US4137460A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiographic system
Assignee: FISCHER IMAGING Corp A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1976-06-17
•
Granted: 1979-01-30
•
Expires: 1996-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A radiographic system comprising an X-ray source disposed to direct an X-ray beam through an adjustable shutter aperture in an aligned collimator and onto an image receptor in a holder located at a preselected distance from the source; and automatic means for preventing an X-ray exposure until prescribed operating conditions have been satisfied, the automatic means including a readily interchangeable read-only-memory module for storing the prescribed conditions therein and ascertaining whether or not the prescribed conditions have been met.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Fitzsimmons
- 👤 Vincent Berluti, Jr.
- 👤 Howard G. Wagner
- 👤 Jonathan S. Shapiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:57
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A radiographic system comprising means for directing an X-ray beam from a source through an adjustable shutter aperture in an aligned collimator and onto an image receptor located at a preselected distance from the source; and automatic means connected to the source, the collimator, and the image receptor for ensuring that the cross-sectional size of the X-ray beam conforms to the size of the image receptor at the selected distance from the source, the automatic means including; a read-only memory module disposed to receive electrical signals indicative of operating parameters and programmed to produce a desired output signal upon receipt of a prescribed series of operating parameters, the module comprising an interchangeable semiconductor integrated circuit device; receptor detector means disposed for engagement with the image receptor and electrically connected to the memory module for producing electrical signals indicative of the image receptor in position to receive the X-ray beam; and orientation detector means connected to the collimator and electrically connected to the memory module for producing electrical signals indicative of the orientation of the shutter aperture with respect to the image receptor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A radiographic system comprising means for directing an X-ray beam from a source through an adjustable shutter aperture in an aligned collimator and onto an image receptor located at a preselected distance from the source; and automatic means connected to the source, the collimator, and the image receptor for ensuring that the cross-sectional size of the X-ray beam conforms to the size of the image receptor at the selected distance from the source, the automatic means including; a read-only memory module disposed to receive electrical signals indicative of operating parameters and programmed to produce a desired output signal upon receipt of a prescribed series of operating parameters, the module comprising an interchangeable semiconductor integrated circuit device; receptor detector means disposed for engagement with the image receptor and electrically connected to the memory module for producing electrical signals indicative of the image receptor in position to receive the X-ray beam; and orientation detector means connected to the collimator and electrically connected to the memory module for producing electrical signals indicative of the orientation of the shutter aperture with respect to the image receptor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the automatic means includes source-to-image distance detector means disposed for connection with the source and electrically connected to the memory means for producing electrical signals indicative of the source-to-image receptor distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the automatic means includes digital shutter aperture size sensing means connected to the shutter aperture defining means for producing electrical signals indicative of a defining dimension of the shutter aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the read-only memory module is programmed to signal a required positive imitation of the beam in response to signals produced by the receptor detector means and the orientation detector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the automatic means includes digital receptor size sensing means disposed for engagement with the receptor for producing electrical signals indicative of a size defining dimension of the image receptor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the automatic means includes digital signal comparing means connected to the receptor size sensing means and to the shutter aperture size sensing means for comparing the dimension defining electrical signals from the receptor size sensing means with corresponding dimension defining electrical signals from the shutter aperture size sensing means and producing electrical output signals indicative of any difference therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the automatic means includes multiplexing means connected between the electrical comparing means and the receptor size sensing means, and between the electrical comparing means and the shutter aperture size sensing means for routing respective corresponding receptor size and shutter aperture size digital signals to the electrical comparing means in a predetermined manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the receptor size sensing means and the shutter size sensing means include respective cumulative digital means for sensing said sizes and other respective sizes of lesser magnitudes; and the digital comparing means includes a progressive magnitude comparator means for comparing the cumulative receptor size signals with the cumulative shutter size signals and producing a binary-coded output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the automatic means includes logic gating means electrically connected between the output of the electrical comparing means and an output of the memory module for ensuring that the shutter aperture is adjusted in the closing direction in order to have the associated shutter aperture size signal in the electrical comparing means equal to the corresponding receptor size signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A radiographic system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the logic gating means includes a flip-flop device having a clock input terminal connected electrically to the source-to-image detector means and receptor size sensing means, and having a clear input terminal electrically connected to the output of signal comparing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3581094A
Cited
US3764808A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-01-29 | 1982-07-31 | 1983-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-29 | 1986-07-31 | 1987-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-29 | 1990-07-31 | 1991-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |