A method for manufacturing an electron source according to the present disclosure includes steps of: (A) preparing a first member provided with a columnar portion made of a first material having an electron emission characteristic, (B) preparing a second member which has a higher work function and a lower strength than the first material, and in which a hole is formed extending in a direction from one end surface toward the other end surface, and (C) pushing the columnar portion into the hole in the second member, wherein the first member has a cross-sectional shape that is dissimilar to the cross-sectional shape of the hole; and in the step (C), by pressing the columnar portion into the hole, a portion of a side surface of the columnar portion scrapes the inner surface of the hole and bites into the second member, thereby fixing the columnar portion to the second member.

Examples disclosed herein involve a first connector that facilitates access to a system, a second connector that facilitates access to the same system, and an adapter controller to facilitate concatenating functionality of the first connector and the second connector when the apparatus is communicatively coupled to the system via the first connector and the second connector; and establish a high speed connection between the system and the apparatus via the first connector and the second connector.

Examples disclosed herein involve a first connector that facilitates access to a system, a second connector that facilitates access to the same system, and an adapter controller to facilitate concatenating functionality of the first connector and the second connector when the apparatus is communicatively coupled to the system via the first connector and the second connector; and establish a high speed connection between the system and the apparatus via the first connector and the second connector.

A high dose output, through transmission and reflective target x-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an x-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through and reflective transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.

A high dose output, through transmission and reflective target x-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an x-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through and reflective transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.

In one embodiment, a system includes a cathode and a thermionic emitter installed at least partially within the cathode tube of the cathode. The thermionic emitter is in a shape of a hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder includes an outer surface and an unsmooth inner surface. The outer surface is configured to contact an inner surface of the cathode tube. The unsmooth inner surface includes a plurality of structures that provide an increase in surface area over a smooth surface.

A pair of straight or angularly oriented flat emitters formed of an electron emissive material are positioned on an emitter support structure and are electrically connected to one another regardless of the mounting structure on which the emitters are positioned. The electrical connections between the emitters are formed directly between the emitters using electrically conductive material members that are placed between and affixed to the emitters to provide the electrical pathway or connection therebetween the emitters after formation of the emitters. These electrical connection members form an electrical connection between the angled pair of emitters separately from an emitter support structure on the cathode, such that the electrical connection members and angled emitters including the connection members can separate the mechanical architecture of the cathode assembly from the electrical architecture, thereby creating a simplified construction for the cathode assembly and associated x-ray tubes.

An annular cathode for a vacuum tube includes a central cylindrical support whose axis is that of the cathode; an outer peripheral electron emitter with annular section whose axis is that of the cathode, extending over the outer perimeter of the cathode; and a folded skirt, secured at an inner end to the central support, and secured, at its outer end, to a plurality of lugs; each lug being disposed in series with the folded skirt, and secured with the folded skirt and with the inner surface of the electron emitter.

In one embodiment, a system includes a cathode and a thermionic emitter installed at least partially within the cathode tube of the cathode. The thermionic emitter is in a shape of a hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder includes an outer surface and an unsmooth inner surface. The outer surface is configured to contact an inner surface of the cathode tube. The unsmooth inner surface includes a plurality of structures that provide an increase in surface area over a smooth surface.

An annular cathode for a vacuum tube includes a central cylindrical support whose axis is that of the cathode; an outer peripheral electron emitter with annular section whose axis is that of the cathode, extending over the outer perimeter of the cathode; and a folded skirt, secured at an inner end to the central support, and secured, at its outer end, to a plurality of lugs; each lug being disposed in series with the folded skirt, and secured with the folded skirt and with the inner surface of the electron emitter.