Multimodal Radiography Imaging for Real-Time Thermal Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiographic imaging systems lack the ability to provide additional context to digital X-ray images, limiting the operator's understanding and analysis.
Innovation Solution
Integration of thermal and optical imaging with digital radiographic imaging systems, allowing for simultaneous display of X-ray, thermal, and optical images in real-time, with the option to switch between primary and secondary feeds, and controlling opacity for enhanced context.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only digital radiographic imaging is used, then the imaging system remains simple and easy to operate, but additional context information is lost limiting operator understanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (thermal imaging, optical imaging, and digital radiographic imaging) into a single integrated system. The thermal sensor and optical sensor are positioned to capture images simultaneously with the X-ray detector, and all images are displayed together on a single display device with corresponding orientations, providing comprehensive context information without requiring separate imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - capturing X-ray images, thermal images, and optical images through a single integrated system. This multi-functional approach allows the system to provide diverse context information (thermal patterns, surface features, internal structure) while maintaining a unified operational interface and display mechanism
2Loss of information
If multiple imaging modalities are integrated, then contextual information is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple imaging modalities are merged into a single display interface where thermal images, optical images, and X-ray images are shown simultaneously with corresponding orientations. The display device presents all images in a unified manner, allowing operators to view and compare different types of information without switching between separate systems or interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds dimensional context by incorporating thermal dimension (heat patterns) and optical dimension (surface visual appearance) alongside the traditional radiographic dimension (internal structure). This multi-dimensional approach provides comprehensive object characterization while maintaining a single integrated operational interface
3Reliability
If thermal and optical imaging are added to radiographic imaging, then operator understanding is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal sensor, optical sensor, and X-ray detector are merged into a single integrated imaging system with coordinated operation. All sensors are positioned and oriented to capture images of the same target simultaneously, and the results are displayed together on a single display device with corresponding orientations, ensuring reliable and consistent multi-modal imaging
Data Source
AI summary
An example radiography scanning system includes: a radiation detector configured to generate digital images based on incident radiation; a radiation source configured to output the radiation toward the radiation detector; a thermal sensor configured to capture thermal images and having a field of view that at least partially overlaps a projection field of the radiation; and a computing device configured to: control the radiation source; receive the digital images from the radiation detector; receive the thermal images from the thermal camera; and output the digital images and the thermal images, in real-time, to a display device.