Appeal No. 1998-1539
Application No. 08/683,186
The invention pertains to x-ray tubes. More
particularly, a thermally conductive metal cooling layer is
provided for enhancing the dissipation of heat at the anode.
Independent claim 5 is reproduced as follows:
5. An X-ray tube, comprising:
a tube wall,
an anode having a transmissive target layer for
generating X-rays in response to the impingement of an
electron beam;
a cathode having a loop-shaped electron emissive element
for generating an electron beam, the beam forming a
substantially annular anode target ring on the transmissive
target,
an X-ray exit window, adjacent the target layer, and
a thermally conductive metal cooling layer disposed with
a surface against the transmissive target, the metal cooling
layer being disposed substantially within the annular electron
target ring, so as not to substantially block the electron
beam, which metal cooling layer is thermally conductively
connected to the tube wall, which metal cooling layer acts as
a means for enhancing the dissipation of heat at least for the
anode.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Jenkins 4,731,804 Mar. 15, 1988
Valkonet 4,969,173 Nov. 6, 1990
Claims 5, 8 and 9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
unpatentable over Valkonet in view of Jenkins.
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