An X-ray tube of an embodiment includes an anode; and an electron emission device. In an embodiment, the electron emission device includes at least one electron emitter including at least one emission surface and at least one barrier grid, the at least one barrier grid being spaced apart from the at least one emission surface of the electron emitter and includes a definable number of individually controllable grid segments. According to an embodiment, at least one individually definable grid voltage is applicable to each of the grid segments. In a simple manner, an electron-emission device of an embodiment permits the image quality to be adjusted with minimal anode loading.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube device includes a cathode which emits electrons, an anode target which generates X-rays when the electrons emitted from the cathode collide therewith, a first tube portion, a second tube portion which forms a flow path of a coolant together with the first tube portion, and a protective film. The protective film covers an inner surface of the first tube portion, and is formed of hard gold.

According to one embodiment, in an X-ray tube, an electron convergence cup has a first surface located closer to the anode, and an electron convergence groove opening on the first surface and housing a filament. The first surface has a first edge located on the opening, and a second edge located on the opening and opposite to the first edge in a first direction. The first edge is closer to an outer peripheral part than the second edge is. When the distance between the first edge and the filament in the first direction is defined as a first distance and the distance between the second edge and the filament in the first direction is defined as a second distance, the first distance is shorter than the second distance.

The present application relates to a deflection electrode assembly, an X-ray source, and an X-ray imaging system. The deflection electrode assembly includes: a first electrode plate, including a first connection portion and a plurality of first tooth portions, wherein the first electrode plate is formed as a comb shape; and a second electrode plate, including a second connection portion and a plurality of second tooth portions, wherein the second electrode plate is formed as a comb shape. The first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are not in contact with each other, and the plurality of first tooth portions and the plurality of second tooth portions are arranged at least partially in a staggered manner to form a plurality of electron beam passageways; each electron beam passageway is located between adjacent first and second tooth portions.

A planar filament 11.sub.f can include multiple materials to increase electron emission in desired directions and to suppress electron emission in undesired directions. The filament 11.sub.f can include a core-material CM between a top-material TM and a bottom-material BM. The top-material TM can have a lowest work function WF.sub.t; the bottom-material BM can have a highest work function WF.sub.b; and the core-material CM can have an intermediate work function WF.sub.c(WF.sub.t<WF.sub.c<WF.sub.b). A width W.sub.t of the filament 11.sub.f at a top-side 31.sub.t can be greater than its width W.sub.b at a bottom-side 31.sub.b (W.sub.t>W.sub.b). This shape makes it easier to coat the edges 31.sub.e with the bottom-material BM, because the edges 31.sub.e tilt toward and partially face the sputter target. This shape also helps direct more electrons to a center of the target 14, and reduce electron emission in undesired directions.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for electromagnetic x-ray control. The apparatus comprises a thermionic filament, positioned at a first end of a micro-focus x-ray tube and configured to generate an electron stream. The apparatus also comprises an x-ray generation target, positioned within the micro-focus x-ray tube at a second end of the micro-focus x-ray tube, opposite the first end, to receive the electron stream and to generate x-rays in response to the electron stream impinging on the x-ray generation target. The apparatus further comprises an electromagnetic field element, configured to generate an electromagnetic field that receives the electron stream and operable to vary the electromagnetic field to redirect the electron stream, within the micro-focus x-ray tube, to impinge on the x-ray generation target at variable locations on the x-ray generation target. Each one of the variable locations corresponds to a different one of multiple variations of the electromagnetic field.

A MBFEX tube (1) for an x-ray device comprises, in a vacuum tube (20), an anode (30) designed as a cooling finger and securely arranged in the vacuum tube, and a plurality of securely arranged cathodes (40, 41, 42), wherein the vacuum tube (20) comprises a plurality of cathode feed lines (50) and no more than two high-voltage bushings (51, 52), in a high-voltage bushing (52) a coolant pipe (31) is passed through by an internal coolant inner pipe (32), the coolant pipe (31) and the coolant inner pipe (32) are provided for cooling the anode (30) with a liquid coolant, the cathodes (40, 41, 42) are provided for field emission of electrons and are arranged on the anode (30) for generating x-ray sources (Q).

A method, in an embodiment, is for setting an X-ray intensity using a structured anode or a field emitter cathode or a finger-shaped cathode head. Other embodiments include an associated X-ray device, an associated single X-ray tube CT scanner, an associated dual X-ray tube CT scanner, and an associated computer program product.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube includes an anode including a target surface, and a cathode including a first filament and a focusing electrode. The focusing electrode includes a valley bottom portion, a first inclined plane sloping up from the valley bottom portion in a direction of the anode, a first focusing groove, and a first storage groove. θ1 is greater than 0°. The first focusing groove has a longitudinal axis. One end portion on the first extension line side of the first focusing groove is closer to a first reference surface than the other end portion of the first focusing groove.

A field emission electron source and a method of manufacturing the same. A field emission electron source comprises an emitting electrode and an extractor gate electrode. The emitting electrode comprising a plurality of particles with nanosharp protrusions. The extractor gate electrode comprises a metal. The extractor gate electrode is formed in a same plane as the emitting electrode. The extractor gate electrode is formed surrounding the emitting electrode. A method of manufacturing a field emission electron source comprises forming an emitting electrode comprising a plurality of particles with nanosharp protrusions using a direct ink writing (DIW) printer. The method comprises forming an extractor gate electrode comprising a metal using the DIW printer.