Modular control device and nondestructive testing accelerator

Abstract

A modular control device is provided for controlling an outer collimator of a non-destructive testing accelerator. The modular control device includes: a bottom plate unit including a bottom plate; the control unit is mounted on the bottom plate; the N motor power units are mounted on the bottom plate, each motor power unit is used for driving at least one motor of the outer collimator in response to a signal of the control unit, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; wherein the control unit and the motor power unit are modularized units which are mutually independent. The utility model further provides a nondestructive testing accelerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of non-destructive testing, and more specifically, to a modular control device and a non-destructive testing accelerator. Background Art

[0002] When performing nondestructive X-ray testing, in order to ensure the clarity of the film image, it is necessary to reduce or prevent X-ray scattering and shield the X-rays from areas not under inspection. An external collimator is usually used to limit the irradiation range to a certain area, which is called the irradiation field.

[0003] Electron linear accelerators used in nondestructive testing typically use an external collimator to adjust the irradiation field. The collimator block of an external collimator is typically made of a material that blocks or absorbs X-rays. By designing the collimator block and controlling its parameters, it can block some X-rays while allowing others to pass, thereby adjusting the irradiation field and achieving collimation.

[0004] In related technologies, control units currently utilize integrated circuits, integrating the main control chip and motor driver chip into a single circuit board. The motor driver chip can overheat over time, affecting not only the motor's drive but also potentially transferring heat to the main control chip, impacting its performance and lifespan. The various circuit components within the control unit can also suffer varying degrees of damage from prolonged exposure to X-ray scattering, making troubleshooting and replacement time-consuming and labor-intensive. Currently, the most common troubleshooting method is to replace the entire control unit, which is wasteful. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the above problems, the utility model provides a modular control device and a non-destructive testing accelerator.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a modular control device is provided for controlling an external collimator of a nondestructive testing accelerator, characterized in that the modular control device comprises: a base plate unit, including a base plate; a control unit, mounted on the base plate; N motor power units, mounted on the base plate, each of the motor power units being configured to drive at least one motor of the external collimator in response to a signal from the control unit, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; wherein the control unit and the motor power units are independent modular units.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base plate unit further includes: a connector installed on the base plate; wherein the control unit and the motor power unit are independent modular units including: the control unit and each of the motor power units are respectively pluggably installed on the base plate through the matching connector.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit includes: a control chip provided with at least one first interface, wherein the first interface is used for transmitting input and output signals between the control chip and the outside.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present utility model, the base plate unit also includes: a first circuit, laid on the base plate and connected to the at least one first interface; a first terminal, arranged on the base plate and connected to the first circuit, wherein the first terminal is used to connect to part or all of the external input and output signals.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present utility model, each of the motor power units includes: M motor driver chips, each of the motor driver chips is used to drive at least one motor of the external collimator, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; each of the motor driver chips is provided with at least one second interface, and the second interface is used to transmit the signal of the control unit, and the motor driver chip is used to drive at least one motor of the external collimator in response to the signal of the control unit.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base plate unit further includes: a second circuit, which is laid on the base plate, and the second circuit is used to transmit the signal of the control unit to the second interface.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present utility model, each of the motor power units further includes: a phase excitation dial switch coupled to the M motor driver chips, and the phase excitation dial switch is used to select a matching phase excitation mode according to the motor driven by each motor driver chip.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present utility model, each of the motor power units further includes: a motor interface connected to at least one motor of the driven external collimator; a motor ground wire connected to the motor interface, and a specific area on the motor ground wire is covered by electromagnetic shielding material.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base plate unit also includes: a first power supply, installed on the base plate, for supplying power to the control unit; N second power supplies, installed on the base plate, for supplying power to the N motor power units one by one; wherein, the first power supply and any one of the second power supplies are isolated from each other and wired in layers, and / or, any two of the second power supplies are isolated from each other and wired in layers.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the baseboard unit also includes: a third power supply, installed on the baseboard, for supplying power to the input and output interfaces on the baseboard; a fourth power supply, installed on the baseboard, for providing overall power supply to the modular control device; wherein the first power supply, the second power supply, the third power supply and the fourth power supply are isolated from each other and wired in layers.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the modular control device further includes: an operating box, independent of the external collimator; the operating box is configured to transmit data with the control unit in the form of a serial data bus in response to being operated by a user, and the control unit is configured to generate a signal for controlling the external collimator in response to the data.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present utility model, the operating box includes: a laser switch, wherein, when the laser switch is operated by the user, the control unit is configured to generate a corresponding switch signal of a calibration laser, and the calibration laser is used to calibrate the center point of the irradiation field of the external collimator.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the external collimator includes S collimation blocks, the S collimation blocks are used to collimate rays, S is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the operation box includes: a display area for displaying the status parameters of each of the collimation blocks; and / or a button area including K groups of buttons, each group of buttons including at least one button, wherein each of the collimation blocks has a corresponding group of buttons in the button area, and K is an integer greater than or equal to S.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the modular control device further includes: a box body, wherein the base unit, the control unit, and N motor power units are installed in the box body; and a connecting cable for connecting the operating box to the box body.

[0020] Another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a non-destructive testing accelerator, characterized by comprising: an external collimator; and a modular control device for the external collimator as described in any one of the above items.

[0021] One or more of the above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: By modularly designing the control device for the external collimator, each unit is split into independent modular units. This effectively isolates the control unit from the motor power unit, preventing mutual interference during operation and enabling more convenient and efficient fault location and subsequent repair and replacement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above contents and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 The figure schematically shows a three-dimensional structural diagram of an external collimator for a non-destructive testing accelerator according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 2 Schematically shows a structural block diagram of a modular control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 Schematically shows a structural block diagram of a base plate unit according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0026] Figure 4 Schematically shows a connection diagram of a control chip, a first circuit and a first terminal according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0027] Figure 5 The following schematically shows a structural block diagram of a motor power unit according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an opening of a motor power unit according to an embodiment of the present utility model is shown schematically;

[0029] Figure 7 Schematically shows a connection diagram of the control chip, the second circuit and the motor drive chip according to an embodiment of the utility model;

[0030] Figure 8 The functional layout diagram of the operation box according to the embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown.

[0031] The reference numerals associated with the above drawings are as follows:

[0032] 100, external collimator; 110, mounting frame; 120, lead screw; 130, drive device; 140, collimation assembly; 141, first group of collimating components; 142, second group of collimating components; 143, collimation block; 160, guide rail; 171, transmission fixture; 172, sliding fixture; 181, main transmission wheel; 182, slave transmission wheel; 200, modular control device; 210, base plate unit; 211, base plate; 212, first terminal; 213, first circuit; 214, second circuit. 220. Control unit; 221. First connector; 222. Control chip; 2221. First interface; 230. Motor power unit; 231. Second connector; 232. Motor driver chip; 2321. Second interface; 233. Phase excitation dial switch; 234. Motor interface; 235. Power supply interface; 236. Level conversion circuit; 237. Signal isolation circuit; 240. Operation box; 241. Laser switch; 242. Display area; 243. Key area; 250. Box body.

[0033] It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, in the drawings used to describe the embodiments of the present invention, the sizes of the overall / local structures or overall / local areas may be enlarged or reduced, that is, these drawings are not drawn according to the actual scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the following detailed description, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments can also be implemented without these specific details. In addition, in the following description, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted to avoid unnecessary confusion in the concepts of the present invention.

[0035] The terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The terms "comprise", "include", etc. used herein indicate the presence of the features, steps, operations and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations or components.

[0036] All terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the context of this specification and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly rigid manner.

[0037] When expressions such as "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." are used, they should generally be interpreted in accordance with the meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include but is not limited to a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or A, B, C, etc.).

[0038] Figure 1 The figure schematically shows a three-dimensional structural diagram of an external collimator for a non-destructive testing accelerator according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, the external collimator 100 for a nondestructive testing accelerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a mounting frame 110, a lead screw 120, a driving device 130, a collimation assembly 140 and a bearing assembly ( Figure 1 (not shown) The external collimator 100 is provided outside the accelerator and is used to collimate the outgoing rays of the accelerator.

[0040] The mounting frame 110 is used to support the components of the external collimator 100 . In this embodiment, the mounting frame 110 is constructed as a roughly frame-shaped structure, and other components are distributed on the mounting frame 110 .

[0041] The lead screw 120 is rotatably connected to the mounting bracket 110 . The lead screw 120 is mainly used to drive the collimation assembly 140 to move, thereby adjusting the irradiation angle of the collimation assembly 140 , that is, adjusting the irradiation field of the external collimator 100 .

[0042] The drive device 130 is disposed on the mounting frame 110. The output end of the drive device 130 is connected to the lead screw 120 for driving the lead screw 120 to rotate. For example, the drive device 130 can be a stepper motor, and the number of steps and direction of the stepper motor can be controlled to drive the lead screw 120, thereby driving the collimation assembly 140 to a specified position. In other optional embodiments, the drive device 130 can also be driven hydraulically, pneumatically, or other means. Moreover, the distribution position of the drive device 130 is not limited to that shown in the drawings, as long as it can drive the lead screw 120 to rotate.

[0043] Collimation assembly 140 is located within the gap formed by mounting frame 110 and connected to lead screw 120. Mounting frame 110 provides protection for collimation assembly 140. Made of radiation-shielding material, collimation assembly 140, driven by drive unit 130 and lead screw 120, moves along lead screw 120 to shield a portion of the radiation emitted by the accelerator, thereby adjusting the radiation's angle of incidence.

[0044] The bearing assembly is disposed between the lead screw 120 and the mounting bracket 110 to support the rotation of the lead screw 120. Specifically, the bearing assembly may include a bearing seat, a bearing, a positioning sleeve, and a fixing member.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, the mounting frame 110 is provided with guide rails 160 and lead screws 120 that cooperate with each collimator block 143. The guide rails 160 and lead screws 120 are respectively mounted in pairs at the edge of the mounting frame 110. The external collimator 100 also includes a transmission fixture 171 and a sliding fixture 172. The collimator blocks 143 are mounted on the lead screws 120 via a pair of transmission fixtures 171 on either side. The transmission fixtures 171 and the lead screws 120 are tightly coupled. The lead screws 120, through the transmission fixtures 171, bear the weight of the collimator blocks 143 and drive the collimator blocks 143 to move. A pair of sliding fixtures 172 are mounted on either side of the collimator blocks 143. Each pair of sliding fixtures 172 is in close contact with a guide rail 160 located between them. The sliding fixtures 172 and the guide rail 160 can slide between them. During movement, the collimator blocks 143 strictly follow the trajectory of the guide rail 160 due to the action of the sliding fixtures 172.

[0046] In some exemplary embodiments, the outer collimator 100 may further include a transmission device, which may include a main transmission wheel 181, a slave transmission wheel 182, and a transmission connection device. Figure 1 As shown, the ends of the lead screws 120 extend from the side of the mounting frame 110. A main drive pulley 181 and a slave drive pulley 182 are mounted on each pair of lead screws 120. A transmission connection device (e.g., a pulley, chain, etc.) is provided between the drive device 130, the main drive pulley 181, and the slave drive pulley 182 to enable coordinated operation under certain conditions. Specifically, the drive device 130 can drive the main drive pulley 181, which in turn drives the slave drive pulley 182. The main drive pulleys 181 and the slave drive pulley 182 can then synchronously drive the pair of lead screws 120, thereby moving the collimation block 143 and adjusting the range of the radiation field.

[0047] Figure 2 The structural block diagram of the modular control device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is schematically shown.

[0048] like Figure 2 The modular control device 200 shown is used to control the outer collimator 100 of the non-destructive testing accelerator. For example, the modular control device 200 is communicatively connected to the outer collimator 100 to transmit control signals to the outer collimator 100 .

[0049] In some embodiments, the modular control device 200 may include a base plate unit 210, a control unit 220, and N motor power units 230. The base plate unit 210 includes a base plate 211; the control unit 220 is mounted on the base plate 211; and N motor power units 230 are mounted on the base plate 211. Each motor power unit 230 is configured to drive at least one motor of the outer collimator 100 in response to a signal from the control unit 220, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The control unit 220 and the motor power units 230 are independent modular units.

[0050] For example, base plate 211 serves as a substrate, providing mounting support for control unit 220 and motor power unit 230. Base plate unit 210, control unit 220, and motor power unit 230 together constitute the main control unit of epicollimator 100, primarily responsible for core logic calculation and control, power supply, motor drive, and communication functions. Furthermore, control unit 220 and motor power unit 230 are independent modules with distinct functions, allowing each unit to be individually disassembled, maintained, and replaced, improving maintenance efficiency and reducing costs.

[0051] Exemplarily, the control unit 220 is responsible for receiving external input signals or internal logic instructions and, based on these signals, determining how to adjust the irradiation field of the outer collimator 100. The motor power unit 230 receives signals from the control unit 220 and, based on these signals, drives the motor of the outer collimator 100, thereby changing the irradiation field.

[0052] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the control device of the external collimator 100 is modularly designed, and each unit is split into independent modular units. Effective isolation is achieved between the control unit 220 and the motor power unit 230, enabling more convenient and efficient fault location and subsequent repair and replacement.

[0053] Figure 3 The structural block diagram of the bottom plate unit 210 according to an embodiment of the present utility model is schematically shown. Figure 4 The figure schematically shows a connection diagram of the control chip 222 , the first circuit 213 and the first terminal 212 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In some embodiments, the base unit 210 further includes a connector. The connector is mounted on the base 211; wherein the control unit 220 and each motor power unit 230 are pluggably mounted on the base 211 via matching connectors.

[0055] Reference Figure 3The dashed box delineates the mounting area for the control unit 220 and the motor power unit 230. A connector is a connecting element used to achieve electrical connection. The control unit 220 can be configured with a first connector 221, which is electrically connected via a connector on the base plate 211 in the corresponding mounting area. Each motor power unit 230 can be configured with a second connector 231, which is also electrically connected via a connector on the base plate 211 in the corresponding mounting area.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 220 and each motor power unit 230 are pluggably mounted on the base plate 211 through matching connectors, so that the control unit 220 or the motor power unit 230 can be quickly replaced.

[0057] Preferably, continue to refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 Two motor power units 230 can be installed on the base plate 211, which can realize the control of a larger number of motors while achieving a higher degree of integration under the premise of modular design.

[0058] Specifically, in the related art, since the control unit 220 and the motor power unit 230 are integrated circuits and integrated on the same circuit board, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the control unit 220 and the motor power unit 230. When the number of motors is greater, multiple sets of control units 220 and motor power units 230 are added accordingly. This not only affects each other between the units, but also increases the cost, which is contrary to the concept of increasingly miniaturized X-ray heads. In the modular control device 200 provided by the present invention, multiple modular motor power units 230 can be installed on the base plate 211, realizing a one-to-many correspondence between the control unit 220 and the motor power unit 230, which not only achieves effective isolation between the units, but also reduces the cost and overall volume.

[0059] In some embodiments, the control unit 220 includes a control chip 222. The control chip 222 is provided with at least one first interface 2221, and the first interface 2221 is used for transmitting input and output signals between the control chip 222 and the outside.

[0060] In some embodiments, the base unit 210 further includes a first circuit 213 and a first terminal 212. The first circuit 213 is disposed on the base 211 and connected to at least one first interface 2221; the first terminal 212 is disposed on the base 211 and connected to the first circuit 213, wherein the first terminal 212 is used to connect to some or all external input and output signals.

[0061] For example, referring to Figure 4The control chip 222 can adopt an FPGA+ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) control architecture, or a separate FPGA control chip 222 can be used. The first interface 2221 can transmit various limit signals of the external collimator 100 or signals from the laser switch 241. The first interface 2221 for external input and output in the FPGA or ARM can be extended to the base plate 211 and then all led out through the isolation circuit (i.e., the first circuit 213) of the base plate 211. External input and output signals can be directly connected through the first terminal 212 of the base plate 211. This provides more effective isolation between the external input and output signals and the main control chip (i.e., the control chip 222).

[0062] According to the embodiments of the present invention, control chip 222 is more susceptible to interference and radiation than other chips. Therefore, in scenarios where frequent replacement of control chip 222 is necessary, the modular design provided by the present invention allows for individual replacement. Furthermore, during system upgrades, it is possible to upgrade only the core control board while retaining baseboard 211, or to make minor modifications to baseboard 211. Compared to the original integrated design, the modular design is safer and more convenient, requiring less effort for subsequent upgrades and maintenance.

[0063] Figure 5 The structural block diagram of the motor power unit 230 according to an embodiment of the present utility model is schematically shown. Figure 6 The figure schematically shows the opening of the motor power unit 230 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 The figure schematically shows the connection diagram of the control chip 222, the second circuit 214 and the motor driving chip 232 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] In some embodiments, each motor power unit 230 includes M motor driver chips 232, each motor driver chip 232 is used to drive at least one motor of the external collimator 100, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; each motor driver chip 232 is provided with at least one second interface 2321, and the second interface 2321 is used to transmit the signal of the control unit 220, and the motor driver chip 232 is used to drive at least one motor of the external collimator 100 in response to the signal of the control unit 220.

[0065] In some embodiments, the base unit 210 further includes a second circuit 214 disposed on the base 211 . The second circuit 214 is configured to transmit a signal from the control unit 220 to the second interface 2321 .

[0066] In some embodiments, each motor power unit 230 further includes a motor interface 234 and a motor ground wire. The motor interface 234 is connected to at least one motor of the driven outer collimator 100; the motor ground wire is connected to the motor interface 234, and a specific area of ​​the motor ground wire is covered by electromagnetic shielding material.

[0067] For example, referring to Figures 5 to 7 Considering that the outer collimator 100 is close to the main beam of radiation, the selection of the motor should take into account the radiation resistance performance. The motor in the non-destructive testing system can be a stepper motor. Accordingly, the chip type used in the motor driver chip 232 can be a stepper motor driver chip. The motor power unit 230 is connected to the base plate 211 through the second connector 231 and the matching connector on the base plate 211. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The second connector 231 shown can be a double-row pin.

[0068] Reference Figure 7 The base plate 211 leads the output port of the control chip 222 through the first circuit 213, and through the reasonable wiring on the base plate 211, the second circuit 214 is formed. Then, through the double-row pins connected between the base plate 211 and the motor power unit 230, the control signal of the control chip 222 is introduced into the circuit of the motor power unit 230. The introduced control signal passes through the level conversion circuit 236 and the signal isolation circuit 237, and finally reaches the input signal end of the driver chip, such as the second interface 2321. Finally, the motor driver chip 232 receives the control signal of the control chip 222 and drives the corresponding one or more stepper motors.

[0069] Level conversion circuit 236 is used to match signals of different voltage levels, ensuring that signals can be transmitted between circuits in different voltage domains. Specifically, it converts control signals from control chip 222 into signals that can be received by motor driver chip 232. Signal isolation circuit 237 is used to electrically isolate two circuits or systems to prevent direct current flow, thereby protecting the circuits from damage and reducing electromagnetic interference.

[0070] In some embodiments, the first circuit 213 may be wired in the installation area of ​​the control unit 220 , and the second circuit 214 may be wired in the installation area of ​​the motor power unit 230 , and the two circuits may be electrically connected.

[0071] According to the embodiment of the present invention, under normal circumstances, the motor driver chip 232 has a large current and a large switching noise, and is more likely to generate high-frequency interference than the control chip 222. In this way, through the switching and physical isolation of the base plate 211, the interference and damage of the driver chip to the main control chip can be greatly reduced.

[0072] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The motor power unit 230 also includes a power input interface 235 and a motor interface 234 for driving the motor. The motor grounding wire in this unit is designed to be covered with a large area of ​​electromagnetic shielding material, such as copper, to greatly reduce electromagnetic interference in the motor drive. This design ensures that the power supply of the motor power unit 230 is completely independent from that of other units and the entire control device, without interfering with each other, greatly improving the stability of the control system.

[0073] Continue to refer to Figure 6 In addition to connectors, the motor power unit 230 and the base plate 211 can also be connected by screws. Figure 6 The four through holes numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 are mechanically connected to the bottom plate 211.

[0074] In some embodiments, considering the motor driving the outer collimator 100, the current of the motor will not exceed 3.5A in most cases. Therefore, the heat dissipation method of the driver chip is also miniaturized, and the number of heat sinks is consistent with the number of motor driver chips 232. Figure 6 The through holes numbered 5 and 6 are the heat sink mounting holes for the motor driver chip 2321. Figure 6 The through holes numbered 7 and 8 are the heat sink mounting holes of the chip 2. The heat sink of the motor driver chip 232 can be a heat dissipation metal sheet, and the sheet can be coated with thermal grease.

[0075] During drive control, the drive motor on the outer collimator 100 does not move constantly; once in place, the motor simply maintains its position. During startup and under heavy loads, a control algorithm can be used to ensure high current output during startup and low current output during stable operation. This allows for a reasonably small heat sink. For example, the entire motor power unit 230 measures 76mm x 62mm (example), achieving a compact size while balancing heat dissipation and maintaining high drive capacity.

[0076] In some embodiments, each motor power unit 230 further includes a phase excitation dial switch 233. The phase excitation dial switch 233 is coupled to the M motor driver chips 232 and is used to select a matching phase excitation mode according to the motor driven by each motor driver chip 232.

[0077] The driver chip package in the power unit can be a plug-in type or a patch type. According to the current, number of phases, position accuracy of the driven motor, or usage habits, you can replace the stepper motor driver chip 232 that you are familiar with. Each driver chip corresponds to a stepper motor, so two motor driver chips 232 can be arranged on a motor power unit 230, so that each motor power unit 230 can drive two stepper motors. The phase excitation dial switch 233 can select different phase excitation modes for the driver chip according to the different stepper motors being driven. Common excitation modes include: 2-phase, 1-2-phase, 2W1-2-phase, 4W1-2-phase, etc., which can all be selected in combination through the dial switch. Taking the original step angle of the stepper motor of 1.8° as an example, if 4W1-2 phase excitation is selected, the position accuracy can reach up to about 0.1 degrees, which fully meets the positioning requirements of the collimator 100 in non-destructive testing.

[0078] In some embodiments, the base unit 210 further includes a first power supply and N second power supplies. The first power supply is mounted on the base unit 211 and is used to power the control unit 220. The N second power supplies are mounted on the base unit 211 and are used to power the N motor power units 230 in a one-to-one correspondence. The first power supply is isolated from any second power supply and is wired in layers, and / or any two second power supplies are isolated from each other and are wired in layers.

[0079] In some embodiments, the base unit 210 further includes a third power supply and a fourth power supply. The third power supply is mounted on the base unit 211 and is used to power the input and output interfaces on the base unit 211. The fourth power supply is mounted on the base unit 211 and is used to provide overall power to the modular control device 200. The first, second, third, and fourth power supplies are isolated from each other and arranged in layers.

[0080] The baseboard 211 serves as a platform for the control unit 220, motor power unit 230, and other modules. It physically supports each module and provides various DC power supplies for the other submodules. These include the 3.3V power supply (i.e., the first power supply) required by the control chip 222, the 5V power supply (i.e., the second power supply) for controlling the motor power unit 230, the 5V power supply for input and output (i.e., the third power supply), and the 24V power supply (i.e., the fourth power supply) for overall power supply or input and output. These power supplies need to be isolated from each other and routed in layers.

[0081] In addition, in addition to providing the necessary power supply, the base plate 211 also reserves I / O interfaces for input and output, an Ethernet port for network communication, and a serial port for serial communication, so that users can choose different communication scenarios according to the occasion when controlling use.

[0082] The modular design provided by the present invention completely separates the high-current drive circuit (such as the 24V power supply corresponding to the total power supply) from the low-current control circuit (such as the first power supply corresponding to 3.3V and the second power supply corresponding to 5V), and facilitates replacement, thereby greatly improving the high reliability and maintenance convenience of the modular control device 200 of the outer collimator 100.

[0083] In some embodiments, reference Figures 2 to 7 Considering the different mechanical structures of the epicollimator 100, some require four motor drives, while others only require two. Therefore, two pluggable motor power units 230 are expanded on the base plate 211. That is, when both motor power units 230 are installed on the base plate 211, the entire control device can simultaneously control four stepper motors; when only one motor power unit 230 is used, it can control two stepper motors.

[0084] Figure 8 The functional layout diagram of the operation box 240 according to the embodiment of the present utility model is schematically shown.

[0085] In some embodiments, the modular control device 200 further includes an operation box 240. The operation box 240 is independent of the outer collimator 100. The operation box 240 is configured to transmit data to the control unit 220 via a serial data bus in response to user operation. The control unit 220 is configured to generate a signal for controlling the outer collimator 100 in response to the data.

[0086] The change in the irradiation field angle of the external collimator 100 requires a human-machine interface to realize control. In the related art, the angle value of the external collimator 100 is displayed on the outer shell panel of the X-ray head. There are two control modes: remote mode and local mode. The remote mode is used for control operations when the beam is emitted. The local mode is used for control operations when the beam is stopped. The switch for this control operation is also located on the outer panel of the external collimator 100, so that the opening and closing operation of the external collimator 100 also needs to be operated through the dip switch on the X-ray head panel. When the X-ray head needs to be raised to a certain height and pitched to a certain angle, people operating locally need to climb to work, which is inconvenient and increases the risk of operation.

[0087] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an operating box independent of the external collimator is provided, which eliminates the need for high-altitude operations during local control operations, thereby reducing operational risks.

[0088] In some embodiments, the operation box 240 includes a laser switch 241 , wherein when the laser switch 241 is operated by the user, the control unit 220 is configured to generate a corresponding switch signal of a calibration laser, which is used to calibrate the center point of the irradiation field of the external collimator 100 .

[0089] Nondestructive testing also requires the use of a calibration laser. This laser beam forms a cross between horizontal and vertical laser beams, with the intersection marking the X-ray target. This intersection also serves as the center of the field of view of the external collimator 100. In related art, the laser calibration circuitry consists of discrete components dispersed within the X-ray head housing, with the laser on / off button also located on the outer panel of the external collimator 100.

[0090] In this embodiment, the individual discrete components scattered throughout the X-ray head frame are eliminated. The laser switch is located in the operating box 240, and the laser can be turned on and off simply by switching the switch, without the need for additional circuitry. Furthermore, if the operator forgets to turn off the laser power, an automatic delayed shutdown is implemented, protecting the laser from damage or shortened service life due to prolonged overheating.

[0091] In some embodiments, the external collimator 100 includes S collimating blocks 143, each of which is used to collimate radiation, where S is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The operation box 240 includes a display area 242 and / or a button area 243. The display area 242 is used to display status parameters of each collimating block 143; and / or the button area 243 includes K groups of buttons, each group of buttons including at least one button. Each collimating block 143 has a corresponding group of buttons in the button area 243, where K is an integer greater than or equal to S.

[0092] Return to reference Figure 1 The collimation assembly 140 may include a first group of collimators 141 and a second group of collimators 142, both of which are driven by the lead screw 120 and the drive device 130. The first group of collimators 141 has two collimator blocks 143 that can be driven by the lead screw 120 to move along a first direction, and the second group of collimators 142 has two collimator blocks 143 that can be driven by the lead screw 120 to move along a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. Figure 1 As shown, the first direction can be a horizontal direction, and the second direction can be a vertical direction, that is, the two collimating blocks 143 included in the first group of collimating parts 141 can be moved in the horizontal direction, and the two collimating blocks 143 included in the second group of collimating parts 142 can be moved in the vertical direction, which can meet the needs of arbitrarily adjusting the irradiation field in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0093] The first and second collimators 141, 142 are sequentially arranged along the accelerator's radiation irradiation direction, so that the radiation passes through the gaps between the first and second collimators 141, 142. As a result, the four collimating blocks 143 comprised in the first and second collimating blocks 141, 142 can reciprocate upward, downward, left, and right within the region centered on the accelerator's radiation. This allows the combined movement of the four collimating blocks 143 to arbitrarily define the radiation field within a two-dimensional region.

[0094] In the modular control device 200 provided by the present invention, the functions of angle display, opening and closing operation, and laser switch 241 are separated from the X-ray head to form a separate operation box 240. The operation box 240 can be handheld and operated by the user.

[0095] The handheld operating box 240 can be used to operate the angle of the external collimator 100 close to but within a safe distance from the X-ray head, thereby achieving the function of changing the size of the irradiation field. Figure 8 The layout of the handheld operating box 240's circuit board is shown. Display area 242 features four LED digital displays, corresponding to the four opening and closing directions of the outer collimator 100: up, down, left, and right. The displayed angle is accurate to one decimal place. Key area 243 contains nine buttons. The top four are: Up Open, Down Open, Left Open, and Right Open; the middle four are: Up Close, Down Close, Left Close, and Right Close; and the bottom button is the Stop button. All buttons are momentary-activated; that is, pressing and releasing the button executes the action command. When the "Up Open" button is pressed, the vertical upper tungsten block of the outer collimator 100 moves upward. Pressing the "Stop" button at this point causes the block to stop at its current position. When it reaches its limit, it hits a limit switch, automatically stopping the motor. The same applies to the other buttons.

[0096] In some embodiments, the modular control device 200 further includes a box body 250 , wherein the base unit 210 , the control unit 220 , and N motor power units 230 are installed in the box body 250 ; a connecting cable is used to connect the operating box 240 to the box body 250 .

[0097] Reference Figure 2The entire external collimator 100 control system can be divided into two large modular units: the base unit 210, the control unit 220, and the motor power unit 230, which together constitute the main control unit and the operation box 240 of the external collimator 100. The two units are connected via a multi-core cable (i.e., connecting cable) and an aviation plug. The base unit 210, the control unit 220, and the motor power unit 230 are enclosed in a metal-shielded box 250. In some embodiments, the box 250 can include an external cooling fan. The box 250 also has multiple aviation plugs for connecting to the motor that drives the tungsten block of the external collimator 100. The input and output signals on the base unit 211, as well as the power supply of the motor power unit 230 and the motor interface 234, are connected via the aviation plugs on the box 250, enabling plug-and-play and easy replacement.

[0098] like Figure 2 As shown in the overall schematic diagram. The handheld operation box 240 and the box body 250 are connected and plugged in and out via an aviation plug, which is plug and play. The aviation plug is electrically connected to the internal base plate 211. The connecting cable is a multi-core shielded double-strand cable. In some embodiments, the driver control chip 222 of the LED display and keyboard of the handheld operation box is CH452. One CH452 chip can drive up to 8 8-segment digital tubes at the same time. Considering the application requirements, two CH452 chips can be installed to drive 12 8-segment digital tubes. The two CH452 chips and the control chip 222 communicate with each other for serial data, and the line length can reach 20 meters.

[0099] Reference Figures 1 to 8 As described above, the entire modular control device 200 can be divided into a main control unit module and a handheld operation box 240 module. The main control unit module can be further divided into a base unit 210, a control unit 220, and N motor power units 230. Effective isolation is achieved between the modules, facilitating hardware plug-in and replacement while ensuring effective electromagnetic compatibility. In particular, the motor power unit 230 is miniaturized while maintaining performance. Each unit is also equipped with a fault indicator, allowing for quick identification of the faulty subunit during maintenance, facilitating replacement and repair, and greatly improving work efficiency.

[0100] The control device of the epicollimator 100 is typically located near X-rays. After prolonged exposure to scattered X-rays, some core components of the control device require regular replacement. Conventional controllers for the epicollimator 100 in related art suffer from inconvenient replacement. The modular control device 200 provided by the present invention effectively addresses these issues, offering ease of operation, accessibility, and convenient maintenance and replacement.

[0101] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various combinations and / or combinations of features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention may be employed, even if such combinations and / or combinations are not explicitly described in the present invention. In particular, various combinations and / or combinations of features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention may be employed without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present invention. All such combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0102] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. Although each embodiment is described separately, this does not mean that the measures in each embodiment cannot be used in combination to advantage. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Those skilled in the art may make various substitutions and modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention, and such substitutions and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular control device for controlling an external collimator of a non-destructive testing accelerator, characterized in that: The modular control device comprises: A base plate unit, comprising a base plate; a control unit, mounted on the base plate; N motor power units, mounted on the base plate, each of the motor power units being configured to drive at least one motor of the outer collimator in response to a signal from the control unit, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; Wherein, the control unit and the motor power unit are independent modular units.

2. The modular control device according to claim 1, characterized in that The base plate unit further includes: A connector installed on the base plate; The control unit and the motor power unit are independent modular units including: The control unit and each of the motor power units are pluggably mounted on the base plate through matching connectors.

3. The modular control device according to claim 1, characterized in that The control unit comprises: The control chip is provided with at least one first interface, and the first interface is used for transmitting input and output signals between the control chip and the outside.

4. The modular control device according to claim 3, characterized in that The base plate unit further includes: A first circuit is laid on the base plate and connected to the at least one first interface; The first terminal is provided on the bottom plate and connected to the first circuit, wherein the first terminal is used to connect to part or all of the external input and output signals.

5. The modular control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Each of the motor power units comprises: M motor driver chips, each of the motor driver chips is used to drive at least one motor of the outer collimator, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1; Each of the motor driving chips is provided with at least one second interface, and the second interface is used to transmit the signal of the control unit. The motor driving chip is used to drive at least one motor of the outer collimator in response to the signal of the control unit.

6. The modular control device according to claim 5, characterized in that The base plate unit further includes: The second circuit is laid on the bottom board, and the second circuit is used to transmit the signal of the control unit to the second interface.

7. The modular control device according to claim 5, characterized in that Each of the motor power units further comprises: The phase excitation dial switch is coupled to the M motor driving chips, and the phase excitation dial switch is used to select a matching phase excitation mode according to the motor driven by each motor driving chip.

8. The modular control device according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the motor power units further comprises: a motor interface, connected to at least one motor of the outer collimator to be driven; A motor ground wire is connected to the motor interface, and a specific area of ​​the motor ground wire is covered by an electromagnetic shielding material.

9. The modular control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base plate unit further includes: a first power supply, mounted on the base plate, for supplying power to the control unit; N second power supplies, mounted on the base plate, for supplying power to the N motor power units in a one-to-one correspondence; The first power supply and any one of the second power supplies are isolated from each other and are wired in layers, and / or any two of the second power supplies are isolated from each other and are wired in layers.

10. The modular control device according to claim 9, characterized in that The base plate unit further includes: a third power supply, mounted on the base plate, for supplying power to the input and output interfaces on the base plate; a fourth power supply, mounted on the base plate, for providing overall power to the modular control device; The first power supply, the second power supply, the third power supply and the fourth power supply are isolated from each other and are wired in layers.

11. The modular control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 10, characterized in that: The modular control device further comprises: an operating box, independent of the outer collimator; The operation box is configured to transmit data to the control unit via a serial data bus in response to being operated by a user, and the control unit is configured to generate a signal for controlling the outer collimator in response to the data.

12. The modular control device according to claim 11, characterized in that The operation box comprises: A laser switch, wherein when the laser switch is operated by the user, the control unit is configured to generate a corresponding switch signal of a calibration laser, and the calibration laser is used to calibrate the center point of the irradiation field of the outer collimator.

13. The modular control device according to claim 11, characterized in that The external collimator includes S collimating blocks, each of which is used to collimate rays, where S is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The operation box comprises: A display area is used to display the status parameters of each collimation block; and / or, The key area includes K groups of keys, each group of keys includes at least one key, wherein each alignment block has a corresponding group of keys in the key area, and K is an integer greater than or equal to S.

14. The modular control device according to claim 11, characterized in that The modular control device further comprises: A box body, wherein the base plate unit, the control unit, and N motor power units are installed in the box body; A connecting cable is used to connect the operation box with the box body.

15. A non-destructive testing accelerator, characterized in that: include: External collimator; as well as The modular control device for the outer collimator according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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