X-ray sources using linear accumulation
US9543109B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2235/1291
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A compact source for high brightness x-ray generation is disclosed. The higher brightness is achieved through electron beam bombardment of multiple regions aligned with each other to achieve a linear accumulation of x-rays. This may be achieved by aligning discrete x-ray sub-sources, or through the use of x-ray targets that comprise microstructures of x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate with high thermal conductivity. This allows heat to be more efficiently drawn out of the x-ray generating material, and in turn allows bombardment of the x-ray generating material with higher electron density and/or higher energy electrons, leading to greater x-ray brightness. The orientation of the microstructures allows the use of an on-axis collection angle, allowing the accumulation of x-rays from several microstructures to be aligned to appear to have a single origin, also known as “zero-angle” x-ray radiation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.