Mobile radiation imaging apparatus, method for controlling mobile radiation imaging apparatus, and storage medium

• US 9,668,707 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Tetsuo, Kato, Katsushi, Kobayashi, Kensuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): VALENTINER, JEREMY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US14/180,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20140264061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A mobile radiation imaging apparatus includes: an irradiation unit that emits radiation; a moving unit that moves with the irradiation unit; an imaging unit that takes an image of an object irradiated with radiation and is able to transmit the image via the wireless communication or the wired communication; an obtaining unit that obtains information indicating in which area the moving unit is located among a wired communication area, a wirelessly communicable area, and a switching area for switching between the wireless communication and the wired communication; and a control unit that switches the communication with the imaging unit depending on the obtained information.

Claims

1. A mobile radiation imaging apparatus comprising:

an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation;

a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus;

a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit; and

an imaging unit configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication,

wherein the main body comprises;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the imaging unit via the wireless communication;

an obtaining unit configured to obtain information by receiving a signal that is transmitted from a first external transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between a wireless prohibited area and a switching area located between the wireless prohibited area and a wireless communication area, and a signal that is transmitted from a second external transmitting unit that is different from the first transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between the wireless communication area and the switching area; and

an instructing unit configured to instruct an operator to switch between wired communication and wireless communication in a case in which the obtaining unit obtains information indicating that the mobile radiation imaging apparatus is at the switching area.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to switch the communication with the imaging unit depending on the obtained information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the image transmitted from the imaging unit via the wireless communication when the moving unit is located in the wireless communication area.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to restrict the wireless communication with the imaging unit when the moving unit is located in the wireless prohibited area.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit is configured to obtain the information indicating that the mobile radiation imaging apparatus is at the switching area located between the wireless communication area in which the wireless communication is possible between the imaging unit and the main body and the wireless prohibited area in which the wireless communication is possible between the imaging unit and the main body but the wireless communication is restricted.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect position information indicating a position of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus,

wherein the obtaining unit is configured to obtain the information by comparing the position information with map information indicating a layout of the areas in which the moving unit can move.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit configured to display a relative position of the moving unit in the areas in which the moving unit can move based on the result of the comparison between the position information and the map information.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the instructing unit is configured to instruct the operator to switch between the wireless communication and the wired communication by displaying, on the display unit, a message to switch between the wireless communication and the wired communication, or alerting the operator by sound to switch between the wireless communication and the wired communication.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to determine from the obtained information whether the moving unit is moving from the wireless prohibited area to the switching area or from the wireless communication area to the switching area, and to, in a case in which the moving unit is moving from the wireless communication area to the switching area, if the switching from the wireless communication to the wired communication is not performed, increase an operation load needed for the movement of the moving unit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit is configured to obtain information indicating that a position of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus is at the switching area for switching between the wireless communication area and the wireless prohibited area.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the instructing unit is configured to instruct an operator to switch from wireless communication to wired communication for the imaging unit in a case in which the obtaining unit obtains information indicating that the position of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus has moved from the wireless communication area to the wireless prohibited area via the switching area.

10. A method for controlling a mobile radiation imaging apparatus that includes an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation, a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus, a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit, an imaging unit configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and is capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication, and a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the imaging unit via the wireless communication, the method comprising:

a communicating step of communicating with the imaging unit using the wireless communication unit;

an obtaining step of obtaining information by receiving a signal that is transmitted from a first external transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between a wireless prohibited area and a switching area located between the wireless prohibited area and a wireless communication area, and a signal that is transmitted from a second external transmitting unit that is different from the first transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between the wireless communication area and the switching area; and

an instructing step of instructing an operator to switch between wired communication and wireless communication in a case in which, in the obtaining step, information has been obtained indicating that the mobile radiation imaging apparatus is at the switching area.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing therein computer executable instructions for causing a computer to execute the steps of the method for controlling a mobile radiation imaging apparatus that includes an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation, a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus, a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit, an imaging unit configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and is capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication, and a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the imaging unit via the wireless communication, the method comprising:

a communicating step of communicating with the imaging unit using the wireless communication unit;

an obtaining step of obtaining information by receiving a signal that is transmitted from a first external transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between a wireless prohibited area and a switching area located between the wireless prohibited area and a wireless communication area, and a signal that is transmitted from a second external transmitting unit that is different from the first transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between the wireless communication area and the switching area; and

an instructing step of instructing an operator to switch between wired communication and wireless communication in a case in which, in the obtaining step, information has been obtained indicating that the mobile radiation imaging apparatus is at the switching area.

12. A mobile radiation imaging apparatus comprising:

an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation;

a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus; and

a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit, and an imaging unit that is configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and that has a communication unit capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication,

wherein the main body comprises;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the communication unit arranged in the imaging unit; and

an obtaining unit configured to obtain information by receiving a signal that is transmitted from a first external transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between a wireless prohibited area and a switching area located between the wireless prohibited area and a wireless communication area, and a signal that is transmitted from a second external transmitting unit that is different from the first transmitting unit and indicates a boundary between the wireless communication area and the switching area.

15. A mobile radiation imaging apparatus comprising:

an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation;

a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus;

a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit; and

an imaging unit configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication,

wherein the main body comprises;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the imaging unit via the wireless communication; and

a control unit configured to determine from information whether the moving unit is moving from a wireless communication area to a switching area between the wireless communication area and a wireless prohibited area, and, in a case in which the moving unit is moving from the wireless communication area to the switching area, increase an operation load needed for the movement of the moving unit.

16. A method for controlling a mobile radiation imaging apparatus that includes an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation, a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus, a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit, an imaging unit configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and is capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication, and a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the imaging unit via the wireless communication, the method comprising:

a communicating step of communicating with the imaging unit using the wireless communication unit; and

a controlling step of determining from information whether the moving unit is moving from a wireless communication area to a switching area between the wireless communication area and a wireless prohibited area, and, in a case in which the moving unit is moving from the wireless communication area to the switching area, increasing an operation load needed for the movement of the moving unit.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing therein computer executable instructions for causing a computer to execute the steps of the method for controlling a mobile radiation imaging apparatus that includes an irradiation unit configured to emit radiation, a main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus, a moving unit configured to move the main body of the mobile radiation imaging apparatus with the irradiation unit, an imaging unit configured to take an image of an object irradiated with radiation and is capable of transmitting the image to the main body via wireless communication or wired communication, and a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with the imaging unit via the wireless communication, the method comprising:

a communicating step of communicating with the imaging unit using the wireless communication unit; and

a controlling step of determining from information whether the moving unit is moving from a wireless communication area to a switching area between the wireless communication area and a wireless prohibited area, and, in a case in which the moving unit is moving from the wireless communication area to the switching area, increasing an operation load needed for the movement of the moving unit.