X-ray tube with adjustable intensity profile

摘要

An X-ray tube includes an emitter, and an electrode assembly. The emitter is configured to emit an electron beam toward a target. The electrode assembly includes at least one electrode having a bias voltage with respect to the emitter. At least one electrode of the electrode assembly is a segmented electrode including a plurality of segments. The plurality of segments includes a first member and a second member. The first member is configured to have a first bias voltage and the second member is configured to have a second bias voltage that is different from the first bias voltage.

主权项

1. An X-ray tube assembly comprising:
an emitter configured to emit an electron beam defining a downstream direction toward a target, the emitter disposed proximate an upstream end of the X-ray tube assembly; an electrode assembly disposed proximate the emitter and downstream of the emitter, the electrode assembly comprising at least one electrode having a bias voltage with respect to the emitter, the electrode assembly configured to surround the electron beam in an axial direction, wherein the electrode assembly comprises:
an emitter focusing electrode disposed proximate the emitter and outward of the emitter in the axial direction, at least a portion of the emitter focusing electrode overlapping at least a portion of the emitter in the downstream direction;an extraction electrode disposed proximate the emitter focusing electrode, the extraction electrode disposed downstream of the emitter and the emitter focusing electrode; anda downstream focusing electrode disposed proximate the extraction electrode and downstream of the extraction electrode, the downstream focusing electrode configured to surround the electron beam in the axial direction, the downstream focusing electrode having a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter; and at least one electrode of the electrode assembly being a segmented electrode, the segmented electrode comprising a plurality of segments arranged about an axis defined by the electron beam, the plurality of segments including a first member and a second member, the first member configured to have a first bias voltage and the second member configured to have a second bias voltage that is different from the first bias voltage.