Moxtek, Inc.

David S Hoffman

Eric Miller

Vincent Floyd Jones

Jason Maynard

Shawn S Chin

Jonathan Barron

Sreeram Dhurjaty

Ricky B Steck

Bob West

Gordon Ernest Smith

In an x-ray source, an isolation circuit can isolate bias voltage at a cathode from a bias voltage at an alternating current source (AC source). The isolation circuit can transfer alternating current from the AC source to the cathode. The isolation circuit can be made repeatedly with minimal variation or failed parts, can be light, and can be small. The isolation circuit can include planar transformer(s). Each planar transformer can include a primary trace on a primary circuit board and a secondary trace on a secondary circuit board. The primary trace and the secondary trace can each include a spiral shape. The primary trace can be located in close proximity to the secondary trace such that alternating electrical current through the primary trace will induce alternating electrical current through the secondary trace.

Planar transformer isolation circuit for an X-ray source

An x-ray detector can be small and have efficient cooling. In one embodiment, the x-ray detector can comprise a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) with upper electrical connections, a support, a cap, and a silicon drift detector (SDD). A planar side of the support can be directly affixed to upper electrical connections of the TEC. The support can have a non-planar side, opposite of the planar side, with a raised structure. A bottom face of the cap can be affixed to the raised structure, forming a cavity between the cap and the non-planar side of the support. The SDD can be affixed to a top face of the cap. In another embodiment, the non-planar side of the support can face the TEC. In another embodiment, a PIN photodiode can be directly affixed to a plate and the plate directly affixed to upper electrical connections of the TEC.

Thermoelectric cooler including a single, solid, and electrically insulative support/plate having a planar side directly affixed to upper electrical connections and non-planar side to a raised structure

It would be advantageous to reduce weight and size of high voltage power supplies, to increase frequency of pulses of high voltage, and to improve control of magnitude of high voltage. The embodiments of high voltage power supplies described herein can solve these problems. The high voltage power supply can be used with an x-ray tube. The high voltage power supply can comprise an array of planar transformers each defining a stage with an AC input and a DC output. Each stage can comprise a pair of flat, coil windings adjacent one another and including a primary winding electrically-coupled to the AC input and configured to induce a current in a secondary winding. At least two stages can be electrically-coupled together in series with the DC output of one stage electrically-coupled to an input of the other stage such that a voltage is amplified across the stages.

Planar transformer for an x-ray source

A shield around an x-ray tube, a voltage multiplier, or both can improve the manufacturing process by allowing testing earlier in the process and by providing a holder for liquid potting material. The shield can also improve voltage standoff. A shielded x-ray tube can be electrically coupled to a shielded power supply.

X-ray source voltage shield

Thermoelectric cooler mount

In order to reduce the amount of electrical insulation needed for voltage isolation of large voltages generated by a voltage multiplier, the voltage multiplier can be shaped to smooth out electric field gradients. The voltage multiplier can comprise multiple sections, each section located in a different plane. The voltage multiplier can comprise a negative voltage multiplier and a positive voltage multiplier, each inclined at different angles with respect to each other. The voltage multiplier can include a curved shape.

Non-planar voltage multiplier

An x-ray source can include a housing with material with an atomic number of &#x2265;42 and a thermal conductivity of &#x2265;3 W/(m*K) to assist in removing heat from the x-ray source and to block x-rays emitted in undesirable directions. An x-ray source can include a shell that is electrically conductive and that encloses at least part of a voltage multiplier without enclosing a control circuit to minimize or eliminate electromagnetic interference in the control circuitry caused by the voltage multiplier. An x-ray source can include a negative voltage multiplier, a positive voltage multiplier, and a ground plane between the negative voltage multiplier and the positive voltage multiplier. The ground plane can minimize or eliminate electromagnetic interference between the negative voltage multiplier and the positive voltage multiplier. An air-filled channel, associated with the ground plane, can reduce weight of the x-ray source.

Growing community of inventors

Draper, UT, United States of America

David S Hoffman