Patent ID: 8526574

Claim:
An x-ray source comprising: a) an evacuated dielectric tube; b) an anode, disposed at an end of the tube, including a material configured to produce x-rays in response to an impact of electrons; c) a cathode, disposed at an opposite end of the tube opposing the anode, including a cathode element; d) a power supply electrically coupled to the cathode element; e) the power supply comprising an alternating current (AC) circuit for supplying AC power to the cathode element in order to heat the cathode element, the AC circuit further comprising: i) an AC power source having a first and a second connection; ii) a first capacitor having a first connection and a second connection and a second capacitor having a first connection and a second connection; iii) the first connection of the AC power source connected to the first connection on the first capacitor and the second connection of the AC power source connected to the first connection on the second capacitor; iv) the AC power source, the first connection on the first capacitor, and the first connection on the second capacitor comprising a first voltage side of the circuit; v) the cathode element having a first connection and a second connection; vi) the second connection of the first capacitor connected to the first connection on the cathode element and the second connection of the second capacitor connected to the second connection on the cathode element; vii) the cathode element, the second connection on the first capacitor, and the second connection on the second capacitor comprising a second voltage side of the circuit; viii) the first and second capacitors providing voltage isolation between the first and second voltage sides of the circuit; and e) the power supply further comprising a high voltage direct current (DC) source connected to one of the first and second sides of the circuit and configured to provide a DC voltage differential between the first and second voltage sides of the circuit.