Compact X-ray generation device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
- a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface comprising an electrically insulating material;
an electron target within the housing;
an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and
a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance;
wherein the electrically chargeable material within the housing comprises a heatable filament proximate the electrically insulating material of the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An x-ray transmitter, which may be compact, may be in the form of a housing with an x-ray transparent window sputtered with a metal on one wall, and tribocharging electron source on another wall.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
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a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface comprising an electrically insulating material; an electron target within the housing; an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance; wherein the electrically chargeable material within the housing comprises a heatable filament proximate the electrically insulating material of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
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a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface comprising an electrically insulating material; an electron target within the housing; an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance; wherein the electron target comprises a metal within the housing positioned so as to have at least one surface in a line of sight of both the window substantially transparent to x-rays and the portion having the exterior surface comprising the electrically insulating material.
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4. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
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a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface comprising an electrically insulating material; an electron target within the housing; an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance; and
further comprising field emitting tips within the housing proximate the portion of the second wall having the exterior surface comprising the electrically insulating material. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
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a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface comprising an electrically insulating material; an electron target within the housing; an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance; wherein the electrically insulating material comprises a polyimide film.
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8. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
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a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface comprising an electrically insulating material; an electron target within the housing; an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance; further comprising a secondary container having at least one wall sharing at least part of the portion of the second wall having the exterior comprising the electrically insulating material, the secondary container containing the contact material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of emitting x-rays from a housing, the housing being substantially opaque to x-rays and having a chamber at a low fluid pressure, comprising:
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frictionally contacting an exterior surface of the housing with a contacting surface, the exterior surface and the contacting surface being of different materials, whereby a charge imbalance is generated through the frictional contact, with accumulation of negative charge by the exterior surface; allowing for a flow of electrons, from about an interior surface of the housing proximate the exterior surface contacted by the contacting surface, and towards a window of the housing; generating x-rays proximate the window of the housing, the window of the housing being substantially transparent to x-rays. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device for emission of x-rays, comprising:
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a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure in a chamber within the housing, the housing including a window substantially transparent to x-rays but otherwise substantially opaque to x-rays; means for generating a charge imbalance on a portion of the housing through changing contact of material external to the housing with a surface of the housing; an electron target within the housing; and a filament within the housing substantially between the portion of the housing and the electron target. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification