JPH02205706A - Detecting-system supporting and driving mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make positioning quickly in a detecting system, to shorten a required measuring time and to improve measuring accuracy by providing a plurality of detectors corresponding to the measuring points of a material to be measured. CONSTITUTION:An environment device 2 housing a detector 11 is driven in order to compensate for the wall surface of the environment device which is commonly used and the solid-state difference in a material to be measured 4. The detector 11 and the material to be measured 4 are set in the predetermined positional relationship. At the normal time, an upper cover 7 has a free shape based on its own rigidity and compressed air 8. When the environment device 2 is driven, the material to be measured 4 comes to contact with the upper cover 7. When pressure is applied, and upper cover 7 is deflected, and a minute loop 10 of an optical fiber 9 undergoes microbending. This phenomenon causes the change in amount of light passing the optical fiber. Therefore, the achievement of positioning can be found. After the environment device 2 is moved with a driving device and the achievement of the positioning is confirmed with a detecting device 3, measurement is performed with the detector 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (A) Technical field This invention consists of a plurality of detectors and an environmental device necessary to realize and maintain an environment in which they operate, and The present invention relates to a device for detecting point information.

Here, a detector is a detector that requires some kind of special environment, such as being kept at low temperature, high pressure, or maintained at high temperature and low pressure.

For example, a quantum interference device (SQU) that requires a superconducting state
ID'), etc. This must be cooled, for example with liquid helium. If a high-21 oxide superelectric material can be used as the detector material, it can be cooled with liquid nitrogen.

A device for realizing and maintaining a special environment in this way is referred to as an environmental device here.

Assume that the object to be measured is a living body or the like and cannot be placed in this environment. Therefore, the object to be measured is outside the environmental device. Only the detector is in the environmental equipment.

Furthermore, there are multiple measurement points on the surface of the object to be measured, and it is desired to use multiple detectors at the same time to obtain information on all of the measurement points at once. This is the purpose of the device of the present invention.

(a) Prior Art The following conventional measuring devices have been used when a detector is located within an environmental device and an object to be measured is located outside the environmental device.

Conventional device I (a) The number of detectors is one, or a plurality of detectors are arranged in one place. There was actually one piece.

(b) An environmental device surrounds the detector.

(C) The environmental device containing the detector is a moving table or
Attached to a universal joint. In some cases, the object-to-be-measured mounting table is attached to a moving table.

(d) Prior to measurement, move the environmental device, adjust the relative positional relationship between the object to be measured and the environmental device, and make the detector face each measurement point of the object at a fixed distance and direction. .

(e) Perform measurements.

At another measurement point, perform (d) and perform the next measurement.

Such a device has already been produced as a practical device and is widely applied.

Conventional Apparatus II (a) A number of detectors corresponding to the measurement points of the object to be measured are prepared and arranged in a predetermined direction at the position to be measured. All the multiple detectors are independent. They can be moved independently and fixed independently.

(b) Cover the entire detection system with an environmental device.

(C) Bring the environmental device containing the detection system close to the object to be measured, and after confirming that it is in the specified position, perform the measurement.

This device is still in the proposal stage and has not yet been put into practical use. This is because it is difficult to independently move and independently fix the many detectors in an environmental device.

(1) Problems to be Solved by the Invention An environmental device includes a detector. The head of the detector and the object to be measured are separated by at least the thickness of the environmental device.

In order to obtain accurate measured values at measurement points on the object to be measured, it is desirable to bring the outer wall of the environmental device as close as possible to the object to be measured.

Conventional device I can realize the optimal positional relationship between the measurement point of the object to be measured and the detector. There are some shortcomings here and there.

One is that a complex drive mechanism and long adjustment time are required to achieve the optimal positional relationship.

Another problem is that there are directions in which the environmental device cannot realize or maintain a unique environment. For this reason, blind spots are created in the object to be measured, resulting in points that cannot be measured.

Of course, the simpler the drive mechanism and the shorter the adjustment time, the better. Also, there should be no blind spots.

Since the conventional device 11 has an independent detector, it is easy to set the positional relationship. You can also eliminate blind spots. but,
On the other hand, there are the following difficulties.

The shape of the object to be measured and the shape of the environmental device must correspond. Therefore, if the object to be measured has an arbitrary shape and size, an environmental device is required for each object to be measured. This means that environmental devices of many shapes and sizes are required.

Alternatively, it is necessary to limit the environment that can be realized and to make the wall surface of the environmental device variable. However, it is not easy to make the wall surface variable.

Alternatively, it is not impossible to use one common environmental device that is the greatest common divisor.

However, in this case, individual detectors and measurement points do not necessarily correspond accurately, resulting in inaccurate measurement values.

(1) Configuration The mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of detectors. A support drive mechanism is provided to make the plurality of detectors correspond to the plurality of measurement points. Additionally, an array of pressure-based detectors is provided.

The detection system detects that a plurality of detectors correspond to a plurality of objects to be measured, and then measurements are performed.

The detector should preferably be one that causes almost no disturbance to the object to be measured.

The configuration of the detection system support and drive mechanism of the present invention is listed below.

A detection system consisting of multiple detectors corresponding to the measurement points of the object to be measured, an environmental device that realizes and maintains the environment necessary to operate the detection system, and an environment device that supports the environment device that houses the detection system and supports the object to be measured. A support drive mechanism that adjusts each measuring point of an object and a corresponding detector to have a predetermined positional relationship; a detection system in which an array of detectors using pressure that causes little disturbance to the object to be measured is arranged in correspondence with the measurement points; Measurement is performed while adjusting the detectors to have a predetermined positional relationship.

This will be explained using drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of one measurement point.

The object to be measured has many measurement points, and the detection system accordingly has many detectors. The support and drive mechanism supports and drives all the detectors, but since only the vicinity of one detector is shown here, the support and drive mechanism is not shown in the figure.

The detection system 1 has a plurality of detectors 11. The detector is supported and driven by a support drive mechanism.

An environmental device 2 surrounds all the detectors.

The environmental device 2 has a space surrounded by an environmental device wall 5 filled with, for example, a refrigerant 6. This may be to prepare an environment in which the detector can function, or may be an environment at low temperature, high temperature, vacuum, or even high pressure. Since it is partitioned by the environmental device wall 5, any environment can be provided.

The object to be measured 4 is, for example, a part of the human body.

The environmental device 2 does not have a shape that corresponds to the shape of each object 4 to be measured, but can be adapted to objects of arbitrary size and shape.

The detection system 3 is provided outside the environmental device wall 5.

The detection system 3 includes an upper cover 7, an optical fiber 9, compressed air 8, and the like.

The upper covering 7 is made of a material with a certain degree of rigidity and flexibility. A space of a certain width is created between the environmental device wall 5, and compressed air 8 and an optical fiber 9 are placed in this space.

The optical fiber 9 is connected to a minute loop 10 in front of the detector 11.
has. The micro loop detects the pressure applied to the upper coating 7 by causing a micro bending loss change.

One end of the optical fiber passes light from a light source such as a light emitting diode or a laser diode.

A light receiving element is provided at the other end to detect the amount of light passing through the optical fiber.

If pressure is applied to the upper coating 7, the minute loop 10 of the optical fiber will bend. Then, the amount of transmitted light changes due to the change in microbending loss. This indicates that pressure has been applied. Micro loop and detector 1
1 are located at the same point, it means that the detector 11 and the object to be measured 4 overlap at this time.

This is the detection system 3.

(E) In the action detection system 1, it is easy to install the head force of the detector 11 so that it is oriented in a predetermined direction with respect to the environmental device wall 5. Built-in 11. The environmental device includes a commonly used environmental device wall,
It is driven to compensate for individual differences in the object to be measured.

By being driven, individual differences among the objects to be measured are compensated for, and the detector 11 assumes a predetermined positional relationship with the object to be measured 4. This can be detected using pressure change detectors installed at each measurement point.

As a result, driving is stopped.

The drive is for alignment.

A detector that uses pressure changes is a micro loop 10.
This refers to the optical fiber 8 having the following characteristics.

Normally, the upper covering 7 is
has a free shape.

When the object to be measured 4 comes into contact with the upper coating 7 and applies pressure by driving the environmental device, the upper coating 7 is bent and the minute loop 10 of the optical fiber causes microbending. This causes a change in the amount of light passing through the optical fiber, so it can be seen that the position has been successfully determined.

After the environmental device is moved by the driving device and the detection system confirms that the environmental device has been positioned, the detector 11 takes measurements.

Positioning by the detection system can be done quickly and the amount of drive required is small, so the time required for measurement can be shortened. Also,
Measurement accuracy is improved.

(Power) Example of implementation An example will be described.

A quantum interference device (SQUID) is assumed as a detector, and a living body, particularly a magnetic brain, is assumed as a measurement target. The object to be measured is the brain.

Magnetoencephalography is measured at over 100 points on the head for diagnostic and observation purposes.

Environmental equipment needs to meet the following requirements: (a) It must be able to maintain extremely low temperatures to maintain superconducting state, and (b) It must be made of materials that are difficult to magnetize to reduce noise.

Therefore, the environmental device usually has a dewar structure made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FPC) with vacuum insulation, double structure, etc. The thickness of the environmental device is typically several centimeters
There are m. Inside the environmental equipment, as a refrigerant, liquid or
If it contains gaseous He and therefore liquid, the environmental device cannot be turned upwards.

Furthermore, since the FPC has high rigidity, it is difficult to deform the wall surface of the environmental device.

The environmental device is in the form of a helmet that covers the head, and is shaped to accommodate heads of various shapes and sizes.

The detection coil of the 5QUID, which is a detector, is attached at a predetermined angle to the wall of this environmental device.

Since the helmet-shaped environmental device or a part of it is filled with a refrigerant such as liquid or gaseous He,
The detection system including the 5QUID body is maintained in a superconducting state.

The helmet-like environmental device is attached to a support drive mechanism which is a key element of the invention. The support drive mechanism is
The environmental device is driven and positioned so that the measurement point on the head and the wall surface of the helmet have a certain positional relationship.

Here, it can be determined by a pressure sensor using an optical fiber that the individual differences in the object to be measured have been compensated for and the detector has reached a predetermined positional relationship with the object to be measured.

This is as shown in FIG. The optical fiber has a minute loop corresponding to the detector.

When the environmental device approaches the object to be measured, the optical fiber is deformed and microbending loss increases, resulting in a large change in the amount of light propagating through the optical fiber. It is possible to detect that the position has been determined by the change in the amount of light.

However, pressure sensors do not necessarily use optical fibers. Various pressure sensors are possible.

For example, it can also be used in an optical crystal element whose polarization plane changes with pressure. Furthermore, a device using fluid such as an air pack can also be used.

If you use a pressure sensor to confirm the position, (a) There is little interference with the biomagnetic field of the object to be measured.

(b) Even if 100 or more are arranged corresponding to the measurement points, it does not take up much space.

(C) Less harm to the human body.

There are advantages such as

(g) Effects The support drive mechanism of the present invention realizes and maintains a detection system consisting of a plurality of detectors corresponding to a plurality of measurement points of an object to be measured, and an environment in which the detection system is housed and operated. A support drive mechanism that can drive the environmental device according to the object to be measured, and a pressure sensor that detects that the detector is in a predetermined positional relationship with the object to be measured. It has the following effects.

(1) Can handle objects of any size and shape.

(2) Optimal placement of measurement points and detector heads can be realized.

(3) The support and drive mechanism of the environmental device can be simplified.

(4) The time required for measurement can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a part of the support drive mechanism of the present invention. 1. Fist detection system 2. Fist e-environment device inventor

Claims (1)

[Claims] A detection system consisting of multiple detectors that correspond to the measurement points of the object to be measured, an environmental device that realizes and maintains the environment necessary to operate the detection system, and an environmental device that supports and supports the environment device that houses the detection system. A support drive mechanism that adjusts each measurement point of the object to be measured and the corresponding detector to have a predetermined positional relationship, and a support drive mechanism that detects when the detector has reached the predetermined positional relationship with the object to be measured and It consists of a detection system in which an array of detectors that utilize pressure that causes little disturbance to objects are arranged in correspondence with measurement points.
A detection system support drive mechanism characterized in that, prior to measurement at each measurement point, measurement is performed while adjusting each measurement point of the object to be measured and the corresponding detector so that they have a predetermined positional relationship.