Patent Application
20150168566
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-257552 filed on Dec. 13, 2013 including description, claims, drawings, and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable radiographic imaging apparatus and a radiographic imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a radiographic imaging apparatus, a radiographic imaging apparatus using an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) is known. Conventionally, a radiographic imaging apparatus is configured as a so-called dedicated machine type in which the radiographic imaging apparatus is integrally formed with a supporting table. However, in recent years, a portable (also called cassette, etc.) radiographic imaging apparatus that contains radiation detecting elements, etc., in a casing, thereby being made portable has been developed and put into practical use.
In many cases, a portable radiographic imaging apparatus includes a battery. In that case, if the power of the battery is wastefully consumed, then the number of times imaging can be performed on a single charge decreases. Hence, the radiographic imaging apparatus needs to be frequently charged, resulting in that the work efficiency of imaging decreases and a radiation technologist or the like which is a user needs to frequently charge the apparatus during the interval between imaging and imaging. Thus, the user finds the radiographic imaging apparatus inconvenient. In view of this, in order not to wastefully consume power, there is known, for example, a radiographic imaging apparatus configured such that, when imaging is not performed for a certain period of time, the power consumption mode is automatically switched to sleep mode with low power consumption.
In addition, for example, JP 2005-3756 A proposes a cassette radiographic imaging apparatus configured to suppress power supply to read circuits, etc., when it is determined, based on, for example, a signal from a handle hold detecting unit provided to a handle portion of the cassette radiographic-imaging apparatus, that an operator such as a radiation technologist is holding the handle of the cassette radiographic imaging apparatus and thus imaging using the radiographic imaging apparatus is not being performed (i.e., in an unused state). This configuration enables to reduce power consumption.
However, in the radiographic imaging apparatus described in JP 2005-3756 A, it is not always easy to determine whether imaging is performed or the apparatus is left without being used for imaging after the operator such as a radiation technologist removes his/her hand from the handle. Hence, there is a possibility that despite the fact that the radiographic imaging apparatus is being left, a state in which power is supplied to the read circuits, etc., may continue for at least a certain period of time, which may result in wasteful power consumption. Accordingly, there is a demand that the radiographic imaging apparatus should be able to more accurately suppress power consumption.
The present invention is made in view of the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable radiographic imaging apparatus and a radiographic imaging system that are capable of accurately suppressing wasteful power consumption in accordance with an operator's (radiation technologist, etc.) actual usage state, etc.
To achieve at least one of the above-mentioned objects, according to an aspect, a portable radiographic imaging apparatus including a plurality of radiation detecting elements arranged two-dimensionally reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: a switching unit configured to be able to switch power to the apparatus on and off or switch a power consumption mode of the apparatus between imageable mode where imaging can be performed and power saving mode where an amount of power consumption is smaller than that for the imageable mode but imaging cannot be performed; an event information managing unit configured to collect event information about the apparatus or imaging, or accepts input event information; and a storage unit configured to save the collected or input event information, wherein the apparatus includes a battery configured to supply power, and the switching unit determines whether to perform imaging, based on past event information saved in the storage unit and event information collected or input at present time, and switches the power from on to off or switches the power consumption mode from the imageable mode to the power saving mode, when the switching unit determines that imaging is not performed.
In addition, to achieve at least one of the above-mentioned objects, according to an aspect, a radiographic imaging system reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: a portable radiographic imaging apparatus including: a plurality of radiation detecting elements arranged two-dimensionally; a switching unit configured to be able to switch power to the apparatus on and off or switch a power consumption mode of the apparatus between imageable mode where imaging can be performed and power saving mode where an amount of power consumption is smaller than that for the imageable mode but imaging cannot be performed; an event information managing unit configured to collect event information about the apparatus or imaging, or accepts input event information; a battery configured to supply power to each function unit; and a communicating unit configured to perform communication with an external source; and a console or a management apparatus including a storage unit configured to be able to save the event information collected by the event information managing unit of the radiographic imaging apparatus or input to the event information managing unit, wherein the console or the management apparatus determines whether to perform imaging, based on past event information saved in the storage unit and event information collected by the event information managing unit of the radiographic imaging apparatus or input to the event information managing unit and transmitted thereto from the event information managing unit at present time, and instructs the switching unit of the radiographic imaging apparatus to switch the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus from on to off or switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus from the imageable mode to the power saving mode, when the console or the management apparatus determines that imaging is not performed, and the switching unit of the radiographic imaging apparatus switches the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus from on to off or switches the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus from the imageable mode to the power saving mode, based on the instruction from the console or the management apparatus.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein:
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.
An embodiment of a portable radiographic imaging apparatus and a radiographic imaging system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Note that in the following the portable radiographic imaging apparatus may be simply referred to as a radiographic imaging apparatus. Note also that in the following, as the radiographic imaging apparatus, a so-called indirect radiographic imaging apparatus will be described that includes a scintillator, etc., and converts emitted radiation into an electromagnetic wave with another wavelength such as visible light and irradiates radiation detecting elements with the magnetic wave; however, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called direct radiographic imaging apparatus that directly detects radiation with radiation detecting elements without using a scintillator, etc.
[Portable Radiographic Imaging Apparatus]
A thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as a TFT) 8 is connected as a switching element to each radiation detecting element 7. The TFT 8 is connected to a signal line 6. Ina scanning drive unit 15, anon-voltage and an off-voltage are supplied to a gate driver 15b from a power supply circuit 15a through a wiring line 15c. The gate driver 15b switches a voltage to be applied to lines L1 to Lx of scanning lines 5 between an on-voltage and an off-voltage. Each TFT 8 is placed in an on state when an on-voltage is applied thereto through a corresponding scanning line 5, and allows an electric charge accumulated in a corresponding radiation detecting element 7 to be emitted to a corresponding signal line 6. In addition, when an off-voltage is applied to the TFT 8 through the scanning line 5, the TFT 8 is placed in an off state and cuts off the conduction between the radiation detecting element 7 and the signal line 6.
A plurality of read circuits 17 are provided in a read IC 16. The signal lines 6 are connected to the read circuits 17, respectively. An electric charge emitted from a radiation detecting element 7 flows into a corresponding read circuit 17 through a corresponding signal line 6, and an amplifier circuit 18 outputs a voltage value according to the amount of the electric charge flowing thereinto. Then, a correlated double sampling circuit (described as “CDS” in
A control unit 22 is composed of a computer in which a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an input/output interface, etc., are connected to a bus, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like, which is not shown. The control unit 22 may be composed of a dedicated control circuit. The storage unit 23 composed of an SRAM (Static RAM), an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), or the like, is connected to the control unit 22. In addition, a communicating unit 30 that performs communication with an external source through the antenna 29 or the connector 27 by a wireless scheme or a wired scheme is connected to the control unit 22. Furthermore, a battery 24 that supplies required power to function units such as the scanning drive unit 15, the read circuits 17, the storage unit 23, and the bias power supply 14 is connected to the control unit 22.
In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the control unit 22 also functions as a switching unit and an event information managing unit. Note that in the following description the control unit 22 is represented as a switching unit 22A when functioning as the switching unit, and as an event information managing unit 22B when functioning as the event information managing unit; however, the switching unit and the event information managing unit can also be composed of circuits, etc., different than the control unit 22.
In addition, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, the switching unit 22A can switch the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 on and off. The event information managing unit 22B collects event information about the apparatus or imaging or accepts an input of event information even when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is in a power-off state. Hence, even when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is in a power-off state, power is supplied at all times to the control unit 22 serving as the switching unit 22A and the event information managing unit 22B, from the battery 24 or another battery with a smaller capacity than the battery 24, etc. Note that needless to say the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured such that the amount of power consumption when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is in a power-off state is reduced to a minimum.
In addition, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, the switching unit 22A can switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 between at least imageable mode where power is supplied to function units including the scanning drive unit 15 and the read circuits 17 to allow to perform imaging, and power saving mode where the amount of power consumption is smaller than that for imageable mode, but imaging cannot be performed.
Note that in the present embodiment the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured to further have, as power saving mode, standby mode where current passes through the function units as with imageable mode, but a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 is not performed, and sleep mode where power is not supplied to the scanning drive unit 15, the read circuits 17, etc., but power is only supplied to necessary function units such as the communicating unit 30 so that when there is transmission of a signal from an external source, for example, the signal can be received. In this case, in standby mode the amount of power consumption is larger than that for sleep mode, but is smaller than that for imageable mode.
In addition, it is also possible to provide, as power saving mode, modes with various power consumption levels, in addition to standby mode and sleep mode. A method of setting a mode in the power consumption mode is determined as appropriate. Furthermore, a configuration for suppressing the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, etc., will be described after describing a radiographic imaging system.
[Radiographic Imaging System]
A configuration example of a radiographic imaging system 50 according to the present embodiment will be described.
In addition, the imaging room R1 is provided with a relay 54 having an access point 53 for relaying, for example, communication between apparatuses in the imaging room R1 and apparatuses outside the imaging room R1. In addition, the relay 54 is connected to the radiation generating apparatus 55 and a console 58. The relay 54 includes therein a converter (not shown) that converts, for example, a signal for LAN (Local Area Network) communication transmitted from the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the console 58, etc., to the radiation generating apparatus 55 into a signal for the radiation generating apparatus 55, for example, and also performs conversion the other way around. In addition, in order that an appropriate amount of radiation can be irradiated by the radiation source 52, the radiation generating apparatus 55 performs various control on the radiation source 52, such as setting of tube current, irradiation time, etc.
In the present embodiment, a front room (also referred to as an operation room, etc.) R2 is provided with an operator's console 57 for the radiation generating apparatus 55. The operator's console 57 is provided with an exposure switch 56 which is operated by an operator such as a radiation technologist to instruct the radiation generating apparatus 55 to start irradiation of radiation, etc. The exposure switch 56 is provided with a button which is not shown. When the operator such as a radiation technologist performs a first-level operation (i.e., a so-called half-press operation) on the button of the exposure switch 56, the radiation generating apparatus 55 activates the radiation source 52. Then, when the operator performs a second-level operation (i.e., a so-called full-press operation) on the button of the exposure switch 56, the radiation generating apparatus 55 allows the radiation source 52 to irradiate radiation. Note that whether there is a coordination between the radiation generating apparatus 55 and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 when radiation is irradiated by the radiation generating apparatus 55, etc., will be described later.
In addition, as shown in
Meanwhile, as shown in
In addition, when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used in the hospital room R3, etc., as shown in
Note that, though this also applies to the case of imaging in the imaging room R1 shown in
In addition, in the present embodiment, the console 58 also functions as an image processing apparatus that performs, when image data D and the like are transmitted from the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, precise image processing such as gain correction, defective pixel correction, and a grayscale process according to an imaging body part, based on the image data D and the like, and thereby crates a radiographic image.
[For Whether there is a Coordination Between the Radiographic Imaging Apparatus and the Radiation Generating Apparatus]
Note that, as is well known, when imaging is performed by the radiation generating apparatus 55 irradiating the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 with radiation as described above, imaging may be performed while the radiation generating apparatus 55 and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 coordinate with each other by establishing an interface between the radiation generating apparatus 55 and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. Note that this scheme is hereinafter referred to as a coordination scheme (also referred to as a synchronous scheme, etc.).
In the case of the coordination scheme, before the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 performs imaging, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 starts a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 where electric charges are removed from the radiation detecting elements 7, and at the time when the operator such as a radiation technologist performs a second-level operation (i.e., a full-press operation) on the exposure switch 56, an irradiation start signal is transmitted to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 directly or through the console 58. The radiographic imaging apparatus 1 stops the reset process at the time when, for example, the reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 being performed at that time has been completed for one frame (i.e., up to the last line Lx of the scanning line 5). Then, an off-voltage is applied to the TFTs 8 through the corresponding scanning lines 5 from the scanning drive unit 15 to place the TFTs 8 in an off state, transitioning to an electric charge accumulation state where electric charges generated in the radiation detecting elements 7 are accumulated in the radiation detecting elements 7. Then, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 transmits an interlock cancellation signal to the radiation generating apparatus 55, by which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is irradiated with radiation by the radiation generating apparatus 55. In the coordination scheme, imaging is performed by the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and the radiation generating apparatus 55 thus coordinating with each other.
Note that, when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured to be able to switch the power consumption mode between imageable mode and power saving mode (standby mode and sleep mode) as described above, for example, conventionally, there is a case configured as follows. Specifically, when the operator such as a radiation technologist operates the console 58 to wake up the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from sleep mode, in an initial wake-up state the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 transitions to standby mode to allow function units to perform necessary processes such as initial setting. Then, at the time when the initial operation is completed, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 switches the power consumption mode to imageable mode and performs a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 as described above, for imaging.
However, instead of this, for example, the radiation generating apparatus 55 is configured to transmit a signal to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 at the time when a first-level operation (i.e., a half-press operation) of the exposure switch 56 is performed. Alternatively, the radiation generating apparatus 55 is configured to mount thereon a detecting unit that detects whether a half-press operation, etc., are performed on the exposure switch 56 (see, for example, a stroke detecting unit 60 in JP 2011-104083 A), and transmit a signal to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from the detecting unit at the time when a first-level operation (i.e., a half-press operation) of the exposure switch 56 is performed. On the other hand, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be configured such that, even if the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 wakes up from sleep mode by receiving a wake-up signal from the console 58 and completes initial operation as described above, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 does not switch the power consumption mode to imageable mode but continues standby mode. Then, only when, as described above, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 receives from the radiation generating apparatus 55 or the detecting unit a signal indicating that a first-level operation of the exposure switch 56 has been performed, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 switches the power consumption mode to imageable mode and starts a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7.
Then, if a required number of reset processes have not been performed at the time when a second-level operation (i.e., a full-press operation) is performed on the exposure switch 56 and the above-described irradiation start signal is transmitted from the radiation generating apparatus 55, then at the time when the required number of reset processes are completed, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 transmits an interlock cancellation signal as described above, and transitions to an electric charge accumulation state.
In addition, it is also possible to configure the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 such that, when the required number of reset processes are completed before an irradiation start signal is transmitted from the radiation generating apparatus 55, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 stops the reset process at the time when the required number of reset processes are completed, to transition to an electric charge accumulation state, and transmits an interlock cancellation signal to the radiation generating apparatus 55 immediately when the above-described signal is transmitted. In addition, it is also possible to configure the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to continuously perform a reset process even after the required number of reset processes are completed. Then, in this case, as with the above, at the time when a reset process being performed at the time when an irradiation start signal is transmitted is completed for one frame, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 stops the reset process and transitions to an electric charge accumulation state, and at the same time, transmits an interlock cancellation signal to the radiation generating apparatus 55.
At any rate, by the above-described configurations, the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be accurately suppressed and reduced. Specifically, there may be a case in which, even when the operator such as a radiation technologist wakes up the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not immediately irradiated with radiation by the radiation generating apparatus 55, and it takes time to perform, for example, positioning between the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and a subject. In conventional cases, a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 is performed even during positioning, etc. However, as described above, by not performing a reset process during such a period and by starting a reset process at the time when a first-level operation is performed on the exposure switch 56, a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 is prevented from being performed for a long period of time, enabling to suppress the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. Then, as described above, by performing at least a required number of reset processes before starting irradiation of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 with radiation, imaging can be performed with electric charges accurately removed from the radiation detecting elements 7, enabling to accurately perform imaging.
Meanwhile, when imaging is performed by the radiation generating apparatus 55 irradiating the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 with radiation, imaging may be performed by the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 itself detecting a start of irradiation with radiation, instead of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and the radiation generating apparatus 55 coordinating with each other because an interface cannot be established between the radiation generating apparatus 55 and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 or the interface is not established as described above. Note that this scheme is hereinafter referred to as a non-coordination scheme (also referred to as an asynchronous scheme, etc.).
In the case of the non-coordination scheme, it is possible to configure the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 such that, for example, a radiation sensor or the like is mounted on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 or a current detecting unit that detects a current flowing through the bias lines 9 and the connection 10 (see
In the case of the non-coordination scheme, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured to place the TFTs 8 in an off state at the time when a start of irradiation with radiation is detected, to transition to an electric charge accumulation state. Hence, since in the non-coordination scheme, too, electric charges which are generated in the radiation detecting elements 7 by irradiation with radiation can be accurately accumulated in the radiation detecting elements 7, radiographic imaging can be accurately performed in the non-coordination scheme, too. Note that the present invention is applied to both of the case of imaging by the coordination scheme and the case of imaging by the non-coordination scheme.
[For a Configuration for Suppressing the Power Consumption of the Radiographic Imaging Apparatus, Etc.]
A configuration for suppressing the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, etc., will be described below using some examples. In addition, the actions of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will also be described together.
In the present embodiment, as shown in
In addition, as shown in
Then, in the present embodiment, the switching unit 22A determines whether to perform imaging, based on past event information which is collected or whose input is accepted by the event information managing unit 22B and saved in the storage unit 31, and event information collected or input at the present time. Then, if it is determined that imaging is not performed, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched from on to off or the power consumption mode is switched from imageable mode to power saving mode.
Note that in the present embodiment the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 analyzes pieces of past event information which are collected or whose inputs are accepted by the event information managing unit 22B and saved in the storage unit 31 or learns, so to speak, based on those pieces of past event information. Then, as a result, when event information is collected or event information is input at the present time, the switching unit 22A derives a situation taken place when event information corresponding to or similar to the event information collected or input at the present time has been collected or input in the past, from the above-described analysis, learning, etc., and then, determines whether to perform imaging.
Therefore, even if the following description includes a portion that can be read as: the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is programmed in advance such that the switching unit 22A determines whether or not to perform imaging when a situation is given where past event information is saved in the storage unit 31 and given event information is collected or input at the present time, or the switching unit 22A is configured in advance in such a manner, that description does not conform to the spirit of the present invention. The present invention only claims that, as described above, the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determines itself whether to perform imaging, based on analysis, learning, etc.
Note that in that case, too, needless to say, in order that the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can eventually make an appropriate determination, a user sets conditions, directions, etc. Specifically, for example, the user sets conditions, directions, etc., for the contents of event information saved in the storage unit 31 by the event information managing unit 22B or contents or the like to be analyzed by the switching unit 22A (i.e., for example, an imaging body part or age included in imaging order information in a configuration example which will be described later).
In addition, although the following description assumes that the switching unit 22A is configured to be able to perform control of both of the power on/off switching and power consumption mode switching of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the switching unit 22A does not need to be configured to perform both controls and may be configured to perform only one of the controls. In addition, the switching unit 22A may also be configured to include switching control other than the above-described two controls and to be able to switch the magnitude of the amount of power consumption by that switching control, too. The present invention is applied to all of the above-described cases. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, too, as with conventional cases, when imaging is not performed for a certain period of time with the power consumption mode set to imageable mode, the power consumption mode is automatically switched to power saving mode.
In configuration example 1 for suppressing power consumption, as shown in
The operator such as a radiation technologist normally turns on the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 when bringing the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 into the imaging room R1 (see
Now, analysis of these pieces of information is considered. In this case, since those pieces of information are associated with real times output from the RTC 34, for example, those pieces of information are arranged chronologically. In addition, a distance that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been moved (has been carried) can also be calculated based on acceleration applied to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. Taking a chronological look at the movement and power on/off switching (or power consumption mode switching) of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, it can be seen that there is a pattern, e.g., when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is moved a predetermined distance, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned on (the power consumption mode is switched to imageable mode), and when the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned off (or the power consumption mode is switched to power saving mode), the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is moved a predetermined distance. There may be another pattern, e.g., after the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned on, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is moved, or after the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is moved a predetermined distance, the power is turned off.
By analyzing this pattern, it can be seen that the location where the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned on, i.e., the location where the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned on after the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been moved the predetermined distance or the destination to which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been moved by the predetermined distance after the power is turned on, is the imaging room R1 (see
Hence, for example, the switching unit 22A determines in what state the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is in at the present time, based on the above-described pattern determined from these pieces of past event information, i.e., information on acceleration applied to the apparatus, etc., which are saved in the storage unit 31, and the state of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determined from event information collected by the event information managing unit 22B at the present time. Specifically, when it is determined from acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 33 that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is moving, it is determined whether the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is heading to the imaging room R1 or is coming out of the imaging room R1. In addition, if the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is at rest, then it is determined whether the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is in the imaging room R1 or in the front room R2 or the storage area.
Then, when it is determined in this determination process that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has come out of the imaging room R1 or is in a location other than the imaging room R1 such as the front room R2 or the storage area, the switching unit 22A determines that imaging using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not performed. Then, when it is determined that imaging is not performed, the switching unit 22A switches the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from on to off or switches the power consumption mode from imageable mode to power saving mode (e.g., sleep mode).
By such a configuration, when the switching unit 22A determines the state of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, i.e., where the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is at the present time, based on at least acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 33, and accordingly, determines that imaging using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not performed, the switching unit 22A can accurately turn off the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 or can accurately switch the power consumption mode to power saving mode. In addition, even if the operator such as a radiation technologist forgets to perform an operation to, for example, turn off the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is automatically switched to off by the switching unit 22A. Hence, in the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, wasteful power consumption can be accurately suppressed in accordance with an operator (radiation technologist, etc.)'s actual usage state, etc.
On the other hand, when the switching unit 22A determines that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is in the imaging room R1 at the present time, based on at least acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 33, and accordingly, determines that imaging using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is performed, the switching unit 22A can switch the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to on or can switch the power consumption mode from power saving mode to imageable mode. In addition, even if the operator such as a radiation technologist forgets to perform an operation to, for example, turn on the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is automatically switched to on by the switching unit 22A. Hence, by such a configuration, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is turned on or the power consumption mode is accurately switched to imageable mode, enabling to switch the state of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to a state in which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be used for imaging.
Note that, in the case of this configuration example 1, information on a real time does not necessarily need to be associated with, for example, information on acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 33. Namely, in this configuration example 1, the RTC 34 is not an essential component. Note also that, in contrast, although the following configuration examples do not mention again a real time measured by the RTC 34, it is also possible to save each event information in the storage unit 31 in association with information on a real time.
In addition, by saving, as described above, information on acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 33 and information on the power on/off switching or power consumption mode switching of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 in association with real times obtained by the RTC 34, it can be seen during what hours the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used, by analyzing information on the real times associated with the pieces of information. Specifically, for example, it can be seen that there is a tendency that imaging is performed using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from 9 am to 12 noon, imaging is not performed during 12 noon to 1 pm, imaging is performed during daytime hours after 1 pm, and imaging is not performed almost at all in the nighttime.
Hence, in this configuration example 2, for example, the event information managing unit 22B collects information indicating that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been irradiated with radiation, and associates the information with information on a real time measured by the RTC 34 and saves in the storage unit 31 those pieces of information as event information about imaging. Note that for the information indicating that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been irradiated with radiation, for example, in both of the cases of the above-described coordination scheme and non-coordination scheme, the fact that the control unit 22 places the TFTs 8 in an off state and transitions to an electric charge accumulation state can be collected as the above-described information. Note that it is also possible to collect other information such as information indicating that an interlock cancellation signal has been transmitted from the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to the radiation generating apparatus 55 (in the case of the coordination scheme) or information indicating that the control unit 22 has detected a start of irradiation with radiation (in the case of the non-coordination scheme), as the information indicating that the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been irradiated with radiation.
Then, the switching unit 22A determines, for example, the hours during which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used for imaging or the hours during which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not used for imaging, from pieces of past event information which are saved in the storage unit 31 and associated with real times (i.e., in this case, pieces of information on irradiation with radiation associated with real times). Then, when a current real time output from the RTC 34 is in the hours during which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not used, it is determined that imaging is not performed and thus the switching unit 22A switches the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from on to off or switches the power consumption mode from imageable mode to power saving mode.
By such a configuration, when the current real time is in the hours which are determined by the switching unit 22A from the past usage conditions and during which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is not used for imaging, it is determined that imaging is not performed, and thus, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be accurately turned off or the power consumption mode can be accurately switched to power saving mode. In addition, even if the operator such as a radiation technologist forgets to perform an operation to, for example, turn off the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is automatically switched to off by the switching unit 22A. Hence, in the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, wasteful power consumption can be accurately suppressed in accordance with an operator (radiation technologist, etc.)'s actual usage state, etc.
On the other hand, when the current real time is in the hours which are determined by the switching unit 22A from the past usage conditions and during which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used for imaging, it is determined that imaging is performed, and thus, the process of switching the power or the power consumption mode is performed, e.g., the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is accurately switched to on. By this configuration, even if the operator such as a radiation technologist forgets to perform an operation to, for example, turn on the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is automatically switched to on by the switching unit 22A. Hence, the state of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be accurately switched to a state in which the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be used for imaging.
Note that once the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 has been switched to sleep mode, it may take time for the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to actually become imageable after the power consumption mode is switched back to imageable mode. In that regard, in the case of standby mode where current passes through the function units as with imageable mode, but a reset process for the radiation detecting elements 7 is not performed, by performing switching from standby mode to imageable mode, imaging can be performed immediately. However, in standby mode the amount of power consumption is larger than that for sleep mode.
Meanwhile, according to the study of the inventors of the present invention, it has been found that, when, with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 being switched to sleep mode, current is allowed to pass through a panel unit having formed therein the scanning lines 5, the signal lines 6, the radiation detecting elements 7, the TFTs 8 (see
Hence, it is also possible, for example, to more minutely perform, for example, switching of the power consumption mode by hours which is shown in configuration example 2. Specifically, for example, in a facility such as a hospital, since there are many patients in the morning, even if there is no imaging scheduled to be performed next at the present time, it is highly likely that a patient comes, ending up performing imaging. Hence, during those hours with such a high frequency of use of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, when the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched from imageable mode to a mode with lower power consumption, it is desirable to switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to standby mode where imaging can be performed immediately when the power consumption mode is switched back to imageable mode.
In addition, in the afternoon there may be less patients compared to in the morning. However, even if there is no imaging scheduled to be performed next at the present time, it is likely that a patient comes, ending up performing imaging. Hence, when the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched from imageable mode to a mode with lower power consumption mode during those hours with such a medium frequency of use of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, if the power consumption mode is switched to standby mode, the amount of power consumption is large, and if the power consumption mode is switched to sleep mode, then when a patient comes the patient cannot be dealt with immediately. Thus, it is desirable to switch the power consumption mode to the above-described periodic current passage mode.
Furthermore, in the nighttime, unless there is an emergency case, radiographic imaging is normally not performed. Hence, during those hours with such a low frequency of use of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, it is desirable to switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to sleep mode or to switch the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to off. Note that in the case of a facility, etc., in which radiographic imaging is not performed almost at all not only in the nighttime but also in the afternoon, for example, it is also possible that, as with the above-described case, the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched to sleep mode or the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched to off. By the above-described configuration, wasteful power consumption can be accurately suppressed in accordance with the actual usage state of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, etc.
Meanwhile, when imaging is performed, in many cases, imaging order information specifying, for example, imaging conditions about imaging (“imaging body part” P7, “imaging direction” P8, etc.) and patient information (“patient ID” P2, “gender” P4, “age” P5, etc.) such as that shown in
Then, when a plurality of pieces of imaging order information specify the imaging of a plurality of imaging body parts of one patient, like the former one, if imaging is performed according to these pieces of imaging order information, then since positioning between the patient and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, movement of the patient, and the like, are performed every imaging, a certain amount of time interval occurs between imaging and the next imaging. On the other hand, when a plurality of pieces of imaging order information specify the imaging of the same imaging body part of a plurality of persons to be imaged, like group health screening which is the latter one, if imaging is performed according to these pieces of imaging order information, then imaging is performed one after another and thus it is experienced that the time interval between imaging and the next imaging is short.
Hence, in such a case, by saving in the storage unit 31 these pieces of imaging order information which are transmitted from the console 58 before imaging, and analyzing a relationship between these pieces of past imaging order information and a time interval between imaging and the next imaging, it can be seen that there is a tendency that, when the pieces of imaging order information specify the imaging of a plurality of imaging body parts of one patient, the time interval between imaging and the next imaging is long, and when the pieces of imaging order information specify the imaging of the same imaging body part of a plurality of persons to be imaged, like group health screening, the time interval between imaging and the next imaging is short.
Hence, in configuration example 4, the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 saves in the storage unit 31 these pieces of imaging order information which are transmitted and input thereto from the console 58 every imaging, as event information about imaging, and the switching unit 22A performs the above-described analysis based on those pieces of past event information. Namely, in configuration example 4, imaging order information input to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 serves as event information. Then, when the switching unit 22A determines, based on imaging order information transmitted from the console 58 before the current imaging, that the imaging to be performed from now on is imaging where imaging of a plurality of imaging body parts is performed on one person to be imaged, the switching unit 22A switches the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from imageable mode to standby mode every imaging. By such a configuration, the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be automatically switched from imageable mode to standby mode while positioning between the patient and the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, movement of the patient, and the like, are performed between imaging and the next imaging, enabling to accurately suppress the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
When the switching unit 22A determines, based on imaging order information transmitted from the console 58 before the current imaging, that the imaging to be performed from now on is imaging where imaging of the same imaging body part is performed on a plurality of persons to be imaged, like group health screening, the switching unit 22A does not switch the power consumption mode from imageable mode to standby mode every imaging, but leaves imageable mode as it is. By such a configuration, when the time interval between imaging and the next imaging is short, there is no need to perform the operation of switching the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 each time imaging is performed, enabling to promptly and accurately perform imaging.
Note that in this case, when imaging of a plurality of imaging body parts is performed on one person to be imaged, if the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched to sleep mode, then as described above, it may take time for the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to actually become imageable after the power consumption mode is switched back to imageable mode. In that regard, in the case of standby mode, by performing switching from standby mode to imageable mode, imaging can be performed immediately. Hence, to achieve suppression of power consumption, in the above-described case, it is preferred that the power consumption mode be switched between imageable mode and standby mode, instead of switching the power consumption mode between imageable mode and sleep mode.
There is a case in which the operator such as a radiation technologist switches or does not switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from imageable mode to standby mode, depending on the imaging body part. Specifically, when the imaging body part is the chest of a patient, for example, since there is body motion from breathing, in order that irradiation with radiation can be performed at any timing that the operator such as a radiation technologist thinks appropriate, in many cases, normally, the operator wants the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to be always ready for irradiation with radiation. Hence, in many cases, imaging is performed with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 remaining as imageable mode even during positioning (i.e., with the power consumption mode being not switched to standby mode, etc.).
On the other hand, when the imaging body part is a hand, the legs, or the like, since there is no body motion from breathing, the operator such as a radiation technologist performs irradiation with radiation after the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched from standby mode to imageable mode. Thus, the operator may think that it is better to switch the power consumption mode to standby mode during positioning in order to reduce power consumption. Hence, a case may arise in which depending on the operator, the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched or is not switched from imageable mode to standby mode, according to the imaging body part.
Hence, in this configuration example 5, too, imaging order information input to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used as event information about imaging. When the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determines, based on, for example, “imaging body part” P7 (see
By such a configuration, the following is made possible. Specifically, there are a case in which the operator such as a radiation technologist performs imaging with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 remaining as imageable mode (the case of the chest or the like) and a case in which the operator performs imaging such that after temporarily switching the power consumption mode to standby mode, the operator switches the power consumption mode back to imageable mode (in the case of a hand, the legs, or the like), according to the body part of a patient to be imaged, i.e., the imaging body part. In accordance with those cases, the switching unit 22A can accurately switch or does not switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, according to the imaging body part. Hence, in the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, wasteful power consumption can be accurately suppressed in accordance with an operator (radiation technologist, etc.)'s actual usage state, etc.
There may be a case in which whether to perform imaging with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 remaining as imageable mode or perform imaging such that after temporarily switching the power consumption mode to standby mode, the operator switches the power consumption mode back to imageable mode, which is determined according to whether a patient (a person to be imaged) is an adult or an infant may vary by the determination made by the operator such as a radiation technologist. Specifically, when the patient is an adult, since he/she can stay still, so to speak, the operator such as a radiation technologist may think that it is better to switch the power consumption mode to standby mode during positioning in order to reduce power consumption. On the other hand, when the patient is an infant, since he/she may not be able to stay still, the operator may want to perform irradiation with radiation at the right timing with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 remaining as imageable mode, depending on the imaging body part. Hence, a case may arise in which depending on the operator, the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is switched or is not switched from imageable mode to standby mode, according to patient age.
Hence, in this configuration example 6, too, as in the case of the above-described configuration example 5, imaging order information input to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used as event information about imaging. When the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determines, based on, for example, information on “age” P5 specified in each of pieces of past imaging order information which are input and saved in the storage unit 31 as described above and “age” P5 specified in imaging order information input at the present time (i.e., upon the current imaging), that “age” P5 specified in imaging order information corresponding to the current imaging is imaging performed by going through a state in which the power consumption mode is switched to standby mode, like the case indicating that the patient is an adult, the switching unit 22A switches the power consumption mode from imageable mode to standby mode. On the other hand, when the switching unit 22A determines that “age” P5 specified in imaging order information corresponding to imaging to be performed from now on is imaging performed in imageable mode without going through a state in which the power consumption mode is switched to standby mode, like the case indicating that the patient is an infant, the switching unit 22A does not switch the power consumption mode from imageable mode to standby mode, and imaging is performed with the power consumption mode remaining as imageable mode.
By such a configuration, the following is made possible. Specifically, there are a case in which the operator such as a radiation technologist performs imaging with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 remaining as imageable mode (the case of an infant) and a case in which the operator performs imaging such that after temporarily switching the power consumption mode to standby mode, the operator switches the power consumption mode back to imageable mode (in the case of an adult), according to the age of a patient to be imaged, i.e., whether the patient is an adult who can stay still or an infant who cannot stay still. The switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 accurately switches or does not switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, according to patient age. Hence, in the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, wasteful power consumption can be accurately suppressed in accordance with an operator (radiation technologist, etc.)'s actual usage state, etc.
Meanwhile, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 may be used for imaging by being mounted on the bucky apparatus 51 in the imaging room R1 as shown in
When imaging is performed using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 in the imaging room R1, positioning between the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 mounted on the bucky apparatus 51 and an imaging body part of a patient which is a subject can be relatively speedily performed and imaging can be relatively speedily performed. Thus, even if imaging is performed with the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 remaining as imageable mode (i.e., without switching the power consumption mode to power saving mode), the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 does not consume much power. On the other hand, when imaging is performed by, for example, bringing the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 into the hospital room R3 together with the ward round cart 60, it may take time to perform positioning between the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and an imaging body part of a patient. In such a case, if the power consumption mode remains as imageable mode, then the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 may consume a relatively large amount of power. Hence, when imaging is performed by bringing the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 together with the ward round cart 60, it is better to temporarily switch the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 to power saving mode.
When the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is brought into the imaging room R1 or when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is brought into the hospital room R3 together with the ward round cart 60, for example, identification information of the imaging room R1 or the ward round cart 60 is transmitted in advance to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from the console 58 associated with the imaging room R1 or the console 58 on the ward round cart 60, for example. Even when identification information of the imaging room R1 or the ward round cart 60, or the like, is not transmitted, at least, for example, identification information (an SSID or the like) of the access point 53 in the imaging room R1 (see
Hence, the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 collects the identification information of the imaging room R1 or the ward round cart 60 and the identification information of the access point 53, as event information about imaging (i.e., information about whether imaging is performed in the imaging room R1 or is performed using the ward round cart 60), or accepts input event information. Note that, when the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 collects event information in the form of identification information of the access point 53 or accepts an input of event information, the event information managing unit 22B determines, from the identification information of the access point 53 which is collected or whose input is accepted, identification information of the imaging room R1 or the ward round cart 60 associated with the identification information of the access point 53, and manages the determined identification information as the above-described event information. Namely, in this configuration example 7, the identification information of the imaging room R1 or the ward round cart 60 serves as event information about imaging.
Then, every time imaging is performed, the event information managing unit 22B saves in the storage unit 31 identification information of the imaging room R1 or the ward round cart 60 where the imaging is performed, as event information. Then, the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 analyzes imaging conditions in the pieces of event information saved in the storage unit 31. As a result, it can be seen that there is a tendency that, as described above, in the imaging room R1 imaging is relatively speedily performed after the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is mounted on the bucky apparatus 51; on the other hand, when imaging is performed by bringing the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 into the hospital room R3 together with the ward round cart 60, it takes time to perform positioning between the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and an imaging body part of a patient and thus it takes a relatively long time before imaging is performed.
Hence, as described above, at the time before imaging, the switching unit 22A collects or accepts an input of information about whether the imaging is performed in the imaging room R1 or is performed using the ward round cart 60. If it is determined that the imaging is performed using the ward round cart 60, based on past event information saved in the storage unit 31 and the above-described event information which is collected or whose input is accepted at the present time, the switching unit 22A temporarily switches the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from imageable mode to power saving mode. By such a configuration, when it takes time to perform positioning between the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and an imaging body part of a patient in imaging using the ward round cart 60, the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be automatically and temporarily switched from imageable mode to power saving mode, enabling to accurately suppress the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1.
Note that, when a plurality of imaging rooms R1 are provided or a plurality of ward round carts 60 are disposed in a facility such as a hospital, as described above, the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 collects or accepts an input of identification information of an imaging room R1 or award round cart 60 or an access point 53. By this, it can be known not only whether imaging is performed in the imaging room R1 or is performed using the ward round cart 60, but also in which imaging room R1 the imaging is performed or which ward round cart 60 is used for the imaging.
When, for example, a plurality of imaging rooms R1 are provided as shown in
Hence, the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can also be configured to determine, for each imaging room R1 or ward round cart 60 used for imaging, whether the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is temporarily switched from imageable mode to power saving mode upon imaging or imaging is performed with the power consumption mode remaining as imageable mode, based on pieces of past event information which are collected or whose inputs are accepted by the event information managing unit 22B and saved in the storage unit 31 and information on an imaging room R1 or a ward round cart 60 used for the current imaging. Note that, in
Meanwhile, the above-described configuration can be used for estimation as to whether a subsequent imaging schedule can be completed with the remaining voltage of the battery 24 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 (see
Then, the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determines, at all times or when the remaining amount of the voltage V of the battery 24 is less than or equal to a set threshold value, for example, and thus is small, whether the remaining imaging schedule can be completed with the voltage V of the battery 24 remaining at the present time, from past information on the voltage V of the battery 24 saved in the storage unit 31 and the information indicating that imaging has been performed. If it is determined that the remaining imaging schedule cannot be completed with the voltage V of the battery 24 remaining at the present time, such a fact is notified to a user by, for example, displaying it on the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 or the console 58, or allowing the indicator 28 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 (see
By such a configuration, before the remaining amount of the voltage V of the battery 24 is gone and accordingly the remaining imaging schedule becomes unable to be completed, the operator such as a radiation technologist can be accurately alerted to charge the battery 24 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. In according with the notification, the operator such as a radiation technologist can charge the battery 24 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 using changeover time between patients, break time, etc., enabling to accurately prevent the occurrence of an event where the remaining amount of the voltage V of the battery 24 is gone and accordingly the remaining imaging schedule cannot be completed.
Note that, when the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is configured as described above, it is also possible that, for example, information on the speed of charging (i.e., the rate of rise of the voltage V of the battery 24 per unit time) is collected every time the battery 24 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is charged and information indicating, for example, how long it takes to sufficiently charge the battery 24 to complete the remaining imaging schedule is also notified by display, for example, based on the remaining amount of the voltage V of the battery 24 at the present time. By such a configuration, the operator such as a radiation technologist can accurately complete the remaining imaging schedule by charging the battery 24 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 for at least the notified period of time.
Note that the above-described configuration examples 1 to 8 describe the case in which the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determines itself whether to perform imaging, based on the past event information saved in the storage unit 31 and event information which is collected or whose input is accepted at the present time, and if it is determined that imaging is not performed, the switching unit 22A switches the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from on to off or switches the power consumption mode of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from imageable mode to power saving mode. However, it is also possible that, instead of the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 making a determination, event information which is collected or whose input is accepted by the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is transmitted to the console 58 (see
Specifically, when event information which is collected or whose input is accepted by the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is transmitted to the console 58 or the management apparatus S, the console 58 or the management apparatus S saves the event information in the storage unit 59 (see
By such a configuration, as in the case of the above-described configuration examples 1 to 8, in the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, wasteful power consumption can be accurately suppressed in accordance with an operator (radiation technologist, etc.)'s actual usage state, etc. In addition, instead of performing the above-described information collection/input process, determination process, etc., by the switching unit 22A and the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 like the above-described configuration examples 1 to 8, the above-described determination process, etc., are performed by the entire radiographic imaging system 50 including the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, the console 58, etc. Hence, since the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 does not need to perform all of the above-described information collection/input process, determination process, etc., the power consumption of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be accordingly more accurately suppressed. Then, the processing load on the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 (the control unit 22 in the case of the present embodiment) can be further reduced.
As described above, according to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and the radiographic imaging system 50 according to the present embodiment, the switching unit 22A of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 determines whether to perform imaging, based on the past event information saved in the storage unit 31, 59, or Sa and event information which is collected or whose input is accepted by the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 at the present time. If it is determined that imaging is not performed, the switching unit 22A switches the power to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 from on to off or switches the power consumption mode from imageable mode to power saving mode. Thus, wasteful power consumption of the battery 24 of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be accurately suppressed in accordance with an operator (radiation technologist, etc.)'s actual usage state, etc.
Hence, the number of times imaging can be performed on a single charge of the battery 24 in the portable radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be increased, enabling to further improve the work efficiency of imaging in imaging using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. Therefore, the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 and the radiographic imaging system 50 including the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 are convenient to the operator such as a radiation technologist.
Note that in many cases how to use the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 varies depending on the operator such as a radiation technologist, i.e., the user. Hence, it is also possible that the above-described information collection/input process performed by the event information managing unit 22B and the above-described determination process as to whether to perform imaging, based on the past event information saved in the storage unit 31 and event information collected or input at the present time, which is performed by the switching unit 22A, are performed individually on a user-by-user basis, i.e., on an operator-by-operator basis, the user using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. In this case, for example, every time the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 is used, identification information such as a user ID assigned to each user is input to the radiographic imaging apparatus 1. Then, the event information managing unit 22B of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 adds the identification information about the user to event information which is collected or whose input is accepted, and saves the event information in the storage unit 31. Then, in a determination process performed by the switching unit 22A, the switching unit 22A performs the process based on only those pieces of event information having added thereto the identification information about the user using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 at the present time.
By such a configuration, the power on/off or power consumption mode switching of the radiographic imaging apparatus 1 can be appropriately performed on a user-by-user basis, the user using the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, according to, for example, the habit or expertise of the user or user preferences in regard to the procedure of imaging, etc. Thus, in the radiographic imaging apparatus 1, power consumption can be more accurately suppressed in accordance with the actual usage state for each operator such as a radiation technologist, etc.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrated and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-257552 | Dec 2013 | JP | national |
