High speed starter operations monitor

An apparatus for monitoring operation of an x-ray tue rotor in which run and phase windings provide motive power of the x-ray tube rotor, the apparatus comprising:

• an electric supply means for supplying electrical currents to the run and phase windings;
• a sensor means or sensing at least the electrical currents supplied to the run and phase windings and providing analog sensor signals indicative thereof;
• an analog to digital conveyor means for converting the analog sensor signals to digital sensor signals;
• a microprocessor means for processing the digital sensor signals and deriving digital reference signals therefrom;
• a digital to analog converter means for converting the digital reference signals to analog reference signals;
• a control loop mans for comparing the analog sensor signals with the analog reference signals, the control loop means being connected with the supply means for controlling supply means in accordance with the comparison of the analog reference and sensor signals, the control loop means being connected with the sensor means and with the digital to analog converter.

An apparatus for monitoring cooperation of an x-ray tube rotor in which run and phase windings provide motive power to the x-ray tube rotor, the apparatus comprising:

• an electric supply means for supplying electrical power to the run and phase windings;
• a run current sensor for sensing the electrical power supplied to the run winding and generating run sensor signals;
• a phase sensor for sensing electrical power supplied to the phase winding and generating phase sensor signals;
• a multiplexing means for supplying at least the run and phase sensor signals sequentially;
• an analog to digital converter means for receiving the run an phase sensor signals sequentially form the multiplexing means and converting the analog sensor signals to digital sensor signals;
• a first in, first out memory means for storing the digital signals from the analog to digital converter means, the digital signals being stored sequentially in the same order that the multiplexing means supplies the analog signals to the analog to digital converter means;
• a microprocessor means for processing the digital sensor signals from the fist in, first out memory means and deriving digital reference signals therefrom;
• a digital to analog converter means for converting the digital reference signals to analog reference signals;
• and
• an analog feed back lop for comparing the run and phase sensor signals with the analog reference signals and controlling the electric supply means in accordance with the comparison.

An apparatus for monitoring operation of an x-ray tube rotor in which run and phase windings provide motive power to the x-ray tube rotor, the apparatus comprising:

• an electric supply means for supplying electrical currents to the run and phase windings;
• a sensor means or sensing at least the electrical currents supplied to the run and phase windings and providing analog sensor signals indicative thereof;
• an analog to digital converter means for converting the analog sensor signals to digital sensor signals;
• a means for calibrating the analog to digital converter;
• a means for calibrating the sensor means when no current is being supplied to the run and phase windings;
• a means for enabling the supply means to commence supplying current to the run and phase windings;
• a processor means for converting the digital sensor signals into digital reference signals;
• a digital to analog converter means for converting the digital reference signals to analog reference signals, the digital to analog converter means being operatively connected with the processor means to receive the digital reference signals therefrom and operatively connected with the electric supply means.

An apparatus for monitoring operation of an x-ray tube rotor in which run and phase windings provide motive power to the x-ray tube rotor, the apparatus comprising:

• an electric supply means for supplying electrical currents to the run and phase windings;
• a sensor means or sensing at least the electrical currents supplied to the run and phase windings and providing analog run and phase signals indicative thereof;
• an analog to digital converter means for converting the analog run and phase signals to digital run and phase signals;
• a means for converting the digital run and phase signals to run and phase frequency spectra;
• a means for comparing the run and phase frequency spectra with preselected frequency spectrum criteria;
• a means for generating a digital reference signal in accordance with the frequency spectrum comparisons;
• a digital to analog converter means for converting the digital reference signal to ana analog reference signal, the digital to analog converter means being operatively connected with the digital reference signal generating means to receive the digital reference signal therefrom and operatively connected with the electric supply means.

A CT scanner comprising:

• an x-ray tube for generating a beam of x-rays, the x-ray tube including a rotating anode connected with a rotor, a run winding, and a phase winding;
• an array of radiation detectors for detecting radiation from the x-ray tube that has traversed an examination region;
• a rotating means for rotating the x-ray tube around the examination region;
• an image reconstruction means for reconstructing spherical signals from the radiation detectors into an image representation;
• a current supply means for supplying run and phase AC electrical currents to the run and phase windings, respectively;
• a sensor means for monitoring the run and phase currents and producing analog run and phase signals;
• an analog loop means for comparing the analog run and phase signals with reference signals and controlling the current supply means in accordance therewith;
• an analog to digital converter means for generating digital run and phase signals from the monitored run and phase signals;
• a means for comparing the digital run and phase signals with preselected characteristics including at least one of symmetry, frequency, and amplitude, and generating run and phase deviation signals in accordance therewith;
• a digital to analog converter means for converting the digital run and phase deviation signals to the reference signals, the digital to analog converter means being operatively connected with the analog loop means.

A CT scanner comprising:

• an x-ray tube for generating a beam of x-rays, the x-ray tube including a rotating anode connected with a rotor, a run winding, and a phase winding;
• an array of radiation detectors for detecting radiation from the x-ray tube that has traversed an examination region;
• a rotating means for rotating the x-ray tube around the examination region;
• an image reconstruction means for reconstructing electrical signals from the radiation detectors into an image representation;
• a current supply means for supplying run and phase AC electrical currents to the run and phase windings, respectively;
• a sensing means for monitoring the run and phase currents;
• an analog to digital converter means for generating digital run and phase signals from the monitored run and phase currents;
• a transform means for transforming the digital run and phase signals to frequency spectra;
• a means for comparing the digital run and phase frequency spectra with preselected characteristics including at least one of symmetry, frequency, and amplitude, and generating run and phase deviation signals in accordance therewith;
• a digital to analog converter means for converting the digital run and phase deviation signals to analog run and phase reference signals, the digital to analog converter means being operatively connected with the current supply means for causing the run and phase currents supplied thereby to be adjusted in accordance with the reference signals.

A method of monitoring operation of a rotor of an x-ray tube, the method comprising:

• supplying AC electrical power to run and phase windings of the x-ray tube;
• sensing at least the electrical power flowing through each of the run and phase windings and providing analog sensor signals indicative thereof;
• converting the analog sensor signals to digital sensor signals;
• processing the digital sensor signals and deriving digital reference signals therefrom;
• converting the digital reference signals to analog reference signals;
• controlling the supply of AC electrical power to the run and phase windings in accordance with the reference signals;
• transforming the digital sensor signals to frequency spectra;
• and
• comparing the frequency spectra with predetermined frequency spectra criteria to determined wear and malfunction information.

An method of monitoring operation of a rotor of an x-ray tube, the method comprising:

• supplying AC electrical power to run and phase windings of the x-ray tube;
• sensing at least the electrical power flowing through each of the run and phase windings and providing analog sensor signals indicative thereof;
• comparing the analog sensor signals with an analog reference signal and controlling the supply of AC electrical power to the run and phase windings in accordance with a deviation therebetween;
• converting the analog sensor signals to digital sensor signals;
• processing the digital sensor signals and deriving digital reference signals therefrom;
• converting the digital reference signaled to the analog reference signal.

A method of monitoring operation of a rotor of an x-ray tube, the method comprising:

• supplying AC electrical power to run and phase windings of the x-ray tube;
• sensing at least the electrical power flowing through each of the run and phase windings and providing analog sensor signals indicative thereof;
• converting the analog sensor signals to digital sensor signals;
• transforming the digital sensor signals to frequency spectra;
• comparing the frequency spectra with preselected frequency spectra criteria;
• generating a digital reference signal in accordance with the frequency spectra companions;
• converting the digital reference signal to analog reference signal;
• controlling the supply of AC electrical power to the rim and phase winding in accordance with the reference signal.

A method of monitoring operation of a rotor of an x-ray tube, the method comprising:

• supplying AC electrical power to windings of the x-ray tube;
• sensing at least the electrical power flowing through the windings and providing analog sensor signals indicative thereof;
• multiplexing the analog sensor signals;
• converting the multiplexed analog sensor signals from analog to digital sequentially;
• temporarily storing the digital sensor signals in the same order as they are multiplexed;
• processing the stored digital sensor signals on a first in, first out basis to derive digital reference signals therefrom;
• converting the digital reference signals to analog reference signals;
• controlling the supply of AC electrical power to the run and phase windings in accordance with the analog reference signals.