A power supply apparatus for an X-ray imaging system. A capacitor unit including a plurality of capacitor cells is connected in series to a single cell battery, such that the capacitor unit is charged using the single cell battery. Only when respective capacitor cells of the capacitor unit are charged, respective balance circuits corresponding to the respective capacitor cells are controlled to be turned on. When the balancing of the respective capacitor cells is completed, the balance circuits are opened. Accordingly, the power consumption of the capacitor cells is minimized.

A power supply apparatus for an X-ray imaging system. A capacitor unit including a plurality of capacitor cells is connected in series to a single cell battery, such that the capacitor unit is charged using the single cell battery. Only when respective capacitor cells of the capacitor unit are charged, respective balance circuits corresponding to the respective capacitor cells are controlled to be turned on. When the balancing of the respective capacitor cells is completed, the balance circuits are opened. Accordingly, the power consumption of the capacitor cells is minimized.

Described is a method of determining whether repair or replacement of an electron gun of a radiotherapy device should be scheduled. The radiotherapy device comprises a linear accelerator and is configured to provide therapeutic radiation to a patient. The radiotherapy device comprises a vacuum tube comprising the electron gun, a waveguide configured to accelerate electrons emitted by the electron gun toward a target to produce said radiation. The radiotherapy device comprises also comprises a current sensor, the current sensor being configured to provide signals indicative of current supplied to the electron gun. The method comprises receiving a current value, processing the current value, and based on the processing of the current value, determining whether repair or replacement of the electron gun should be scheduled. Processing the current value comprises determining whether the current value meets at least one threshold criterion, and determining whether the current value has changed by at least a threshold amount in a particular time period.

An X-ray imaging apparatus and a consumption level estimation method for an X-ray source, which estimate the consumption level of an X-ray source without measuring grid voltage. An X-ray control part includes: a tube current value setting part setting a tube current value supplied to an X-ray source; a tube current value measurement part measuring a cathode current value as the tube current value by a cathode current detector; a time measurement part measuring the time when the tube current value is set by the tube current value setting part and the time when the tube current value measured by the tube current value measurement part reaches the set value; and a consumption level estimation part estimating the consumption level of a cathode in the X-ray source based one the time until the tube current value reaches the set value after the tube current value has been set.

There is provided a method of setting a filament demand in an x-ray apparatus. The x-ray apparatus has a filament, through which the passing of a heating current allows thermionic emission of electrons from the filament. The x-ray apparatus has a target, arranged to generate x-rays from the electrons emitted from the filament. The x-ray apparatus has a detector, arranged to detect x-rays generated by the target for forming an x-ray image. The x-ray apparatus has a controller configured to perform a measurement operation of the x-ray apparatus. The measurement measures a parameter of the x-ray apparatus. The controller is configured to set a filament demand for the filament. The filament demand correlates with the current passed through the filament. The method comprises varying the filament demand between a first value corresponding to a lower filament current and a second value corresponding to a higher filament current. The method comprises measuring the parameter at a series of values of the filament demand between the first value and the second value. The method comprises detecting a knee in the measured parameter. The method comprises determining the filament demand corresponding to the detected knee in the parameter. The method comprises setting the filament demand for the x-ray apparatus based on the determined filament demand corresponding to the detected knee in the parameter.

There is provided a method of setting a filament demand in an x-ray apparatus. The x-ray apparatus has a filament, through which the passing of a heating current allows thermionic emission of electrons from the filament. The x-ray apparatus has a target, arranged to generate x-rays from the electrons emitted from the filament. The x-ray apparatus has a detector, arranged to detect x-rays generated by the target for forming an x-ray image. The x-ray apparatus has a controller configured to perform a measurement operation of the x-ray apparatus. The measurement measures a parameter of the x-ray apparatus. The controller is configured to set a filament demand for the filament. The filament demand correlates with the current passed through the filament. The method comprises varying the filament demand between a first value corresponding to a lower filament current and a second value corresponding to a higher filament current. The method comprises measuring the parameter at a series of values of the filament demand between the first value and the second value. The method comprises detecting a knee in the measured parameter. The method comprises determining the filament demand corresponding to the detected knee in the parameter. The method comprises setting the filament demand for the x-ray apparatus based on the determined filament demand corresponding to the detected knee in the parameter.

An industrial X-ray imaging apparatus including: an X-ray source; an X-ray detector configured to detect X-rays emitted from the X-ray source; a stage which is disposed between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector and is configured to support a subject; and a shielding chamber configured to accommodate the X-ray source, the X-ray detector, and the stage, in which the shielding chamber includes a door for carrying in and out the subject, and a lock mechanism for prohibiting the door from changing to an open state, and in which the X-ray imaging apparatus further includes an unlocking control unit configured to control unlocking of the lock mechanism based on a leakage dose leaking from the shielding chamber to an outside.

Provided is an X-ray inspection apparatus including: an X-ray tube configured to generate X-rays; a high-voltage power source configured to supply a tube voltage to the X-ray tube to generate X-rays; an X-ray irradiation control section configured to output a first control signal and a second control signal to the high-voltage power source to control the high-voltage power source; and a determination section configured to count at least one of the first control signal and the second control signal output from the X-ray irradiation control section to the high-voltage power source, compare a counted count value with a preset threshold value, and determine a deterioration state of a component constituting the X-ray tube.

Systems and methods of adaptively controlling filament current in an x-ray tube of an imaging system include the x-ray tube having a filament being calibrated. Calibration data from the calibration of the x-ray tube is stored at the imaging system, the calibration data including a filament current value that determines a tube current value for a tube voltage value at a plurality of stations. A resistance value of the filament over a period of time is monitored. A change in the resistance value of the filament over the period of time is determined, and the filament current value of at least one of the plurality of stations is adjusted based on the changed resistance value.

An X-ray tube is provided with: a cathode and an anode sealed inside a vacuum envelope; and an ion-collecting conductor attached to the vacuum envelop so as to be in contact with an internal space of the vacuum envelope. A first current sensor measures a value of a first current flowing between the ion-collecting conductor and a node for supplying potential for attracting positive ions in the vacuum envelope. A second current sensor measures a value of a second current flowing between the anode and the cathode. A control circuit generates diagnostic information on the degree of vacuum of the X-ray tube based on a current ratio file of the first current value measured by the first current sensor to the second current value measured by the second current sensor.