# US 11,432,788 B2 · Control system and radiographic imaging system

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- Number: US 11,432,788 B2
- Document ID: US11432788B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/078,487
- Filed: 2020-10-23
- Published: 2021-02-25
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-09
- Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc.
- Inventors: Kohei Isogai; Hidetake Tezuka; Nobuyuki Miyake; Kentaro Hara; Masahiro Kuwata; Koji Kashima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432788B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/54: {Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis}
- G01T 1/1663: {Processing methods of scan data, e.g. involving contrast enhancement, background reduction, smoothing, motion correction, dual radio-isotope scanning, computer processing (for measuring spatial distribution of radiation G01T1/2992; general purpose image data processing G06T1/00; computerized tomography G06T12/00); Ancillary equipment}
- A61B 6/42: Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
- A61B 6/4208: {characterised by using a particular type of detector}
- A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors}
- A61B 6/44: {Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis}
- A61B 6/4405: {the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley}
- A61B 6/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display}
- A61B 6/486: {involving generating temporal series of image data}
- A61B 6/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings}
- G01T 1/17: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular type of detector {(pulse-selection circuits H03K, G01R)}
- G01T 7/00: Details of radiation-measuring instruments
- G03B 42/02: using X-rays
- H05G 1/38: Exposure time {(time switches in general H01H43/00 and subgroups)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00)
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H05G: X-RAY TECHNIQUE (investigating or analysing materials by the use of X-rays G01N23/00; apparatus for X-ray photography G03B42/02; X-ray tubes H01J35/00; TV systems having X-ray input H04N5/321)

## Abstract

A control system includes a radiation emission apparatus and a radiographic imaging apparatus that generates image data by receiving radiation A first apparatus of the radiation emission apparatus and the radiographic imaging apparatus includes a first timer that performs time measurement to periodically generate first time measurement information. A second apparatus of the radiation emission apparatus and the radiographic imaging apparatus includes a second timer that performs time measurement to periodically generate second time measurement information. The first apparatus includes an interface that transmits the first time measurement information to the second timer. At least one apparatus includes a hardware processor which adjusts the operation of the first or second timer based on adjustment conditions in a state where the second timer does not acquire the first time measurement information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control system, comprising:
an x-ray radiation emission apparatus that generates x-ray radiation; and
a radiographic imaging apparatus that generates image data by receiving x-ray radiation,
wherein
a first apparatus of the x-ray radiation emission apparatus and the radiographic imaging apparatus includes a first timer that performs time measurement in conjunction with the first apparatus to periodically generate first time measurement information,
a second apparatus of the x-ray radiation emission apparatus and the radiographic imaging apparatus includes a second timer that performs time measurement in conjunction with the second apparatus to periodically generate second time measurement information, and
at least one apparatus of the x-ray radiation emission apparatus and the radiographic imaging apparatus comprises:
a hardware processor that notifies an abnormality of the first or second timer provided in the at least one apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor notifies the abnormality of the first timer or the second timer after ending the imaging.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor measures the accuracy of the first timer or the second timer to check whether or not there is the abnormality.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor adjusts the operation of the first timer or the second timer provided in the at least one apparatus.

### Claim 5

A radiographic imaging control method, comprising:
performing time measurement with a first timer in conjunction with an x-ray radiation emission apparatus to periodically generate first time measurement information,
performing time measurement with a second timer in conjunction with a radiographic imaging apparatus to periodically generate second time measurement information,
determining a difference between frequencies of the first timer and the second timer, and
notifying an abnormality of the first timer or the second timer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The radiographic imaging control method of claim 5, wherein the step of notifying is performed by at least one apparatus of the hardware processor of the x-ray radiation emission apparatus and the radiographic imaging apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The radiographic imaging control method of claim 5, further comprising setting an adjustment of one of the first timer and the second timer based on the difference between the frequencies of the first timer and the second timer.