Radiation image detecting device and method for controlling the same

• US 8,953,742 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US13/290,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20120114099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 378114-116, 378/62
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4021 involving movement of the focal spot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/30 for generating image signals from X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

An acceleration sensor is installed in an electronic cassette. The acceleration sensor detects a shake. When magnitude of the shake, measured using the acceleration sensor, is greater than or equal to a shake detection threshold value, a judging circuit of a shake detecting section turns off a switching element. An operation switching section is disconnected from an irradiation detecting section that detects a start of X-ray irradiation. Thus, an irradiation detection function of the irradiation detecting section is disabled. After a predetermined time, the judging circuit outputs an ON signal to the switching element to turn on the switching element. Thereby, the irradiation detecting section resumes the irradiation detection.

Claims

1. A radiation image detection device comprising:

a radiation image detector having a plurality of pixels arranged thereon, the radiation image detector performing accumulation operation, each pixel detecting radiation emitted from a radiation source to accumulate signal charge in the accumulation operation;

an irradiation sensor for detecting the radiation;

an irradiation detecting section for detecting a start of irradiation of the radiation based on a signal from the irradiation sensor;

a noise sensor; and

a control section for enabling or disabling the irradiation detecting section based on a signal from the noise sensor,

wherein the control section includes a noise detecting section for detecting magnitude of the signal from the noise sensor, and the noise detecting section outputs a first signal to the control section when the magnitude of the signal from the noise sensor is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and the control section disables the irradiation detecting section when the first signal is inputted from the noise detecting section, and

wherein the irradiation detecting section outputs a second signal to the control section when magnitude of the signal from the irradiation sensor is greater than or equal to a second threshold value, and the second signal represents the start of the irradiation of the radiation, and the control section enables the irradiation detecting section to allow the radiation image detector to perform the accumulation operation when the second signal is inputted to the control section from the irradiation detecting section and the first signal is not inputted to the control section from the noise detecting section.

2. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the control section disables the irradiation detecting section by disconnecting the control section from the irradiation detecting section.

3. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the control section disables the irradiation detecting section by controlling the irradiation detecting section not to output the second signal.

4. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the control section disables the irradiation detecting section by not receiving the second signal even if the second signal is inputted to the control section.

5. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the control section disables the irradiation detecting section after the first signal is outputted from the noise detecting section.

6. The radiation image detection device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time is a time necessary for a noise component in the signal from the irradiation sensor to decrease its magnitude to a negligible value.

7. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the noise sensor is a vibration sensor.

8. The radiation image detection device of claim 7, wherein the vibration sensor is an acceleration sensor.

9. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the irradiation sensor also serves as the radiation image detector.

10. The radiation image detection device of claim 9, wherein the at least one pixel positioned close to a center of the radiation image detector is used as the irradiation sensor.

11. The radiation image detection device of claim 9, wherein the control section allows the radiation image detector to perform an irradiation detection operation, and the irradiation detection operation includes the accumulation operation and a read-out operation repeated alternately for predetermined number of times, and the signal charge is converted into an electric signal and then the electric signal is outputted in the read-out operation.

12. The radiation image detection device of claim 1, wherein the radiation image detection device is an electronic cassette having the radiation image detector enclosed in a portable housing.

13. A method for controlling a radiation image detection device comprising the steps of:

detecting occurrence of a cause of noise based on a first signal from a noise sensor; and

disabling an irradiation detecting section when the first signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, the irradiation detecting section judging a start of irradiation of radiation based on a detection result of an irradiation sensor,

wherein the irradiation detecting section outputs a second signal when a magnitude of a signal from the irradiation sensor is greater than or equal to a second threshold value, and the second signal represents the start of irradiation of radiation, said method further comprising enabling the irradiation detecting section to allow a radiation image detector to perform an accumulation operation when the second signal is output from the irradiation detecting section and the first signal is not output from the noise sensor.