Mobile X-ray Collimator Sensor Power Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile X-ray imaging apparatuses, unnecessary power consumption occurs due to continuous power supply to sensors during travel mode, preventing the measurement of acceleration by acceleration sensors and increasing overall power usage.
Innovation Solution
A control unit is implemented to selectively supply power to sensors in the collimator, providing power only to essential sensors during travel mode and switching power supply based on detection of travel mode or imaging mode, using a power supply circuit and control circuit to manage power distribution among multiple sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If power is supplied to all sensors in the collimator during traveling mode, then acceleration measurement is enabled, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power supply control to different sensors in the collimator. The control unit selectively supplies power to only the acceleration sensor during traveling mode, while other sensors remain powered off. This segmentation allows acceleration measurement functionality to be maintained without the penalty of powering all sensors, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power is stopped to the collimator during traveling, then power consumption is reduced, but acceleration measurement becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing differentiated power supply states to different components. Specifically, the acceleration sensor receives continuous power during traveling mode to enable measurement, while other collimator components are powered down. This localized power supply strategy ensures that only the necessary measurement function remains active, resolving the contradiction between power savings and measurement capability.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are powered continuously, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power supply control where the control unit adjusts power distribution to sensors based on the operational mode (traveling vs. imaging). During traveling mode, only the acceleration sensor is powered for essential monitoring. During imaging mode, additional sensors are activated as needed. This dynamic adaptation ensures comprehensive monitoring when required while extending battery life during traveling, resolving the contradiction between reliability and duration.
Data Source
AI summary
When a control unit 30 detects that the apparatus becomes a traveling mode, the control unit 30 stops the power supply from a power supply circuit 52 to an opening-degree sensor S2 of a collimator leaf and a distance sensor S3 for detecting the distance between an X-ray tube 11 and a subject. On the other hand, for an acceleration sensor S1 for measuring the acceleration of a collimator 12, power supply from the power supply circuit 52 is stopped. When the control unit 30 determines that the apparatus is not in the traveling mode, electric power is supplied to all of the acceleration sensor S1, the opening-degree sensor S2, and the distance sensor S3. As a result, power consumption can be reduced by constantly supplying electric power to the acceleration sensor S1 required to perform constant monitoring, and in the traveling mode, power supply to the opening-degree sensor S2 and the distance sensor S3 used when performing X-ray imaging is stopped, so that power consumption can be reduced.