Patent ID: 7386095

Claim:
An X-ray tube comprising: an insulating container having a side portion extending along a predetermined tube axis; an electron source disposed on the tube axis and being accommodated in said container, said electron source emitting electrons; a target disposed on the tube axis and being accommodated in said container, said target generating X-rays in response to the incidence of the electrons emitted from said electron source; electrodes disposed between said electron source and said target and being accommodated in said container, each of said electrodes having a side face portion that extends along the propagation direction of the electrons propagating from said electrode source to said target and forming a predetermined electric field between said electron source and said target; and an insulating support member disposed along the respective side face portions of said electrodes and being accommodated in said container, said insulating support member supporting said electrodes, wherein said insulating support member is separated from said side portion of said insulating container by a predetermined distance, and wherein an endmost electrode positioned closest to said target, of said electrodes, has an anti-charging edge portion that is positioned at a target side end of the side face portion thereof and that extends in a direction orthogonal to the tube axis so as to cover over a target side end of said support member from said target.