Medical X-ray Cassette Power Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image information detecting cassettes for medical X-ray imaging face issues with high power consumption and safety concerns, particularly when not in use or under abnormal conditions, leading to shortened battery life and potential electrical hazards.
Innovation Solution
The cassette incorporates an out-of-use state determining mechanism that suppresses power supply to non-essential circuits when the device is not in use, using sensors to detect handle grip, terminal connections, communication status, or elapsed time, and an acceleration sensor to prevent power supply during abnormal acceleration, ensuring reduced power consumption and enhanced operator safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is constantly supplied to the cassette for normal operation, then the cassette is ready for immediate use, but power consumption increases and battery life shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system dynamically adjusts its state based on operational needs. The cassette transitions between a ready state (with power supplied to essential circuits) and a low-power state (with power supplied only to minimal essential circuits), allowing it to adapt to different usage conditions and optimize the balance between readiness and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply operates in periodic cycles, switching between full power mode and reduced power mode based on detected usage conditions. This periodic switching allows the system to maintain operational readiness when needed while conserving energy during periods of non-use, directly addressing the contradiction between constant readiness and power consumption.
2Reliability
If power is supplied during abnormal conditions such as dropping, then the cassette may function, but operator safety is compromised due to potential electric shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary protective action by detecting abnormal conditions (such as dropping) before they can cause harm. When such conditions are detected, the power supply is immediately inhibited, preventing potential electric shocks to operators. This preemptive measure prioritizes safety while maintaining the ability to restore function after the abnormal condition resolves.
3Speed
If all circuits remain powered during out-of-use periods, then the cassette is ready for immediate operation, but battery life is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system dynamically adjusts which circuits remain powered based on detected usage conditions. During out-of-use periods, non-essential circuits are powered down while essential circuits maintain minimal operation. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to extend battery life while preserving the capability for quick reactivation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different circuits within the cassette are treated differently regarding power supply. Essential circuits (such as control logic and minimal power management) maintain power during out-of-use periods to ensure quick readiness, while non-essential circuits (such as display, communication, and processing units) are powered down to conserve battery life. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall readiness and battery duration.
Data Source
AI summary
An image information detecting cassette accommodating an image information detecting section capable of reducing its power consumption when not used. When the handle of the cassette is gripped by the operator for carrying, the handle grip signal is outputted from the handle grip detecting section. If the readout signal from the scan/readout section, X-ray ready signal from the external system controller, and release signal from the release switch are not outputted, that is, when the cassette is carried and not used, it is determined to be the out-of-use state by the out-of-use determining means. The low power consumption mode is set by the control section, and the power supply to the image information detecting section, reading light emitting section, detecting section driving section, nonvolatile memory, X-ray buzzer, and matrix indicator is discontinued by the power supply suppressing section.