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 device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.

A device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.

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.

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 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 tube having at least one focusing cup and an anode. The x-ray tube may have a first filament positioned in a first location between the focusing cup and the anode, the first filament having a first size, and a second filament positioned in a second location between the focusing cup and anode, the second filament having a second size that is substantially the same as the first size. The x-ray tube may also include a switching mechanism configured to engage the second filament upon failure of the first filament.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for performing spectral tomographic reconstruction of an object. The imaging system includes a power source that is configured to provide a variable high voltage. The imaging system includes a distributed X-ray source. The distributed X-ray source includes an array of X-ray emitters that allows fast switching “ON” and “OFF” using X-ray emitter grid electrode. The distributed X-ray sources is configured to generate an X-ray beam with an energy spectrum based on the variable high voltage and uses additional X-ray filters. The imaging system includes a controller. The controller is configured to operate synchronously with the change of the variable high voltage. The controller is configured to control a timing of when to engage an X-ray emitter of the array of X-ray emitters of the distributed X-ray source based on a predefined firing pattern.