The invention relates to a control device for an X-ray tube (2), comprising a housing (29) that is designed as a shield, in which an anode current regulating unit (1) is arranged and which is connected to a cathode power supply unit (18), a plurality of cathode voltage switches (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) which are to be connected to in each case a cathode (4), and a programmable assembly (25), in which the control of the cathodes (4) is determined. The cathode power supply unit (18), the cathode voltage switches (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) and the programmable assembly (18) are also arranged in the housing (29).

The invention relates to a control device for an X-ray tube (2), comprising a housing (29) that is designed as a shield, in which an anode current regulating unit (1) is arranged and which is connected to a cathode power supply unit (18), a plurality of cathode voltage switches (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) which are to be connected to in each case a cathode (4), and a programmable assembly (25), in which the control of the cathodes (4) is determined. The cathode power supply unit (18), the cathode voltage switches (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) and the programmable assembly (18) are also arranged in the housing (29).

A control unit is for a medical imaging system. The control unit includes a programmable logic gate, designed for at least one of closed-loop control and open-loop control of at least one component of the medical imaging system; a microprocessor, connected to the programmable logic gate via a first interface; and a signal line to connect the microprocessor to a contact array, arranged externally on the control unit. The microprocessor is designed to provide a second interface via the signal line and to control the programmable logic gate in accordance with a command signal received via the second interface. Further, the signal line is provided at least in part by the programmable logic gate and the programmable logic gate includes a receive unit for reading out the command signal.

The present invention relates to a rotary anode X-ray source. In addition to a primary cathode of a rotary anode X-ray tube, an auxiliary cathode is provided in the rotary anode X-ray tube. Electrons from the auxiliary cathode are focused into an area on the anode, from which X-rays cannot enter the used X-ray beam generated by the primary cathode. An emission current controlling device is used to control the electron emission of the auxiliary cathode. Thus, the voltage down-ramp for dual energy scanning is kept constant even though the primary X-ray output changes for the sake of dose modulation or during a transient of the primary electron current.

A power supply circuit and a field emission electron source are provided. The power supply circuit includes: field effect transistors S.sub.i coupled in series via drains and sources in sequence, 1≤i≤n, i and n are natural numbers, n≥2, and a source of S.sub.1 is coupled to a negative electrode of a voltage source, and a drain of S.sub.n is used as an output terminal of the power supply circuit to couple to a load; a first group of diodes D.sub.1i coupled in series; a first group of resistors R.sub.1j, 2≤j≤n, and i and j are natural numbers; and a voltage control module configured to adjust an output voltage of the voltage source to cause a current passing through the load to be constant; the field effect transistors S.sub.i, 1≤i≤n, operate in a resistive region.

A power supply circuit and a field emission electron source are provided. The power supply circuit includes: field effect transistors S.sub.i coupled in series via drains and sources in sequence, wherein 1≤i≤n, n≥2, and wherein a source of S.sub.1 is coupled to a negative electrode of a voltage source, and a drain of S.sub.n is used as an output terminal of the power supply circuit to couple to a load; a first group of diodes D.sub.1i coupled in series; a first group of resistors R.sub.1j, 2≤j≤n; and a current feedback module configured to adjust an internal resistance of the field effect transistors S.sub.i, coupled in series in sequence, so as to cause a current passing through the load to be constant; wherein the field effect transistors S.sub.i, 1≤i≤n, operate in a constant current region.

Disclosed is an electromagnetic wave generator, comprising a tube comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one gate, a tube power supply circuit in which one side of an output terminal is connected to the anode, and the other side of the output terminal is connected to the cathode, and a gate controlling circuit in which at least one side of the output terminal is connected to the gate, wherein a first voltage value of one side of the output terminal of the tube power supply circuit and a second voltage value of the other side of the output terminal of the tube power supply circuit are different from each other with respect to a ground terminal of the tube power supply circuit.

Disclosed is an electromagnetic wave generator, comprising a tube comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one gate, a tube power supply circuit in which one side of an output terminal is connected to the anode, and the other side of the output terminal is connected to the cathode, and a gate controlling circuit in which at least one side of the output terminal is connected to the gate, wherein a first voltage value of one side of the output terminal of the tube power supply circuit and a second voltage value of the other side of the output terminal of the tube power supply circuit are different from each other with respect to a ground terminal of the tube power supply circuit.

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.

Various methods and systems are provided for medical imaging systems. In one example, an imaging system comprises: a C-shaped gantry; an x-ray tube coupled to a first end of the C-shaped gantry; an x-ray detector coupled to a second end of the C-shaped gantry, opposite to the x-ray tube; and a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that when executed, cause the controller to: identify a reference image; determine a target electrical current based on the reference image; determine a corrected electrical current based on the target electrical current; and transition an electrical current provided to the x-ray tube to the target electrical current by commanding the electrical current to the corrected electrical current while maintaining a constant voltage provided to the x-ray tube.