PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT FOR LIMITING THE INPUT POWER APPLIED TO AN X-RAY TUBE AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

A protective circuit for preventing the input power applied to an X-ray tube from exceeding a maximum tube rating, and method of operation thereof. The protective circuit includes a current monitoring circuit and a voltage monitoring circuit for developing a pair of signals respectively representative of the value of the current signal and the voltage signal applied to the X-ray tube, and a signal monitoring circuit for developing an output signal having a value equal to the mathematical product of the pair of signals developed by the monitoring circuits. A compensation circuit is coupled to the multiplying circuit for, upon the receipt of an output signal having a value exceeding a predetermined value, reducing the value of the current signal supplied to the X-ray tube to thereby prevent excessive input power from being applied to the X-ray tube.