IP Library Granted Patent US 12,484,136
Granted Patent B2
US 12,484,136 · App. 18/522,798 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

X-ray generator and X-ray apparatus

Inventors: Patrick Ludwig (Erlangen, DE); Michael Kraus (Forchheim, DE); Christian Hoffmann (Adelsdorf, DE); Clemens Engelke (Nuremberg, DE)
Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
H05G1/32A61B6/44H05B6/662H05G1/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,484,136
App. No.
18/522,798
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

One or more example embodiments relates to an X-ray generator comprising a high-voltage transformer, the high-voltage transformer including a core; a primary winding module including the primary windings enclosing a core in a primary section in a shape of a coil; and a secondary winding module including secondary windings and a plastic section made from a plastic, the secondary windings enclosing the core in a secondary section in the shape of the coil, the plastic section at least one of enclosing or comprising the secondary windings, the plastic forming an electrical insulator, wherein the primary section and the secondary section have a common overlap area, and the high-voltage transformer is configured to at least one of generate a voltage of at least 70 kV with respect to ground or act as a unipolar high-voltage transformer to output a voltage of at least 70 kV.

Claims (32)

1 . An X-ray generator comprising:

a high-voltage transformer, the high-voltage transformer including,

a core,

a primary winding module including the primary windings enclosing a core in a primary section in a shape of a coil, and

a secondary winding module including secondary windings and a plastic section made from a plastic, the secondary windings enclosing the core in a secondary section in the shape of the coil, the plastic section at least one of enclosing or comprising the secondary windings, the plastic forming an electrical insulator,

wherein the primary section and the secondary section have a common overlap area, and

the high-voltage transformer is configured to at least one of generate a voltage of at least 70 kV with respect to ground or act as a unipolar high-voltage transformer to output a voltage of at least 70 kV.

2 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein the secondary winding module and the core are decoupled mechanically, in terms of at least one of oscillation or vibration in the secondary section.

3 . The X-ray generator of claim 2 , wherein

the core comprises at least two molded parts, and at least two of the molded parts in at least one of the secondary section or primary section are connected with a material fit.

4 . The X-ray generator of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the core, the primary winding module or the primary windings have an oil-repellent protective layer at least in sections.

5 . The X-ray generator of claim 4 , further comprising:

a filament heating module configured to produce a heating current for a filament of an X-ray tube, the filament heating module including filament windings, wherein the filament windings enclose the core in a filament section in the shape of the coil.

6 . The X-ray generator of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the primary section defines a primary coil axis, the secondary section defines a secondary coil axis, or the filament section defines a filament coil axis, and at least one of the primary coil axis, the secondary coil axis or the filament coil axis are rectified.

7 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein

the core comprises at least two molded parts, and at least two of the molded parts in at least one of the secondary section or primary section are connected with a material fit.

8 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the core, the primary winding module or the primary windings have an oil-repellent protective layer at least in sections.

9 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , further comprising:

a filament heating module configured to produce a heating current for a filament of an X-ray tube, the filament heating module including filament windings, wherein the filament windings enclose the core in a filament section in the shape of the coil.

10 . The X-ray generator of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the primary section defines a primary coil axis, the secondary section defines a secondary coil axis, or the filament section defines a filament coil axis, and at least one of the primary coil axis, the secondary coil axis or the filament coil axis are rectified.

11 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein the high-voltage transformer is in a generator tank.

12 . The X-ray generator of claim 11 , wherein the generator tank has a tank opening, and a cover module at least one of closes the tank opening or in the tank opening.

13 . The X-ray generator of claim 12 , wherein the cover module at least one of forms or comprises a circuit board to conduct at least one of high voltage or current.

14 . The X-ray generator of claim 12 , wherein the cover module has an upper side and a lower side, the lower side is oriented toward an inside of the generator tank, and the lower side is connected to the secondary winding module at least one of electrically or mechanically.

15 . The X-ray generator of claim 14 , wherein the lower side of the cover module is at least one of embedded, molded, or connected with a material fit to the plastic section at least in sections.

16 . The X-ray generator of claim 11 , wherein the generator tank is in a shape of a cube, the core is in a shape of a frame and defines a core plane, the core is in the generator tank such that the core plane sits in the generator tank at least one of at an angle or askew.

17 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein the core is in a shape of a frame and defines a core plane, wherein the core plane forms an angle of between 10° and 80° with a horizontal plane when the X-ray generator is operating normally.

18 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein the plastic of the plastic section at least one of comprises an epoxy resin or forms the epoxy resin.

19 . The X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein the plastic of the plastic section has a material-dependent permittivity value ϵ r between 3.5 and 5.

20 . An X-ray apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube; and

the X-ray generator of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray generator is connected electrically to the X-ray tube to supply high voltage.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: LUDWIG, PATRICK; KRAUS, MICHAEL; HOFFMANN, CHRISTIAN; ENGELKE, CLEMENS
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 067847/0382 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 066267/0346 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2022 214 442.2 · Dec 29, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240224408A1 · Jul 4, 2024
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