Radiation Image Capturing Device Heat Management via External Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation image capturing devices face challenges in managing heat generation during video image capturing, leading to increased device size and reduced portability, as they require more powerful circuits for continuous operation and real-time image processing, which generates excessive heat without effective cooling solutions.
Innovation Solution
A radiation image capturing device with a control section that switches between internal and external power supply and image processing units based on selected operation modes, using the external device for video image capturing to manage heat generation without increasing device complexity or cost, by connecting the power supply device when high heat modes are selected and using the external image processing device for video image capturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If video image capturing is performed continuously with high-frequency clock circuits for real-time processing, then image processing capability is improved, but heat generation increases and device portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two independent parts: a portable radiation image capturing device and an external image processing device. The capturing device contains only essential components (radiation detector, power supply, communication interface), while image processing functions are segmented and performed externally, thereby reducing heat generation in the portable device while maintaining high processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing section and high-frequency clock circuits are extracted from the portable radiation image capturing device and relocated to an external image processing device. This extraction eliminates the heat-generating components from the portable device, solving the contradiction between processing capability and heat generation while preserving the capturing function's portability.
2Productivity
If high-frequency clock circuits with large circuit scale are used for real-time image processing, then processing ability is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The high-frequency clock circuits and large-scale processing circuits that generate excessive heat are extracted from the portable device and placed in an external image processing device. The portable device retains only the radiation capturing function with minimal circuits, thereby eliminating harmful heat generation while preserving high processing capability externally.
3Temperature
If cooling function is added to suppress heat rise, then temperature control is improved, but device size increases and portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a cooling function to the portable device, the harmful heat-generating components (image processing section, high-frequency circuits) are extracted and relocated externally. This approach controls temperature without increasing device size, as the solution lies in component redistribution rather than thermal management hardware addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into a portable capturing device and an external processing device. The capturing device remains small and portable with no cooling requirements, while the external device handles heat-generating processing functions. This segmentation achieves temperature control while preserving portability of the handheld device.
4Temperature
If detachable cooling unit is incorporated, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than incorporating a detachable cooling unit that adds complexity, the invention extracts the heat-generating processing functions from the portable device entirely. The portable device becomes a simple capturing unit with no thermal management complexity, while the external device handles all processing that would otherwise require cooling.
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
This approach effectively suppresses heat generation without increasing device size or cost, maintaining portability and efficiency in capturing radiation images by utilizing external resources for high-demand operation modes.
Implementation Method 1
a direct-conversion method that converts radiation into charges at a semiconductor layer of amorphous silicon or the like
Implementation Method 2
an indirect-conversion method that converts radiation into light at a scintillator and thereafter converts the light into charges at a semiconductor layer of photodiodes or the like
Implementation Method 3
a control section that effects control such that, in a case in which an operation mode that generates a predetermined generated heat amount or more has been selected as the operation mode and the power supply device is connected to the connection portion, the power supply device is used instead of the power supply section
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation image capturing device has: a radiation image capturing section that is adapted to image capturing in a selected operation mode, an image processing section, a power supply section that supplies electric power for driving to the radiation image capturing section, a connection portion that electrically connects to at least one of a power supply device or an image processing device, and a control section. The control section effects control such that, in a case in which an operation mode that generates a predetermined generated heat amount or more is selected and the power supply device is connected to the connection portion, the power supply device is used instead of the power supply section, and, in a case in which an operation mode that generates a predetermined generated heat amount or more is selected and the image processing device is connected to the connection portion, the image processing device is used instead of the image processing section.