Patent · US Expired

X-ray tube with a low-temperature emitter

US5703924A · kind A · utility

19Cited by

4References

6Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

Erich Hell · Erlangen, DE
Helmut Kuhn · Weißenbrunn, DE
Mathias Hoernig · Möhrendorf, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Apr 4, 1996
Grant date	Dec 30, 1997
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 4, 2016

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH01J2235/168
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An x-ray tube has an anode and an electron emitter from which an electron beam emanates, the electron beam impinging the incident surface of the anode in a focal spot from which a useful x-ray beam emanates. At least in the region of its electron-emitting surface, the electron emitter is formed of an electron-emitting material that has a lower electron affinity than tungsten (a low-temperature emitter). Further, an apertured diaphragm at anode potential is arranged between the electron emitter and the anode and through which the electron beam passes. As electron-emitting material, the electron emitter contains lanthanum hexaboride (LaB.sub.6) or an alloy of the systems iridium/cerium (Ir/Ce) or iridium/lanthanum (Ir/La) systems.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.