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US4520495A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Failure detection circuit for an X-ray tube

Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1982-11-26
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Granted: 1985-05-28
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Expires: 2002-11-26
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Abstract

Abstract A failure detection circuit for a center metal grounded type X-ray tube. If the high voltage applying line for the anode side is kept opened and simultaneously for the cathode side is closed, the extraordinary cathode current may flow from the cathode through the center metal to the earth, which may cause a failure of the X-ray tube. In order to avoid such problem, there are provided the anode/cathode failure detectors which may interlock the operation of the X-ray radiation control circuit so as not to apply high voltages to the anode/cathode of the X-ray tube when failed in the high voltage apply lines.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shigeru Tanaka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 20:34
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/26; H05G1/54

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
A failure detection arrangement for an X-ray tube of the type having an anode, a cathode and a grounded center metal, comprising: a first high voltage source for applying a positive high voltage between said anode and ground; a first switch in the circuit of said first high voltage source and said anode; a second high voltage source for applying a negative high voltage between said cathode and ground; a second switch in the circuit of said second high voltage source and said cathode; control circuit means for generating X-ray control signals for controlling said first and second switches for selectively closing and opening circuit paths of said anode and cathode; failure detection means for detecting when a cathode current is flowing and substantially simultaneously therewith an absence of any anode current and generating in response to such detection a failure detection signal; and means, responsive to said failure detection signal, for causing said control circuit means to interrupt power flow to said tube by controlling of said first and/or second switches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 172 words
A failure detection arrangement for an X-ray tube of the type having an anode, a cathode and a grounded center metal, comprising: a first high voltage source for applying a positive high voltage between said anode and ground; a first switch in the circuit of said first high voltage source and said anode; a second high voltage source for applying a negative high voltage between said cathode and ground; a second switch in the circuit of said second high voltage source and said cathode; control circuit means for generating X-ray control signals for controlling said first and second switches for selectively closing and opening circuit paths of said anode and cathode; failure detection means for detecting when a cathode current is flowing and substantially simultaneously therewith an absence of any anode current and generating in response to such detection a failure detection signal; and means, responsive to said failure detection signal, for causing said control circuit means to interrupt power flow to said tube by controlling of said first and/or second switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 78 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said failure detection means comprises: means for detecting the presence of anode current and generating an anode current detection signal indicative thereof; means for detecting the presence of cathode current, and generating a cathode current detection signal indicative thereof; means for generating pulse signals related to said X-ray control signals; and means for comparing said anode and cathode current detection signals with said pulse signals to generate said failure detection signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising means for indicating the status of anode current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising means for indicating the status of both anode and cathode currents.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 166 words
A failure detection arrangement for an X-ray tube of the type having an anode, a cathode and a grounded center metal, comprising: a first high voltage source for applying a positive high voltage between said anode and ground; a first switch in the circuit of said first high voltage source and said anode; a second high voltage source for applying a negative high voltage between said cathode and ground; a second switch in the circuit of said second high voltage source and said cathode; control circuit means for generating X-ray control signals for controlling said first and second switches for selectively closing and opening circuit paths of said anode and cathode; failure detection means for detecting when an anode current falls below a predetermined level and generating, in response to such detection, a failure detection signal; and means, responsive to said failure detection signal, for causing said control circuit means to interrupt power flow to said tube by appropriate control of said first and/or second switches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 166 words
A failure detection arrangement for an X-ray tube of the type having an anode, a cathode and a grounded center metal, comprising: a first high voltage source for applying a positive high voltage between said anode and ground; a first switch in the circuit of said first high voltage source and said anode; a second high voltage source for applying a negative high voltage between said cathode and ground; a second switch in the circuit of said second high voltage source and said cathode; control circuit means for generating X-ray control signals for controlling said first and second switches for selectively closing and opening circuit paths of said anode and cathode; failure detection means for detecting when an anode current falls below a predetermined level and generating, in response to such detection, a failure detection signal; and means, responsive to said failure detection signal, for causing said control circuit means to interrupt power flow to said tube by appropriate control of said first and/or second switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement according to claim 5 further comprising means for indicating the status of anode current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement according to claim 5 further comprising means for indicating the status of both anode and cathode currents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 270 words
A failure detection arrangement for an X-ray tube of the type having an anode, a cathode and a grounded center metal, comprising: a first high voltage source for applying a positive high voltage between said anode and ground; a first switch in the circuit of said first high voltage source and said anode; a second high voltage source for applying a negative high voltage between said cathode and ground; a second switch in the circuit of said second high voltage source and said cathode; control circuit means for generating an X-ray control signal for controlling said first and second switches for selectively closing and opening circuit paths of said anode and cathode; an anode current detection circuit for detecting anode current and providing an anode current detection signal indicative of a status of the anode current; a cathode current detection circuit for detecting cathode current and providing a cathode current detection signal indicative of a status of the cathode current; a first pulse generating circuit for generating a first pulse signal related to said X-ray control signal; a second pulse generating circuit for generating a second pulse signal related to said X-ray control signal; an anode failure detector for generating an anode failure signal that is a logic product of said first pulse signal, and anode and cathode detection signals; a cathode failure detector for generating a cathode failure signal that is a logic product of said second pulse signal and said cathode detection signal; means for logically combining said anode and cathode failure signals; and interlock circuit means, coupled to said logic combining means, for controlling said control circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 270 words
A failure detection arrangement for an X-ray tube of the type having an anode, a cathode and a grounded center metal, comprising: a first high voltage source for applying a positive high voltage between said anode and ground; a first switch in the circuit of said first high voltage source and said anode; a second high voltage source for applying a negative high voltage between said cathode and ground; a second switch in the circuit of said second high voltage source and said cathode; control circuit means for generating an X-ray control signal for controlling said first and second switches for selectively closing and opening circuit paths of said anode and cathode; an anode current detection circuit for detecting anode current and providing an anode current detection signal indicative of a status of the anode current; a cathode current detection circuit for detecting cathode current and providing a cathode current detection signal indicative of a status of the cathode current; a first pulse generating circuit for generating a first pulse signal related to said X-ray control signal; a second pulse generating circuit for generating a second pulse signal related to said X-ray control signal; an anode failure detector for generating an anode failure signal that is a logic product of said first pulse signal, and anode and cathode detection signals; a cathode failure detector for generating a cathode failure signal that is a logic product of said second pulse signal and said cathode detection signal; means for logically combining said anode and cathode failure signals; and interlock circuit means, coupled to said logic combining means, for controlling said control circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement according to claim 8 further comprising means for indicating a status of anode current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement according to claim 8 further comprising means for indicating a status of both anode and cathode current.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2985762A Cited
FR2113346A5 Cited
US3746862A Cited
US3732463A Cited
US3906258A Cited
US4090106A Cited
US4072865A Cited
GB2049320A Cited
US4291356A Cited
JPS5636900A Cited
EP0035433A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-05-27 1988-11-26 1989-05-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-05-27 1992-11-26 1993-05-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-05-27 1996-11-26 1997-05-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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