X-ray tube wherein damage to the radiation exit window due to back-scattered electrons is avoided

• US 5,689,541 A
• Filed: 10/25/1996
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schardt, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Application Number:
  US08/736,957
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 378/140, 378/137, 378/138, 378/139, 378/113, 378/101
• US Class Current: 378/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/122 of the window
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 35/18 Windows

Abstract

An X-ray tube has a vacuum housing that contains a cathode and an anode, the housing having a radiation exit window. The radiation exit window is electrically conductive, and lies at cathode potential, and is electrically insulated against the vacuum housing, which lies at a potential that is positive in relation to the cathode potential.

Claims

1. An X-ray tube comprising:

a vacuum housing;

an anode and a cathode contained in said vacuum housing;

means for placing said cathode at a cathode potential;

an electrically conductive radiation exit window disposed in an electrically insulated manner/from said vacuum housing;

means for placing said radiation exit window at said cathode potential; and

means for placing said vacuum housing at a potential which is positive in relation to said cathode potential.

2. An X-ray tube as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a body of insulating material disposed between said radiation exit window and said vacuum housing.

3. An X-ray tube as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body of insulating material has a high-ohmic coating.

4. An X-ray tube as claimed in claim 3 wherein said body of insulating material has an inner side, facing said vacuum housing, and wherein said high-ohmic coating is disposed on said inner side of said body of insulating material.

5. An X-ray tube as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for circulating a coolant in a region of said vacuum housing surrounding said radiation exit window.

6. An X-ray tube as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cathode emits an electron beam, and further comprising means for mounting said cathode and said anode in said vacuum housing relative to each other for causing said electron beam to strike said anode at an acute angle.