Method and apparatus for interlaced amplitude pulsing using a hard-tube type pulse generator
AssigneeVarex Imaging Corporation
InventorsGongyin Chen, Robert Edward Drubka
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Abstract
These various embodiments serve to facilitate interlaced amplitude pulsing using a hard-tube type pulse generator having at least one energy-storage unit each comprising at least one energy-storing capacitor. Generally speaking, this comprises controlling an amount of energy withdrawn from the energy-storage unit and provided to an output load to form productive electric pulses by controlling at least one of: (1) energy replenishment; and (2) non-productive energy withdrawal of the energy-storage unit, to thereby achieve a series of productive interlaced amplitude electric pulses.
Claims30
A method to provide interlaced amplitude pulsing using a hard-tube type pulse generator having an energy-storage unit comprising at least one energy-storing capacitor, the method comprising:
- using the hard-tube type pulse generator and the energy-storage unit to provide a first productive electric pulse to an output load comprising at least one of a magnetron and a klystron to thereby produce an x-ray beam;
- subsequent to providing the first productive electric pulse and prior to providing a second interlaced productive electric pulse as part of a series of interlaced productive electric pulses, causing selective non-productive energy withdrawal of the energy-storage unit to further selectively deplete the energy-storage unit;
- using the hard-tube type pulse generator and the further selectively depleted energy-storage unit to provide the second interlaced productive electric pulse to the output load and having a predetermined and desired amplitude that is less than the first productive electric pulse.
An apparatus comprising:
- a hard-tube type pulse generator having an energy storage unit comprising at least one energy-storing capacitor;
- a control circuit configured to:
- use the hard-tube type pulse generator and the energy-storage unit to provide a first productive electric pulse to an output load comprising at least one of a magnetron and a klystron to thereby produce an x-ray beam;
- subsequent to providing the first productive electric pulse and prior to providing a second interlaced productive electric pulse to the output load as part of a series of interlaced productive electric pulses, cause selective non-productive energy withdrawal of the energy-storage unit to further selectively deplete the energy-storage unit;
- wherein the hard-tube type pulse generator is configured to use the selectively depleted energy-storage unit to provide the second interlaced productive electric pulse having a predetermined and desired amplitude that is less than the first productive electric pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.