Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a compact, addressable flat-panel x-ray source based on pyroelectric / piezoelectric crystals with integrated field emitters. The design produces electron emission by temperature (or stress) cycling of crystals, which then strike a target to generate x-rays. The array architecture enables selectable activation of x-ray modules, potentially enabling portable, low-power, high-flexibility imaging systems without bulky high-voltage supplies.
Conventional x-ray tubes require bulky high-voltage power supplies, vacuum systems, and cooling, limiting portability and flexibility. Miniaturized x-ray sources (microtubes or cold cathode arrays) still generally depend on large external electronics or complex designs. There is a need for a lightweight, modular, addressable x-ray source that is more portable, requires minimal external power, and can be used in settings like mobile diagnostics, field imaging, or bedside applications.
The invention uses pyroelectric (or piezoelectric) crystals coated with conductive films, into which micrometer-scale field emitter tips (sharp ridges or trenches) are milled or etched.
By heating or cooling the crystals (or applying mechanical stress), spontaneous polarization changes generate perpendicular electric fields, which are enhanced at sharp emitter tips, causing field emission of electrons.
These electrons accelerate across an evacuated gap and strike a bremsstrahlung target, producing x-rays.
The design supports modular array architectures: multiple emitter modules (crystals) arranged in a planar array, each individually addressable (via temperature control) to produce x-ray emission in patterns.
Optional spectral / spatial filters and collimators can be integrated to shape the x-ray output.
The entire panel is designed to be compact, self-contained, and requiring minimal external power.
Because the source doesn’t rely on large high-voltage supplies (the electric field arises internally via the pyroelectric effect), the device can be more lightweight and portable.
Compact, lightweight form factor, by eliminating large external HV supplies.
Modular and addressable: individual pixels/modules can be selectively turned on or off.
Reduced system complexity and potential for lower cost.
Flexible emission patterns (line, area, or sweeping) for imaging flexibility.
Potentially battery-powered or low-power operation in remote or field settings.
Eliminates need for conventional x-ray tube infrastructure (e.g. vacuum pump, high-voltage generation).
Scalable architecture: more modules can increase x-ray flux or coverage.
Portable medical imaging (e.g. in point-of-care, mobile clinic, bedside settings).
Emergency / battlefield imaging for first responders or trauma care.
Security and inspection systems (e.g. pack or luggage scanning, border checkpoint imaging) using lightweight panels.
Dental / maxillofacial imaging in remote or resource-constrained environments.
Integration into robotic platforms or drones for remote imaging / scanning tasks.
Industrial non-destructive testing where localized x-ray emission can be deployed flexibly.
US 8,755,493 B2 — Apparatus for producing X-rays for use in imaging Apparatus for producing X-rays for use in imaging (US8755493B2) Google Patents