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:
Apr. 18, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 27, 1996
Thomas L Toth, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Willi H Hampel, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Stephen W Gravelle, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Wayne F Block, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Other;
Abstract
An X-ray tube comprises an anode assembly having an associated anode and a cathode assembly for providing a focused electron beam directed to the anode. An anode target, associated with the anode assembly, accelerates the electron beam and produces X-rays upon electron impact with the anode target. Off-focal radiation tends to be most intensely emitted by the top surface of the target. In conventional X-ray tubes, the off-focal radiation as seen by the detector encompasses almost the entire top surface of the target assembly. In accordance with the present invention, the anode target comprises a cut-out top surface for reducing off-focal radiation, by blocking the off-focal radiation from the top surface from reaching the detector. Blocking the radiation produced at the top surface becomes more important as the ratio of the track area visible at the detector decreases with respect to the top surface area.