X-ray apparatus and x-ray detector

Abstract

An X-ray apparatus includes a control unit configured to acquire orientation information of an X-ray radiation unit and orientation information of X-ray detectors, select an X-ray detector among the X-ray detectors whose orientation information complements or matches the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit, and generate a control signal; and a communication unit configured to transmit, to the X-ray detector which has been selected, the control signal generated in the control unit so that the selected X-ray detector becomes paired with the X-ray radiation unit for an X-ray imaging of an object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An X-ray apparatus comprising:
 a main control unit configured to acquire orientation information of an X-ray radiation unit and orientation information of a plurality of X-ray detectors, select an X-ray detector among the plurality of X-ray detectors whose orientation information complements or matches the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit, and generate a control signal; and   a communication unit configured to transmit, to the X-ray detector which has been selected, the control signal generated in the main control unit so that the selected X-ray detector becomes paired with the X-ray radiation unit for an X-ray imaging of an object.   
     
     
         2 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is used to prepare the selected X-ray detector to receive X-rays from the X-ray radiation unit in the X-ray imaging of the object. 
     
     
         3 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is generated based on a user's input, and used to prepare the selected X-ray detector to receive X-rays from the X-ray radiation unit in the X-ray imaging of the object. 
     
     
         4 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main control unit is configured to further select another X-ray detector among the plurality of X-ray detectors based on the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit and corresponding orientation information of the another X-ray detector. 
     
     
         5 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an output unit configured to display information about at least one of the X-ray detector and the another X-ray detector that is selectable by a user; and   an input unit configured to receive a user's input configured to select one of the X-ray detector and the another X-ray detector from the information displayed on the output unit,   wherein the main control unit is configured to select one of the X-ray detector and the another X-ray detector, based on the user's input.   
     
     
         6 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the main control unit is configured to arrange the information about at least one of the X-ray detector and the another X-ray detector according to an arrangement criterion, and control the output unit to display the information arranged according to the arrangement criterion. 
     
     
         7 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to receive information related to orientation of the plurality of X-ray detectors, from the plurality of X-ray detectors, and
 the main control unit is configured to acquire the orientation information of the plurality of X-ray detectors, based on a reference orientation of the plurality of X-ray detectors and the received information.   
     
     
         8 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the reference orientation is set in response to coupling each of the plurality of X-ray detectors to a stand receptor or a table receptor. 
     
     
         9 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main control unit is configured to control orientation of the X-ray radiation unit, based on the orientation information of the plurality of X-ray detectors. 
     
     
         10 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit comprises position information of the X-ray radiation unit,
 the orientation information of the plurality of X-ray detectors comprises position information of the plurality of X-ray detectors, and   the main control unit is configured to select the X-ray detector from the plurality of X-ray detectors, in response to a difference between the position information of the X-ray radiation unit and the position information of the X-ray detector being within a predetermined range.   
     
     
         11 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the position information of the X-ray radiation unit comprises a first position vector in a global coordinate system expressed as an inertial frame in which an arbitrary location within an X-ray imaging space is designated as an origin,
 the position information of the X-ray detector comprises a second position vector in the global coordinate system, and   the main control unit is configured to select the X-ray detector based on a relative vector, which is a difference between the first position vector and the second position vector, being within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         12 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit comprises directional orientation of the X-ray radiation unit and the orientation information of the plurality of X-ray detectors comprises directional orientation of the plurality of X-ray detectors, and
 the main control unit is configured to select the X-ray detector from the plurality of X-ray detectors, in response to a difference between the directional orientation of the X-ray radiation unit of the X-ray radiation unit and the directional orientation of the X-ray detector, which indicates a facing direction toward the X-ray radiation unit, being within a predetermined range.   
     
     
         13 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the directional orientation of the X-ray radiation unit comprises a first normal vector on a surface of the X-ray radiation unit,
 the directional orientation of the X-ray detector comprises a second normal vector perpendicular to a surface of the X-ray detector, and   the main control unit is configured to select the X-ray detector corresponding to the second normal vector in response a difference between angles of the first normal vector and the second normal vector being within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         14 . An X-ray detector comprising:
 a sensor configured to sense orientation of the X-ray detector;   an X-ray detecting unit configured to convert X-rays into electric signals used to generate an X-ray image;   a communication unit configured to transmit orientation information of the X-ray detector, which has been sensed by the sensor, to an X-ray apparatus; and   a control unit configured to receive a control signal from the X-ray apparatus for preparing the X-ray detector to receive the X-rays, after the orientation information has been transmitted to and received by the X-ray apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The X-ray detector of  claim 14 , which comprises a wireless X-ray detector. 
     
     
         16 . The X-ray detector of  claim 14 , wherein the orientation information of the X-ray detector is set in response to coupling the X-ray detector to a stand receptor or a table receptor. 
     
     
         17 . The X-ray detector of  claim 14 , wherein the control signal is generated based on a user's input. 
     
     
         18 . The X-ray detector of  claim 14 , wherein the control signal is generated based on orientation information of an X-ray radiation unit and the orientation information of the X-ray detector, and
 the X-ray radiation unit is controlled to emit the X-rays toward the X-ray detecting unit of the X-ray detector.   
     
     
         19 . The X-ray detector of  claim 18 , wherein the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit comprises position information of the X-ray radiation unit,
 the orientation information of the X-ray detector comprises position information of the X-ray detector, and   the control signal is generated in response to a difference between the position information of the X-ray radiation unit and the position information of the X-ray detector being within a predetermined range.   
     
     
         20 . The X-ray detector of  claim 19 , wherein the position information of the X-ray radiation unit comprises a first position vector in a global coordinate system expressed as an inertial frame in which an arbitrary location within an X-ray imaging space is designated as an origin,
 the position information of the X-ray detector comprises a second position vector in the global coordinate system, and   the control signal is generated based on a relative vector, which is a difference between the first position vector and the second position vector of the X-ray detector, being within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         21 . The X-ray detector of  claim 18 , wherein the orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit comprises directional orientation of the X-ray radiation unit and the orientation information of the X-ray detector comprises directional orientation of the X-ray detector, and
 the control signal is generated in response to a difference between the directional orientation of the X-ray radiation unit and the directional orientation of the X-ray detector, which indicates a facing direction toward the X-ray radiation unit, being within a predetermined range.   
     
     
         22 . The X-ray detector of  claim 21 , wherein the directional orientation of the X-ray radiation unit comprises a first normal vector on a surface of the X-ray radiation unit,
 the directional orientation of the X-ray detector comprises a second normal vector perpendicular to a surface of the X-ray detector, and   the control signal is generated in response to a difference between angles of the first normal vector and the second normal vector being within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         23 . An X-ray apparatus comprising:
 an X-ray radiation unit; and   a control unit configured to acquire first orientation information of the X-ray radiation unit and second orientation information from X-ray detectors, determine which X-ray detector of the X-ray detectors faces the X-ray radiation unit based on the first orientation information and the second orientation information, and pair the X-ray radiation unit with the X-ray detector, which is determined to face the X-ray radiation unit, for an X-ray imaging of an object.   
     
     
         24 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the second orientation information is received from the X-ray detectors that sense their own orientations as at least one of a moving direction, a moving angle, and a moving distance based on initial positional information. 
     
     
         25 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the X-ray detectors are configured to sense their own orientations with at least one of a gyroscope, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), an accelerometer, a GPS, and a magnetometer. 
     
     
         26 . The X-ray apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the initial positional information is determined in response to coupling the X-ray detectors to a stand receptor or a table receptor. 
     
     
         27 . An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
 an X-ray radiation unit configured to emit X-rays;   X-ray detectors configured to receive the X-rays; and   a processor which is programmed to:   identify the X-ray detectors located in an imaging space;   acquire positional information from the identified X-ray detectors;   determine an X-ray detector among the identified X-ray detectors, whose positional information is most matching with positional information of the X-ray radiation unit;   generate a control signal for the X-ray detector, whose positional information has been determined as most matching with the positional information of the X-ray radiation unit; and   prepare the determined X-ray detector to receive an X-ray from the X-ray radiation unit, in response to the control signal.   
     
     
         28 . The X-ray imaging apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each of the X-ray detectors comprises a sensor, and
 the processor is programmed to acquire the positional information from each of the identified X-ray detectors which senses its own orientation with a respective sensor, prior to selecting a particular X-ray detector for use with the X-ray radiation unit for an X-ray imaging of an object.