Self-Diagnostic Circuit for Shock-Resilient X-Ray Detector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation detection devices, such as cassette-type flat panel detectors, face issues with shock damage during transportation, leading to degraded image quality and potential unusability, with existing self-diagnostic systems either failing to ensure image quality or prematurely disabling the device upon detection of abnormal acceleration.
Innovation Solution
A radiation detection device equipped with a shock detector and self-diagnostic circuit that analyzes an offset image formed by signal charges accumulated in pixels after a shock event to determine the availability of the radiation detector, allowing for partial use if only a portion is damaged, and informing the user through a display or communication unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shock detection circuit and self diagnostic circuit are implemented to detect shocks and diagnose failures, then the reliability of the radiation detector is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation detector performs self-diagnosis by automatically analyzing offset images after shock detection to identify defective pixels, eliminating the need for external manual inspection and enabling the device to assess its own operational status
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical shock sensing and diagnosis systems with an electronic/image-based diagnostic approach, using offset image analysis to detect pixel defects caused by shocks, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture
2Reliability
If the self diagnostic circuit diagnoses whether the radiation detector is workable, then the reliability is improved, but the image quality assurance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective or incomplete diagnostic methods with objective image-based analysis, using offset images to precisely identify defective pixels and their locations, thereby providing both workability diagnosis and image quality assessment simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The offset image serves as an intermediary that bridges shock detection and diagnostic evaluation, providing visual evidence of pixel defects that enables both reliability assessment and image quality determination through the same diagnostic mechanism
3Reliability
If electric power feeding is stopped based on acceleration detection, then the reliability is improved, but the device becomes unusable even when only partly damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and isolates defective pixels caused by shocks, allowing the rest of the radiation detector to continue operating. By assessing the location and extent of damage locally rather than globally, the system maintains productivity for undamaged regions while protecting against further damage to affected areas
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely disabling the device upon shock detection, the patent applies partial diagnosis and partial shutdown strategies, stopping power only to defective pixel regions while allowing the remainder of the radiation detector to continue functioning, thereby maintaining partial productivity
4Reliability
If the radiation detector is completely disabled upon shock detection, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time occurs due to device unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies localized shutdown strategies, disabling only the specific pixel regions affected by shocks while keeping the rest of the radiation detector operational. This selective approach prevents further damage to damaged areas while maintaining serviceability of undamaged areas, reducing overall downtime
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of complete device shutdown, the patent implements partial shutdown of only the defective regions, allowing the radiation detector to remain partially operational and reduce the loss of time while still providing sufficient protection against further damage
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
Enables the continued use of partially damaged radiation detectors for medical imaging by accurately assessing damage and allowing for the identification of usable areas, thereby ensuring smooth radiography operations even with partly damaged devices.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation detector has a plurality of pixels that convert a radiation into signal charges and accumulate the signal charges
Data Source
AI summary
In a cassette-type X-ray detection device, an X-ray detector and a self diagnostic circuit are contained in a cassette casing. When the cassette-type X-ray detection device gets a shock, the self diagnostic circuit is actuated. The self diagnostic circuit reads out from the X-ray detector an offset image being a dark current image, and analyzes the offset image. The self diagnostic circuit finds out an abnormal portion from the offset image, and diagnoses whether the X-ray detector is available, unavailable, or partly available based on the size and position of the abnormal portion. Shock detection and a diagnostic result are displayed on a touch panel provided in the cassette casing, and sent to a console device via a communication unit.