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:
Dec. 09, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 29, 2002
Clark Turner, Payson, UT (US);
Arturo Reyes, Orem, UT (US);
Hans K. Pew, Acton, MA (US);
Mark W. Lund, Orem, UT (US);
Michael Lines, Provo, UT (US);
Paul Moody, Sandy, UT (US);
Sergei Voronov, Provo, UT (US);
Moxtek, Inc., Orem, UT (US);
Abstract
A mobile, miniature x-ray source includes a low-power consumption cathode element for mobility, and an anode optic creating a field free region to prolong the life of the cathode element. An electric field is applied to an anode and a cathode that are disposed on opposite sides of an evacuated tube. The anode includes a target material to produce x-rays in response to impact of electrons. The cathode includes a cathode element to produce electrons that are accelerated towards the anode in response to the electric field between the anode and the cathode. The tube can have a length less than approximately 3 inches, and a diameter or width less than approximately 1 inch. The cathode element can include a low-power consumption cathode element with a low power consumption less than approximately 1 watt. The power source can include a battery power source. A field-free region can be positioned at the anode to resist positive ion acceleration back towards the cathode element. An anode tube can be disposed at the anode between the anode and the cathode, and electrically coupled to the anode so that the anode and the anode tube have the same electrical potential, to form the field-free region.