Medical diagnostic imaging system with power conserving control apparatus
First Claim
1. Control apparatus for a medical diagnostic imaging system, wherein said imaging system has a powered-up mode and comprises a power storage device and a number of sub-systems, each of said sub-systems disposed to draw power from said storage device to perform an associated task when a control signal corresponding to the task is generated, a given one of said sub-systems including specified components disposed to receive power from said storage device when said imaging system is in said powered-up mode, even in the absence of a control signal corresponding to the associated task of said given sub-system, and wherein said control apparatus comprises:
- entry means for enabling an operator to generate input commands, at least some of said commands respectively causing said corresponding control signals to be generated;
system control means responsive to said input commands for selectively connecting said storage device to and disconnecting said storage device from respective sub-systems;
sleep mode means included in said system control means for disconnecting a sub-set of said specified components from said storage device at the end of a first time period, if said imaging system is in said powered-up mode and no command is received by said system control means during said first time period; and
power shut-off means included in said system control for taking said imaging system out of said powered-up mode after disconnection of said component sub-set from said storage device, if no command is received by said system control means prior to the end of a second time period which follows said first time period.
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Abstract
Control apparatus is provided for a medical diagnostic imaging system, such as a mobile X-ray unit. The imaging system includes a battery or like power storage device of limited capacity, and a number of components disposed to perform respective corresponding functions. The control apparatus includes a user interface for enabling an operator to generate commands which selectively direct the components to perform their respective corresponding functions. The control apparatus further includes a system control means, comprising a controller and set of control circuits, for initially placing the imaging system in a powered-up mode, wherein each component is coupled to receive power from the battery. A sleep mode activation device is included in the system control for decoupling a first set of components from the battery, while allowing a second set of components to remain coupled thereto, following a first time period during which no command is generated by the user interface. Each component of the second set performs a function which is required to enable the system control to recognize that a command has been generated.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Control apparatus for a medical diagnostic imaging system, wherein said imaging system has a powered-up mode and comprises a power storage device and a number of sub-systems, each of said sub-systems disposed to draw power from said storage device to perform an associated task when a control signal corresponding to the task is generated, a given one of said sub-systems including specified components disposed to receive power from said storage device when said imaging system is in said powered-up mode, even in the absence of a control signal corresponding to the associated task of said given sub-system, and wherein said control apparatus comprises:
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entry means for enabling an operator to generate input commands, at least some of said commands respectively causing said corresponding control signals to be generated; system control means responsive to said input commands for selectively connecting said storage device to and disconnecting said storage device from respective sub-systems; sleep mode means included in said system control means for disconnecting a sub-set of said specified components from said storage device at the end of a first time period, if said imaging system is in said powered-up mode and no command is received by said system control means during said first time period; and power shut-off means included in said system control for taking said imaging system out of said powered-up mode after disconnection of said component sub-set from said storage device, if no command is received by said system control means prior to the end of a second time period which follows said first time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Control apparatus for a medical diagnostic imaging system, wherein said imaging system comprises a power storage device and a number of components disposed to perform functions respectively corresponding thereto, said control apparatus comprising:
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entry means for generating commands to selectively direct said components to perform their respectively corresponding functions; system control means for initially coupling each of said components to receive power from said storage device; sleep mode means included in said system control means for decoupling a first set of said components from said storage device, while allowing a second set of said components to remain coupled to said storage device, following a first time period during which no command is generated by said entry means, wherein each component of said second set performs a function which is required to enable said system control means to recognize that a command has been generated by said entry means; and means included in said system control means for decoupling said second set of components from said storage device if no command is generated by said entry means prior to the end of a second time period following said first time period. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification