US Patent 10297414 X-ray tube devices and methods for imaging systems

An X-ray tube may include a housing, a cathode, an anode, and a tube auxiliary unit or an authentication module. The cathode and the anode are positioned within the housing. The cathode and the anode are spaced apart such that a target surface of the anode is positioned to receive electrons emitted by the cathode. The tube auxiliary unit may be coupled to the housing. The tube auxiliary unit may include X-ray tube data including tube calibration data based on parameters of the X-ray tube. The authentication module may be configured to authenticate the X-ray tube with a tube control unit.