What is claimed is:
1. A control module configured for use with a pressurization system having a strain gauge transducer and a compressor, the control module comprising:
a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the pressurization system;
a first comparator circuit configured for coupling with a strain gauge transducer and the first voltage reference, the first comparator circuit operable to compare a voltage signal from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the first voltage reference and output a first logic signal;
a control logic circuit coupled to the first comparator circuit and operable to provide a control signal reflective of the first logic signal for controlling operation of the compressor.
2. The control module of claim 1 further comprising a relay coupled to the control logic circuit and configured for applying power to the compressor in response to the control signal.
3. The control module of claim 1, wherein the first voltage reference comprises a potentiometer.
4. The control module of claim 1, wherein the first voltage reference comprises a resistor array.
5. The control module of claim 1, wherein the first voltage reference comprises a digital-to-analog converter and at least one of a series of switches and a processor.
6. The control module of claim 1, wherein the first and second comparator circuits comprise differential amplifiers.
7. The control module of claim 1, wherein the first and second comparator circuits comprise operational amplifiers.
8. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control logic circuit comprises an exclusive OR logic gate.
9. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control logic circuit comprises a plurality of logic gates.
10. The control module of claim 1, further comprising an indicator coupled to the control logic, the indicator indicating the operational status of the compressor.
11. The control module of claim 1, wherein the pressurization system includes at least one filter coupled to a valve actuated by a solenoid, the control module further comprising a relay coupled to the control logic circuit and configured to actuate the solenoid in response to the control signal.
12. The control module of claim 11, further comprising a delay timer circuit coupled intermediate the control logic circuit and the relay, the delay timer circuit configured to delay the application of the control signal to the solenoid.
13. The control module of claim 12, wherein the delay timer circuit comprises an integrated circuit timer.
14. The control module of claim 1 further comprising a second variable voltage reference associated with a high pressure limit for the pressurization system, the first variable voltage reference associated with a low pressure limit;
a second comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the second voltage reference, the second comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the second voltage reference and output a second logic signal;
the control logic circuit coupled to the first and second comparator circuits and configured to logically combine the first and second logic signals and provide the control signal.
15. The control module of claim 14, further comprising:
a third variable voltage reference associated with at least one of an under pressure limit and an over pressure limit;
a third comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the third variable voltage reference, the third comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge transducer and the third variable voltage reference and output a second control signal; and
a relay coupled to the third comparator circuit and operating in response to the second control signal.
16. The control module of claim 15, further comprising an indicator coupled to the third comparator circuit, the indicator indicating a state of the relay.
17. The control module of claim 15, wherein the pressurization system includes an over pressure relief valve with the third comparator relay being coupled to the over pressure relief valve.
18. The control module of claim 15, wherein the relay drives at least one of an under pressure and over pressure alarm.
19. The control module of claim 1, wherein the pressurization system is coupled to an antenna radome.
20. A pressurization system comprising:
a strain gauge transducer;
a compressor;
a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the pressurization system;
a first comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the first voltage reference, the first comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the first voltage reference and output a first logic signal;
a control logic circuit coupled to the first comparator circuit and operable to provide a control signal reflective of the first logic signal for controlling operation of the compressor.
21. The pressurization system of claim 20 further comprising a relay coupled to the control logic circuit and configured for applying power to the compressor in response to the control signal.
22. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the first voltage reference comprises one of a potentiometer and a resistor array
23. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the first voltage reference comprises digital-to-analog converters and at least one of a series of switches and a processor.
24. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the first comparator circuit comprises one of differential and operational amplifiers.
25. The pressurization system of claim 20, further comprising an indicator coupled to the control logic circuit, the indicator indicating the operational status of the compressor.
26. The pressurization system of claim 20 further comprising a second variable voltage reference associated with a high pressure limit for the pressurization system, the first variable voltage reference associated with a low pressure limit;
a second comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the second voltage reference, the second comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the second voltage reference and output a second logic signal;
the control logic circuit coupled to the first and second comparator circuits and configured to logically combine the first and second logic signals and provide the control signal.
27. The pressurization system of claim 20, further comprising:
a third variable voltage reference associated with at least one of an under pressure limit and an over pressure limit;
a third comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the third variable voltage reference, the third comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge transducer and the third variable voltage reference and output a second control signal.
28. The pressurization system of claim 27 further comprising an alarm for indicating one of an over pressure limit and under pressure limit, the alarm operating in response to the second control signal.
29. The pressurization system of claim 27 further comprising over pressure relief valve for relieving pressure in the compressor, the over pressure relief valve operating in response to the second control signal.
30. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the pressurization system is configured for coupling with an antenna radome.
31. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the pressurization system is configured for use with an antenna having a radome and a radome window.
32. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the pressurization system is configured for use with a waveguide.
33. The pressurization system of claim 20, wherein the pressurization system is configured for use with a conduit.
34. An antenna system comprising:
an antenna having an enclosed portion to be pressurized;
a compressor operably coupled to the antenna for pressurizing the enclosed portion;
a strain gauge transducer operably coupled to the determine a pressure for the system;
a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the system;
a first comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the first voltage reference, the first comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the first voltage reference and output a first logic signal;
a control logic circuit coupled to the first comparator circuit and operable to provide a control signal reflective of the first logic signal for controlling operation of the compressor to maintain the pressure of the antenna system.
35. An RF system comprising:
a conduit coupling electrical components of the RF system;
a compressor operably coupled to the conduit for pressurizing the conduit;
a strain gauge transducer operably coupled to the determine a pressure for the RF system;
a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the RF system;
a first comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the first voltage reference, the first comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the first voltage reference and output a first logic signal;
a control logic circuit coupled to the first comparator circuit and operable to provide a control signal reflective of the first logic signal for controlling operation of the compressor to maintain the pressure of the RF system.
36. An RF system comprising:
a waveguide coupling electrical components of the RF system;
a compressor operably coupled to the waveguide for pressurizing the waveguide;
a strain gauge transducer operably coupled to the determine a pressure for the RF system;
a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the RF system;
a first comparator circuit coupled to the strain gauge transducer and the first voltage reference, the first comparator circuit configured to compare the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer and the first voltage reference and output a first logic signal;
a control logic circuit coupled to the first comparator circuit and operable to provide a control signal reflective of the first logic signal for controlling operation of the compressor to maintain the pressure of the RF system.
37. A method of controlling the pressure in a pressurization system having a compressor, the method comprising:
comparing a voltage signal from a strain gauge pressure transducer with a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the pressurization system and outputting a first logic signal;
based on such comparison and the first logic signal, generating a control signal; and,
selectively energizing or de-energizing the compressor in response to the control signal.
38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:
comparing the voltage from the strain gauge pressure transducer with a second variable voltage reference associated with a high pressure limit for the pressurization system to output a second logic signal, the first variable voltage reference associated with a low pressure limit;
with a control logic circuit, logically combining the first and second logic signals and generating the control signal.
39. The method of claim 38 further comprising setting at least one of the first and second variable voltage references in response to a user input.
40. The method of claim 37 further comprising:
comparing a voltage signal from the strain gauge pressure transducer with a another variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the pressurization system;
based on such comparison, operating an over pressure relief valve to relieve an over pressure condition in the system.
41. The method of claim 37 further comprising:
comparing a voltage signal from the strain gauge pressure transducer with a another variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the pressurization system;
based on such comparison, generating an alarm indicative of one of an over pressure condition and an under pressure.
42. A method for pressurizing conduit andor waveguide in an RF system comprising:
coupling a compressor to the RF system;
comparing a voltage signal from a strain gauge pressure transducer with a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the RF system and outputting a first logic signal;
based on such comparison and the first logic signal, generating a control signal; and,
selectively energizing or de-energizing the compressor in response to the control signal.
43. A method for pressurizing an antenna system comprising:
coupling a compressor to the antenna system;
comparing a voltage signal from a strain gauge pressure transducer with a first variable voltage reference associated with a pressure limit for the antenna system and outputting a first logic signal;
based on such comparison and the first logic signal, generating a control signal; and,
selectively energizing or de-energizing the compressor in response to the control signal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for the automatic selection of elements within at least one radiofrequency coil used for imaging at least one slice of a volume using a magnetic resonance imaging system that comprises the steps of:
(a) performing a one-dimensional projection data acquisition for determining the noise level of each element of an initial selection of multiple elements;
(b) performing a one-dimensional projection for at least one angle for each element of said initial selection of multiple elements;
(c) using said angled projections in deselecting an element included in said multiple elements that does not image the volume to be imaged;
(d) ranking said remaining elements by performance;
(i) wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed in either order; and
(e) using said ranking in selecting said elements from the multiplicity of remaining elements to form a combination of said elements for imaging said volume.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein
said deselection of elements is made when said element’s signal does not intersect with either said angled one-dimensional projection.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein
said ranking of said remaining elements is based upon the signal to noise ratio of said element.
4. The method of claim 1 which further comprises
performing an additional one-dimensional projection data acquisition for confirming the noise level of said elements of said combination after said combination is chosen.
5. The method of claim 1 which further comprises
using said noise level acquisitions to set receiver channel gain for said imaging.
6. The method of claim 1 which further comprises
repeating said method for further slices of said volume.
7. The method of claim 1 which further comprises
utilizing data from previously acquired scans in said ranking of elements or said selecting of elements.
8. A method for the automatic selection of elements within at least one radiofrequency coil used for imaging at least one slice of a volume using a magnetic resonance imaging system which comprises:
(a) performing a one-dimensional projection data acquisition for determining the noise level of each element of an initial selection of multiple elements;
(b) performing a one-dimensional projection for at least two angles for each element of said initial selection of multiple elements; and
(c) using said angled projections in deselecting an element included in said multiple elements that does not image the volume to be imaged.
9. The method of claim 8 which further comprises
using said angled projections in selecting said elements from the multiplicity of remaining elements to form a combination of said elements for imaging said volume.
10. The method of claim 8 which further comprises
performing an additional one-dimensional projection data acquisition for verifying the noise level of each element of said selected combination of the elements after said selection of the elements of said combination.
11. The method of claim 8 which further comprises
using said noise level acquisitions to set receiver channel gain for said imaging.
12. The method of claim 8 which further comprises
repeating said method for further slices of said volume.
13. A method for the automatic selection of elements within at least one radiofrequency coil used for imaging at least one slice of a volume using a magnetic resonance imaging system which comprises:
(a) performing a one-dimensional projection for at least one angle for each element of an initial selection of multiple elements; and
(b) using said projections in selecting at least one element from said multiple elements for imaging of said volume, wherein said at least one selected element is not selected from said projections that do not produce useful signal within the volume, and further wherein said at least one selected element is not selected from said projections that do not produce signal in a region of interest of the volume; and
(c) performing an additional data acquisition for verifying said noise level of each said element.
14. The method of claim 13 which further comprises performing at least one one-dimensional projection data acquisition for determining the noise level of each element of an initial selection of multiple elements before performing said one-dimensional projection for at least two angles for each element.
15. The method of claim 13 which further comprises
ranking said elements and selecting said elements based upon highest rank after performing said one-dimensional projections.
16. A method for the automatic selection of elements within at least one radiofrequency coil used for imaging at least one slice of a volume using a magnetic resonance imaging system which comprises:
(a) performing at least one one-dimensional projection data acquisition for determining the noise level of each element of an initial selection of multiple elements;
(b) performing a one-dimensional projection for at least two angles for each element of said initial selection of multiple elements; and
(c) using said projections in selecting at least one element from said multiple elements for imaging of said volume.