Radiation imaging system and relay station selection method

• US 8,401,150 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US12/912,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20110108732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/98.8, 378114-116, 250/370.08, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 378/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4464 the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/17 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular type of detector pulse-selection circuits H03K, G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/175 Power supply circuits

Abstract

This invention includes a radiation detector to detect the radiation transmitted through an object while being in a portable state or mounted on a detector holder, a control unit to control capturing of a radiographic image using the radiation detector, and a plurality of relay stations to relay wireless communication from the radiation detector. The detector holder includes a detection unit to detect the mounting of the radiation detector. The control unit determines the usage pattern of the radiation detector or the mounting of the radiation detector on a detector holder based on detection information from the detection unit or a connection request from the radiation detector, and selects one of the relay stations based on the determination result.

Claims

1. A radiation imaging system comprising:

a radiation detector configured to detect radiation transmitted through an object while being in one of a portable state and a mounted state on a detector holder;

a control unit configured to control capturing of a radiographic image using said radiation detector; and

a plurality of relay stations configured to relay wireless communication from said radiation detector,

the detector holder comprising a detection unit configured to detect mounting of said radiation detector, and

said control unit comprising;

a determination unit configured to determine one of a usage pattern of said radiation detector and mounting of said radiation detector on a detector holder based on one of detection information from said detection unit and a connection request from said radiation detector, and

a selection unit configured to select one of the relay stations based on a determination result by said determination unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein if said determination unit determines the mounting of said radiation detector, said selection unit selects a relay station provided inside the detector holder on which said radiation detector is mounted.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein if said determination unit determines that said radiation detector is used in a portable state, said selection unit selects a relay station provided outside the detector holder.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit further comprises

a storage unit configured to store setting information associating one of a usage pattern of said radiation detector and a detector holder on which said radiation detector is mounted, relay station candidates, and communication settings, and

a communication setting unit configured to perform communication setting based on the setting information stored by said storage unit,

said selection unit decides the candidate relay stations based on a determination result by said determination unit and setting information stored by said storage unit, and selects one of the relay stations based on communication intensity between each the candidate relay stations and said radiation detector, and

said communication setting unit sets a communication setting corresponding to the relay station selected by said selection unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said radiation detector comprises

a radiation detector side determination unit configured to determine one of a usage pattern of said radiation detector and mounting of said radiation detector on a detector holder, and

a radiation detector side relay station selection unit configured to select one of the relay stations based on a determination result by said radiation detector side determination unit.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said radiation detector comprises

a radiation detector side storage unit configured to store setting information associating one of a usage pattern of said radiation detector and a detector holder on which said radiation detector is mounted, a relay station, and a communication setting, and

a radiation detector side communication setting unit configured to perform communication setting corresponding to a relay station selected by said radiation detector side relay station selection unit based on the setting information stored by said radiation detector side storage unit.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein housing units provided in the detector holders to mount said radiation detector include protrusions respectively having different shapes,

said radiation detector includes a plurality of switches to be pressed by a corresponding one of the protrusions when said radiation detector is housed in said housing unit, and

said radiation detector side determination unit determines one of a usage pattern of said radiation detector and a detector holder on which said radiation detector is mounted, based on a pressed state of one of the switches.

8. A control apparatus which controls capturing of a radiographic image using a radiation detector configured to detect radiation transmitted through an object while being in a portable state or mounted on a detector holder, said apparatus comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine one of a usage pattern of said radiation detector and mounting of said radiation detector on a detector holder based on one of information from the detector holder and a connection request from said radiation detector; and

a selection unit configured to select a relay station, from a plurality of relay stations, which relays wireless communication from said radiation detector, based on a determination result by said determination unit.

9. A radiation detector which detects radiation transmitted through an object while being in one of a portable state and a mounted state on a detector holder, said detector comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine one of a usage pattern of the radiation detector and mounting of the radiation detector on a detector holder; and

a selection unit configured to select a relay station, from a plurality of relay stations, based on a determination result by said determination unit.

10. The detector according to claim 9, further comprising a setting unit configured to set a communication setting corresponding to a relay station selected by said selection unit.

11. The detector according to claim 9, wherein if said determination unit determines the mounting of said detector holder, said selection unit selects a relay station corresponding to the detector holder on which said radiation detector is mounted.

12. The detector according to claim 9, wherein if said determination unit determines that the radiation detector is used in a portable state, said selection unit selects a relay station provided for use of the radiation detector in a portable state.

13. A relay station selection method in a radiation imaging system comprising a radiation detector configured to detect radiation transmitted through an object while being in one of a portable state and a mounted state on a detector holder, a control unit configured to control capturing of a radiographic image using the radiation detector, and a plurality of relay stations configured to relay wireless communication from the radiation detector, the method comprising:

determining one of a usage pattern of the radiation detector and mounting of the radiation detector on a detector holder based on one of detection information indicating mounting of the radiation detector and a connection request from the radiation detector; and

selecting one of the relay stations based on the determination result, and

selecting one of the relay stations based on the determination result.

14. A control apparatus in a radiation imaging system which communicates wirelessly a radiographic image detected by a radiation detector via a relay station, comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine a usage pattern of the radiation detector, and

a selection unit configured to select the relay station for using the wireless communication, based on a determination result by the determination unit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the determination unit determines the usage pattern based on installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the determination unit determines the usage pattern based on information transmitted by the radiation detector.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the determination unit determines the usage pattern based on information transmitted by a detector holder which installed the radiation detector.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the determination unit determines that the usage pattern is a portable usage.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the determination unit determines that the usage pattern is a usage of the radiation detector installed on a detector holder.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with the radiation detector via the selected relay station, based on a communication setting corresponding to the selected relay station.

21. A control apparatus in a radiation imaging system which communicates a radiographic image captured by a radiation detector via a relay station, comprising:

a detecting unit configured to detect installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder, and

a selection unit configured to select the relay station for using the wireless communication, based on the detector holder on which is installed the radiation detector.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the detecting unit detects the installation of radiation detector, based on a signal transmitted by the radiation detector.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the detecting unit detects the installation of radiation detector, based on a signal transmitted by the detector holder which installed the radiation detector.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with the radiation detector via the selected relay station, based on a communication setting corresponding to the selected relay station.

25. A radiation detector which communicates a detected radiographic image via a relay station, comprising:

a detect unit configured to detect a usage pattern of the radiation detector, and

a selection unit configured to select the relay station based on a detection result by said detect unit.

26. The detector according to claim 25, wherein the detect unit detects the usage pattern based on a detector holder installed in the radiation detector.

27. The detector according to claim 25, further comprising a setting unit configured to set a communication setting corresponding to the selected relay station.

28. The detector according to claim 25, wherein the selection unit selects the relay station corresponding to a detector holder which is installed in the radiation detector.

29. The detector according to claim 25, wherein if the usage pattern is a portable usage, the selection unit selects a relay station provided for use of the radiation detector in the portable usage.

30. The detector according to claim 25, wherein if the usage pattern is a usage of the radiation detector installed on a detector holder, the selection unit selects a relay station provided for use of the radiation detector in the usage.

31. A radiation detector which communicates a detected radiographic image via a relay station, comprising:

a detect unit configured to detect installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder, and

a selection unit configured to select the relay station based on the detector holder on which is installed the radiation detector.

32. The detector according to claim 31, further comprising a setting unit configured to set a communication setting corresponding to the selected relay station.

33. The detector according to claim 31, wherein the selection unit selects the relay station corresponding to the detector holder on which the radiation detector is installed.

34. A control method for a radiation imaging system which communicates wirelessly a radiographic image detected by a radiation detector via a relay station, the method comprising:

determining a usage pattern of the radiation detector, and

selecting the relay station for using the wireless communication, based on a result of the determining.

35. A control method for a radiation imaging system which communicates a radiographic image captured by a radiation detector via a relay station, the method comprising:

detecting installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder, and

selecting the relay station for using wireless communication, based on the detector holder on which is installed the radiation detector.

36. A method for a radiation detector which communicates a detected radiographic image via a relay station, the method comprising:

detecting a usage pattern of the radiation detector, and

selecting the relay station based on a result of the detecting.

37. A method for a radiation detector which communicates a detected radiographic image via a relay station, the method comprising:

detecting installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder, and

selecting the relay station based on the detector holder on which is installed the radiation detector.

38. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program having instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for a radiation imaging system which communicates wirelessly a radiographic image detected by a radiation detector via a relay station, the method comprising:

determining a usage pattern of the radiation detector, and

selecting the relay station for using wireless communication, based on a determination result by the determining.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program having instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for a radiation imaging system which communicates a radiographic image captured by a radiation detector via a relay station, the method comprising:

detecting installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder, and

selecting the relay station for using wireless communication, based on the detector holder on which the radiation detector is installed.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program having instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for a radiation detector which communicates a detected radiographic image via a relay station, the method comprising:

detecting a usage pattern of the radiation detector, and

selecting the relay station based on a result of the detecting.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program having instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for a radiation imaging system which communicates a radiographic image captured by a radiation detector via a relay station, the method comprising:

detecting installation of the radiation detector on a detector holder, and

selecting the relay station for using communication, based on the detector holder on which is installed the radiation detector.