Method and apparatus for thermal control in a ct detector
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsAshutosh Joshi, Joseph Lacey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, an x-ray source configured to project x-rays through the opening, and a detector assembly positioned to receive the x-rays. The detector assembly includes a plurality of readout chips positioned within a cooling zone and configured to receive electrical signals from a plurality of diode arrays, and a fan positioned to blow air into the cooling zone. An air temperature within the cooling zone is controlled independent of a speed of the fan.
Claims20
A CT system, comprising:
- a rotatable gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned;
- an x-ray source configured to project x-rays through the opening;
- and
- a detector assembly positioned to receive the x-rays, the detector assembly comprising:
- a plurality of readout chips positioned within a cooling zone and configured to receive electrical signals from a plurality of diode arrays;
- and
- a fan positioned to blow air into the cooling zone;
- wherein an air temperature within the cooling zone is controlled independent of a speed of the fan.
A method of cooling detector electronics within an imaging gantry, comprising:
- blowing air with a fan into a cooling zone in which the detector electronics are positioned;
- and
- controlling a temperature of the detector electronics without altering a speed of the fan.
A detector assembly positionable to receive x-rays from an x-ray source within an imaging system, the detector assembly comprising:
- a cooling zone having a plurality of readout chips positioned therein, the readout chips configured to receive electrical signals from a plurality of diode arrays;
- and
- a fan coupled to the detector assembly and positioned to blow air into the cooling zone;
- wherein an air temperature within the cooling zone is controlled independent of a speed of the fan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.