Touch Sensor Light Irradiation Control for Photoacoustic Tomography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photoacoustic tomography systems lack effective safety measures for light irradiation, as they do not ensure complete contact between the illuminating surface and the object, leading to potential exposure of non-target areas and a complex system configuration to prevent partial contact and side leaning.
Innovation Solution
A light irradiating apparatus with a touch sensor system that controls light emission based on contact condition values, allowing irradiation only when the contact is adequate, using a controller to determine the contact condition and change in condition to ensure proper alignment and safety without the need for multiple sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact sensors are disposed around the illuminating light emitting surface to detect contact and stop emission unless contact is detected, then safety against illuminating light is improved, but system configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contact detection function from multiple distributed sensors and concentrates it into a single touch sensor located at a specific position on the housing. This single sensor detects contact between the housing and the object, and the controller uses this information to control light emission, thereby maintaining safety while simplifying the system configuration by eliminating the need for multiple sensors around the light emitting surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the housing as an intermediary element between the light emitting surface and the object. The touch sensor detects contact between the housing and the object, and the controller mediates the decision to emit light based on this contact detection. This intermediary approach allows safety control without requiring direct sensing around the light emitting surface, thus simplifying the overall system
2Measurement precision
If multiple contact sensors are disposed around the light emitting surface to prevent partial contact and side leaning, then contact detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential contact detection requirement from the complex multi-sensor arrangement and implements it with a single touch sensor positioned on the housing. The controller processes the contact signal from this single sensor to determine whether adequate contact exists, thereby achieving the necessary measurement precision with minimal device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from multiple distributed contact points to a single contact detection point on the housing. By positioning the touch sensor at a strategic location on the housing and using the controller to interpret the contact signal, the system achieves adequate contact detection without requiring multiple sensors, thus maintaining measurement precision while reducing complexity
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
Simplifies the system configuration while ensuring safe and effective light irradiation by preventing exposure to non-target areas and reducing the risk of partial contact or side leaning, thereby enhancing safety and operational stability.
Implementation Method 1
a touch sensor acquiring a contact condition amount between the object and the housing
Implementation Method 2
a probe including an irradiating unit which guides light from a light source to an object
Implementation Method 3
a controller controlling irradiation with light from the irradiating unit based on a level of the contact condition amount and a change in the contact condition amount
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A light irradiating apparatus is used, which is characterized by having: a probe including an irradiating unit which guides light to an object, a housing containing the irradiating unit, and a touch sensor acquiring a contact condition amount between the object and the housing; and a controller controlling irradiation with light from the irradiating unit based on a level of the contact condition amount and a change in the contact condition amount, wherein in a case where the contact condition amount is equal to or more than a first reference value while the change in the contact condition amount which occurs when the housing is pressed against the object is a positive value, the controller performs a control which enables irradiation with light from the irradiating unit when the change in the contact condition amount is equal to or more than a second reference value.