Radiation Imaging Notification Unit for Continuous Capture Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radiation imaging systems, continuous capturing operations may not be recognized in real-time due to communication environment issues between the radiation imaging apparatus and display devices, making it difficult to determine if the apparatus is capturing radiation images.

Innovation Solution

A radiation imaging apparatus with a detection unit and control unit in a single housing, featuring a notification unit that indicates the status of the capturing operation, such as LEDs or a loudspeaker, to inform the user of ongoing image capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless communication is used to transfer radiation images, then portability and flexibility are improved, but real-time transfer reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidreal-time transfer reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit acts as an intermediary between the detection unit and the user. It receives capturing status information from the control unit and converts it into visible (LED indicators) or audible (buzzer) signals, bridging the communication gap caused by wireless transfer delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If continuous capturing operation is performed, then productivity is improved, but information feedback to user deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous capturing capabilityVSAvoidcapturing status information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit provides real-time feedback to the user about the capturing operation status. The LED indicators and buzzer deliver immediate visual and auditory feedback, ensuring the user is informed of ongoing capturing activities even during continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Different LED colors indicate different capturing statuses: green LED indicates normal capturing operation, yellow LED indicates buffer full status, and red LED indicates communication error status. This color-coding system provides intuitive visual feedback about system state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Loss of information

If notification unit is added to indicate capturing status, then user awareness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapturing status visibilityVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit serves multiple functions: visual indication via LEDs for different capturing statuses, audible indication via buzzer, and integration with the existing control and detection units. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive status monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10849577B2Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 CANON KK

AI summary

A radiation imaging apparatus in which a detection unit configured to generate an image signal corresponding to incident radiation and a control unit are arranged in one housing is provided. The radiation imaging apparatus further comprises a notification unit arranged in the housing and configured to show a state of the radiation imaging apparatus. While causing the detection unit to perform a continuous capturing operation of a radiation image, the control unit performs control so that the notification unit will perform notification of the ongoing capturing operation.