High-Voltage Switch Cell Cascade for Residual X-Ray Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current X-ray apparatuses suffer from residual high voltage discharge after the main pulse ends, leading to prolonged patient exposure to undesired radiation and image artifacts, with existing solutions being complex, costly, or difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A general high-voltage selector switch with series-connected switch cells and a voltage regulation balancing circuit is used to cascade discharge the residual energy stored in capacitances, triggered by an external control unit to eliminate the residual high voltage between 100 and 50 kilovolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the high-voltage generator delivers a pulse to the X-ray tube, then the tube produces X-ray intensity for imaging, but residual energy stored in capacitances continues to power the tube causing prolonged radiation exposure and image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by discharging the residual energy stored in capacitances immediately after the X-ray pulse ends. The control unit triggers the switch component to connect the capacitances to ground, proactively eliminating harmful residual radiation before it can cause prolonged exposure or image artifacts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing solutions are used to discharge residual high voltage, then radiation exposure is reduced, but the device complexity and implementation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful residual energy from the system by providing a dedicated discharge path. The switch component isolates and redirects the residual energy from the capacitances to ground, separating the harmful residual radiation from the useful imaging function and eliminating it safely.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch component acts as an intermediary element between the capacitances and ground. It controls the discharge of residual energy by connecting or disconnecting the capacitances to ground as needed, providing a simple mediation mechanism that avoids complex discharge circuits.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tube is powered between 50 and 120 kilovolts for standard diagnostic operations, then imaging is achieved, but harmful X-radiation is produced during the decreasing voltage phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the power supply in distinct phases: first delivering the high-voltage pulse for imaging, then immediately switching to discharge mode. This periodic switching between power delivery and energy discharge eliminates harmful radiation during the voltage decrease phase while maintaining imaging quality during the active pulse.
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 solution effectively eliminates harmful radiation and image artifacts without increasing costs, allowing for simpler implementation and integration into existing X-ray systems, reducing exposure time and improving image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The switch component is configured to connect the capacitances to ground and discharge the energy stored in the capacitances
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray apparatus comprises a general switch designed to eliminate the residual energy stored in capacitances of this X-ray apparatus. To this end, the general switch comprises several series-connected switch cells, each comprising a switch component constituted by a sidac parallel-connected with a thyristor. The number of cells is determined as a function of the voltage to be discharged. The apparatus has an external control circuit used to trigger the discharging of the first cell. Once the voltage in the first cell drops, the discharging of the second cell is triggered by an internal control circuit, and so on and so forth. The remaining cells are triggered at the same time, once they support a voltage greater than or equal to a predefined transition voltage. Thus, a chain reaction of the discharging of the stored energy is implemented.