Radiographic System Image Correction for Detector Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiographic systems face issues with defective regions in long-size imaging due to overlapping radiation detection apparatuses, where structures of adjacent detectors are included in the image, leading to image defects that hinder diagnosis.

Innovation Solution

A radiographic system with an image processing method that includes an image correction unit to identify and correct defective regions by using structure information and pixel value distributions from adjacent detectors, minimizing the impact of overlapping detector structures in the final composite image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple radiation detection apparatuses are arranged to perform long-size imaging, then the imaging coverage area is improved, but defective regions appear in the composite image due to overlapping detector structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging coverage areaVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful detector structure images from the composite image by identifying overlapping regions and replacing them with corrected pixel values derived from adjacent detectors, thereby eliminating defective regions while preserving the extended imaging coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an image correction unit as an intermediary processing step between the multiple radiation detection apparatuses and the final composite image, which mediates the harmful overlapping structures by correcting pixel values using information from adjacent detectors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If radiation detection apparatuses are arranged adjacent to each other, then the long-size imaging capability is improved, but structure information of adjacent detectors is included in the image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelong-size imaging capabilityVSAvoidimage information accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality correction by treating different regions of the composite image differently - specifically, overlapping regions are corrected using pixel values from adjacent detectors while non-overlapping regions remain unchanged, thereby preserving the long-size imaging capability while correcting only the affected areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pixel value information copied from adjacent detectors to replace the harmful structure information in overlapping regions, effectively copying useful image data from neighboring sources to fill in the defective areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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

The system effectively reduces defective regions in long-size images, improving image quality and enabling accurate diagnosis by correcting image defects using structure information and pixel values from adjacent detectors.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of radiation detection apparatuses (120, 122, 124) which detect X-rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray detection: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentEP3744256B1Radiographic system and image processing method
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 CANON KK
  • EP3744256B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3744256B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3744256B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A radiographic system includes: a plurality of radiation detection apparatuses configured to detect X-rays; a combining processor configured to generate a long-size image by adjusting enlargement factors of the plurality of radiation images obtained by the plurality of radiation detection apparatuses and combining the plurality of radiation images; and an image correction unit configured to correct a defective region in the long-size image including an image of a structure of one of the plurality of radiation detection apparatuses.