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. 29, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2012
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Mark Alan Frontera, Niskayuna, NY (US);
John Scott Price, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Sergio Lemaitre, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Yun Zou, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Peter Andras Zavodszky, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
An X-ray tube assembly is provided including an emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an emitter focusing electrode, an extraction electrode, and a downstream focusing electrode. The emitter focusing electrode is disposed proximate to the emitter and outward of the emitter in an axial direction. The extraction electrode is disposed downstream of the emitter and the emitter focusing electrode. The extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage setting at which the extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage with respect to the emitter. The downstream focusing electrode is disposed downstream of the extraction electrode, and has a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter. When the extraction electrode is at the negative bias voltage setting, the electron beam is emitted from an emission area that is smaller than a maximum emission area from which electrons may be emitted.