Configurable matrix receiver for MRI

A signal processing system for receiving and processing signals, comprising:

• a first antenna to detect a first signal and to generate a first output signal;
• a second antenna to detect a second signal and to generate a second output signal;
• and
• a configurable matrix receiver to process at least one of the first and second output signals, comprising:
• a first amplifier having a first input and a first output, wherein the first input of the first amplifier is selectively coupled to the first antenna;
• a second amplifier having a second input and a second output;
• a switch having a first position coupling the first output of the first amplifier to the second input of the second amplifier, and a second position coupling the second input of the second amplifier to the second antenna;
• a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the first output of the first amplifier to generate a first digital signal;
• a second ADC coupled to the second output of the second amplifier to generate a second digital signal;
• the system further comprising:
• a digital signal processor (DSP) to select a digital signal from among the first digital signal and the second digital signal.

A signal processing system for receiving and processing one or more signals, comprising:

• a plurality of antennas to receive the signals and generate output signals;
• and
• a configurable matrix receiver coupled to receive and process the output signals from the antennas, the configurable matrix receiver comprising:
• a plurality of channels, wherein each channel comprises an amplifier having an input, an output and a respective gain, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the output of the amplifier;
• and
• a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of channels, wherein each switch has a first position coupling an output of one amplifier to an input of another amplifier, and a second position coupling an input of one amplifier to an output of an antenna;
• the system further comprising:
• a digital signal processor (DSP) to receive a plurality of digital signals from the ADCs, and select a one of the digital signals.

A signal processing system for receiving and processing one or more signals, comprising:

• a plurality of antennas to receive the signals and generate output signals;
• and
• a configurable matrix receiver coupled to receive and process the output signals from the antennas, the configurable matrix receiver comprising:
• a plurality of channels, wherein each channel comprises an amplifier having an input, an output and a respective gain, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the output of the amplifier;
• and
• a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of channels, wherein each switch has a first position coupling an output of one amplifier to an input of another amplifier, and a second position coupling an input of one amplifier to an output of an antenna;
• the system further comprising:
• a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to receive a plurality of digital signals from the ADCs, and select a one of the digital signals;
• and
• the DSP being further configured to correct for lack of phase coherence and differing gain in the digital signals respective of each of the channels, whereby the one of the digital signals remains normalized with respect to others of the digital signals when the others are selected.

A signal processing system for receiving and processing one or more signals, comprising:

• a plurality of antennas to receive the signals and generate output signals;
• and
• a configurable matrix receiver coupled to receive and process the output signals from the antennas, the configurable matrix receiver comprising:
• a plurality of channels, wherein each channel comprises an amplifier having an input, an output and a respective gain, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the output of the amplifier, and a digital down-converter that comprises a multiplier and a decimator;
• and
• a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of channels, wherein each switch has a first position coupling an output of one amplifier to an input of another amplifier, and a second position coupling an input of one amplifier to an output of an antenna;
• the system further comprising:
• a digital signal processor (DSP) to receive a plurality of digital signals from the digital down-converters, and select a one of the digital signals.

A signal processing system for receiving and processing one or more signals, comprising:

• an antenna to detect an input signal and generate an output signal;
• and
• a configurable matrix receiver to process the output signal, comprising:
• a first amplifier having a first input and a first output, wherein the first input of the first amplifier is selectively coupled to the antenna;
• a second amplifier having a second input and a second output;
• a switch that selectively moves between a first position that couples the first output of the first amplifier to the second input of the second amplifier, and a second position that decouples the first output of the first amplifier from the second input of the second amplifier;
• a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the first output of the first amplifier;
• and
• a second ADC coupled to the second output of the second amplifier.

A magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

• at least one magnetic field generator positioned to create a field through an imaging volume configured to receive at least a portion of a sample to be imaged;
• at least one transmitting antenna positioned to apply a radio frequency signal to at least a portion of the sample within the imaging volume;
• at least one receiving antenna to detect magnetic resonance signals from the sample within the imaging volume, and generate output signals;
• a configurable matrix receiver coupled to receive and process the output signals from the at least one receiving antenna, the configurable matrix receiver comprising:
• a plurality of channels, wherein each channel comprises an amplifier having an input, an output and a respective gain, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the output of the amplifier;
• and
• a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of channels, wherein each switch has a first position coupling an output of one amplifier to an input of another amplifier, and a second position coupling an input of one amplifier to an output of a receiving antenna;
• the system further comprising:
• a digital signal processor (DSP) to receive a plurality of digital signals from the ADCs, and select a one of the digital signals.

A magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

• at least one magnetic field generator positioned to create a field through an imaging volume configured to receive at least a portion of a sample to be imaged;
• and
• a configurable matrix to process one or more magnetic resonance signals received from the sample, comprising:
• a first amplifier having a first input and a first output;
• a second amplifier having a second input and a second output;
• a switch having a first position coupling the first output of the first amplifier to the second input of the second amplifier, and a second position decoupling the first output of the first amplifier from the second input of the second amplifier;
• a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the first output of the first amplifier;
• and
• a second ADC coupled to the second output of the second amplifier.