Imaging Control Device Automatic Brightness Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

During radiographic moving image capture, inappropriate automatic brightness control can occur due to radiation generation unit failures, leading to erroneous updates in irradiation conditions based on meaningless radiographic images.

Innovation Solution

An imaging control device that receives identification information and preparation completion signals from a radiation detector, transmits these to a radiation generation unit, and collates identification information to determine whether to perform automatic brightness control, ensuring that updates are only made when valid irradiation conditions are confirmed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If automatic brightness control is performed continuously to maintain image quality, then brightness level stability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to erroneous updates from failed irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness level stabilityVSAvoidcontrol reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by comparing identification information before executing automatic brightness control. The imaging control device compares first identification information from the radiation detector with second identification information from the radiation generation unit to confirm successful irradiation before updating irradiation conditions, preventing erroneous updates from failed irradiation attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the collation result of identification information and adjusting the execution of automatic brightness control accordingly. When the collation result indicates failed irradiation, the system suppresses the automatic brightness control update, and when it indicates successful irradiation, the system allows the update to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If automatic brightness control updates irradiation conditions based on all radiographic images, then adaptability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to erroneous updates from meaningless data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to subject changesVSAvoiderroneous control updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The collation result of identification information serves as an intermediary verification mechanism between the radiographic image data and the automatic brightness control execution. This intermediary check ensures that only images from successful irradiation events are used for control updates, filtering out meaningless data before it can cause harmful erroneous updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If identification information collation is performed to verify irradiation success, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses identification information as a simple copy or tag that travels with the radiographic image data through the system. The first identification information is generated by the radiation detector and the second by the radiation generation unit, both copying the same unique identifier. This simple copying mechanism provides reliable verification without requiring complex validation protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11272899B2Imaging control device, method for operating imaging control device, program for operating imaging control device, and radiography apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A CPU and an FPGA of the imaging control device receive first identification information and a preparation completion signal indicating that preparation for receiving radiation has been completed from a radiation detector and transmit the first identification information and irradiation conditions of the radiation associated with the first identification information to a radiation generation unit. Then, the CPU and the FPGA receive, from the radiation generation unit, second identification information copied from the first identification information by the radiation generation unit in a case in which irradiation with radiation has succeeded. Then, the CPU and the FPGA collate the first identification information and the second identification information, and determine whether or not to perform automatic brightness control, which sets a brightness level of the radiographic image to a prescribed level and updates the irradiation conditions on the basis of the radiographic image, according to a collation result.