Patent ID: 8358741

Claim:
A device to control an electron beam for generating x-ray radiation, said device comprising: an electron emitter that emits electrons to generate an electron beam, said emitter having an emitter voltage applied thereto; a diaphragm located in a path of said electrons emitted by said emitter that interacts with said electrons to modulate said electron beam; at least two control elements located at said diaphragm that interact with said diaphragm to alter an effect of said diaphragm on said electron beam; and a switching arrangement electrically connected to each of said at least two control elements, said switching arrangement being switchable between a first switching state that causes said diaphragm to have a first effect on said electron beam, in which said switching arrangement supplies a first voltage to each of said at least two control elements, and a second switching state that causes said diaphragm to have a different, second effect on said electron beam, in which said switching arrangement supplies a second voltage to each of said at least two control elements; and an electrical circuit connected between said switching arrangement and one of said at least two control elements, said electrical circuit delaying respectively application of said first and second voltages to said one of said at least two control elements upon switching of said switching arrangement between said first and second switching states.