality of electron emitters, a gate electrode on the plurality of spacers, and charge prevention films covering the plurality of spacers, the method comprising:
- applying a desired substantially continuous anode voltage to the anode and maintaining a constant anode current formed by electrons generated from the electron emitters;
- and
- applying a direct current pulse voltage to the gate electrode to emit electrons from the electron emitters;
- wherein the maintaining the constant anode current includes reducing the anode voltage sequentially or in a stepwise manner.
A method of aging an x-ray generator, the x-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitters and including a cathode on which a plurality of electron emitters are formed, an anode facing the cathode, a target on the anode facing the plurality of electron emitters to emit an x-ray, a plurality of spacers on the cathode to expose the plurality of electron emitters, a gate electrode on the plurality of spacers, and charge prevention films covering the plurality of spacers, the method comprising:
- applying a desired substantially continuous anode voltage to the anode and maintaining a constant anode current formed by electrons generated from the electron emitters;
- and
- applying a direct current pulse voltage to the gate electrode to emit electrons from the electron emitters,
- wherein the maintaining the constant anode current includes reducing the duty ratio sequentially or in a stepwise manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.