The present invention, in one form, includes methods and apparatus for reducing the x-ray dosage to a patient in a medical imaging system. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a switching unit, or circuit, is coupled to a x-ray tube and a power supply to control the emission of x-ray beams from the x-ray tube. The switching unit is configured to alter a voltage and current signal applied to the x-ray tube control grid so that the magnitude of the x-ray beams is modified, or altered. By utilizing the switching unit the patient x-ray dosage is reduced and the magnitude of the x-ray beams may be configured to match the requirements of the application.