X-ray generator
An x-ray generator may include a plurality of electron field emitters; a target material; a plurality of energizable solenoid coils; and an electronic power and timing circuit. The generator may provide electrical current to at least one individual solenoid coil to create a magnetic field to cause the path of electrons emitted from the emitter closest to the energized solenoid coil to be defocused and/or deflected before the electrons reach the target material. The target material may comprise a low atomic number material and a high atomic number material, the high atomic number material being arranged in a regular pattern, such that, in use, the electrons may be aimed at either the high or the low atomic number material.
1. A method of generating x-rays comprising the steps of:
emitting a plurality of electron beams from a plurality of electron beam emitters arranged in an array;
energizing a subset of a plurality of solenoid coils arranged in an array and disposed adjacent to the plurality of electron beam emitters, wherein each of the energized solenoid coils generates a magnetic field;
deflecting a subset of the plurality of electron beams to strike at least one target, thereby generating x-ray photons;
detecting the x-ray photons at a detector after the x-ray photons pass through a region of interest; and
generating an image of at least a portion of the region of interest using information provided by the detector.
2. The method of generating x-rays of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the plurality of solenoid coils is selected based on the region of interest.
3. The method of generating x-rays of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the plurality of solenoid coils are energized in a raster sequence.
4. The method of generating x-rays of claim 1 , wherein the generated image comprises an image of at least a portion of an object located within the region of interest.
5. An x-ray generator, comprising:
a plurality of electron field emitters arranged in an array, wherein each of the electron field emitters is capable of emitting one of a plurality of electron beams;
a plurality of targets disposed adjacent to the electron field emitters and capable of emitting x-ray photons when struck by one of the plurality of electron beams;
a plurality of solenoid coils arranged in an array and disposed adjacent to the plurality of electron field emitters; and
a circuit capable of individually energizing each of the plurality of solenoid coils
to thereby generate a magnetic field which deflects a respective one of the plurality of electron beams.
6. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit energizes each of the plurality of solenoid coils in a raster sequence.
7. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit is capable of energizing adjacent ones of the plurality of solenoid coils within 1 ms to 5 ms of each other.
8. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit is capable of determining which of the plurality of solenoid coils to energize based on a region of interest.
9. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the target material is distributed in a circle having a diameter of approximately 100 μm.
10. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the target material is disposed within a low atomic material.
11. The x-ray generator of claim 10 , further comprising a thin sheet of x-ray absorbing material capable of absorbing low energy x-ray photons, wherein the thin sheet of x-ray absorbing material is positioned at a rear surface of the low atomic material.
12. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the first solenoid coil comprises copper coils fabricated by electroforming windings of small sheets of copper.
13. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit is capable of separately providing the electrical current to each of the plurality of solenoid coils within 1 ms to 5 ms of each other.
14. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit is capable of providing the electrical current to the plurality of solenoid coils simultaneously.
15. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit provides the electrical current to a subset of the plurality of solenoid coils in response to an external clock signal.
16. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the circuit provides the electrical current to a subset of the plurality of solenoid coils based on whether the subset of solenoid coils is within a region of interest.
17. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electron emitters each comprise a pyroelectric crystal arranged to emit electrons when thermally cycled.
18. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic field deflects the beam of electrons such that the beam of electrons strikes the target material and the target material emits the x-ray photons.
19. The x-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic field deflects the beam of electrons such that the beam of electrons stops striking the target material and the target material stops emitting the x-ray photons.
20. A method of generating x-rays comprising the steps of:
emitting a plurality of electron beams from a plurality of electron beam emitters arranged in an array;
de-energizing a subset of a plurality of solenoid coils arranged in an array and disposed adjacent to the plurality of electron beam emitters, wherein each of the energized solenoid coils then ceases to generate a magnetic field;
so that a subset of the plurality of electron beams strikes at least one target, thereby generating x-ray photons;
detecting the x-ray photons at a detector after the x-ray photons pass through a region of interest; and
generating an image of at least a portion of the region of interest using information provided by the detector.
21. The method of generating x-rays of claim 20 , wherein the subset of the plurality of solenoid coils is selected based on the region of interest.
22. The method of generating x-rays of claim 20 , wherein the subset of the plurality of solenoid coils are energized in a raster sequence.
23. The method of generating x-rays of claim 20 , wherein the generated image comprises an image of at least a portion of an object located within the region of interest.