ABSTRACT
Some may denigrate it as a mains adapter; others call it the brain of the bremsstrahlung source. Although historically called a generator , a diagnostic high voltage control unit does not per se generate anything, except perhaps ensuring intelligent control of the attached X-ray tube, but rather converts electrical energy from alternating current (AC) mains to high voltage direct current. Computed tomography (CT) introduces a technical challenge. There are several ways to transfer power from the stationary to the rotary side of the gantry in a CT system. The most common method employs electrical slip rings and brushes to transfer the rail voltage, which is then converted to high-frequency AC power in a rotating power converter. In past constructions, the secondary side of the high voltage transformer was often directly connected to a diode-capacitor bank. Thus, the transformer must be designed to withstand the full tube voltage.
