CONTACTLESS COMMUNICATION SIGNAL TRANSFER

• US 20130279647A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analogic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Analogic Corporation
• Inventors: Ye, Wei, Krupica, Libor
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/25 Ultra-wideband [UWB] systems, e.g. multiple resonance systems; Pulse systems

Abstract

Among other things, one or more data-links for transferring information between a stationary unit and a movable (e.g., rotating) unit, or between two movable units without contact between the units is provided. A transmitting antenna of a data-link comprises at least two capacitive conducting portions, a first portion configured to conduct signals having a first frequency range (e.g., a higher frequency range) and a second portion configured to conduct signals having a second frequency range (e.g., a lower frequency range). The second portion is comprised of a plurality of members (e.g., conductive plates) arranged to create a substantially continuous electrically conductive structure (e.g., although respective members may not be in physical contact with adjacent members). In this way, a loss of capacitance in a transition between two adjacent members is reduced to provide for transferring information at lower frequencies where a higher capacitance is desirable, for example.

Claims

1. A wide frequency bandwidth transmitting element for a radiation imaging modality, comprising:

at least first and second conducting portions,

the first conducting portion configured to conduct signals having a first frequency range and the second conducting portion configured to conduct signals having a second frequency range, the second frequency range comprising at least some frequencies that are less than at least some frequencies comprised in the first frequency range,

the first conducting portion operably coupled to the second conducting portion, and

the second conducting portion comprising a plurality of members, the members arranged such that at least some of a first member overlaps at least some of a second member.

2. The transmitting element of claim 1, the first and second conducting portions configured to be mounted to a rotating gantry portion of the radiation imaging modality.

3. The transmitting element of claim 2, the radiation imaging modality comprising a computed tomography scanner.

4. The transmitting element of claim 2, the first and second conducting portions mounted to an axial surface of the rotating gantry.

5. The transmitting element of claim 2, the first and second conducting portions mounted to a radial surface of the rotating gantry.

6. The transmitting element of claim 2, the first and second conducting portions respectively being substantially annular.

7. The transmitting element of claim 6, the first and second conducting portions being concentric.

8. The transmitting element of claim 1, the first and second conducting portions configured to transfer signals relating to image data yielded from a data acquisition system of the radiation imaging modality on a rotating gantry portion of the radiation imaging modality to a stationary portion of the radiation imaging modality.

9. The transmitting element of claim 1, comprising a printed circuit board and the first and second conducting portions mounted to the printed circuit board.

10. The transmitting element of claim 9, the printed circuit board comprising a dielectric layer and a conductive reference ground layer, the dielectric layer comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the first and second conducting portions mounted to the top surface and the conductive reference ground layer mounted to the bottom surface.

11. The transmitting element of claim 9, the printed circuit board divided into two or more segments, respective segments comprising a portion of the first conducting portion and a portion of the second conducting portion.

12. A data-link for a CT imaging modality, comprising:

a transmitter, comprising;

a transceiver component configured to convert an optical signal indicative of an examination of an object by the CT imaging modality into an electrical signal,

a clock and data recovery component configured to recover a clock from the electrical signal and to generate an electrical signal with the recovered clock, and

a power divider component configured to divide the electrical signal with the recovered clock into two signals;

a transmitting antenna comprising at least two transmitting elements, a first transmitting element configured to radiate first radio waves in response to a first of the two signals and a second transmitting element configured to radiate second radio waves in response to a second of the two signals;

a receiving antenna configured to receive the first and second radio waves, a first radio frequency signal being generated from the first radio waves and a second radio frequency signal being generated from the second radio waves; and

a receiver, comprising;

a radio frequency combining component configured to combine the first and second radio frequency signals and generate a combined radio frequency signal,

a clock and data recovery component configured to recover a clock from the combined radio frequency signal and generate a combined radio frequency signal with the recovered clock, and

a transceiver component configured to convert the combined radio frequency signal with the recovered clock to an optical signal.

13. The data-link of claim 12, the transmitter comprising:

an amplifier configured to amplify at least one of the two signals, and

an equalizer configured to equalize an amplified signal.

14. The data-link of claim 12, the receiver comprising:

an equalizer configured to equalize the combined radio frequency signal.

15. The data-link of claim 12, at least one of the two transmitting elements comprising a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion, the first conducting portion configured to radiate radio waves within a first frequency range and the second conducting portion configured to radiate radio waves within a second frequency range, the first frequency range different than the second frequency range.

16. The data-link of claim 15, the second frequency range comprising at least some frequencies that are less than at least some frequencies comprised in the first frequency range, and the second conducting portion comprising a plurality of members, the plurality of members arranged such that a first member overlaps at least some of a second member.

17. The data-link of claim 15, the second frequency range comprising at least some frequencies that are less than at least some frequencies comprised in the first frequency range, and the second conducting portion comprising a plurality of members, the plurality of member arranged to form a substantially electrically continuous structure.

18. The data-link of claim 12, the transmitter and transmitting antenna configured for attachment to a rotating gantry portion of the CT imaging modality and the receiver and receiving antenna configured for attachment to a stationary portion of the CT imaging modality.

19. A CT imaging modality, comprising:

a rotating gantry configured to rotate about an object under examination, the rotating gantry comprising;

a radiation source configured to emit radiation towards the object under examination;

a detector array configured to detect at least a portion of the emitted radiation and to generate analog signals indicative of the detected radiation;

a data acquisition system configured to convert the analog signals into data; and

a transmitting element configured to radiate radio waves in response to electrical signals, corresponding to at least some of the data, applied to the transmitting element, the transmitting element comprising at least first and second conducting portions,

the first conducting portion configured to conduct radio frequency signals having a first frequency range and the second conducting portion configured to conduct radio frequency signals having a second frequency range, the second frequency range comprising at least some frequencies that are less than at least some frequencies comprised in the first frequency range,

the first conducting portion operably coupled to the second conducting portion, and

the second conducting portion comprised of a plurality of members, the members arranged such that at least some of a first member overlaps at least some of a second member.

20. The CT imaging modality of claim 19, comprising a printed circuit board, the first and second conducting portions mounted to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising a dielectric layer and a conductive reference ground layer, the dielectric layer comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the first and second conducting portions mounted to the top surface and the conductive reference ground layer mounted to the bottom surface.