Transient suppression in cables.

摘要

An X-ray imaging system including an X-ray tube (30) which is biased by a high voltage power supply (12) (36,38) which have a characteristic impedance. The cables are coupled to the X-ray tube by a resistance (40) which is substantially equal to the characteristic impedance when a single cable is used or to twice the characteristic impedance when two cables are used. During a breakdown of the X-ray tube, the resistance depresses electrical current flow between the anode and the cathode of the tube. This current is in part due to the energy stored in the cable, which is not depressed by conventional current limiting circuits in the high voltage power supply. The technique may be used for cables connected to other types of electrical apparatus.