The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 21, 1997
Lester D Miller, Hudson, OH (US);
James E Burke, Glenview, IL (US);
Donald F Decou, Jr, Naperville, IL (US);
Picker International, Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An x-ray tube includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrode disposed in an evacuated envelope. The electrode is positioned such that the electrode is remote from an area in immediate proximity to the envelope. An electric field defined by electrode is of sufficient strength such that arcing preferentially occurs between the electrode and the anode as opposed to occurring between the cathode and anode. The electrode is further situated such that metal sputtered from the electrode substantially falls in a define region on the anode and serves as an active getter for pumping gas from the envelope. The electrode is composed of an active metal which, upon being passively heated by the anode, also acts as a getter material to aid in pumping gas from the envelope.