# US 10,765,397 B2 · Radiographic imaging system, radiographic imaging apparatus, battery charger, and method of inspecting waterproof performance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,397 B2 - Document ID: US10765397B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/277,742 - Filed: 2019-02-15 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-19 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Tomonori Komasaka; Ikuma Ota - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765397B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors} - A61B 6/586: {Detection of faults or malfunction of the device} - A61B 6/4283: {characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette} - A61B 6/4488: {Means for cooling (A61B6/045 takes precedence)} - A61B 6/54: {Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis} - A61B 6/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings} - G05D 16/2066: {using controlling means acting on the pressure source} - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H02J 2105/46: Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A radiographic imaging apparatus including a radiation detecting element that detects radiation with which a subject is irradiated and a casing that houses a battery, the casing being provided with a vent hole that circulates internal and external air, the radiographic imaging apparatus comprising: an air pressure measurer that measures an internal air pressure of the casing; a hardware processor that inspects, after the internal air pressure of the casing changes due to operation of pressure, waterproof performance of the radiographic imaging apparatus on a basis of a changing aspect of the internal air pressure due to termination of the operation of the pressure, and a flow rate regulator that reduces a flow rate of the air through the vent hole in a case where the battery is charged. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radiographic imaging system, comprising: a radiographic imaging apparatus including a casing that houses a radiation detecting element that detects radiation with which a subject is irradiated and a battery, the casing being provided with a vent hole that circulates internal and external air; and a battery charger to which the radiographic imaging apparatus is to be attached and which charges the battery, wherein the radiographic imaging apparatus includes: an air pressure measurer that measures an internal air pressure of the casing, and a hardware processor that inspects, after the internal air pressure of the casing changes due to operation of pressure, waterproof performance of the radiographic imaging apparatus based on a changing aspect of the internal air pressure due to termination of the operation of the pressure, and wherein at least one of the radiographic imaging apparatus and the battery charger includes a flow rate regulator that reduces a flow rate of the air through the vent hole in a case where the radiographic imaging apparatus is attached to the battery charger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor inspects the waterproof performance of the radiographic imaging apparatus based on a manner of changing of the internal air pressure measured by the air pressure measurer to return to atmospheric pressure after the internal air pressure of the casing is operated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate regulator includes an opening degree control member that operates to control an opening degree of the vent hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the flow rate regulator includes a hardware processor that controls a position of the opening degree control member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the hardware processor controls the position of the opening degree control member to decrease the opening degree of the vent hole in a case where the casing is attached to the battery charger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the hardware processor controls the position of the opening degree control member to increase the opening degree of the vent hole after the waterproof performance is inspected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the opening degree control member is provided in the casing of the radiographic imaging apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 3, wherein: the battery charger includes the opening degree control member, a holder that holds the casing of the radiographic imaging apparatus, and a power supplier that supplies charging power to the battery in a state where the casing is held by the holder, and the opening degree control member is configured to decrease the opening degree of the vent hole in a state where the casing is held by the holder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 3, wherein: a plurality of the vent holes are provided in the casing, and the opening degree control member is configured to operate the opening degree of at least one one of the vent holes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the radiographic imaging apparatus includes an air pressure operator that operates the internal air pressure of the casing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the air pressure operator includes a heat source that heats air inside the casing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 11, wherein the heat source is an electronic component to which current is applied as the battery is charged. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The radiographic imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the air pressure operator includes a weight applicator in which a part of the casing is elastically deformed by a load being applied from an outside of the casing. ### Claim 14 A radiographic imaging apparatus including a casing that houses a radiation detecting element that detects radiation with which a subject is irradiated and a battery, the casing being provided with a vent hole that circulates internal and external air, and the radiographic imaging apparatus comprising: an air pressure measurer that measures an internal air pressure of the casing; a hardware processor that inspects, after the internal air pressure of the casing changes due to operation of pressure, waterproof performance of the radiographic imaging apparatus based on a changing aspect of the internal air pressure due to termination of the operation of the pressure, and a flow rate regulator that reduces a flow rate of the air through the vent hole in a case where the battery is charged. ### Claim 15 A battery charger provided in a radiographic imaging apparatus including a casing that houses a radiation detecting element that detects radiation with which a subject is irradiated and a battery, the casing being provided with a vent hole that circulates internal and external air, the battery charger charging the battery, and the battery charger comprising: a holder that holds the casing of the radiographic imaging apparatus; and a flow rate regulator that reduces a flow rate of the air through the vent hole in a state where the casing is held. ### Claim 16 A method of inspecting waterproof performance of a radiographic imaging apparatus including a casing that houses a radiation detecting element that detects radiation with which a subject is irradiated and a battery, the casing being provided with a vent hole that circulates internal and external air, and the method comprising: operating, in a case where the battery is charged, an internal air pressure of the casing in a state where a flow rate of the air through the vent hole is decreased by a flow rate regulator; measuring the internal air pressure after the operating; and inspecting the waterproof performance of the casing based on a changing aspect of the measured internal air pressure.