US 4,885,538 A · Low data rate low noise serial digital communication link for magnetic resonance imaging systems

Abstract

A data communications network for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems provides characteristics ideal for low noise operation and low cost at speeds as high as 1 Mbytes/sec and provides a serial data bus for performing medium speed control and data acquisition functions. System architecture is extremely versatile and also low in cost. Each node of the communications system may be provided with an interface implemented with electronically programmable array logic (EPLD) applications specific integrated circuits (ASIC) with 1800 equivalent gates per CMOS integrated circuit. The resulting chip set is self clocking (no local oscillator is required) and nominally provides 20 bits of latched output and input with parity checking in a four-chip set configuration. A minimal two-chip set configuration can be used for nodes that need only 4 bits of latched input and output data (while still supporting parity checking). Different types of peripherals can easily be accommodated, and the bus is self configuring.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

RF and magnetic coil means for exciting a body to be imaged;
means for sensing the nuclear magnetic resonance response from said excited body;
data acquisition computer means, connected to said sensing means, for developing an image of said body in response to said sensed nuclear magnetic resonance response;
peripheral means, operatively coupled to said coil means and/or said sensing means, for affecting the operation thereof;
control computer means for controlling said peripheral means;
and
digital communications means for communicating digital signals between said peripheral means and said control computer means, said communications means including:
a controller including a first input shift register and a first output shift register, said peripheral means including a further input shift register and a further output shift register,
communications link means connected between said controller and said peripheral means for connecting said first and further input shift registers together in series to provide an input shift register distributed between said controller and said peripheral means, and for connecting said first and further output shift registers together in series to provide an output shift register distributed between said controller and said peripheral means, and
clock loop means for applying shift pulses to said distributed input shift register causing data to flow from said further to said first input shift register and for applying said same shift pulses to said distributed output shift register causing data to flow from said first to said further output shift register.

7 more elements

A digital communications network node chip set for exchanging digital signal messages between a peripheral device and a central computer within a magnetic resonance imaging system, said chip set comprising:

first chip means (B) having a serial input terminal and a serial output terminal for:
(a) serially storing data applied to said serial input terminal, (b) serially shifting stored data to said serial output terminal, and (c) providing stored parallel format data to said peripheral device;
optional second chip means (C) having a serial input terminal and a serial output terminal for:
(a) serially storing data applied to said serial input terminal, (b) serially shifting stored data to said serial output terminal, and (c) providing stored further parallel format data to said peripheral device;
third chip means (A) having a serial input terminal and a serial output terminal for:
(a) serially storing data applied to said serial input terminal, (b) serially shifting stored data to said serial output terminal, and (c) loading and storing parallel format data provided by said peripheral device;
optional fourth chip means (D) having a serial input terminal and a serial output terminal for:
(a) serially storing data applied to said serial input terminal, (b) serially shifting stored data to said serial output terminal, and (c) loading and storing further parallel format data provided by said peripheral device;
means for connecting said first chip means input and output terminals in series with said optional second chip means input and output terminals if said second chip means is used;
and
means for connecting said third chip means input and output terminals in series with said optional fourth chip means input and output terminals if said fourth chip means is used.

8 more elements

A bidirectional digital communication network for communicating digital signal messages between a central computer of a magnetic resonance imaging system and each of a plurality of peripheral devices, said network comprising:

output shift register means distributed among said plural peripheral devices for communicating data from said central computer to said peripheral devices, said output shift register means including a plurality of serially-connected discrete output shift registers associated with and corresponding to said plurality of peripheral devices, respectively;
input shift register means distributed among said plural peripheral devices for communicating data from said peripheral devices to said central computer, said input shift register means including a plurality of serially-connected discrete input shift registers associated with and corresponding to said plurality of peripheral devices, respectively;
and
controller means connected to receive data generated by said central computer and to supply data to said central computer for (a) selecting at least one peripheral device, (b) loading central computer generated data serially into said output shift register means, (c) shifting said loaded data into the specific discrete output shift register associated with and corresponding to said selected peripheral device, and (d) serially reading data from said input shift register means and supplying said read data to said central computer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low data rate low noise serial digital communication link for magnetic resonance imaging systems

Life of this patent

Low data rate low noise serial digital communication link for magnetic resonance imaging systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18