Carbon Fiber Cassette with Grounded Metal Layer for Noise Shielding
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cassettes for radiographic imaging based on the DR method do not conform to standard sizes, requiring additional equipment and failing to balance weight, size, thickness, robustness, and noise resistance, especially when used on soft surfaces and requiring high rigidity and light weight.
Innovation Solution
An electronic cassette design featuring a housing with a carbon fiber laminated holding base incorporating a metal layer for grounding and noise shielding, supporting both the imaging detection panel and circuit units, which maintains structural integrity and suppresses electromagnetic noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an electronic cassette is designed to have high rigidity to withstand body weight during imaging, then robustness is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding base is constructed using a composite material consisting of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) plate with an aluminum foil layer bonded to its back surface. The CFRP provides high rigidity and strength-to-weight ratio, while the aluminum foil layer adds minimal weight but enhances electromagnetic shielding and grounding capabilities. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by achieving high rigidity without proportionally increasing weight.
2Length of moving object
If electric components are disposed close to the FPD to reduce thickness, then thickness is reduced, but electrical noise interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aluminum foil layer bonded to the back surface of the CFRP holding base serves as an intermediary electromagnetic shielding layer. It is electrically connected to ground potential and positioned between the FPD and surrounding electric components/cables. This intermediate grounding layer intercepts and redirects electromagnetic noise to ground, preventing it from reaching the FPD while allowing compact component arrangement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic cassette conforms to standard film cassette size, then adaptability to existing bases is improved, but internal space for components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the thickness dimension efficiently by bonding the aluminum foil layer to the back surface of the CFRP holding base, creating a multi-functional thin structure. This approach maximizes the use of available space in the thickness direction, allowing accommodation of FPD, circuit boards, and shielding layers within the constrained volume of the standard cassette size while maintaining external dimensions for compatibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves reductions in weight, size, and thickness while ensuring high robustness and noise resistance, allowing for stable imaging without additional equipment costs and maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
the holding base includes a carbon fiber laminated plate including a metal layer inserted in the carbon fiber lamination layer, the metal layer being electrically connected to ground of the circuit
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic cassette for radiographic imaging has an enclosure, an imaging detection panel disposed in the enclosure and configured to convert an amount of radiation into an electric signal, a circuit unit disposed in the enclosure and configured to read an electric signal from the imaging detection panel by supplying a driving signal to the imaging detection panel, and a holding base disposed in the enclosure and configured to support the imaging detection panel. The holding base supports the imaging detection panel on a first surface as a radiation incident side and supports the circuit unit on a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The holding base includes a carbon fiber laminated plate having a metal layer inserted in lamination layer, and the metal layer is electrically connected to ground of the circuit unit.