According to one embodiment, Switching units are configured to switch the intensity of X-rays to be generated by an anode. An X-ray controller controls the switching units to switch the intensity of the X-rays to be generated by the anode, and controls a rotor control power generator to rotate the anode. When a value approximately equal to an integer multiple of an X-ray intensity switching period designated by a user coincides with the rotor rotation period, the X-ray controller controls the rotor control power generator to shift the thermoelectron collision ranges of the anode in the first turn from thermoelectron collision ranges in the second turn.

According to one embodiment, Switching units are configured to switch the intensity of X-rays to be generated by an anode. An X-ray controller controls the switching units to switch the intensity of the X-rays to be generated by the anode, and controls a rotor control power generator to rotate the anode. When a value approximately equal to an integer multiple of an X-ray intensity switching period designated by a user coincides with the rotor rotation period, the X-ray controller controls the rotor control power generator to shift the thermoelectron collision ranges of the anode in the first turn from thermoelectron collision ranges in the second turn.

A radiation imaging system operable to generate a plurality of radiation images based on different radiation energies, comprises: a communication unit configured to obtain at set communication intervals a temperature of a radiation tube by communication with a radiation generating unit; and a control unit configured to control, based on comparison of the temperature obtained at the communication intervals and a change rate of the temperature and respectively set threshold ranges, an operation for maintaining a driving state of the radiation tube or execution of image processing for obtaining a substance amount of a substance that forms an object using the plurality of radiation images.

An x-ray source assembly includes an anode stack including a source spot upon which electrons impinge with power being supplied to the assembly, and a control system to facilitate maintaining intensity of output x-rays from the x-ray source assembly during operation. The control system is configured to actively control temperature of the anode stack relative to a setpoint or defined setpoint range. The control system heats the anode stack in a heating mode, when an anode stack temperature is below the setpoint or defined setpoint range, and switches to a cooling mode to cool the anode stack when the anode stack temperature rises above the setpoint or defined setpoint range.

An x-ray source assembly includes an anode stack including a source spot upon which electrons impinge with power being supplied to the assembly, and a control system to facilitate maintaining intensity of output x-rays from the x-ray source assembly during operation. The control system is configured to actively control temperature of the anode stack relative to a setpoint or defined setpoint range. The control system heats the anode stack in a heating mode, when an anode stack temperature is below the setpoint or defined setpoint range, and switches to a cooling mode to cool the anode stack when the anode stack temperature rises above the setpoint or defined setpoint range.

A method is provided for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. A current, voltage and intended pulse width settings are selected for the X-ray pulses to be provided. Then, the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current is compensated, in accordance with stored normalized value or values at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of the X-ray tank. The normalized values are obtained in a calibration step from the actual or effective pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended width, normalizing said value with the temperature of the circuitry providing pulsed voltage and current to the source.

A method is provided for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. A current, voltage and intended pulse width settings are selected for the X-ray pulses to be provided. Then, the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current is compensated, in accordance with stored normalized value or values at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of the X-ray tank. The normalized values are obtained in a calibration step from the actual or effective pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended width, normalizing said value with the temperature of the circuitry providing pulsed voltage and current to the source.

A radiation imaging system operable to generate a plurality of radiation images based on different radiation energies, comprises: a communication unit configured to obtain at set communication intervals a temperature of a radiation tube by communication with a radiation generating unit; and a control unit configured to control, based on comparison of the temperature obtained at the communication intervals and a change rate of the temperature and respectively set threshold ranges, an operation for maintaining a driving state of the radiation tube or execution of image processing for obtaining a substance amount of a substance that forms an object using the plurality of radiation images.

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, x-ray may be generated in an x-ray tube of a radiation source prior to a diagnostic scan to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. The power delivered to the x-ray tube during warmup may be adjusted in a closed loop system based on an initial temperature of the x-ray tube and the desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. During tube warmup, by placing a blocking plate coupled to a collimator blade in a path of the x-ray beam, the x-ray beam may be blocked from exiting a collimator.

The X-ray generator includes a booster for boosting a first DC voltage supplied from a voltage source to a second DC voltage higher than the first DC voltage, at least one capacitor for receiving the second DC voltage and generating a charging voltage on the basis of the second DC voltage, a converter for converting the charging voltage into a driving voltage, an X-ray source for receiving the driving voltage and emitting X-rays according to the driving voltage, and a controller for controlling the booster, the converter, and the X-ray source. The controller calculates a cooling time required for cooling the X-ray source to a predetermined temperature or lower, determines the magnitude of the second DC voltage according to the cooling time, and applies the second DC voltage to the capacitor for the cooling time.