Portable digital detector system

• US 7,298,825 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kump, Kenneth S., Omernick, Jon C., Zaman, Sabih Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US11/164,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20070116180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 378189-190, 378115-117, 378/102, 378/207, 378/204, 378/210, 378/98.8
• US Class Current: 378/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4411 the apparatus being modular A61B6/4283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device

Abstract

A detector for a portable imaging system includes a flash memory including a full set of configuration parameters and calibration files. The detector also includes a transmit and receive unit for communicating with the portable imaging system. The detector still further includes a detector controller responding to a request for identification of the detector received through the transmit and receive unit. The detector transmits calibration data and configuration data from the flash memory to the portable imaging system and boots the detector.

Claims

1. A detector for a portable imaging system comprising:

a flash memory comprising a full set of calibration data and configuration data;

a transmit and receive unit for communicating with the portable imaging system; and

a detector controller responding to a request for identification of said detector received through said transmit and receive unit and transmitting calibration data and configuration data from said flash memory to the portable imaging system and booting the detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmit and receive unit comprises at least one of a wireless unit or an electrical connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said detector controller comprises detector serial number data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said detector controller comprises detector Media Access Control (MAC) address data.

5. A method for auto-configuring an imaging system having a portable detector and an imaging computer, the method comprising:

installing the portable detector in the imaging system;

the imaging system checking the detector for identification information;

the imaging system requesting calibration and configuration data from the detector in response to a difference between imaging system identification information for the detector and detector identification information; and

loading detector calibration and configuration data from the detector to the imaging system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of installing comprises the detector communicating wirelessly with the imaging system.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising booting the detector and the imaging system as a function of said detector calibration and configuration data.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein loading detector calibration and configuration data further comprises loading detector model information.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising in response to a calibration requirement occurring during imaging system operation, transmitting new calibration data to the detector.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein loading detector calibration and configuration data comprises uploading a full set of configuration parameters and calibration files based on at least one of a MAC address and a serial number on an image system boot after the detector is installed.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the imaging system completing a boot in response to consistency between said imaging system identification information for the detector and said detector identification information.

12. A portable scanning system comprising:

an x-ray source coupled to an imaging computer and adapted to generate an x-ray exposure in response to imaging computer signals;

a detector comprising a memory loaded with configuration parameters and calibration files, said detector communicating with said imaging computer and adapted to receive said x-ray exposure and generate therefrom a detector signal; and

an imaging computer comprising logic checking for at least one of a serial number and MAC address from said detector, in response to said at least one of said serial number and said MAC address not found in said imaging computer, said imaging computer receiving data from said detector configuring and calibrating said imaging computer such that said imaging computer recognizes said detector and operates with said detector.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said memory of said detector comprises a flash memory loaded.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said flash memory is preloaded by a vendor.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a wireless communication system for transmitting data between said detector and said imaging computer.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said memory further comprises detector model information.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said imaging computer comprises logic activating in response to a calibration requirement occurring during system operation and transmitting new calibration data to said detector.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein data on said detector refreshes in response to said new calibration data.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said detector further comprises a detector controller responding to a request for identification of said detector by sending requested identification data.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said detector and said imaging computer boot as a function of said imaging computer recognizing said detector.