A transmission-target x-ray tube can include an x-ray window 12 mounted on a window-housing 13. The window-housing 13 can be made of a high density material with a high atomic number, and can include an aperture 13.sub.a with an increasing-inner-diameter region 23 for blocking x-rays and electrons.

An electron gun device that emits an electron beam by heating to a high temperature in a vacuum. The surface of a material, which emits an electron beam, is a hydrogenated metal that is melted and in a liquid state during a high-temperature operation. The liquid hydrogenated metal is contained in a hollow cover tube container, which is in a solid state during the high-temperature operation, in the form of a hydrogenated liquid metal or in the form of a liquid metal before hydrogenation, and heated together with the cover tube container to a high temperature. The hydrogenated liquid metal is exposed from the cover tube container and forms a liquid surface where gravity, the electric field and the surface tension of the liquid surface are balanced; and an electron beam is emitted from the exposed surface of the hydrogenated liquid metal.

A method of designing an x-ray emitter panel 100 including the step of determining a pitch scale, r, to be used in placing x-ray emitter elements 110 on the panel 100, thereby arriving at a specific design of x-ray emitter panel 100 suitable for a specific use.

In the present invention, an X-ray tube is provided including a cathode assembly with a cathode cup, and an emitter disposed within the cup configured to emit an electron beam therefrom. The emitter is formed with a central portion including legs with varying lengths and/or spaces formed therein. The legs including spaces of varying lengths provides additional emissive material at the center of the emitter to better withstand strikes from ions formed within the X-ray tube. The legs of varying overall lengths provides a void in the emitter through Which the ions can pass without striking the emitter.

In the present invention, a cathode assembly for an X-ray tube is provided including a cathode cup, a pair of emitters disposed within the cup and each configured to emit an electron beam therefrom and an electrode spaced from the pair of emitters and configured to affect the shape and/or intensity of the electron beams emitted by the pair of emitters. The electrode includes a rod extending across a central aperture defined within the electrode that enables the electrode to grid or focus the electron beam or beams emitted from the emitters using a bias voltage between +10 kV and −10 kV.

An x-ray transmission device includes two surfaces in frictional contact within a low fluid pressure environment provided by a housing substantially opaque to x-rays. Materials of the two surfaces are selected such that the frictional contact generates relative charging between the surfaces. The housing includes a window substantially transparent to x-rays, and an electron target, for example a metal, is on an interior surface of the window. The electron target faces the surface that is relatively negatively charged, such that electrons accelerated from that surface, or accelerated due to the negative charge of that surface strike the electron target to generate x-rays, which may be transmitted through the window.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube includes an elongated anode target, a cathode, and a vacuum envelope. The cathode includes an electron emission source and a converging electrode including a trench portion. The trench portion includes a closest inner circumferential wall, an upper inner circumferential wall, and a lower inner circumferential wall. The electron emission source projects towards a opening of the trench portion from a boundary between the closest inner circumferential wall and the upper inner circumferential wall.

Systems and methods are provided for improving thermal management strategies of a cathode assembly of an X-ray tube. In one embodiment, an X-ray tube comprises an anode assembly and a cathode assembly, wherein the cathode assembly includes one or more elements that include an internal porous section for controlling a flow of heat within the cathode assembly during operation of the X-ray tube. In this way, heat conduction to temperature sensitive aspects of the cathode assembly may be reduced, while enabling sufficient heat transfer to other parts of the cathode assembly to minimize deformation.

The present application provides a curved surface array distributed x-ray apparatus, characterized in that, it comprises: a vacuum box which is sealed at its periphery, and the interior thereof is high vacuum; a plurality of electron transmitting units arranged on the wall of the vacuum box in multiple rows along the direction of the axis of the curved surface in the curved surface facing the axis; an anode made of metal and arranged in the axis in the vacuum box which comprises an anode pipe and an anode target surface; a power supply and control system having a high voltage power supply connected to the anode, a filament power supply connected to each of the plurality of the electron transmitting units, a grid-controlled apparatus connected to each of the plurality of electron transmitting units, a control system for controlling each power supply.

The present invention discloses a digital X-ray source. The digital X-ray source includes an X-ray generation unit that emits X-rays, wherein the X-ray generation unit includes a cathode electrode; an emitter formed above the cathode electrode; an anode electrode located above the emitter; a gate electrode located between the emitter and the anode electrode; first and second focusing electrodes located between the emitter and the anode electrode; and an electrode connecting unit configured to include one or more insulating tubes capable of fixing and adjusting the locations of the gate electrode and the first and second focusing electrodes on the cathode electrode, and also configured to individually insulate and connect the cathode electrode, the gate electrode and the first and second focusing electrodes from and with electric lines