METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPACT DETECTION OF AN IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20080022780A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Curtis, Steven E, Jensen, Vernon T
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/800
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00

Abstract

A system and method for detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event on an imaging system. The system comprises a main assembly, a support assembly coupled to the main assembly, and at least one sensor coupled to the imaging system. The at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system. The method comprises detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system and providing an indication to a user when a force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurs on the imaging system.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

a main assembly;

a support assembly coupled to the main assembly; and

at least one sensor coupled to the imaging system.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising at least one source and at least one detector.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is a mobile imaging system.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the main assembly includes wheels.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes roller bearings or wheels.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the main assembly and the support assembly include roller bearings or wheels.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is designed to detect force, impact, shock, or vibration events occurring on the imaging system.

8. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is designed to detect at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system that has a value above a predetermined threshold value.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is designed to provide an indication that a force, impact, shock, or vibration event has occurred on the imaging system.

10. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the indication is an acoustic indication.

11. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the indication is a visual indication.

12. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the indication is an acoustic indication and a visual indication.

13. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a sensor array.

14. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an attitude sensor to provide combined force and orientation information.

15. An imaging system comprising:

a main assembly;

a support assembly coupled to the main assembly;

at least one source;

at least one detector; and

at least one sensor coupled to the imaging system.

16. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the detector is a digital flat panel detector.

17. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the main assembly.

18. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the support assembly.

19. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the source.

20. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the detector.

21. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

a detection device for detecting a force, impact, shock, or vibration event; and

an indicator device for providing an indication to a user when an event occurs.

22. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a memory device for recording and storing data related to the event.

23. The imaging system of claim 22, wherein the memory device stores a predetermined threshold value for comparing to a value of the force, impact, shock, or vibration event.

24. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a processor for processing data related to the event.

25. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a transceiver device for receiving and transmitting data.

26. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is designed to detect force, position, orientation, direction and gravitational force.

27. A method of detecting at least one force on an imaging system, the method comprising:

detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system; and

providing an indication to a user when a force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurs on the imaging system.

28. A method of detecting at least one force on an imaging system, the method comprising:

detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system;

recording data related to the at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event; and

providing an indication to a user when a force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurs on the imaging system.

29. A method of detecting at least one force on an imaging system, the method comprising:

coupling at least one sensor to the imaging system;

detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event on the imaging system;

comparing a value of the at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event to a predetermined threshold value of the at least one sensor;

recording data related to the at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event; and

providing an indication to a user when the value of a force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system is greater than the predetermined threshold value.