A support structure for a membrane comprises a plurality of support members and at least one flange, including: (a) a first set of spoke-like support members that extend generally from at least one flange toward a common hub and that have a distal end joined to at least one flange and a proximal end joined to the common hub; and (b) at least one subsequent set of spoke-like support members that are distributed between circumferentially adjacent pairs of spoke-like support members from the prior sets and that extend generally from at least one flange toward the hub, each having a distal end joined to at least one flange and a proximal end connected to the nearest circumferentially adjacent pair of spoke-like support members from the prior sets via a pair of approximately straight anchoring support members which join together and form an angular joint at or near said proximal end, with the vertex of said angular joint pointing generally away from the hub.

Systems for x-ray illumination that have an x-ray brightness several orders of magnitude greater than existing x-ray technologies. These may therefore useful for applications such as trace element detection or for micro-focus fluorescence analysis. The higher brightness is achieved in part by using designs for x-ray targets that comprise a number of microstructures of one or more selected x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate having high thermal conductivity. This allows for bombardment of the targets with higher electron density or higher energy electrons, which leads to greater x-ray flux. The high brightness/high flux x-ray source may have a take-off angle from 0 to 105 mrad. and be coupled to an x-ray optical system that collects and focuses the high flux x-rays to spots that can be as small as one micron, leading to high flux density.

Systems for x-ray illumination that have an x-ray brightness several orders of magnitude greater than existing x-ray technologies. These may therefore useful for applications such as trace element detection or for micro-focus fluorescence analysis. The higher brightness is achieved in part by using designs for x-ray targets that comprise a number of microstructures of one or more selected x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate having high thermal conductivity. This allows for bombardment of the targets with higher electron density or higher energy electrons, which leads to greater x-ray flux. The high brightness/high flux x-ray source may have a take-off angle from 0 to 105 mrad. and be coupled to an x-ray optical system that collects and focuses the high flux x-rays to spots that can be as small as one micron, leading to high flux density.

According to one embodiment, a device includes an instruction unit which records in a recording medium, event-related data of when an event is detected and monitoring data of when the event occurs, and a display data output unit which outputs from the recording medium and plays as display data, the event-related data and a part of the monitoring data corresponding to the event-related data. If there is a specification input to the displayed event-related data, the monitoring data corresponding to the event-related data is played.

According to one embodiment, a device includes an instruction unit which records in a recording medium, event-related data of when an event is detected and monitoring data of when the event occurs, and a display data output unit which outputs from the recording medium and plays as display data, the event-related data and a part of the monitoring data corresponding to the event-related data. If there is a specification input to the displayed event-related data, the monitoring data corresponding to the event-related data is played.

Disclosed is an X-ray tube for improving electron focusing, which allows thermoelectrons emitted from a filament to efficiently reach a target of an X-ray irradiation window. To achieve this, the X-ray tube includes: a thermionic emitter configured to emit thermoelectrons by application of a negative high voltage; a focusing tube configured to focus the thermoelectrons emitted from the thermionic emitter; an X-ray irradiation window configured to irradiate X-rays outside by the thermoelectrons bombarded on a target distributed on the X-ray irradiation window, to generate the X-rays after the thermoelectrons pass through the focusing tube; a tube part including both the thermionic emitter and the focusing tube; and a housing surrounding the tube part, wherein the focusing tube and the housing are configured to have a same potential such that movement directions of the thermoelectrons are directed to the X-ray irradiation window.

An x-ray tube can provide x-ray spot stability, even for a small x-ray tube. The x-ray tube can have small target displacement, where target displacement is a displacement of the target material, towards the electron-emitter, along a longitudinal-axis of the anode, from x-ray powered-off state to stable operation, based on elongation of the anode. The x-ray tube can include a heatsink with an array of fins extending away from a base in opposite directions. A first fan can be attached to one end of the array of fins, oriented to face the base, and configured to direct an airstream towards the base. A second fan can be attached to opposite ends, oriented to face away from the base, and configured to draw the airstream from the base. Plate(s) can be located on sides of the fins to direct air flow from the first fan to the second fan.

An x-ray tube can provide x-ray spot stability, even for a small x-ray tube. The x-ray tube can have small target displacement, where target displacement is a displacement of the target material, towards the electron-emitter, along a longitudinal-axis of the anode, from x-ray powered-off state to stable operation, based on elongation of the anode. The x-ray tube can include a heatsink with an array of fins extending away from a base in opposite directions. A first fan can be attached to one end of the array of fins, oriented to face the base, and configured to direct an airstream towards the base. A second fan can be attached to opposite ends, oriented to face away from the base, and configured to draw the airstream from the base. Plate(s) can be located on sides of the fins to direct air flow from the first fan to the second fan.

An X-ray generation device includes an X-ray tube, and an electron beam adjustment part. The X-ray tube includes a housing, an electron gun, a target, and a window member. When a first defect exists in the target, the electron beam adjustment part adjusts an electron beam such that the first defect is not included in an irradiation region of the electron beam on the target, and when a second defect exists in the window member, the electron beam adjustment part adjusts the electron beam such that the second defect is not included in a projection region of the electron beam on the window member.

An X-ray generation device includes an X-ray tube, and an electron beam adjustment part. The X-ray tube includes a housing, an electron gun, a target, and a window member. When a first defect exists in the target, the electron beam adjustment part adjusts an electron beam such that the first defect is not included in an irradiation region of the electron beam on the target, and when a second defect exists in the window member, the electron beam adjustment part adjusts the electron beam such that the second defect is not included in a projection region of the electron beam on the window member.