Methods and systems for stabilizing an amplifier

• US 8,461,842 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MKS Instruments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MKS Instruments Incorporated
• Inventors: Thuringer, Daniel Joseph, Deem, Jake Otis, Carpenter, James Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ARANA, LOUIS M
• Application Number:
  US12/647,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 324/322, 324/318, 324/307, 324/309
• US Class Current: 324/322
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3415 comprising arrays of sub-coils , i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3614 RF power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0277 Selecting one or more amplifiers from a plurality of amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3247 using feedback acting on predistortion circuits H03F1/3264 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3282 Acting on the phase and the amplitude of the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/321 Use of a microprocessor in an amplifier circuit or its control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2201/3233 Adaptive predistortion using lookup table, e.g. memory, RAM, ROM, LUT, to generate the predistortion

Abstract

The invention generally relates to stabilizing an MRI power delivery system. In one aspect, a stabilization module that is in electrical communication with the MRI power delivery system is provided. The stabilization module includes a closed loop control system. The closed loop control system is used to modify the at least one characteristic of the input signal. The modified input signal is provided to the MRI power delivery system.

Claims

1. A stabilization module for stabilizing an MRI power delivery system, comprising:

a stabilization module comprising a closed loop control routine for analyzing at least one feedback signal of the MRI power delivery system, wherein the MRI power delivery system comprises an RF isolator electrically coupled to an output of an amplifier module and an input of an RF output coupler of the stabilization module;

wherein the stabilization module modifies at least one characteristic of an input signal with the closed loop control routine and provides the modified input signal to the MRI power delivery system.

2. The stabilization module of claim 1, wherein the RF output coupler outputs an RF signal that is provided to an error amplifier, wherein the error amplifier outputs RF magnitude and phase signals to a processor, wherein the processor outputs control signals to one or more control modules that implement the closed loop control routine.

3. The stabilization module of claim 1, wherein the feedback signal is sampled from a magnetic bore of the MRI power delivery system using an RF hybrid combiner.

4. A power delivery system for an MRI device, comprising:

an MRI power delivery system comprising an RF isolator; and

a stabilization module comprising a closed loop control routine for analyzing at least one feedback signal of the MRI power delivery system, wherein the stabilization module modifies at least one characteristic of an input signal with the closed loop control routine and provides the modified input signal to the MRI power delivery system;

an amplifier module comprising at least one output; and

an RF output coupler comprising at least one input, wherein the RF isolator is electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier and the input of the RF output coupler.

5. The power delivery system of claim 4, wherein the RF output coupler outputs an RF signal that is provided to an error amplifier, wherein the error amplifier outputs RF magnitude and phase signals to a processor, wherein the processor outputs control signals to one or more control modules that implement the closed loop control routine.

6. The power delivery system of claim 4, wherein the feedback signal is sampled from a magnetic bore of the MRI power delivery system using an RF hybrid combiner.