X-Ray Units
X-Ray Tube Circuits
X_RAY GENERATORS
Must provide precise tube voltage (kVp) and
filament current to allow x-ray production of
desired quality (kVp) and quantity (mA)
Console
Line Compensator
Autotransformer
Switches, Meters and timer circuits
Transformer Tank
High Voltage transformer
Rectification
Filament current supply
1-Phase Full Wave X-Ray Generator
X-Ray Console and Primary Circuits
X-Ray Console and Primary Circuits
Line Voltage Compensation:
-- Monitors input line voltage
-- Adjusts for drops/surges in
line voltage
--Automatic (and invisible) or
Autotransformer:
manual
-- Self-induction (1 coil) with
adjustable
input (for LVC) and output
taps
-- Provides adjustable down)
voltages to
primaries of kV and mA
circuits
-- Step-up (~ 2:1 max) or step
mA
Circuits
Regulates mA by controlling filament
current (i.e., filament heating) and thus
thermionic emission
Selector: separate rheostat for each mA
station, calibrated to yield current (3-5
amps) for desired mA crossing tube
Transformer: Step down to ~10 volts
kV
Circuit
Selector: Taps off autotransformer (maybe
coarse+fine)
kV Meter: In primary circuit (uses transformer
law)
(calibrated for power losses
High voltage transformer: 500-1000 turns-ratio
(150 kV)
High Voltage: No rectification
High Voltage: Half-wave Rectification
Half-wave Rectification Tube Circuit
High Voltage: Full-wave Rectification
X-ray Production Efficiency vs kV
3-PHASE VOLTAGE SUPPLY
3-Phase 6-Pulse vs 12-Pulse
kV Waveforme Ripple
High Frequency Generators
Timer Circuits (Modern Generators)
Timers:
Electronic RC circuit timers
Usually in multiples of 1/120 second for 1phase
Switches:
Solid state switches (Thyratrons)
Grid-controlled x-ray tubes for rapid pulsing
Automatic
Exposure
Control
(AEC):
Phototimers
Automatic Exposure Control (Phototimer):
Sensor(usually 3) measuring radiation at cassette; signal
to generator to end exposure at proper time.
Types of phototimers:
Photomultiplier: light from a small screen converted to
electrical signal proportional to radiation at receptor
Radiopaque, so must be behind cassette
Ionization
Chambers:
Plate or grid type operating in ion chamber region
Radiolucent, so may be placed in front of cassette
Solid State:
Can be ~radiolucent, but often quite energy dependent
Falling Load Generators
Battery Powered Generators-Portable
Capacitor Discharge Generators
V = Q/C
where:
V=volts
Q=charge
C=capacitance
mAs = F x
kV