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:
Feb. 02, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2006
James Burke, Glenview, IL (US);
Charles Lynn Chidester, West Bountiful, UT (US);
Bruce a Cain, South Jordan, UT (US);
Rob Treseder, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
James Boye, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Ray Daly, Biloxi, MS (US);
Ricky Smith, Sandy, UT (US);
Paul Gene Christean, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
James Burke, Glenview, IL (US);
Charles Lynn Chidester, West Bountiful, UT (US);
Bruce A Cain, South Jordan, UT (US);
Rob Treseder, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
James Boye, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Ray Daly, Biloxi, MS (US);
Ricky Smith, Sandy, UT (US);
Paul Gene Christean, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A cathode assembly including certain features designed to protect the integrity of a filament contained therein is disclosed. In particular, the cathode assembly is configured to prevent damage to the filament should it inadvertently contact another portion of the cathode assembly. In an example embodiment, an x-ray tube incorporating features of the present invention is disclosed. The x-ray tube includes an evacuated enclosure containing a cathode assembly and an anode. The cathode assembly includes a head portion having a head surface. A slot is defined on the head surface and an electron-emitting filament is included in the slot. A protective surface is defined on the head surface proximate to a central portion of the filament. The protective surface in one embodiment is composed of tungsten and is configure to prevent fusing of the filament to the protective surface should the filament inadvertently contact the protective surface.