Radiation Imaging Sensor Temperature Control via Periodic Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation imaging apparatuses experience variations in image quality due to temperature changes when resumed after a pause, caused by temporary power reduction leading to noise component fluctuations in sensors.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus is designed to maintain sensor array temperature stability by periodically driving the image capturing device during suspension of radiographic imaging, using reset and sampling driving methods to manage power consumption and noise components, ensuring consistent power levels and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the radiographic imaging is suspended and the sensors are left at rest to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the apparatus temperature decreases causing noise component changes and image quality variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a temperature control operation that periodically drives the sensors even during suspension of radiographic imaging. The controller causes the image sensor to perform periodic signal read operations at a lower frame rate than the imaging frame rate, maintaining temperature and noise characteristics consistent with imaging operations while reducing overall power consumption during suspension periods.
2Reliability
If the sensors are driven continuously to maintain temperature stability, then image quality consistency is improved, but power consumption increases during suspension periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing a temperature control operation that drives the sensors at a reduced level during suspension. The controller executes signal read operations at a frame rate lower than the imaging frame rate, providing just enough driving to maintain temperature and noise characteristics without full imaging operation power consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the frame rate is reduced during suspension to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature stability deteriorates causing noise variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using noise characteristics as an indicator of temperature state. The controller monitors noise components in the signal read from the image sensor and adjusts the temperature control operation accordingly. When noise characteristics indicate temperature drift during suspension, the controller modifies the driving frequency or timing of the temperature control operation to restore noise characteristics consistent with imaging operations, thereby maintaining temperature stability.
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 prevents significant temperature variations and noise component changes, thereby maintaining consistent image quality when resuming imaging operations.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus is designed to maintain sensor array temperature stability by periodically driving the image capturing device during suspension of radiographic imaging
Data Source
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AI summary
A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor array and a controller, wherein the controller shifts to a non-capturing mode upon receiving an instruction representing a suspension of radiographic imaging, and shifts to a capturing mode upon receiving an instruction representing a start of radiographic imaging, and the controller performs, in the capturing mode, one of movie capturing and continuous capturing in which an operation of driving the sensor array in response to one radiation irradiation for the sensor array and acquiring image data of one frame from the sensor array is repetitively executed, and, in the non-capturing mode, drives the sensor array to suppress lowering of a temperature of the sensor array in the non-capturing mode from the temperature of the sensor array in the capturing mode.