Radiation Detector Breakage Prediction via Shock Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiation detectors with glass TFT substrates are prone to breakage from sudden shocks, leading to downtime and costly replacements, while flexible TFTs can prevent cracking but still suffer from external breakage and liquid penetration, causing malfunctions and unusability.

Innovation Solution

A breakage timing prediction system that includes sensors to detect physical quantities, hardware processors to analyze data and predict detector failure, and a notifier to alert for replacements, along with a database for inventory management to facilitate timely replacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If glass TFT substrates are used in radiation detectors, then manufacturing precision and structural strength are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to breakage from sudden shocks

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTFT substrate manufacturing precisionVSAvoiddetector reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the TFT substrate from rigid glass to flexible material, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties to resist shock-induced breakage while maintaining manufacturing precision through adapted fabrication processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If flexible TFT substrates are used in radiation detectors, then reliability is improved by preventing cracking, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to exterior breakage and liquid penetration

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTFT substrate reliabilityVSAvoidliquid penetration and exterior breakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure with multiple protective layers including flexible TFT substrate, protective films, and sealing layers that work together to prevent liquid penetration and exterior breakage while maintaining the flexibility and reliability of the TFT substrate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses flexible protective films and thin film structures to protect the TFT substrate from external shocks and liquid penetration, leveraging the flexibility to absorb impact without cracking while maintaining barrier properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If radiation detectors are replaced after breakage, then reliability is restored, but loss of time increases due to downtime between breakage notification and replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector reliabilityVSAvoidreplacement downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary monitoring of shock accumulation and predictive analysis to identify detectors at risk of breakage before actual failure occurs, enabling proactive replacement scheduling that minimizes operational downtime and maintains continuous reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If radiation detectors are replaced after breakage, then reliability is restored, but loss of substance increases due to inability to reuse broken detectors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector reliabilityVSAvoiddetector material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables recovery and reuse of detectors by implementing protective measures that prevent complete failure, allowing affected detectors to be repaired and returned to service, thereby reducing material waste while maintaining reliability through controlled intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Reduces downtime and costs by allowing for proactive replacement of radiation detectors before they become unusable, utilizing a system that predicts breakage timing and manages inventory for efficient replacement, thus extending the life of flexible TFT-based detectors.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor that detects a physical quantity applied to a radiation detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS20250093539A1Breakage timing prediction system of a radiation detector, radiation detector replacement system, analysis device, and analysis method

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

A breakage timing prediction system of a radiation detector includes: a sensor that detects a physical quantity applied to a radiation detector; a first hardware processor that collects information on the physical quantity detected by the sensor and analyses the collected information on the physical quantity to predict a breakage timing of the radiation detector; and a notifier that gives a notification of information on the predicted breakage timing of the radiation detector.