Patent US5339348A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5339348A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray tube rotor controller using the main high voltage inverters for acceleration
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1992-11-02
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Granted: 1994-08-16
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Expires: 2012-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An x-ray tube rotor controller uses the main high voltage inverters for acceleration. The rotor controller includes a DC voltage source, and a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as an induction motor. A first inverter circuit has a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switch to connect the induction motor to the full bridge output, and also generates high voltage for the x-ray tube. Once the anode is up to operating speed, the first switch is disconnected from the rotor causing the rotor to coast. Alternatively, a second small inverter may be employed for maintaining the rotor at speed during x-ray exposure, rather than allowing the rotor to coast. In such an instance, the first switch is disconnected from the rotor when the motor reaches a rated anode speed, and a second switch then connects the motor to the second inverter to maintain the rated anode speed. Finally, if the x-ray generator has separate anode and cathode inverters, a third small two-phase inverter may be employed in the system for driving the second phase of the anode driver motor.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Wirth
- 👤 Jonathan R. Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:19
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/66; H05G1/10; H05G1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller comprising a DC voltage source, a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as an induction motor for driving the x-ray tube anode, characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises a first inverter circuit having a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switch to connect the induction motor to the full bridge output, and further for generating high voltage for the x-ray tube using the full bridge, wherein the first switch is disconnected from the rotor when the motor reaches a rated anode speed, a second switch connects the motor to the second inverter to maintain the rated anode speed during x-ray exposure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller comprising a DC voltage source, a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as an induction motor for driving the x-ray tube anode, characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises a first inverter circuit having a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switch to connect the induction motor to the full bridge output, and further for generating high voltage for the x-ray tube using the full bridge, wherein the first switch is disconnected from the rotor when the motor reaches a rated anode speed, a second switch connects the motor to the second inverter to maintain the rated anode speed during x-ray exposure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The x-ray tube rotor controller as claimed in claim 1 further characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises a phase shifting capacitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotor during coast has a very slow deceleration speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller as claimed in claim 1 further characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises a high voltage step up transformer and a rectifier and filter circuit for providing a series connected output for the x-ray tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller comprising a DC voltage source, a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as a two-phase induction motor for driving the x-ray tube anode, characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises an anode inverter circuit and a separate cathode inverter circuit, the anode and cathode inverter circuits each having a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switching means to connect the two-phase induction motor to the full bridge output of each inverter circuit, and further for generating high voltage for the x-ray tube, and further comprising a second switching means for connecting the two windings of the motor to a third inverter to maintain a rated anode speed of the motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller comprising a DC voltage source, a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as a two-phase induction motor for driving the x-ray tube anode, characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises an anode inverter circuit and a separate cathode inverter circuit, the anode and cathode inverter circuits each having a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switching means to connect the two-phase induction motor to the full bridge output of each inverter circuit, and further for generating high voltage for the x-ray tube, and further comprising a second switching means for connecting the two windings of the motor to a third inverter to maintain a rated anode speed of the motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller as claimed in claim 5 wherein the anode and cathode inverter circuits produce voltage for the x-ray tube, once the second switching means is engaged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cathode inverter is electronically phase shifted from the anode inverter during acceleration of the motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cathode inverter is 90° phase shifted from the anode inverter during acceleration of the motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller comprising a DC voltage source, a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as an induction motor for driving the x-ray tube anode, characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises a first inverter circuit having a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switch to connect the induction motor to the full bridge output, and further for generating high voltage for the x-ray tube using the full bridge, wherein the first switch is disconnected from the rotor causing the rotor to coast, and further comprises a second inverter for maintaining the rotor at speed during x-ray exposure, wherein when the first switch is disconnected from the rotor when the motor reaches a rated anode speed, a second switch connects the motor to the second inverter to maintain the rated anode speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
An x-ray tube rotor controller comprising a DC voltage source, a rotary anode drive circuit including a rotary anode motor designed as an induction motor for driving the x-ray tube anode, characterized in that the x-ray tube rotor controller comprises a first inverter circuit having a full bridge arrangement for accelerating the anode using a first switch to connect the induction motor to the full bridge output, and further for generating high voltage for the x-ray tube using the full bridge, wherein the first switch is disconnected from the rotor causing the rotor to coast, and further comprises a second inverter for maintaining the rotor at speed during x-ray exposure, wherein when the first switch is disconnected from the rotor when the motor reaches a rated anode speed, a second switch connects the motor to the second inverter to maintain the rated anode speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4247776A
Cited
US4377002A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-15 | 1998-02-14 | 1998-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-15 | 2002-02-14 | 2002-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-15 | 2006-02-14 | 2006-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |