Data Processing Device, Tomography Apparatus for Examination of an Object of Interest, Method of Examining an Object of Interest, Computer-Readable Medium and Program Element

• US 20080272296A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Vogtmeier, Gereon, Frach, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,807,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0619 using feedback from receiving side feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001

Abstract

A data processing device, comprising a plurality of emitter antennas (140) arranged on a movable data acquisition device and adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation including data acquired by the movable data acquisition device, a plurality of receiver antennas (150) each adapted to receive the electromagnetic radiation emitted by each of the plurality of emitter antennas (140), and a data processing unit (118) coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas (150) and adapted to extract the data acquired by the movable data acquisition device from the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of receiver antennas (150).

Claims

1. A data processing device, comprising

a plurality of emitter antennas arranged on a movable data acquisition device and adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation including data acquired by the movable data acquisition device;

a plurality of receiver antennas each adapted to receive the electromagnetic radiation emitted by each of the plurality of emitter antennas;

a data processing unit coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas and adapted to extract the data acquired by the movable data acquisition device from the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of receiver antennas.

2. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the movable data acquisition device is a rotatable data acquisition device.

3. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the number of emitter antennas is larger or equal to than the number of receiver antennas.

4. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of emitter antennas, the plurality of receiver antennas and the data processing unit are designed as a multiple-input multiple-output communication system.

5. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of receiver antennas are adapted for a wireless communication with the plurality of emitter antennas.

6. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein at least a part of the plurality of receiver antennas are arranged spatially fixed and apart from the movable data acquisition device.

7. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein at least a part of the plurality of receiver antennas are arranged movably on the movable data acquisition device.

8. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the data processing unit is coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas by a wired communication channel.

9. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the data processing unit is arranged spatially fixed and apart from the movable data acquisition device.

10. The data processing device of claim 1, comprising a shielding element for shielding the movable data acquisition device with respect to the data processing unit and/or an environment.

11. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of receiver antennas are adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation including feedback information concerning the communication between the plurality of receiver antennas and the plurality of emitter antennas;

wherein the plurality of emitter antennas are adapted to receive the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plurality of receiver antennas.

12. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein a communication between the plurality of receiver antennas and the plurality of emitter antennas is bidirectional.

13. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein a communication between the plurality of receiver antennas and the plurality of emitter antennas includes estimating properties of a transmission medium.

14. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein a communication between the plurality of receiver antennas and the plurality of emitter antennas is based on a periodic channel.

15. The data processing device of claim 1,

wherein a communication between the plurality of receiver antennas and the plurality of emitter antennas includes at least one of the group consisting of estimating a channel matrix, estimating a channel distortion, and estimating a channel equalization.

16. The data processing device of claim 1,

configured as one of the group consisting of a baggage inspection apparatus, a medical application apparatus, a material testing apparatus and a material science analysis apparatus.

17. A tomography apparatus for examination of an object of interest, the tomography apparatus comprising

an electromagnetic radiation source adapted to emit a beam to the object of interest;

a detecting device adapted to detect the beam having passed the object of interest;

a data processing device of claim 1 adapted to determine structural information concerning the object of interest based on an analysis of detecting signals received from the detecting device which is coupled to the plurality of emitter antennas of the data processing device.

18. The tomography apparatus of claim 17,

adapted as one of the group consisting of a computed tomography apparatus, a positron emission tomography apparatus, and a single photon emission computed tomography apparatus.

19. The tomography apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the movable data acquisition device comprises a rotatable gantry on which the electromagnetic radiation source, the detecting device and the plurality of emitter antennas are mounted.

20. A method of processing data, the method comprising

emitting, by means of a plurality of emitter antennas arranged on a movable data acquisition device, electromagnetic radiation including data acquired by the movable data acquisition device;

receiving, by means of a plurality of receiver antennas, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by each of the plurality of emitter antennas;

extracting, by means of a data processing unit coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas, the data acquired by the movable data acquisition device from the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of receiver antennas.

21. A computer-readable medium, in which a computer program of processing data is stored which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out

emitting, by means of a plurality of emitter antennas arranged on a movable data acquisition device, electromagnetic radiation including data acquired by the movable data acquisition device;

receiving, by means of a plurality of receiver antennas, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by each of the plurality of emitter antennas;

extracting, by means of a data processing unit coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas, the data acquired by the movable data acquisition device from the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of receiver antennas.

22. A program element of processing data, which program element, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out

emitting, by means of a plurality of emitter antennas arranged on a movable data acquisition device, electromagnetic radiation including data acquired by the movable data acquisition device;

receiving, by means of a plurality of receiver antennas, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by each of the plurality of emitter antennas;

extracting, by means of a data processing unit coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas, the data acquired by the movable data acquisition device from the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of receiver antennas.

23. A data processing device, comprising

a plurality of emitter antennas adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation in which data are encoded;

a plurality of receiver antennas each adapted to receive the electromagnetic radiation emitted by each of the plurality of emitter antennas, wherein the plurality of receiver antennas are arranged on a movable device;

a data processing unit coupled to the plurality of receiver antennas and adapted to extract the data from the electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of receiver antennas.