X-Ray Tube Filament Drive Resonance-Based Failure Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-ray tube filament drive circuits are difficult to diagnose for specific component failures, leading to unnecessary repairs and increased costs due to the inability to distinguish between different degradation conditions, and the addition of switches for isolation increases cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating diagnostic capacitors at strategic locations within the filament drive circuit to alter the resonant frequency based on component degradation, allowing for quick identification of failed components without additional switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If switches are added to the filament drive circuit to isolate portions for diagnostic purposes, then the ability to diagnose specific component failures is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switches with an electrical measurement system. Instead of physically isolating circuit portions using switches, the invention uses a measurement device to detect electrical characteristics (impedance, resonant frequency) that change based on component degradation. This substitution eliminates the need for additional switching components while maintaining diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a measurement device as an intermediary between the filament drive circuit and the diagnostic process. This intermediary device measures electrical characteristics of the circuit and compares them against reference values to identify degraded components, serving as a mediator that enables diagnosis without requiring physical circuit modification or switches.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If switches and high-voltage insulation are added for circuit isolation, then component isolation capability is improved, but the X-ray tube size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical isolation mechanisms (switches and insulation) with an electrical measurement approach. By measuring electrical characteristics to identify degraded components, the system achieves component isolation capability without adding physical components that would increase tube volume.
3Reliability
If multiple components are repaired without precise diagnosis, then potential failures are addressed, but unnecessary expenditures and repair time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary diagnostic measurement before repair actions are taken. By measuring electrical characteristics and comparing them against reference values, the system identifies which specific component is degraded, allowing repair personnel to order and replace only the necessary component rather than multiple components, thereby reducing repair time and costs while maintaining system reliability.
4Reliability
If multiple components are repaired without precise diagnosis, then potential failures are addressed, but unnecessary expenditures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary diagnostic measurement to identify the specific degraded component before repair. This preliminary action enables precise targeting of repair efforts, preventing unnecessary expenditure on replacing components that are still functional while ensuring that the actual degraded component is replaced, thus optimizing repair costs without compromising system reliability.
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
Enables efficient and accurate diagnosis of X-ray tube failures by measuring resonant frequencies, reducing repair time and costs by ensuring precise part ordering.
Implementation Method 1
In some embodiments, the electrical characteristic may be a resonant frequency of the filament drive circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for detecting and identifying a degraded component of a filament drive circuit (500) of an X-ray imaging system (100, 200). In one example, the degraded component may be identified by including diagnostic capacitors (502, 504) at various locations in the filament drive circuit (500), which may alter a resonant frequency of the filament drive circuit (500) in the event of a degraded filament (414), cable (413), or different component of the filament drive circuit (500). During a diagnostic procedure, a voltage pulse may be performed on the filament drive circuit (902), and a resulting current may be measured and converted into a digital signal (904). The digital signal may be compared to a set of reference resonant frequencies stored in a lookup table in a memory of the X-ray imaging system (908), where a matching resonant frequency may indicate which component of the filament drive circuit (500) is degraded.