Radiation image information capturing apparatus and method of detecting temperature of amplifier thereof

Abstract

Amplifiers are mounted on flexible boards connected to a solid-state detector. A first temperature adjustment member is disposed near one of the surfaces of the amplifiers and the flexible boards, and a second temperature adjustment member is disposed near the other surface of the flexible boards. The first temperature adjustment member adjusts the temperature of the amplifiers themselves, and prevents heat from being transferred from the one of the surfaces of the flexible boards to the solid-state detector. The second temperature adjustment member prevents heat from being transferred from the other surface of the flexible boards to the solid-state detector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mammographic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view, partly in cross section, showing internal structural details of an image capturing base of the mammographic apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a solid-state detector and temperature adjustment members in the image capturing base;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the solid-state detector and the temperature adjustment members;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the solid-state detector and the temperature adjustment members;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the mammographic apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mammographic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional side elevational view of a casing and a heat exchanger of an image capturing base of the mammographic apparatus shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side elevational view showing a circulation passage combined with the casing and the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control circuit housed in the casing;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control circuit housed in an image capturing base of a mammographic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional side elevational view of an image capturing base of a mammographic apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a radiation image capturing apparatus according to the conventional art 1; and

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a radiation image capturing apparatus according to the conventional art 3.

Claims

1. A radiation image information capturing apparatus for reading the radiation image information of a subject by converting the radiation image information into an electric signal, comprising: a converter for converting the radiation image information of the subject into the electric signal;an amplifier connected to said converter by a signal line for amplifying the electric signal produced by said converter;a first temperature adjustment member disposed near one surface of said amplifier and said signal line; anda second temperature adjustment member disposed near another surface of said signal line.

2. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first temperature adjustment member or said second temperature adjustment member has a holder for holding said converter.

3. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said holder comprises a temperature adjustment member upper surface for directly holding an end of said converter.

4. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first temperature adjustment member or said second temperature adjustment member comprises a Peltier device.

5. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal line comprises a flexible board.

6. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of said amplifier.

7. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said temperature detector comprises a plurality of thermistors each of which is disposed on each side of said amplifier.

8. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said amplifier and said signal line are controlled in a temperature range from 20° C. to 40° C. by said first temperature adjustment member and said second temperature adjustment member.

9. A radiation image information capturing apparatus for reading the radiation image information of a subject by converting the radiation image information into an electric signal, comprising: a casing housing therein a converter for converting the radiation image information of the subject into the electric signal, an amplifier for amplifying the electric signal produced by said converter, a signal processor for processing the amplified electric signal, and a device power supply unit for supplying a power supply voltage at least to said converter;a control power supply unit disposed outside said casing;said casing having a space defined therein which is essentially closed from outside of said casing; anda heat exchanger supported on said casing for adjusting the temperature of air in said space through heat exchange with a heat medium outside said casing.

10. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a temperature measuring unit disposed in said casing for detecting the temperature in said space.

11. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the temperature in said space is controlled in a temperature range from 20° C. to 40° C.

12. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a Peltier device.

13. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said heat exchanger performs a heat exchange between air in said space and external air outside said casing.

14. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said heat exchanger performs heat exchange between air in said space and said casing.

15. A radiation image information capturing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a temperature adjuster disposed in said casing for adjusting the temperature of at least said amplifier.

16. A radiation image information capturing apparatus - according to claim 9, further comprising: a heat insulating member disposed on an inner wall surface or an outer wall surface of said casing in enclosing relation to said space.

17. A method of detecting the temperature of an amplifier in a radiation image information capturing apparatus in which a converter for converting the radiation image information of a subject into an electric signal is connected by a signal line to the amplifier for amplifying the electric signal produced by said converter, comprising the steps of: detecting temperatures respectively with first temperature detecting means disposed on one side of said amplifier and second temperature detecting means disposed on another side of said amplifier; andsetting (θj+θj+1)/2 as the temperature of said amplifier where θj represents the temperature detected by said first temperature detecting means and θj+1 represents the temperature detected by said second temperature detecting means.