Wireless AEC Signal Transmission in Radiation Imaging Cassettes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation imaging systems face challenges in rapidly recovering from communication failures, particularly in automatic exposure control signals, leading to prolonged downtime due to the complexity of wired communication systems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating both wired and wireless communication capabilities in the radiation image detecting device, with the wireless communicator transmitting critical signals like emission continuation or stop signals independently of cable connection, and storing images in memory for transmission upon recovery from communication failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired communication is used for automatic exposure control signals, then transmission speed and reliability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring communication failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two independent channels: wired communication for high-speed image data transmission and wireless communication for critical control signals. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communicator acts as an intermediary channel that provides a simplified communication path for critical signals, bypassing the complex wired infrastructure. This intermediary approach enables easier detection and resolution of communication failures by providing an alternative transmission path.
2Speed
If wired communication is used for automatic exposure control signals, then transmission speed is improved, but loss of time for identifying and resolving communication failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communicator is activated in advance to transmit critical control signals, ensuring that communication pathways are established before potential failures occur. This preliminary action enables rapid switch to wireless mode if wired communication fails, minimizing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system dynamically switches between wired and wireless modes based on real-time operational status. When communication failures are detected, the system dynamically transitions to the alternative mode, reducing the time lost for failure identification and resolution.
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for automatic exposure control signals, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but transmission speed and resistance to communication failure decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is designed with multi-functionality, where both wired and wireless communicators can handle the same critical signals. This universality ensures that the system can adapt to different operational environments while maintaining reliable transmission of automatic exposure control signals through either channel.
4Adaptability or versatility
If both wired and wireless communication functions are included, then adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity and use of energy increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different communication qualities are applied locally to different signal types: wired communication is used for high-speed image data where speed is critical, while wireless communication is used for control signals where simplicity and reliability are prioritized. This local differentiation reduces overall system complexity by avoiding uniform high-performance requirements across all communication functions.
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 allows for quicker identification and resolution of communication failures, reducing downtime by enabling wireless transmission of essential signals and storing image data for later transmission, thus ensuring continuous operation and minimizing patient wait times.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the pixels converts radiation emitted from a radiation source into electric charge, and accumulates the electric charge
Implementation Method 2
The wireless communicator transmits and receives the signal to and from the control device in a wireless manner
Data Source
AI summary
An AEC signal is transmitted and received always in a wireless manner between a wireless communicator of an electronic cassette and a wireless communicator of a control device, regardless of the presence or absence of wired communication. If communication failure occurs in the wired communication and X-ray image data cannot be transmitted in a wired manner, a memory of the electronic cassette temporarily stores the X-ray image data. Since the AEC signal is wirelessly transmitted, X-ray imaging is continued even if the wired communication is unusable. A cause of the communication failure is more easily identified in wireless communication than in the wired communication. Thus, even if the communication failure occurs in the wireless communication, the wireless communication quickly recovers from the failure and downtime of an X-ray imaging system does not become too long.