X-ray tube having scintillator-photocathode segments aligned with phosphor segments of its display screen

Claim 2

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube comprising: a tube envelope open at both ends, an input window at one end of the envelope for receiving input primary X-rays, a segmented output phosphor display screen at the other end of the envelope, a segmented scintillator-photocathode screen assembly interposed between the input window and the output display screen, the segmentations of the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly being in registration with the segmentations of the output phosphor display screen, and means for applying a high electostatic potential between the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly and the output display screen.

Claim 3

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first apertured mask within the tube envelope and interposed between the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly and the output phosphor display screen, the apertures of the first mask being in registry with the segmentations of the output phosphor display screen.

Claim 4

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 2 wherein the electrostatic potential means apply to the first mask the same electrostatic potential as is applied to the output phosphor display screen.

Claim 5

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 2 further comprising a second apertured mask within the tube envelope and interposed between the scintillator-photocathode screen and the first mask, the apertures of the second mask being in registry with the segmentations of the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly.

Claim 6

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 4 wherein the electrostatic potential means apply to the second mask the same electrostatic potential as is applied to the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly.

Claim 7

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 2 wherein each of the scintillator segmentations is convexo-concave with respect to input primary X-rays passing through the input window.

Claim 8

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1 further comprising an input apertured mask within the tube envelope and interposed between the scintillator screen and the input window and wherein the apertures of the input mask are in registry with the segmentations of the scintillator screen.

Claim 9

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1 further comprising an array of photodetectors positioned adjacent the output display screen, each photodetector of the array being aligned with a separate segmentation of the output phosphor display screen.

Claim 10

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the output phosphor display screen comprises a transversely segmented high Z glass window in the other end of the tube envelope and a phosphor layer on the surface of the window which is interior with respect to the tube envelope.

Claim 11

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 9, wherein the tube envelope is metallic and includes a collar of iron-nickel alloy which is fritted to the output window and welded to the tube envelope for mounting the output window in the other end of the tube envelope.

Claim 12

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the scintillator screen includes a vapor deposited, segmented layer of sodium activated, cesium iodide (CsI(Na)).

Claim 13

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 11, wherein the segmented CsI(Na) layer is between 200 and 600μ thick.

Claim 14

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the scintillator screen includes a vapor deposited, segmented layer of calcium tungstate (CaWO 4 ).

Claim 15

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the scintillator screen includes pieces of single crystals of bismuth germanate (BGO[Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 ]).

Claim 16

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the scintillator screen includes thallium activated sodium iodide (NaI[Tl]).

Claim 17

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the input window is made of 17-7 PH type of precipitation hardened, chromium-nickel stainless steel.

Claim 18

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube comprising: a tube envelope open at both ends, an input window at one end of the envelope for receiving input primary X-rays, a segmented output phosphor display screen at the other end of the envelope, a plurality of segmented scintillator-photocathode screen assemblies interposed between the input window and the output display screen, the segmentations of each scintillator-photocathode screen assembly being in registration with the segmentations of the output phosphor display screen, and means for applying different high electrostatic potentials between the scintillator-photocathode screen assemblies and the output display screen.

Claim 19

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube comprising: a tube envelope open at both ends, an input window at one end of the envelope for receiving input primary X-rays, a segmented output phosphor display screen at the other end of the envelope, a plurality of segmented scintillator-photocathode screen assemblies interposed between the input window and the output display screen, the segmentations of each scintillator-photocathode screen assembly being in registration with the segmentations of the output phosphor display screen, and means for applying different high electrostatic potentials between the scintillator-photocathode screen assemblies and the output display screen.

Claim 20

A large area, X-ray array amplifier detector tube as recited in claim 17, further comprising a first apertured mask within the tube envelope and interposed between one of the scintillator-photocathode screen assemblies and the output phosphor display screen, the apertures of the first mask being in registry with the segmentations of the output phosphor display screen.

Claim 21

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrostatic potential means apply to the first mask the same electrostatic potential as is applied to the output phosphor display screen.

Claim 22

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly and the output phosphor display screen are parallel to each other and are planar.

Claim 23

A large area, X-ray array amplifier-detector tube as recited in claim 1, wherein the scintillator-photocathode screen assembly and the output phosphor display screen are parallel to each other and are curved.

Claim 24

An improved, X-ray image intensifier tube of the type including: a metallic tube envelope open at both ends, an inwardly concave metallic input window at one end of the envelope, an output phosphor display screen mounted at the other end of the envelope, scintillator-photocathode screen means for receiving an X-ray pattern image and converting it to a corresponding image of emitted electrons, electrically insulating means for suspending the scintillator-photocathode screen means within the envelope and in a plane parallel to, but spaced apart from, the output display screen, means for applying a high, electrostatic potential to the scintillator-photocathode screen means, the potential being taken with respect to the output display screen and all of the other tube elements, including the envelope, which are at a neutral potential with respect to each other, and wherein the improvement comprises at least one segmented scintillator-photocathode screen assembly and a segmented output phosphor display screen, the segmentations of the two screens being in registration with the corresponding segmentations of the other.

Claim 25

An improved, X-ray image intensifier tube of the type including: a metallic tube envelope open at both ends, an inwardly concave metallic input window at one end of the envelope, an output phosphor display screen mounted at the other end of the envelope, scintillator-photocathode screen means for receiving an X-ray pattern image and converting it to a corresponding image of emitted electrons, electrically insulating means for suspending the scintillator-photocathode screen means within the envelope and in a plane parallel to, but spaced apart from, the output display screen, means for applying a high, electrostatic potential to the scintillator-photocathode screen means, the potential being taken with respect to the output display screen and all of the other tube elements, including the envelope, which are at a neutral potential with respect to each other, and wherein the improvement comprises at least one segmented scintillator-photocathode screen assembly and a segmented output phosphor display screen, the segmentations of the two screens being in registration with the corresponding segmentations of the other.