Image Pickup Apparatus Noise Prediction Using Temperature and Voltage Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation image pickup apparatuses face challenges with dangling bonds in amorphous semiconductor detectors causing dark current changes, leading to afterimages and signal alterations, which existing methods like using a dedicated light source to pre-expose detectors increase size, weight, and power consumption, making it difficult to control and predict image signal changes.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup apparatus with a detection unit, driving circuit, reading circuit, power supply, temperature detection unit, and calculation unit that predicts and calculates noise and afterimage amounts based on output characteristics, elapsed time, temperature, and voltage, allowing for controlled operation and voltage adjustments to maintain signal quality without a light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated light source is used to pre-expose the detector, then changes in image signal are suppressed, but the size, weight, and power consumption of the apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the dedicated light source from the system, replacing the active pre-exposure method with a passive calculation-based approach that predicts image signal changes without requiring additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system (light source and exposure mechanism) with an information processing system that calculates predicted image signals based on stored characteristic data, thereby eliminating the need for physical pre-exposure hardware
2Reliability
If a dedicated light source is used to pre-expose the detector, then changes in image signal are suppressed, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own stored characteristic information and current operational parameters (temperature, voltage, elapsed time) to self-predict image signal changes, eliminating the need for external energy-consuming pre-exposure operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the energy-consuming light source operation with computational processing that uses stored characteristic data and current sensor readings to predict image signal behavior without additional power consumption
3Productivity
If voltage is supplied to the detection unit, then the detector operates, but noise and afterimage effects change over time affecting image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the predicted image signal based on stored characteristic information before actual image acquisition, allowing the system to anticipate and compensate for noise and afterimage effects that will occur during detector operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from temperature sensors, voltage measurements, and elapsed time data to dynamically adjust the predicted image signal calculation, enabling real-time compensation for changing noise and afterimage characteristics during detector operation
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 prediction and control of noise and afterimage effects in image signals, allowing for small-sized, low-power operation with suppressed uncontrolled changes, ensuring high-quality image capture.
Implementation Method 1
an indirect-conversion detector using a conversion element realized by combining a photoelectric conversion element using amorphous silicon and a wavelength conversion element for converting radiation into light
Implementation Method 2
a wavelength conversion element for converting radiation into light of a wavelength detectable by the photoelectric conversion element
Data Source
AI summary
In an image pickup apparatus, a calculation unit calculates an amount of noise and an amount of afterimage that can be included in an electric signal or image data in an image pickup operation, based on output characteristic information indicating a manner in which the amount of noise and the amount of after image change as a function of an elapsed time since a voltage is applied to a detection unit, a temperature of the detection unit detected by a temperature detection unit, the voltage supplied to the conversion elements from a power supply unit, and an image pickup operation start time indicating a time elapsed since the supplying of the voltage to the detection unit is started until the image pickup operation is started to output the electric signal corresponding to an electric charge generated by the conversion element in the detection unit.