Radiation Converter Positioning for Afterimage Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiographic image capturing systems face challenges with afterimage phenomena such as bright-burn and ghost effects, which reduce image quality and accuracy due to residual electric charges, and current methods to mitigate these issues are either inefficient, costly, or limit design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A radiographic image capturing system that predicts the occurrence of afterimage phenomena and moves the radiation converter to avoid affected areas, using a timing prediction unit and moving unit to adjust the converter's position before image capture, thereby preventing image quality degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the scintillator is heated to discharge electric charges held by deep traps, then afterimage phenomena are reduced, but the image capturing process becomes time-consuming and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by moving the converter to a predetermined position before the afterimage phenomenon occurs. The timing prediction unit predicts when the converter should be moved based on previous radiation exposure patterns, and the moving unit repositions the converter proactively to avoid areas that will develop afterimage effects, rather than waiting for the afterimage to manifest and then taking corrective action.
2Reliability
If ultraviolet radiation is applied to the scintillator for correction, then afterimage effects are minimized, but additional equipment and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional approach of correcting afterimage effects on the scintillator itself. Instead of applying ultraviolet radiation to the scintillator to discharge trapped charges, the patent moves the converter (which contains the scintillator) to a different physical position where fresh, non-exposed areas of the scintillator can capture subsequent images, thereby avoiding afterimage contamination without needing UV correction equipment.
3Reliability
If radiation is applied beforehand to form deep traps, then local sensitivity rises are minimized, but the process requires increased radiation dose and exposes the subject to higher radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the problem of afterimage phenomena from the subject imaging process. Instead of treating the scintillator in place or exposing the subject to additional radiation, the patent physically moves the converter to a different position, effectively separating the afterimage-affected area from the area needed for subject imaging. This extracts the contaminated portion of the scintillator from the imaging path without requiring additional radiation exposure.
4Reliability
If the converter position is adjusted to avoid afterimage areas, then image quality is maintained, but the system requires movement capability and timing prediction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the converter to service itself through automatic repositioning. The timing prediction unit analyzes the converter's own radiation exposure history and predicts when afterimage effects will occur, then automatically triggers the moving unit to reposition the converter. This self-monitoring and self-correction mechanism eliminates the need for external intervention or complex manual correction systems.
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
This approach allows for high-quality image capture while avoiding areas prone to afterimage effects, maintaining signal-to-noise ratio and contrast, and reducing costs without compromising design freedom, enabling efficient tomosynthetic image capturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
an indirect-conversion-type electronic cassette having a scintillator for temporarily converting radiation into visible light
Implementation Method 2
a solid-state detector for converting visible light into electric signals
Data Source
AI summary
This radiation imaging system has a radiation source, a case, and a radiation detection device which is housed in the case, and is equipped with a radiation detector having a conversion unit that converts radiation from the radiation source, which has passed through at least a subject, to radiation image information, wherein a prediction is made as to whether the afterimage phenomenon has occurred in the conversion unit, and if it is predicted that the phenomenon has occurred, at least the conversion unit is moved.