Radiation Imaging System Setting Information Backup and Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radiation imaging systems, component failures lead to extended downtime as setting information is not shared between apparatus, requiring manual reconfiguration by operators, thereby elongating the period during which imaging cannot be performed.

Innovation Solution

A radiation imaging system with a setting information storage unit, a backup unit, and a control unit that restores setting information from backups in case of failure, allowing seamless transition and continuation of imaging processes without operator intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If setting information is not shared between apparatus, then each apparatus maintains independent control, but operator intervention is required for manual reconfiguration during failure, elongating downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem continuityVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by automatically backing up setting information from the original apparatus to the other apparatus before failure occurs. This pre-positioning of setting information eliminates the need for manual reconfiguration after failure, directly reducing downtime while maintaining system continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automatic setting information sharing mechanism as an intermediary between the original apparatus and the other apparatus. This intermediary automatically transfers setting information during failure scenarios, eliminating the need for operator intervention and reducing downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual reconfiguration is required during component failure, then system control remains precise, but the process requires operator intervention, increasing downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic restorationVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically restore setting information from the backup without operator intervention. The other apparatus autonomously retrieves and applies the backed-up setting information, improving ease of operation while reducing downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by automatically detecting failure conditions and triggering the restoration process. The system monitors its own state and automatically initiates setting information recovery when failure is detected, eliminating manual intervention and reducing downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11464476B2Radiation imaging system, control apparatus, control method, and computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 CANON KK

AI summary

A radiation imaging system includes a setting information storage that stores setting information to be used for radiation imaging, a setting information backup unit configured to back up the setting information stored in the setting information storage, and an operation control unit configured to restore, in a case the setting information storage has failed, the setting information in the setting information storage based on the setting information backed up in the setting information backup unit.