X-ray generator device

• US 8,938,048 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tribo Labs
• Original Assignee: Tribogenics, Inc.
• Inventors: Camara, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Glen
• Application Number:
  US13/431,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20130259204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 378/119
• US Class Current: 378/119
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 2/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays, not involving X-ray tubes, e.g. involving generation of a plasma X-ray lasers H01S4/00

Abstract

An x-ray generator device includes a housing at least partially holding a specific fluid pressure, with an arm positioned to be able to strike a strike plate within the housing. The housing contains an x-ray window. The arm is magnetically actuated in at least one direction by a magnetic field generator outside of the housing. A striking portion of the lever arm and/or the strike plate may be a polymeric material with embedded metal or metal alloys.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a chamber at least partially evacuated of gases;

an arm with at least one end within the chamber, at least a portion of the arm within the chamber forming a striker, the arm being associated with a magnet;

a strike plate within the chamber and positioned to be struck by the striker, the strike plate being of a material, on at least a portion to be struck by the striker, that charges negative relative to a striking portion of the striker; and

a magnetic field generator outside the chamber, the magnetic field generator being capable of generating a magnetic field to cause the striker to strike the strike plate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the striking portion of the striker and the portion of the strike plate to be struck by the striker is insulated from ground.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the strike plate comprises an electrically insulating material.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the strike plate comprises a membrane.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the membrane is part of a polymeric band.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the arm is mounted to a pivotable base.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a pressure within the chamber is about 100 mTorr.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a pressure within the chamber is less than 100 mTorr.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a getter material within the chamber.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the chamber includes a sealable orifice.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the strike plate is at least part of a polymeric band extending between a pair of pins.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the striker and the strike plate are removable from the chamber.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnet associated with the arm comprises a magnet on the arm.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the magnetic field generator is in proximity to the chamber.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field generator includes a motor.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a magnet.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the magnet is coupled to a motor.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the magnet is configured to rotate by the motor.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises an electromagnet.