Scanning x-ray system
A voltage-multiplier can be more compact by arrangement in a stack of separate voltage-multiplier-stages. Each of the voltage-multiplier-stages can include electronic-components on a planar-face of a circuit-board. The planar-face of each circuit-board can be parallel with respect to other circuit-boards in the stack. The electronic-components on each voltage-multiplier-stage can be configured to multiply an input-voltage to provide an output-voltage with a higher voltage than the input-voltage. Each voltage-multiplier-stage in the stack can be electrically coupled to two adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages, except that two outermost voltage-multiplier-stages of the stack can be electrically coupled to only one adjacent voltage-multiplier-stage of the stack.
1. A voltage-multiplier comprising:
a stack of voltage-multiplier-stages including at least one inner-voltage-multiplier-stage between two outer-voltage-multiplier-stages:
each of the voltage-multiplier-stages include electronic-components on a planar-face of a circuit-board;
the electronic-components on each voltage-multiplier-stage are configured to multiply an input-voltage to provide an output-voltage with a higher voltage than the input-voltage;
each of the at least one inner-voltage-multiplier-stages is electrically coupled to two adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages;
one of the two outer-voltage-multiplier-stages receives input voltage from an alternating current input-voltage and provides output-voltage to one of the at least one inner-voltage-multiplier-stages; and
the other of the two outer-voltage-multiplier-stages is electrically coupled to one of the at least one inner-voltage-multiplier-stages and is configured to provide an output-voltage to a high voltage device.
2. The voltage-multiplier of claim 1 , wherein a plug and socket is used to form an electrical coupling between each pair of adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages.
3. The voltage-multiplier of claim 1 , wherein wires are used to form an electrical coupling between each pair of adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages, and to hold adjacent circuit-board rigidly in place.
4. The voltage-multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the planar-face of each circuit-board being parallel with respect to other circuit-boards in the stack.
5. An x-ray source comprising a voltage-multiplier electrically coupled to an x-ray tube, the voltage-multiplier including:
a stack of voltage-multiplier-stages, each voltage-multiplier-stage including electronic-components on a planar-face of a circuit-board, the planar-face of each circuit-board being parallel with respect to other circuit-boards in the stack;
the electronic-components on each voltage-multiplier-stage configured to multiply an input-voltage to provide an output-voltage with a higher voltage than the input-voltage; and
each voltage-multiplier-stage in the stack is electrically coupled to two adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages, except that two outermost voltage-multiplier-stages of the stack are electrically coupled to only one adjacent voltage-multiplier-stage of the stack.
6. The voltage-multiplier of claim 5 , wherein each circuit-board includes a slot, the slots of the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages aligned to form a channel, and a voltage-sensing-resistor located in the channel.
7. The voltage-multiplier of claim 5 , wherein each circuit-board includes a slot, the slots of the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages are aligned to form a channel, a transformer is located in the channel, and the transformer is configured for providing alternating electrical current to an x-ray tube filament at a bias voltage of at least 1 kV.
8. The voltage-multiplier of claim 5 , wherein:
each circuit-board includes two slots, including a resistor-slot and a transformer-slot:
the resistor-slots are aligned to form a resistor-channel:
a voltage-sensing-resistor is located in the resistor-channel:
the transformer-slots aligned to form a transformer-channel; and
a transformer is located in the transformer-channel.
9. The voltage-multiplier of claim 5 , further comprising a container, wherein the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages are located in the container, the container having a cylindrical-shape, and the planar-face of each circuit-board being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical-shape.
10. The voltage-multiplier of claim 9 , wherein each circuit-board being separated from any adjacent circuit-board by an electrically-insulative spacer, by wires connecting adjacent circuit-boards, or both.
11. The voltage-multiplier of claim 5 , further comprising a container, wherein:
the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages are located in the container:
the container includes a separate section for each voltage-multiplier-stage, each section having a wide-region with an inner-diameter larger than a maximum outer-diameter of the circuit-board, and a narrow-region with an inner-diameter smaller than the maximum outer-diameter of the circuit-board;
the circuit-board for each section resting against a narrowing transition-region between the wide-region and the narrow-region; and
the narrow-region of each section, except for an end-section, inserted into the wide-region of an adjacent section.
12. A voltage-multiplier comprising:
a stack of voltage-multiplier-stages, each voltage-multiplier-stage including electronic-components on a planar-face of a circuit-board, the planar-face of each circuit-board being parallel with respect to other circuit-boards in the stack;
the electronic-components on each voltage-multiplier-stage configured to multiply an input-voltage to provide an output-voltage with a higher voltage than the input-voltage: and
each voltage-multiplier-stage in the stack is electrically coupled to two adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages, except that two outermost voltage-multiplier-stages of the stack are electrically coupled to only one adjacent voltage-multiplier-stage of the stack.
13. The voltage-multiplier of claim 12 , wherein each circuit-board includes a slot, the slots of the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages aligned to form a channel, and a voltage-sensing-resistor located in the channel.
14. The voltage-multiplier of claim 12 , wherein each circuit-board includes a slot, the slots of the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages are aligned to form a channel, a transformer is located in the channel, and the transformer is configured for providing alternating electrical current to an x-ray tube filament at a bias voltage of at least 1 kV.
15. The voltage-multiplier of claim 12 , wherein:
each circuit-board includes two slots, including a resistor-slot and a transformer-slot;
the resistor-slots are aligned to form a resistor-channel;
a voltage-sensing-resistor is located in the resistor-channel;
the transformer-slots aligned to form a transformer-channel; and
a transformer is located in the transformer-channel.
16. The voltage-multiplier of claim 12 , wherein each voltage-multiplier-stage consists essentially of two Cockcroft Walton stages, each Cockcroft Walton stage having two capacitors and two diodes.
17. The voltage-multiplier of claim 12 , further comprising a container, wherein the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages are located in the container, the container having a cylindrical-shape, and the planar-face of each circuit-board being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical-shape.
18. The voltage-multiplier of claim 17 , wherein each circuit-board being separated from any adjacent circuit-board by an electrically-insulative spacer, by wires connecting adjacent circuit-boards, or both.
19. The voltage-multiplier of claim 12 , further comprising a container, wherein:
the stack of voltage-multiplier-stages are located in the container;
the container includes a separate section for each voltage-multiplier-stage, each section having a wide-region with an inner-diameter larger than a maximum outer-diameter of the circuit-board, and a narrow-region with an inner-diameter smaller than the maximum outer-diameter of the circuit-board;
the circuit-board for each section resting against a narrowing transition-region between the wide-region and the narrow-region; and
the narrow-region of each section, except for an end-section, inserted into the wide-region of an adjacent section.
20. The voltage-multiplier of claim 19 , wherein the container includes a cylindrical-shape, and the planar-face of each circuit-board is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical-shape.