Scaling of Local Coils of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner

A reception device comprising:

• a scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, the scaling unit comprising:
• a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae;
• and
• a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;
• wherein, at least in a summed signal mode:
• the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output;
• and
• each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output;
• wherein each reception antenna of the reception antennae is individually connected, for signaling purposes, to the plurality of signal inputs of the scaling unit;
• and
• wherein the plurality of signal outputs of the scaling unit is configured to be connected, for signaling purposes, to a plurality of associated signal inputs of an image-processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

A local coil for a reception device, the local coil comprising a plurality of reception antennae and at least one scaling unit for the plurality of reception antennae, the at least one scaling unit comprising:

• a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae;
• and
• a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;
• wherein, at least in a summed signal mode:
• the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output;
• and
• each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.

A reception-and-transmission device comprising a plurality of scaling units for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, each scaling unit of the plurality of scaling units comprising:

• a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae;
• and
• a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;
• wherein, at least in a summed signal mode:
• the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output;
• and
• each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output;
• wherein respective signal outputs to which sums of signals from the plurality of signal inputs are applied are connected, for signaling purposes, to a multiplexer that is connected via a transmission channel to a demultiplexer;
• and
• wherein the demultiplexer is configured to individually supply the sums of signals from the plurality of signal inputs of each scaling unit of the plurality of scaling units to an image-processing unit of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

A magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprising a reception-and-transmission device and a scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner, the scaling unit comprising:

• a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae;
• and
• a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;
• wherein, at least in a summed signal mode:
• the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output;
• and
• each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.

A method for signal transmission comprising:

• using a scaling unit for reception antennae of local coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, a reception device comprising the scaling unit, a local coil for the reception device, a reception-and-transmission device comprising the scaling unit, or a magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprising the reception-and-transmission device;
• wherein the scaling unit comprises:
• a plurality of signal inputs configured for receiving signals from the reception antennae;
• and
• a plurality of signal outputs configured for outputting unaltered signals, altered signals, or unaltered and altered signals from the reception antennae;
• wherein, at least in a summed signal mode:
• the plurality of signal inputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a single common signal output of the plurality of signal outputs, such that a sum of signals from the plurality of signal inputs is applied to the single common signal output;
• and
• each additional signal output of the plurality of signal outputs is connected, for signaling purposes, to a respective single signal input of the plurality of signal inputs, such that an unaltered signal from the respective single signal input is applied to the additional signal output.