In an x-ray source, an isolation circuit can isolate bias voltage at a cathode from a bias voltage at an alternating current source (AC source). The isolation circuit can transfer alternating current from the AC source to the cathode. The isolation circuit can be made repeatedly with minimal variation or failed parts, can be light, and can be small. The isolation circuit can include planar transformer(s). Each planar transformer can include a primary trace on a primary circuit board and a secondary trace on a secondary circuit board. The primary trace and the secondary trace can each include a spiral shape. The primary trace can be located in close proximity to the secondary trace such that alternating electrical current through the primary trace will induce alternating electrical current through the secondary trace.

A time-division multiplexing control device applied to a distributed X-ray source includes: a first switch module with a number of first switches that receive a high-voltage signal and a first control signal, selectively turning on one of the plurality of first switches according to the first control signal and sending the high-voltage signal through the first switch turned on; and a cathode control module including a plurality of cathode control stages in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first switches, used for receiving the high-voltage signal from the first switch module and sending working state data through a cathode control stage corresponding to the first switch turned on in the plurality of cathode control stages, where each cathode control stage includes a cathode control unit and a cathode.

The present disclosure provides a cathode emission device. The cathode emission device may comprise a cathode assembly, including: a first filament, a second filament, and a grid electrode. The grid electrode may be operably connected to the first filament and surrounding the first filament and the second filament. The cathode assembly may be configured to be operably connected to a high-voltage generator and switchable between a first connection configuration and a second connection configuration.

An x-ray source includes an optical communications link to provide a galvanically isolated communication between a system controller and a gun controller. In specific examples, the link is provided through one or more fibers. In addition, the gun controller is preferably remote programmed by the system controller during startup. This addresses the problem of reprogramming a processor in a hard to access location/environment. A watchdog timer is also useful for the gun digital processor of the gun controller.

It would be advantageous to reduce weight and size of high voltage power supplies, to increase frequency of pulses of high voltage, and to improve control of magnitude of high voltage. The embodiments of high voltage power supplies described herein can solve these problems. The high voltage power supply can be used with an x-ray tube. The high voltage power supply can comprise an array of planar transformers each defining a stage with an AC input and a DC output. Each stage can comprise a pair of flat, coil windings adjacent one another and including a primary winding electrically-coupled to the AC input and configured to induce a current in a secondary winding. At least two stages can be electrically-coupled together in series with the DC output of one stage electrically-coupled to an input of the other stage such that a voltage is amplified across the stages.

A method of operating an acceleration system comprises injecting charged particles into an RF accelerator, providing RF power to the accelerator, and accelerating the injected charged particles. The accelerated charged particles may impact a target to generate radiation. The RF power is based, at least in part, on past performance of the system, to compensate, at least partially, for dose and/or energy instability. A controller may provide a compensated control voltage (“CCV”) to an electric power source based on the past performance, to provide compensated electric power to the RF source. A decreasing CCV, such as an exponentially decreasing CCV, may be provided to the electric power source during beam on time periods. The CCV to be provided may be increased, such as exponentially increased toward a maximum value, during beam off time periods. The controller may be configured by a compensation circuit and/or software. Systems are also described.

A high voltage generator including a Cockcroft-Walton circuit structured to receive alternating-current power supplied from an alternating-current power source and apply a potential difference to a load includes: three or more circuit boards arranged at intervals in a thickness direction thereof; capacitors, each of which is shaped flat and mounted to a corresponding one of the circuit boards; and diodes, each of which is connected to corresponding ones of the circuit boards. Out of the three or more circuit boards, each circuit board other than two circuit boards disposed at both ends of the arrangement of the three or more circuit boards includes indentations. Each of the diodes is disposed in a corresponding one of the indentations.

A method is for closed-loop control of an X-ray pulse chain generated via a linear accelerator system. In an embodiment, the method includes modulating a first electron beam within a first radio-frequency pulse duration, wherein the first multiple amplitude X-ray pulse is produced on modulating the first electron beam; measuring time-resolved actual values of the first multiple amplitude X-ray pulse; adjusting at least one pulse parameter as a function of a comparison of the specified multiple amplitude X-ray pulse profile and the measured time-resolved actual values; and modulating a second electron beam within a second radio-frequency pulse duration as a function of the at least one adjusted pulse parameter for production of the second multiple amplitude X-ray pulse, so the X-ray pulse chain is controlled.

A system for imaging an object includes an X-ray source operative to transmit X-rays through the object and a detector to receive the X-ray energy of the X-rays after passing through the object and to generate corresponding object X-ray intensity. The system also includes a controller to measure a detector entrance dose with no object being placed on the X-ray beam path and determine a relationship between an X-ray tube electrical parameter and the detector entrance dose. The controller further determines a relationship between the X-ray tube electrical parameter, the detector entrance dose and a detector average pixel intensity and obtains a normalized air map as a function of the X-ray tube electrical parameter based on calibration image data. The controller also generates an air map based on the normalized air map, the detector entrance dose and the detector average pixel intensity and reconstructs an image of the object based on the air map and the measured object X-ray intensity.

A well-logging tool may include a sonde housing and a radiation generator carried by the sonde housing. The radiation generator may include a generator housing, a target carried by the generator housing, a charged particle source carried by the generator housing to direct charged particles at the target, and at least one voltage source coupled to the charged particle source. The at least one voltage source may include a voltage ladder comprising a plurality of voltage multiplication stages coupled in a uni-polar configuration, and at least one loading coil coupled at at least one intermediate position along the voltage ladder. The well-logging tool may further include at least one radiation detector carried by the sonde housing.