CONTROL CIRCUIT AND DETECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING

Abstract

A control circuit for a portable detector (14) of a medical radiographic imaging system. The control circuit serves to reduce the power consumption of the portable X-ray detector. The detector control circuit includes a multifunction switch (102) coupled to the portable detector, and a detector control module installed in the portable detector. The detector control module (110) receives an input signal from the multifunction switch and, based on the received input signal, reconfigures the portable detector to switch from a first operating mode to a second, different operating mode. A portable detector comprising the detector control circuit and a method for operating the portable detector are also provided.

Description

Multifunction switch 102 Button 104 Audible warning light 106 Visual Witness 108 Detector Control Module 110 Clock 112 Process 200 Stage 202 Step 204 Stage 206 Step 210 Step 212 Step 214 Stage 216 Stage 218 Stage 220 Stage 222 Stage 224 Stage 226 Stage 230 Stage 232 Stage 234 Stage 236 Stage 238 Stage 240 Stage 242

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Control circuit (100) for a portable detector (14) of a medical imaging system, said control circuit comprising: a multifunction switch (102) coupled to the portable medical imaging system detector, the multifunction switch (102) being configured to enable the portable medical imaging system detector to operate in one of at least a sleep mode, a rest mode, or a mode selected for the detector; and a detector control module (110) installed in the portable medical imaging system detector (14), the detector control module receiving an input signal from the multifunction switch and, based on the received input signal, reconfiguring the portable medical imaging system detector (14) into one of at least sleep mode, rest mode, or the mode selected for the detector.

2. The control circuit (100) of claim 1, wherein the detector control module (110) is further configured to: - receive an input signal from the multifunction switch (102), - determining whether the detector (14) is operating in the mode selected for the detector from the received input signal, and - activate a visual indicator (108) when the detector is not operating in the mode selected for the detector.

3. The control circuit (100) of claim 1, wherein the portable medical imaging system detector (14) consumes a first amount of power in the sleep mode and a second, different amount of power in the rest mode and the mode selected for the detector.

4. The control circuit (100) of claim 1, further comprising a clock (112) configured to determine the duration the multifunction switch (102) is pressed, the detector control module (110) configured to activate the sound device (106) if the duration exceeds a predetermined threshold using the clock to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector (14) from the first mode of operation to the second, different mode of operation.

5. The control circuit (100) of claim 1, further comprising an audible indicator (106), the audible indicator allowing an operator to determine when the portable medical imaging system detector (14) is reconfigured from sleep mode to at least one of the rest mode and the mode selected for the detector.

6. The control circuit (100) of claim 1, wherein the detector control module (110) is further configured to determine a duration for which the multifunction switch (102) is pressed while the detector (14) is operating in the idle mode, and reconfigure the detector (14) to operate in the mode selected for the detector when the determined duration exceeds the predetermined threshold.

7. Portable detector (14) of a medical imaging system, comprising: an array (74) of X-ray detectors; and a detector control circuit (100) coupled to the X-ray detector array (74), the detector control circuit comprising a multifunction switch (102) coupled to the portable medical imaging system detector, the multifunction switch (102) being configured to enable the portable medical imaging system detector to operate in one of at least one of a sleep mode, a rest mode, or a mode selected for the detector; and a detector control module (110) installed in the portable medical imaging system detector, the detector control module receiving an input signal from the multifunction switch and, based on the received input signal, reconfiguring the portable medical imaging system detector into one of at least sleep mode, rest mode, or selected mode. 10 8. Detector (14) according to claim 7, in which the The detector control module (110) is further configured to receive an input signal from the multifunction switch (102), determine whether the detector is operating in the mode selected for the detector from the received input signal, and activate a visual indicator (108) when the detector is not operating in the selected mode. for the detector.

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