IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,813,203
Granted Patent B2
US 10,813,203 · App. 16/311,131 · Granted Oct 20, 2020

X-ray generating apparatus

Inventors: Junya Kawase (Yokohama, JP); Koji Yamazaki (Ayase, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
H05G1/06H01J35/16H01J35/116
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,813,203
App. No.
16/311,131
Granted
Oct 20, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an X-ray generating apparatus 101 in which an X-ray tube 102 is anode-grounded to a protruding portion 107 c of a container 107 , electrical discharge between the X-ray tube 102 and the container 107 is reduced. The container 107 includes the protruding portion 107 c in such a way that, in the axial direction Dt, a bent portion 107 d is positioned between an anode-side joint portion 128 where the insulating tube 4 and the anode 103 are joined to each other and a cathode-side joint portion 122 where the insulating tube 4 and the cathode 104 are joined to each other.

Claims (42)

1. An X-ray generating apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube including

a cathode including an electron emission source,

an anode including a transmission target, and

an insulating tube joined to each of the anode and the cathode via an anode-side joint portion and a cathode-side joint portion, respectively;

an insulating liquid, and

an electroconductive container including a flange portion extending toward the insulating tube and a protruding portion protruding from the flange portion via a bent portion and to which the anode is fixed and configured to house the X-ray tube and the insulating liquid,

wherein a distance between the bent portion and the cathode-side joint portion is equal to or greater than a distance between the anode-side joint portion and the cathode-side joint portion.

2. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in an axial direction of the X-ray tube, the bent portion is positioned between the anode-side joint portion and the cathode-side joint portion.

3. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, when a direction from the cathode toward the anode is defined as positive and a position on an inner surface of the container in the axial direction is denoted by z, the bent portion overlaps a position where a first derivative of a distance Li between the insulating tube and the container with respect to z is locally minimum.

4. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, when a direction from the cathode toward the anode is defined as positive and a position on an inner surface of the container in the axial direction is denoted by z, the bent portion overlaps a position where a sign of a second derivative of a distance Li between the insulating tube and the container with respect to z changes from negative to positive.

5. An X-ray generating apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube including

a cathode including an electron emission source,

an anode including a transmission target, and

an insulating tube joined to each of the anode and the cathode via an anode-side joint portion and a cathode-side joint portion, respectively;

an insulating liquid;

an electroconductive container including a flange portion extending toward the insulating tube and a protruding portion protruding from the flange portion via a bent portion including a proximal point where a distance from the cathode-side joint portion to an inner surface of the container is smallest and to which the anode is fixed and configured to house the X-ray tube and the insulating liquid; and

a solid insulating member is disposed with the insulating liquid between the bent portion and the cathode-side joint portion,

wherein, in an axial direction of the X-ray tube, the bent portion is positioned between the anode-side joint portion and the cathode-side joint portion.

6. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flange portion and the protruding portion are each made of a metal material.

7. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the container is grounded.

8. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the anode is grounded through the container.

9. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a drive circuit that drives the X-ray tube,

wherein the drive circuit and the insulating liquid are stored in the container.

10. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the container includes a rear containing portion that is continuous with the flange portion along a closed line, and

wherein the drive circuit is contained in the rear containing portion.

11. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the protruding portion protrudes from the flange portion in a direction away from the rear containing portion.

12. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the drive circuit includes an electron quantity controller that controls a quantity of electrons emitted from the electron emission source.

13. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the drive circuit includes a tube voltage driver that applies a tube voltage between the anode and the cathode.

14. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission target includes a target layer that generates X-rays when irradiated with electrons, and a support window that supports the target layer and transmits the generated X-rays.

15. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating tube is positioned between the anode and the cathode.

16. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the flange portion annularly extends so that a bent portion surrounds the insulating tube.

17. An X-ray imaging system comprising:

the X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 1 ;

an X-ray detection device that detects transmitted X-rays emitted from the X-ray generating apparatus and passed through an object; and

a system controller that controls the X-ray generating apparatus and the X-ray detection device in coordination with each other.

18. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a volume resistivity of the solid insulating member is higher than or equal to 1×10 5 Ωm.

19. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the solid insulating member and the insulating liquid are located between the proximal point and the cathode-side joint portion so that the proximal point is not directly seen from the cathode-side joint portion.

20. The X-ray generating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a distance between the proximal point and the cathode-side joint portion is smaller than a distance between the anode-side joint portion and the cathode-side joint portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2019
From: KAWASE, JUNYA; YAMAZAKI, KOJI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 048148/0223 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-212124 · Oct 28, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190150255A1 · May 16, 2019
Cited By (3)
US 12,342,446 US 12,615,704 US 12,701,647