[Object] To provide an electron source that is lightweight, simple in configuration, and capable of suppressing characteristic degradation or recovering characteristics without causing an increase in power consumption.

[Solving Means] A CNT electron source includes: a CNT emitter 32 for emitting electrons; a gate electrode 33 for extracting electrons from the CNT emitter 32; and a gate power supply connection switching relay 37a and a CNT emitter grounding switching relay 37b that cause the gate electrode 33 to emit electrons to irradiate the CNT emitter with electrons.

Disclosed is a field emission-type tomosynthesis system including a vacuum body having a space therein; a plurality of sources provided inside the body, wherein each of the sources emits a plurality of electrons; and a plurality of anodes disposed inside the body to face the sources and responsible for emitting a plurality of X-rays, wherein each of the anodes faces a corresponding source among the sources, and the electrons collide with each of the anodes to generate X-rays, wherein the X-ray emission angle of each of the anodes is capable of being independently adjusted so as to focus the X-rays emitted toward an object located outside the body. With this configuration, a plurality of X-rays is focused on an object and is emitted to the object to obtain information, and the information is synthesized, thereby improving the reliability of information about the object.

The present disclosure relates to a CNT X-ray source apparatus, and more particularly, to a CNT X-ray source apparatus configured to maximize utilization of the internal space of a CNT X-ray tube body, having grooves made of an insulating material, and provided with a base portion for supporting a plurality of electrodes. With this configuration, mass production is possible. The CNT X-ray source apparatus of the present disclosure includes a cathode electrode; an emitter provided on the cathode electrode and responsible for emitting electrons; a gate electrode disposed above the cathode electrode and spaced apart from the cathode electrode by a predetermined interval; a focusing electrode for preventing scattering of electrons emitted from the emitter; and a base portion responsible for supporting one or more of the cathode electrode, the gate electrode, and the focusing electrode and formed of an insulating material. In this case, one or more grooves for accommodating at least one of the cathode electrode, the gate electrode, and the focusing electrode are formed in the base portion.

The present invention provides an emitter, which comprises carbon nanotubes and is excellent in the efficiency of electron emission, and an X-ray tube comprising the same.

A multisource volumetric spectral computed tomography imaging device includes an x-ray source array with multiple spatially distributed x-ray focal spots, an x-ray beam collimator with an array of apertures, each confining the radiation from a corresponding x-ray focal spot to illuminate a corresponding segment of an object, a digital area x-ray detector, and a gantry to rotate the x-ray source array and the detector around the object. An electronic control unit activates the radiations from the x-ray focal spots to scan the object multiple times as the gantry rotates around the object. The images are used to reconstruct a volumetric CT image of the object with reduced scattered radiation. For dual energy and multi energy imaging, radiation from each focal spot is filtered by a corresponding spectral filter to optimize its energy spectrum.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an electric field emission device. The method for manufacturing the electric field emission device includes winding a carbon nanotube yarn around outer circumferential surfaces of a metal plate in a first direction, pressing both side surfaces of the metal plate through a pair of metal structures, wherein a top surface of the metal plate is exposed from the metal structures, and an area of the top surface of the metal plate is less than that of each of both the side surfaces of the metal plate, and cutting the carbon nanotube yarn at an edge portion of the top surface of the metal plate in the first direction to form a plurality of emitters.

[Object] To provide an electron source that is lightweight, simple in configuration, and capable of suppressing characteristic degradation or recovering characteristics without causing an increase in power consumption. [Solving Means] A CNT electron source includes: a CNT emitter 32 for emitting electrons; a gate electrode 33 for extracting electrons from the CNT emitter 32; and a gate power supply connection switching relay 37a and a CNT emitter grounding switching relay 37b that cause the gate electrode 33 to emit electrons to irradiate the CNT emitter with electrons.

The present disclosure relates to a CNT X-ray source apparatus, and more particularly, to a CNT X-ray source apparatus configured to maximize utilization of the internal space of a CNT X-ray tube body, having grooves made of an insulating material, and provided with a base portion for supporting a plurality of electrodes. With this configuration, mass production is possible. The CNT X-ray source apparatus of the present disclosure includes a cathode electrode; an emitter provided on the cathode electrode and responsible for emitting electrons; a gate electrode disposed above the cathode electrode and spaced apart from the cathode electrode by a predetermined interval; a focusing electrode for preventing scattering of electrons emitted from the emitter; and a base portion responsible for supporting one or more of the cathode electrode, the gate electrode, and the focusing electrode and formed of an insulating material. In this case, one or more grooves for accommodating at least one of the cathode electrode, the gate electrode, and the focusing electrode are formed in the base portion.

A tomosynthesis system has an x-ray source with an addressable array of electron emitting sections on the cathode. The x-ray source moves rotationally about an imaging target, such as a breast. During the rotation, x-rays are emitting from the x-ray source while the x-ray source continues to move. During the emission of x-rays, different subsets of electron-emitting sections of the addressable array are activated to compensate for movement of the x-ray source. By activating the different subsets of electron-emitting sections, an effective focal spot of the x-ray position appears to retain the same shape, size, and position from the perspective of the imaging target, despite movement of the x-ray source itself.

A carbon nanotube field emitter comprises at least two electrodes and at least one graphitized carbon nanotube structure. The at least one graphitized carbon nanotube structure comprises a first end and a field emission end. The first end is opposite to the field emission end. The first end is fixed between the at least two electrodes, and the field emission end is exposed from the at least two electrodes and configured to emit electrons.