X-ray tube assembly and method for adjusting filament

1. An X-ray tube assembly for generating an X-ray, comprising:

a filament including a plurality of electric flow paths; and

an adjustor configured to adjust at least one of values of current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths, by varying a non-zero current value of the at least one of values of current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths, to adjust an electron emission area of the filament.

2. The X-ray tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the filament includes

first to fourth legs for electrical heating,

an outer electron emission surface electrically connected to the first and second legs, and

an inner electron emission surface electrically connected to the third and fourth legs and the outer electron emission surface, and

the adjuster

causes current flowing between the first and second legs to flow through the outer electron emission surface,

causes the current flowing between the first and second legs and current flowing between the third and fourth legs to flow through the inner electron emission surface,

and adjusts at least one of a value of the current flowing between the first and second legs and a value of the current flowing between the third and fourth legs.

3. The X-ray tube assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the current flowing between the first and second legs and the current flowing between the third and fourth legs flow through the inner electron emission surface in an identical direction.

4. A method for adjusting an electron emission area of a filament including a plurality of electric flow paths, comprising:

an adjustment step of adjusting at least one of values of current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths, by varying a non-zero current value of the at least one of values of current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths, to adjust the electron emission area of the filament.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the filament includes

first to fourth legs for electrical heating,

an outer electron emission surface electrically connected to the first and second legs, and

an inner electron emission surface electrically connected to the third and fourth legs and the outer electron emission surface, and

the adjustment step

causes current flowing between the first and second legs to flow through the outer electron emission surface,

causes the current flowing between the first and second legs and current flowing between the third and fourth legs to flow through the inner electron emission surface,

and adjusts at least one of a value of the current flowing between the first and second legs and a value of the current flowing between the third and fourth legs.

6. The X-ray tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustor adjusts at least one of values of current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths among plurality of values greater than or equal to three values.

7. The X-ray tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustor adjusts values of all current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths.

8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the adjustment step adjusts at least one of values of current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths among plurality of values greater than or equal to three values.

9. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the adjustment step adjusts values of all current flowing through the plurality of electric flow paths.

10. The X-ray tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adjuster includes at least one variable resistor controlled to vary the non-zero current value.

11. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the non-zero current value is varied using a variable resistor.