Electronic Cassette Pose Detection for Radiography Mode Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cassettes used in patrol radiography with movable radiography apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining the state of the housing, leading to uncertain mode control, particularly when the housing is taken out or stored, which affects power consumption and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pose detection sensor to detect the current pose of the housing, a standard pose acquisition unit to record the stored state pose, and a mode controller that switches between radiography and sleep modes based on determined state changes, ensuring accurate mode control and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact detection sensor and pose detection sensor are used to determine housing state, then mode control can be performed, but device complexity increases and reliability is insufficient because pose detection sensor cannot distinguish between storage and carrying states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pose detection function from the housing and integrates it into the movable radiography apparatus. The housing only retains the contact detection sensor, while the movable radiography apparatus contains the pose detection sensor. This separation allows the pose detection sensor to detect whether the housing is being carried by the movable radiography apparatus, enabling reliable distinction between storage and carrying states without increasing housing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable radiography apparatus serves as an intermediary between the housing and the pose detection sensor. The pose detection sensor is installed in the movable radiography apparatus, not directly in the housing, allowing it to detect the carrying state through the intermediary relationship. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling state detection without adding complex sensors to the housing.
2Reliability
If housing pose detection is implemented to determine taken-out state, then accurate mode control is achieved, but power consumption increases due to continuous sensor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of the housing state by checking whether the housing is detected as taken-out before initiating continuous pose detection. The flowchart shows that the control unit first determines if the housing is in the taken-out state using the contact detection sensor, and only then activates the pose detection sensor. This preliminary action reduces unnecessary power consumption while maintaining accurate state determination when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pose detection sensor operates periodically rather than continuously. The control unit activates the pose detection sensor only when needed to determine the current state, and deactivates it when the housing is confirmed to be in the storage state. This periodic operation significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous monitoring, while still providing accurate state determination when required.
3Loss of energy
If mode switching is implemented to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but response time increases due to mode transition delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mode switching to the radiography mode when the housing is determined to be in the taken-out state, even before actual radiography operation begins. The control unit proactively switches the drive mode based on the state determination, ensuring that the necessary components are already ready for operation. This preliminary action minimizes the actual response time when radiography is needed, while still maintaining energy efficiency by keeping the system in appropriate modes.
Data Source
AI summary
The electronic cassette includes a portable housing. A CPU of the electronic cassette functions as a RW controller, a first determination unit, and a mode controller. The RW controller acquires a standard pose as a pose of the housing in a stored state, in which the housing is stored in a storage portion of a movable radiography apparatus, from a ROM. The first determination unit determines whether the housing is in the stored state or a taken-out state, in which the housing is taken out from the storage portion, based on the standard pose and a current pose as a current pose of the housing detected by a pose detection sensor. The mode controller switches the drive mode from the sleep mode to the radiography mode in a case where the first determination unit determines that the housing is brought from the stored state into the taken-out state.