X-ray tube assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016196950-A1
Application number	US-201514982489-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 7, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube assembly includes a cathode which emits electrons in an electron orbit direction, an anode target including a target surface with which electrons emitted from the cathode collides to generate X-rays, a vacuum envelope which contains the cathode and the anode target, and in which at least one recessed portion is formed to be recessed from the outside of the vacuum envelope in such a way as to surround the cathode, and a quadrupole magnetic-field generation portion which is provided outside the vacuum envelope, and which comprises four poles provided in the at least one recessed portion such that the cathode is located in a center of an area surrounded by the four poles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An X-ray tube assembly comprising:
a cathode which emits electrons in an electron orbit direction; an anode target provided opposite to the cathode and including a target surface with which electrons emitted from the cathode collides to generate X-rays; a vacuum envelope which contains the cathode and the anode target, which is vacuum-tightly closed, and in which at least one recessed portion is formed to be recessed from the outside of the vacuum envelope in such a way as to surround the cathode; and a quadrupole magnetic-field generation portion which is supplied with direct current by a DC power supply, and provided outside the vacuum envelope, and which comprises four poles provided in the at least one recessed portion such that the cathode is located in a center of an area surrounded by the four poles.

2 . The X-ray tube assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one deflection coil portion which is supplied with alternating current from an AC power supply, and provided at part of the quadrupole magnetic-field generation portion, and which comprises at least a pair of dipoles which generate alternating magnetic fields at the four poles.

3 . The X-ray tube assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the cathode is formed of a first metallic material in which at least a surface portion thereof has a high electrical conductivity and is non-magnetic; and the anode target is formed of a second metallic material in which at least a surface portion thereof has a high electrical conductivity and is non-magnetic.

4 . The X-ray tube assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first and second metallic materials are any of copper, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, a non-magnetic stainless steel, titanium and chromium, or non-magnetic metallic materials which contain any of copper, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, a non-magnetic stainless steel, titanium and chromium as main ingredients of the first and second metallic materials.

5 . The X-ray tube assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the quadrupole magnetic-field generation portion includes four poles having end faces which are inclined at a predetermined angle γ with respect to an electron orbit; and the angle γ is set such that 0°<γ<90°.

6 . The X-ray tube assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one recessed portion is located further away from the anode target than an end face of the cathode in a direction along the electron orbit.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devic

Inventors

• Ishihara Tomonari
• Anno Hidero

Classifications

• H01J35/14 Primary

  Arrangements for concentrating, focusing, or directing the cathode ray · CPC title

• H01J35/08

  Anodes; Anti cathodes · CPC title

• H01J35/06

  Cathodes · CPC title

• H01J35/147 Primary

  Spot size control · CPC title

• H01J35/10

  Rotary anodes; Arrangements for rotating anodes; Cooling rotary anodes · CPC title