阅读说明：本技术 放射线摄影装置 (Radiographic apparatus ) 是由 今村亮 松浦正佳 于 2019-09-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种放射线摄影装置,在通过从内部电源供给电力而动作的结构的放射线摄影装置中,使用外部电源,也能够产生限制输出的放射线。放射线摄影装置(10)具备：驱动电路(71),驱动放射线源(72)；内部电源(101),以第1电压使电流流过驱动电路(71)；外部电源(102),使电流以与第1电压不同的第2电压流过驱动电路(71)；供电控制部(103),使用内部电源(101)和/或外部电源(102)向驱动电路(71)供电；及放射线输出限制部(105),通过用于供电控制部(103)向驱动电路(71)供电的电源来控制放射线的输出。(The invention provides a radiation imaging apparatus which is operated by supplying power from an internal power supply, and can generate radiation with limited output by using an external power supply. A radiographic imaging device (10) is provided with: a drive circuit (71) that drives the radiation source (72); an internal power supply (101) that causes a current to flow through the drive circuit (71) at a 1 st voltage; an external power supply (102) that causes a current to flow through the drive circuit (71) at a 2 nd voltage that is different from the 1 st voltage; a power supply control unit (103) that supplies power to the drive circuit (71) using the internal power supply (101) and/or the external power supply (102); and a radiation output limiting unit (105) for controlling the output of radiation by a power supply for the power supply control unit (103) to supply power to the drive circuit (71).)

1. A radiographic apparatus includes:

a radiation source that generates radiation;

a drive circuit that drives the radiation source;

an internal power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 1 st voltage;

an external power supply that causes a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 2 nd voltage different from the 1 st voltage;

a power supply control unit that supplies power to the drive circuit using the internal power supply and/or the external power supply; and

a radiation output limiting section that controls output of the radiation by a power supply for the power supply control section to supply power to the driving circuit.

2. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1,

the power supply control unit supplies power to the drive circuit using the internal power supply and the external power supply.

3. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1,

when the 1 st voltage is lower than the 2 nd voltage, the power supply control unit supplies power to the drive circuit using the internal power supply and the external power supply.

4. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the radiation output limiting section limits output of the radiation using a characteristic of the internal power supply.

5. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 4,

the radiation output limiting section limits output of the radiation using a remaining amount of the internal power supply.

6. The radiographic apparatus of claim 5,

the radiation output limiting section limits output of the radiation using an internal resistance of the internal power supply.

7. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6,

the radiation output limiting section limits the output of the radiation by limiting a current flowing through the driving circuit by the external power supply.

8. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6,

the radiation output limiting section limits the output of the radiation by limiting a range in which the output of the radiation can be set.

9. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 1,

the power supply control unit switches a power supply to the drive circuit between the internal power supply and the external power supply.

10. The radiographic apparatus of claim 9,

the power supply control unit switches the internal power supply and the external power supply using a threshold set for a remaining amount of the internal power supply.

11. The radiographic apparatus according to claim 10,

the power supply control section sets the different threshold values in a case where a still image is captured using the radiation and a case where a moving image is captured using the radiation.

12. The radiographic apparatus of claim 11,

the threshold value set when the moving image is captured using the radiation is larger than the threshold value set when the still image is captured using the radiation.

13. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12,

the power supply control unit uses the threshold values having different values when switching from the internal power supply to the external power supply and when switching from the external power supply to the internal power supply.

14. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13,

the power supply control unit delays switching of the power supply while the radiation is generated.

15. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14,

the radiographic imaging apparatus includes a notification unit that notifies a time when power can be supplied to the drive circuit using the internal power supply.

16. The radiographic apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 15,

the radiation output limiting section limits output of the radiation when the power supply control section switches from the internal power supply to the external power supply.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a radiographic apparatus that generates radiation for radiography or the like.

Background

Radiographic apparatuses that photograph a subject using radiation are becoming widespread. The radiographic apparatus includes a radiation generating unit that generates radiation, and a radiation detection panel that detects the radiation to obtain a radiographic image of a subject. For example, an X-ray imaging apparatus for imaging an object with X-rays. An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generation device that generates X-rays and an X-ray detection device that obtains an X-ray image of an object.

As a recent radiographic apparatus, a mobile radiographic apparatus that moves to an arbitrary place such as a patient's ward and performs radiography is known. The mobile radiographic imaging device includes an internal power supply such as a battery or a capacitor for storing electric power.

For example, an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus of patent document 1 supplies power to an X-ray source via an exposure battery. The X-ray image diagnostic apparatus of patent document 1 switches ON/OFF of power supply from an external power supply to the exposure battery according to the remaining amount of the exposure battery and the like.

The mobile X-ray device of patent document 2 supplies power to the X-ray generation unit via a battery. In addition, the mobile X-ray device of patent document 2 includes an operation mode in which, in an operation mode in which electric power from the commercial ac power supply is supplied to the cells other than the X-ray generation unit, when a sudden voltage drop or the like occurs in the commercial ac power supply, electric power is also supplied from the battery to the cells other than the X-ray generation unit.

In addition, a stationary CT scanner may be equipped with a battery, and when an external power supply cannot satisfy a power demand, power may be supplied from the battery to the scanner (patent document 3).

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-200436

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2012-544288

Patent document 3: japanese Kohyo publication Hei 11-500340

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

The radiation generating unit may consume power that cannot be supplied by a general commercial power supply. For example, although the capacity of a general commercial power supply in japan is 1500W, in X-ray radiography, power exceeding 1500W (for example, 2000W) is sometimes required for X-ray generation. Therefore, the radiation generating section that consumes electric power exceeding the capacity of the external power supply supplies electric power from the internal power supply that supplies the electric power to the radiation generating section.

However, the radiation generating section receiving the power supply from the internal power supply may not operate due to shortage of the remaining amount of the internal power supply, deterioration, or the like, and as a result, radiography may not be performed. Even if there is an external power supply that charges the internal power supply, when power is supplied to the radiation generating unit via the internal power supply, the remaining amount of the internal power supply is insufficient, the internal power supply is deteriorated, and the like, and the operation is not performed, and thus radiography may not be performed.

If any radiography cannot be performed for the above reasons despite the provision of a radiographic apparatus, a burden is imposed on a doctor, a patient, and the like.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a radiation imaging apparatus that is configured to operate by supplying power from an internal power supply, and that can generate radiation whose output is limited by using an external power supply.

Means for solving the technical problem

A radiographic imaging device of the present invention includes: a radiation source that generates radiation; a drive circuit that drives the radiation source; an internal power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 1 st voltage; an external power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 2 nd voltage different from the 1 st voltage; a power supply control unit that supplies power to the drive circuit using an internal power supply and/or an external power supply; and a radiation output limiting section for controlling the output of the radiation by the power supply for the power supply control section to supply the power to the drive circuit.

The power supply control unit preferably supplies power to the drive circuit using an internal power supply and an external power supply.

In the case where the 1 st voltage is lower than the 2 nd voltage, the power supply control section preferably supplies power to the drive circuit using an internal power supply and an external power supply.

The radiation output limiting section preferably limits the output of radiation using characteristics of the internal power supply.

The radiation output limiting section preferably limits the output of radiation using the remaining amount of the internal power supply.

The radiation output limiting section preferably limits the output of radiation using an internal resistance of the internal power supply.

The radiation output limiting section preferably limits the output of radiation by limiting the current flowing through the driving circuit from the external power supply.

The radiation output limiting unit preferably limits the output of radiation by limiting a range in which the output of radiation can be set.

The power supply control section preferably switches the power supply to the drive circuit between the internal power supply and the external power supply.

The power supply control unit preferably switches the internal power supply and the external power supply using a threshold value that sets the remaining amount of the internal power supply.

The power supply control section preferably sets different threshold values in a case where a still image is captured using radiation and a case where a moving image is captured using radiation.

The threshold value set when a moving image is photographed using radiation is preferably larger than the threshold value set when a still image is photographed using radiation.

The power supply control unit preferably uses different threshold values when switching from the internal power supply to the external power supply and when switching from the external power supply to the internal power supply.

Preferably, the power supply control unit delays switching of the power supply while the radiation is generated.

Preferably, the power supply device further includes a notification unit that notifies a time when power can be supplied to the drive circuit using the internal power supply.

The radiation output limiting unit preferably limits the output of radiation when the power supply control unit switches from the internal power supply to the external power supply.

Effects of the invention

According to the radiographic apparatus of the present invention, in the radiographic apparatus configured to operate by supplying power from an internal power supply, it is possible to generate radiation whose output is limited by using an external power supply. As a result, even if the remaining amount of the internal power supply is insufficient or deteriorated, some radiography can be performed using the radiographic apparatus.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a radiographic apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a radiographic apparatus of the sliding C-arm.

Fig. 3 is a radiographic apparatus that rotates the C-arm.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram when the radiographic panel is separated for imaging.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the radiation generating section.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the radiation imaging section.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the photographing unit body.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the power supply unit.

Fig. 9 is a specific example of a circuit constituting the power supply control unit.

Fig. 10 is a graph showing a voltage drop of the internal power supply due to exposure to radiation.

Fig. 11 is a graph showing a voltage drop of the internal power supply due to exposure to radiation.

Fig. 12 is a graph showing the IV characteristics of the internal power supply and the supply limit of the external power supply.

Fig. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between an electromotive force of an internal power supply and a remaining amount.

Fig. 14 is a block diagram of a power supply control unit that detects the remaining amount of internal power.

Fig. 15 is a block diagram of a power supply control unit that measures the internal resistance of the internal power supply.

Fig. 16 is a specific example of a circuit constituting the power supply control unit according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the remaining amount of the internal power supply and the threshold value for switching the internal power supply and the external power supply.

Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the internal resistance of the internal power supply and the threshold value for switching the internal power supply and the external power supply.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between (a) a threshold value when switching from the internal power supply to the external power supply and (B) a threshold value when switching from the external power supply to the internal power supply.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart of switching power supplies.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram of the control unit.

Detailed Description

[ embodiment 1 ]

As shown in fig. 1, the radiographic imaging device 10 includes an imaging unit 11 and a display unit 12. The imaging unit 11 is a unit that generates radiation and photographs an object 15 (refer to fig. 4) using the radiation. The display unit 12 is a unit that displays a radiographic image or the like captured using the imaging unit 11.

The imaging unit 11 includes an imaging unit main body 21, a radiation generating unit 22, a radiation imaging unit 23, and a C-arm 25.

The imaging unit main body 21 collectively controls operations of the radiation generating section 22, the radiographic section 23, the C-arm 25, and the like. The imaging unit main body 21 is connected to the display unit 12 by wire or wireless. In the present embodiment, the photographing unit body 21 is wired to the display unit 12 using a cable 31. Thereby, the imaging unit 11 supplies the radiographic image, the electric power, and the like to the display unit 12. The display unit 12 includes a display unit main body 36 and a display 37 for displaying a radiographic image and the like. Casters 27 are attached to the photographing unit body 21 and the display unit body 36. Therefore, the radiographic imaging apparatus 10 is movable, and can perform radiography in a ward where a patient as the subject 15 is located, for example.

The radiation generating unit 22 generates radiation when performing radiography. The radiation generating unit 22 is rotatably attached to one end of the C-arm 25. In the present embodiment, the radiation generating section 22 is rotatable within the plane of the C-arm 25. For example, when the C-arm 25 is disposed in the XZ plane (see fig. 1), the radiation generating unit 22 can rotate in the XZ plane direction. The radiation generating section 22 includes a 1 st operation section 41. The 1 st operation unit 41 is an operation unit for operating the radiation generating unit 22, and may be activated or deactivated depending on the use of the radiographic imaging apparatus 10. In the present embodiment, the radiation generated by the radiation generating unit 22 is X-rays, but the radiation generating unit 22 may be replaced with a configuration that generates radiation other than X-rays.

The radiation imaging unit 23 is detachably attached to the other end (the end opposite to the end to which the radiation generating unit 22 is attached) of the C-arm 25. The radiation imaging section 23 images the subject 15 using the radiation generated by the radiation generating section 22. The attachment/detachment detection unit 42 is a unit that detects attachment/detachment of the radiographic imaging unit 23, and is, for example, a switch unit that is turned on when the radiographic imaging unit 23 is attached. The attachment/detachment detection unit 42 is incorporated in the end portion of the C-arm 25 to which the radiation imaging unit 23 is attached in the present embodiment. The attachment and detachment of the radiation imaging unit 23 include attachment and detachment of a part of the components of the radiation imaging unit 23.

The C-arm 25 is held at a position where the radiation generating section 22 and the radiographic section 23 face each other (hereinafter, referred to as a facing position) in principle. Specifically, when both the radiation generating section 22 and the radiographic section 23 are attached, the C-arm 25 holds the radiation generating section 22 and the radiographic section 23 in face-to-face positions. However, the radiographic imaging device 10 can take radiographs by removing the radiographic imaging unit 23 from the C-arm 25. Therefore, when the radiographic imaging unit 23 is removed from the C-arm 25 and radiographic imaging is performed, the C-arm 25 holds the radiation generating unit 22 at an arbitrary position and direction (generally, at a position facing the radiographic imaging unit 23). In addition, the facing position is a position at which the radiation imaging section 23 can capture the radiation generated by the radiation generating section 22 substantially vertically. The "substantially vertical" allows the radiation generating section 22 and/or the radiation imaging section 23 to be tilted within a range that does not affect imaging of the subject 15, and the like.

The C-arm 25 is connected to a lifting mechanism 52 via a slide mechanism 51. The slide mechanism 51 holds the C-arm 25 to be slidable (slidable) in an arc shape. By sliding the C-arm 25 by the slide mechanism 51, the radiation generating section 22 and the radiographic section 23 can rotate around the center of the C-arm 25 (the center of the "C" shape as an arc) while maintaining the facing positions. For example, as shown in fig. 1, when the radiation generating section 22 and the radiographic section 23 are disposed in the XZ plane, the C arm 25 and the radiation generating section 22 and the radiographic section 23 attached to the C arm 25 can be rotated about the Y axis by sliding the C arm 25 by the slide mechanism 51.

The slide mechanism 51 is rotatably attached to an elevating mechanism 52, and the elevating mechanism 52 is attached to the imaging unit main body 21 so as to be vertically movable (Z-axis direction). Therefore, the C-arm 25 can freely rotate about a specific direction (X-axis) in the horizontal plane. The C-arm 25, and the radiation generating unit 22 and the radiographic unit 23 attached to the C-arm 25 can be arbitrarily moved in a vertically upward direction (positive Z-axis direction) or a vertically downward direction (negative Z-axis direction) by moving the lifting mechanism 52 up and down.

In addition to the above, the photographing unit body 21 includes the 2 nd operation unit 61. The 2 nd operation unit 61 is an operation unit that operates each unit of the imaging unit main body 21 including the radiation generating unit 22. The operation using the 2 nd operation unit 61 can be performed at an arbitrary timing.

The radiographic imaging device 10 configured as described above can capture the subject 15 by a still image or a moving image using radiation. That is, the radiographic apparatus 10 has a still image photographing mode for photographing a still image of the subject 15 using radiation and a moving image photographing mode for photographing a moving image of the subject 15 using radiation. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the moving image is captured by disposing the radiation generating section 22 substantially in the vertically downward direction (Z-axis negative direction) with respect to the radiation imaging section 23 and disposing the radiation imaging section 23 substantially in the vertically upward direction (Z-axis positive direction) with respect to the radiation generating section 22. On the other hand, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the still image is captured by disposing the radiation generating section 22 substantially vertically upward with respect to the radiographic section 23. As shown in fig. 4, the still image can be captured with the radiographic imaging unit 23 removed from the C-arm 25. In this case, the radiation imaging section 23 is disposed behind the subject 15 (on the negative side in the Z direction of the subject 15 in fig. 4) when viewed from the radiation generating section 22.

As shown in fig. 5, the radiation generating unit 22 includes a drive circuit 71, a radiation source 72, a collimator 73, an irradiation range display unit 74, and a 1 st operation unit 41.

The drive circuit 71 is a drive circuit that drives the radiation source 72, and is a so-called high voltage generation circuit. The drive circuit 71 supplies power necessary for generating radiation to the radiation source 72. The high voltage in the drive circuit 71 is a voltage required for the radiation source 72 to generate radiation.

The radiation source 72 receives supply of necessary electric power from the drive circuit 71 to generate radiation. In the present embodiment, the radiation source 72 is an X-ray source that generates X-rays. In the present embodiment, the radiation source 72 and the drive circuit 71 are integrally configured to form a so-called single groove 75 (see fig. 1).

The collimator 73 is a mechanism that adjusts the irradiation range of the radiation generated by the radiation source 72. In the radiographic imaging device 10, the irradiation range of radiation can be appropriately changed by using the collimator 73 in accordance with imaging conditions and the like. The collimator 73 is disposed in a direction (the radiographic unit 23 side) in which the radiation source 72 (the single groove 75) emits radiation.

The irradiation range display unit 74 is a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode or a lamp, and irradiates the subject 15 with visible light from the vicinity of a point (so-called focal point) where X-rays are generated, via the collimator 73. Thereby, the irradiation range of the radiation is displayed on the subject 15.

The 1 st operation unit 41 is a control unit for controlling each unit of the radiation generating unit 22. Specifically, the 1 st operation unit 41 is an operation unit of the collimator 73 and the irradiation range display unit 74. Therefore, a doctor or the like who is a user can adjust the irradiation range of radiation by operating the 1 st operation unit 41. The doctor or the like can turn on or off the display of the irradiation range of the radiation by operating the 1 st operation unit 41. The 1 st operation unit 41 is provided in, for example, a collimator 73 (see fig. 1 and the like).

As shown in fig. 6, the radiation imaging unit 23 includes a radiation imaging panel 81, a grid 82, a battery 83, and the like.

The radiation imaging panel 81 receives the radiation generated by the radiation generating section 22 and images the subject 15. That is, the radiographic Panel 81 (or the entire radiographic unit 23) is a so-called direct conversion type or indirect conversion type FPD (F1at Panel detector). In the present embodiment, the radiographic panel 81 included in the radiographic unit 23 can be replaced with another radiographic panel having a different panel size or the like.

The grid 82 is a member that improves the resolution of the radiographic image and the like by removing scattered radiation, and is disposed on the radiation incident side of the radiographic panel 81 (the side on which the radiation generating section 22 is located). The grid 82 is replaceable. The replacement of the grid 82 can be performed together with the radiographic panel 81 or separately from the radiographic panel 81. The grid 82 can be included in the radiographic panel 81.

The battery 83 is a power supply for supplying power to the radiographic panel 81. The battery 83 can be included in the radiographic panel 81. In the present embodiment, the radiographic imaging unit 23 can be used by being detached from the C-arm 25, and therefore the radiographic imaging unit 23 is equipped with the battery 83, but the radiographic imaging device 10 may also use a radiographic panel that is attached to the C-arm 25 and receives power supply from the imaging unit main body 21 to perform radiography. In this case, the radiographic imaging section 23 can omit the vending battery 83.

As shown in fig. 7, the imaging unit main body 21 includes a control unit 91 that collectively controls operations of the respective units of the radiographic imaging device 10, a power supply unit 92 that supplies power to the respective units of the radiographic imaging device 10, and an image processing unit 93 that performs image processing on a radiographic image captured by the radiographic imaging unit 23 as necessary, in addition to the 2 nd operation unit 61. In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 93 is provided in the imaging unit main body 21, but the image processing unit 93 may be provided in the display unit main body 36.

As shown in fig. 8, the power supply unit 92 includes an internal power supply 101, an external power supply 102, and a power supply control unit 103. The control unit 91 also includes a radiation output limiting unit 105.

The internal power supply 101 is a power supply for storing power in the radiographic imaging device 10, and is, for example, a battery or a capacitor. In the present embodiment, the internal power source 101 is a battery. The internal power source 101 supplies power to the drive circuit 71 not only through the control unit 91 and the like but also through the power supply control unit 103. When the internal power source 101 supplies power to the drive circuit 71, the internal power source 101 causes a current to flow through the drive circuit 71 at the 1 st voltage. The internal power supply 101 is removed from the power supply unit 92 and then stored. However, the internal power supply 101 can receive power supply from the external power supply 102 and store the power. For example, when the internal power supply 101 is configured by a capacitor, the external power supply 102 is used to store power in the internal power supply 101.

The external power supply 102 is a power supply that obtains power from outside the radiographic apparatus 10, and is a circuit or the like (so-called AC/DC (alternating Current/Direct Current) power supply) for obtaining power from a commercial AC power supply (electrical outlet) disposed in, for example, a hospital room or the like. The external power supply 102 causes a current to flow through the drive circuit 71 at a 2 nd voltage different from the 1 st voltage.

Since the internal power supply 101 is a battery or the like, the voltage (1 st voltage) output by the internal power supply 101 may vary depending on the remaining amount, the increase in internal resistance due to deterioration with time, the power consumption of the drive circuit 71, or the like. Therefore, when comparing (distinguishing) the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102, the "1 st voltage" refers to the initial voltage (initial electromotive force) of the internal power supply 101, regardless of these variations. For other cases, "1 st voltage" refers to a voltage that the internal power supply 101 actually outputs. In the present embodiment, the initial voltage (initial electromotive force) of the internal power supply 101 is higher than the 2 nd voltage output from the external power supply 102. The voltage (2 nd voltage) output from the external power supply 102 to the drive circuit 71 is constant.

The power supply control unit 103 supplies power to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101 and/or the external power supply 102. In the present embodiment, the power supply control unit 103 supplies power to the drive circuit 71 using both the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 as necessary.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 9, the power supply control unit 103 according to the present embodiment is configured by a circuit in which an internal power supply 101 and an external power supply 102 are connected to each other through a diode 109, for example. Therefore, when the 1 st voltage is larger than the 2 nd voltage, the power supply control unit 103 supplies power to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101. On the other hand, when the 1 st voltage output from the internal power supply 101 is lower than the 2 nd voltage output from the external power supply 102, the power supply control unit 103 supplies power to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102. When the 1 st voltage and the 2 nd voltage are equal to each other, the power supply control unit 103 can supply power to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101, the external power supply 102, or the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102.

The radiation output limiting section 105 controls the output of radiation by the power supply used when the power supply control section 103 supplies power to the drive circuit 71. For example, in the case of supplying power to the drive circuit 71 using the external power supply 102, the radiation output limiting section 105 limits the output of radiation by controlling the current flowing through the drive circuit 71 by the external power supply 102. The radiation output limiting unit 105 can limit the output of radiation by limiting the range in which the output of radiation can be set. For example, it is not possible to select a specific radiation output from a menu for setting the radiation output. In the present embodiment, the radiation output limiting unit 105 limits the output of radiation by limiting the range in which the output of radiation can be set.

Hereinafter, an operation when radiography is performed using the radiographic imaging device 10 configured as described above will be described. As shown in fig. 10, the electromotive force of the internal power source 101 is "E" (V), and the 2 nd voltage output from the external power source 102 is "Va" (V). When the radiation is exposed from time T1 to time T2, the 1 st voltage output from the internal power supply 101 decreases from "E" to "Vb" (V) during the exposure of the radiation. As the output voltage (1 st voltage) "Vb" of the internal power supply 101 after the voltage reduction, electromotive force "E", internal resistance "R" of the internal power supply 101, and consumption current "I" of the drive circuit 71 can be represented by Vb equal to E-R · I.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 11, depending on the value of the electromotive force "E" of the internal power supply 101, the internal resistance "R", or the consumption current "I" of the drive circuit 71, the voltage (1 st voltage) Vb output when the internal power supply 101 causes a current to flow through the drive circuit 71 may be lower than the voltage (2 nd voltage) Va output by the external power supply 102. In this case, the internal power supply 101 supplies a current to the drive circuit 71 in the range of the supplied power, and the external power supply 102 also supplies a current to the drive circuit 71. That is, when Vb < Va, the external power supply 102 supplies a current corresponding to | Vb-Va | to the drive circuit 71. As a result, both the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 supply electric power to the drive circuit 71.

However, the power supply of the external power source 102 is limited. If the external power supply 102 is a general commercial power supply in japan, the external power supply 102 is 100V (1500W). Therefore, the supply of the current larger than 15A cannot be tolerated. Therefore, the radiation output limiting section 105 limits the output of radiation to a range that can be received by the external power supply 102. For example, as shown in fig. 12, in the case where the radiographic imaging device 10 is capable of outputting radiation of W1 watts (e.g., 2.0kW), W2 watts (e.g., 1.5kW), and W3 watts (e.g., 1.0kW), the radiation output limiting section 105 limits the output of radiation to a range indicated by a broken line that does not exceed the power of the external power supply 102 by the characteristics of the internal power supply 101 (IV characteristics indicated by the graph 110). In fig. 12, the radiation output of W1 watts can be set only within the range indicated by the solid line Ia (W1). Also, the radiation output of W2 watts can be set only in the range indicated by the solid line Ia (W2), and the radiation output of W3 watts can be set only in the range indicated by the solid line Ia (W3). "P0" is a point at which the voltage (1 st voltage) Vb at the time of exposure of the internal power supply 101 and the voltage (2 nd voltage) Va of the external power supply 102 become equal, and "a 1" is the current (a) supplied to the drive circuit 71 by the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 in this case. And "a 2" is the maximum current that can be supplied by the external power supply 102.

As described above, the radiographic imaging device 10 can stably perform radiography using the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102. Further, if the power supply from the internal power supply 101 is sufficient, the radiographic imaging device 10 operates (generates radiation) by the power supply from the internal power supply 101 in principle, but if the power supply from the internal power supply 101 is insufficient, it is not meant to be immediately used, and some radiography can be performed using the external power supply 102.

As described above, the voltage (1 st voltage) Vb output from the internal power supply 101 changes depending on the electromotive force "E", the internal resistance "R", and the consumption current "I" of the drive circuit 71. Therefore, the radiation output limiting section 105 preferably limits the output of radiation using the characteristics of the internal power supply 101. The characteristics of the internal power source 101 are an electromotive force "E" and/or an internal resistance "R" of the internal power source 101.

As shown in fig. 13, the electromotive force "E" of the internal power source 101 generally changes according to the remaining amount (%) of the internal power source 101. For example, the electromotive force of the internal power source 101 when the remaining amount is S1 (%) is E1(V), and the electromotive force of the internal power source 101 when the remaining amount is S2 (%) is E2 (V). Further, when the electromotive force "E" of the internal power source 101 changes, the output of radiation may need to be further limited. For example, in the case where the electromotive force "E" of the internal power supply 101 is reduced to such an extent that it cannot be supplemented within the range of the solid line Ia (W3), the external power supply 102 cannot receive the output of radiation of W3 watts, and therefore the radiation output limiting section 105 needs to limit (prohibit) the output of radiation of W3 watts.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 14, the power supply control unit 103 preferably includes a remaining amount detection unit 130 that detects the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101. In this case, the radiation output limiting section 105 can more appropriately limit the output of radiation using the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 as a result of the output of the remaining amount detecting section 130. As a result, radiography can be safely continued regardless of the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101. The remaining amount detecting unit 130 is a sensor, a circuit, or the like that detects the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101.

Also, the internal resistance "R" of the internal power supply 101 deteriorates with time due to repeated use (the internal resistance [ R ] increases). If the internal resistance "R" changes, the inclination of the graph 110 in fig. 12 changes, and therefore the range of the output of radiation that should be limited by the radiation output limiting section 105 changes. Therefore, as shown in fig. 15, the power supply control unit 103 includes an internal resistance measurement unit 140 that measures the internal resistance "R" of the internal power supply 101, and the radiation output limiting unit 105 preferably limits the output of radiation more appropriately using the internal resistance "R" that is the measurement result of the internal resistance measurement unit 140. In this way, radiography can be safely continued regardless of an increase in the internal resistance "R", that is, deterioration with time of the internal power supply 101. The internal resistance measuring unit 140 is a sensor, a circuit, or the like that measures the internal resistance of the internal power supply 101.

Power supply control unit 103 may include both remaining amount detection unit 130 and internal resistance measurement unit 140. In this case, the radiation output limiting section 105 can take into account both the remaining amount of the internal power source 101 and the internal resistance "R" when limiting the output of radiation, and therefore can further appropriately and safely limit the output of radiation.

[ 2 nd embodiment ]

In embodiment 1 described above, the power supply control unit 103 supplies power to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102, but the power supply control unit 103 can switch the power supply to the drive circuit 71 between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102. That is, the power supply control unit 103 can selectively use either the internal power supply 101 or the external power supply 102 to supply power to the drive circuit 71. For example, as shown in fig. 16, the power supply control unit 103 is configured by a switching circuit that switches the power supply connected to the drive circuit 71 between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102. When the power supply control unit 103 switches from the internal power supply 101 to the external power supply 102, the radiation output limiting unit 105 limits the output of radiation to a range in which the external power supply 102 can supply power.

In this way, when the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 are switched, even if the internal power supply 101 has a shortage of the remaining amount, or the like, the external power supply 102 can be used to perform the minimum radiation imaging under the limitation by the radiation output limiting unit 105.

As described above, when switching between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 is performed, the power supply control unit 103 can switch between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 using, for example, a threshold value set for the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101. This is to avoid a case where radiography cannot be normally completed due to an insufficient remaining amount of the internal power source 101.

As described above, when switching is performed using the threshold value for setting the remaining amount of the internal power source 101, the power supply control unit 103 preferably sets different threshold values in the case of the still image capturing mode for capturing a still image using radiation and in the case of the moving image capturing mode for capturing a moving image using radiation. For example, as shown in fig. 17, the threshold for switching between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 in the still image shooting mode is set to "Th 1", and the threshold for switching between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 in the moving image shooting mode is set to a threshold Th2 that is greater than the threshold Th1 in the still image shooting mode (Th2 > Th 1). Since the exposure time is longer in the case of taking a moving image than in the case of taking a still image, a problem that the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 is insufficient during the moving image taking is unlikely to occur. Further, since the exposure time is shorter in the imaging of the still image than in the imaging of the moving image, the remaining amount of the internal power source 101 is effectively used to the limit, and a large number of radiographing operations can be performed without being limited by the radiation output limiting unit 105.

In addition, although the power supply control unit 103 sets a threshold value for the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 in the above-described embodiment 2, it is possible to set a threshold value for the internal resistance "R" of the internal power supply 101 instead of or in addition to this, and to switch the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 using a threshold value relating to the internal resistance "R". When a threshold value is set for the internal resistance "R" and the threshold value is set to different values in the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode, as shown in fig. 18, the threshold value Th3 in the still image shooting mode may be set to a value smaller than the threshold value Th4 in the moving image shooting mode. This is to effectively use the power of the internal power supply 101 when a still image is captured, and to prevent the remaining amount during exposure from becoming insufficient when a moving image is captured.

In addition, although the switching between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 is performed using the threshold value for setting the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 and the like in the above-described embodiment 2, it is preferable to use the threshold value for setting the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 and the like, which has different values between the case of switching from the internal power supply 101 to the external power supply 102 and the case of switching from the external power supply 102 to the internal power supply 101. That is, it is preferable to have a hysteresis in the threshold value for setting the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 and the like. For example, as shown in fig. 19, the threshold ThA (fig. 19 a) when switching from the internal power supply 101 to the external power supply 102 and the threshold ThB (fig. 19B) when switching from the external power supply 102 to the internal power supply 101 are set to different values (ThA ≠ ThB). When the threshold ThA and the threshold ThB are thresholds for setting the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101, ThA < ThB (fig. 19) is set. When the threshold ThA and the threshold ThB are thresholds for setting the internal resistance of the internal power supply 101, ThA > ThB (not shown) is set. Thus, the switching between the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102 is delayed, and frequent switching can be prevented. As a result, stable radiography can be continued.

Further, during radiation generation (during exposure), the power supply control unit 103 delays switching of the power supply as shown in fig. 20. This is to complete proper radiography. However, the remaining amount of the internal power supply 101 may become zero, which is inevitable. Therefore, as shown in fig. 21, the control unit 91 preferably includes an exposure time calculation unit 210 and a notification unit 211. The exposure time calculation section 210 measures the time during which power can be supplied to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101. The notification unit 211 notifies, by display on the display 37, a voice alarm, or the like, of a time when power can be supplied to the drive circuit 71 using the internal power supply 101. This enables the user to recognize the time during which radiography can be continued using the internal power supply 101, and as a result, it is possible to avoid imaging failure due to switching of the power supply during the generation of radiation.

Although the radiographic imaging device 10 has been described in the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, the radiation generating unit 22 has the same advantages as the radiographic imaging device 10 of the above-described embodiments 1 and 2 when the radiation generating unit 22 includes the internal power supply 101, the external power supply 102, and the radiation output limiting unit 105. That is, the above-described embodiments 1, 2, and the like include a radiation generating apparatus including: a radiation source that generates radiation; a drive circuit that drives the radiation source; an internal power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 1 st voltage; an external power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 2 nd voltage different from the 1 st voltage; a power supply control unit that supplies power to the drive circuit using an internal power supply and/or an external power supply; and a radiation output limiting section for controlling the output of the radiation by the power supply for the power supply control section to supply the power to the drive circuit.

The above-described embodiments 1 and 2 and the like further include a method of driving a radiographic imaging device (or a radiation generating device) including: a radiation source that generates radiation; a drive circuit that drives the radiation source; an internal power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 1 st voltage; an external power supply for causing a current to flow through the drive circuit at a 2 nd voltage different from the 1 st voltage; and a power supply control section that supplies power to the drive circuit using the internal power supply and/or the external power supply, wherein the method of driving the radiographic imaging apparatus (or the radiation generating apparatus) includes the step of controlling the output of radiation by the power supply used when the power supply control section supplies power to the drive circuit.

Although the 2 power supplies, i.e., the internal power supply 101 and the external power supply 102, are provided in the above-described embodiment 1 and embodiment 2, the present invention can be applied to a radiation imaging apparatus including the 1 st power supply and the 2 nd power supply having different distributions of output voltages and/or currents. For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to a radiation imaging apparatus and a radiation generating apparatus that are equipped with 2 types of batteries (internal power sources) having different distributions of output voltages and currents. The present invention can also be suitably applied to a radiation imaging apparatus and a radiation generating apparatus having 3 or more power supplies with different distributions of output voltage and/or current.

In the above-described embodiment, the hardware configuration of the processing unit (processing unit) that executes various processes such as the control unit 91, the image processing unit 93, the power supply control unit 103, the radiation output limiting unit 105, the exposure time calculation unit 210, and the notification unit 211 is a processor (processor) of various types as shown below. The various processors include a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (graphics Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or the like, which is a general-purpose processor that executes software (program) to function as various Processing units, and a dedicated circuit or the like, which is a processor capable of changing a circuit configuration after manufacture, and a processor having a circuit configuration specifically designed to execute various types of Processing.

The 1 processing unit may be constituted by 1 of these various processors, or may be constituted by a combination of 2 or more processors of the same kind or different kinds (for example, a plurality of FPGAs, a combination of a CPU and an FPGA, a combination of a CPU and a GPU, or the like). Further, a plurality of processing units may be constituted by 1 processor. As an example of configuring the plurality of processing units with 1 processor, there is a method in which 1 processor is configured by a combination of 1 or more CPUs and software, as typified by a computer such as a client or a server, and the processor functions as a plurality of processing units. Next, there is a System in which a processor is used, as typified by a System On Chip (SoC) or the like, which implements the functions of the entire System including a plurality of processing units by 1 IC (Integrated Circuit) Chip. In this manner, the various processing units are configured using 1 or more of the various processors described above as a hardware configuration.

More specifically, the hardware configuration of these various processors is a circuit (circuit) in which circuit elements such as semiconductor elements are combined.

Description of the symbols

10-a radiographic apparatus, 11-a photographic unit, 12-a display unit, 15-a subject, 21-a photographic unit body, 22-a radiation generating section, 23-a radiographic section, 25-a C-arm, 27-casters, 31-a cable, 36-a display unit body, 37-a display, 41-a 1 st operating section, 42-a loading and unloading detecting section, 51-a sliding mechanism, 52-a lifting mechanism, 61-a 2 nd operating section, 71-a driving circuit, 72-a radiation source, 73-a collimator, 74-an irradiation range displaying section, 75-a single tank, 81-a radiographic panel, 82-a grid, 83-a battery, 91-a control section, 92-a power supply unit, 93-an image processing section, 101-internal power supply, 102-external power supply, 103-power supply control section, 105-radiation output limiting section, 109-diode, 110-graph, 130-remaining amount detecting section, 140-internal resistance measuring section, 210-exposure time calculating section, 211-notifying section, a 1-current, a 2-current, I-consumed current, E, E1, E2-electromotive force, Ia (W1) -solid line, Ia (W2) -solid line, Ia (W3) -solid line, P0-point, T1-time, T2-time, Th 1-threshold, Th 2-threshold, Th 3-threshold, Th 4-threshold, ThA-threshold, ThB-threshold, Va-2 nd voltage, Vb-1 st voltage.