Transmission cathode for X-ray production
US6333968A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J35/116
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The transmission cathode for X-ray generation is a device wherein an electrical current generated by a low voltage power supply produces an electron flow from the transmission cathode that is accelerated by a high voltage power supply towards an anode where X rays are emitted on impact. As the X rays are emitted, a primary beam passes through the cathode striking a sample placed outside the tube. The transmission cathode is X comprised of an electron emitter structure, preferably, an electron field emitter diode or thermionic emitter or a photoemitter or a nanotube or a pyroemitter or a piezoemitter, fabricated, preferably of elements of atomic numbers of 14 (silicon) or below, with electrically conductive components or conductive mechanical structural components, preferably, conductive silicon or diamond or aluminum or beryllium metal, and non-conductive electrical insulators or non-conductive mechanical structural components, preferably, diamond or silicon dioxide or boron carbide. The transmission cathode is transmissive to those X rays that freely flow through the transmission cathode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.