Figure 45 RF System Block Diagram
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RF System - Introduction
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TX Box (TBX) Figure 46 TX Box
All transmit section components including RF signal generator,
power amplifier, transmit path routing, RF level metering, and
associated control circuitry are integrated into the TBX. The TBX
will initially be identical to the Skyra TBX with a modified version
coming sometime later.
Variants
1.5 Ch (Trueform) 20 kW BC output only 80 kg
Main features of the TBX:
narrowband, only for proton imaging
no maintenance or servicing requirements
employs a power regulation loop to ensure stable and
predictable RF power transmission
FPGA based controller for signal processing, control of in box
functions and communication with the host and periphery
is an FRU, requiring special replacement equipment
Figure 47 TX Box Block Diagram
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RF System - TX Box (TBX)
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Inputs Power Metering
calibrated-for-life metering devices (no TALES replacements
Signal Description
required)
configuration data, RF pulse commands, frequency and
PCIe metering devices capable of complex impedance
phase data, RX events
ISORing_R, L Master sync clock, B0 shift, SAR data, sequence clock, measurements allowing accurate metering of RF levels both
at the output and at the coil
2.5MHz = ok
THYRE_Ready ON = over voltage these values are used to measure and monitor coil power
OFF = under voltage losses in real-time
+110 VDC supply voltage for the amplifier (POSUMO, RANBO) the measurements fro the metering devices used as the basis
+6, 15, +17 supply voltages for the TX Box controller (TBC) of the SAR monitoring
10, 100, 320 Synchronization clocks for RF (10,320MHz) and PCIe bus With the power metering devices it is now possible to realize a
MHz Clocks (100MHz)
component protection to limit real physical values, e.g. the
breakdown voltages of capacitors or the dissipated average power
Function in the coil. They can measure complex voltages which are
corrected in the TX Box and then sent to the SAR monitor (DSP on
The TBX consists of these functional blocks: RFCEL_Com). These values are the real voltage values at the
Controller TBC output of the TX Box and the basis for the SAR calculation,
Amplifier (RAMBO, POSUMO) component protection and the feedback loop for the multi-channel
Power Metering (COSPLI, TALES)
transmit coils.
TBC Controller
The TBC Controller performs these functions:
Optical Interface to MARS and ISO Ring
Pulse generation and digital modulation
Amplitude and phase regulation
Bias control
RF Power metering (for internal control and SAR)
Amplifier
3-stage amplifier, with blank
RF Splitter and Combiner
switchable 90°/140° hybrid
output routing switch
Voltage monitor with capacitive coupler
Figure 48 TX Box Block Diagram
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RF System - TX Box (TBX)
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Power Supply Monitoring Outputs
In the event one of the supply voltages should fail, then all must be
Signal Description
switched off (transistor protection).
CH0, CH1 There are two 90° or 140°phase-shifted outputs to the Body
Coil, for CP or Trueform operation.
Unexpected RF and Over-voltage Check
LC_TX Not used, will be terminated with a 50 ohm terminator.
The accumulated signals (over 10 us) from the broadband DICOs The IF transformed receive signal off the Body Coil. Only used
BC_RX
for BC0 and BC1 Channels are continuously monitored and checked when receiving with the Body Coil
against over-voltage and unexpected RF. TTX A test signal at the 1H frequency. Is currently not used.
There are two levels to compare against. A lower value is active in Thyre_On Enable signal to the THYRE power supply
between pulses to guard against unexpected RF while not actively The measured and digitized forward and reflected RF energies
SAR Data are sent to the RFCEL_Com over the ISO Ring for use in
sending. Implicitly this value also guards against over-voltage SAR monitoring.
conditions.
The higher value applies during RF_ON and a short period
thereafter and performs an over-voltage protection. NOTE Before working on the TX Box, circuit breakers for
the THYRE must first be switched and allow time for
LO Frequency Supervision the capacitor banks to discharge
The TBC has a frequency counter, that is connected to the LO DAC
outputs. Thus it is possible to count edges of the LO. The
supervisory circuit counts edges and provides the sampled number LEDs
of edges in a register. MARS Computer can read this register and
check for proper LO setting. Description LED LED Description
V69 V68
V58 V59
Cooling Water and Heatsink Monitoring
V60 V55
The coolant water temperature and flow rate as well as heatsink V56 V57
temperature are continuously monitored. If pre-determined limits V66 V67
are exceeded, errors will be issued.
PLL RX3 V27 V26 PLL RX2
PLL RX1 V25 V24 PLL RX0
PLL TX1 V23 V22 CORE
Power Supplies Function
The THYRE rectifies over 6 phases a 110 VDC voltage. The voltage
is monitored internally. Error in this voltage will be indicated with
THYRE LEDs.
Is located in the EPC and supplies 110V DC to the TX Box.
Output
Figure 49 THYRE 110 VDC Power Supply Regulated 110 VDC output
Fiber optic Thyre_Ready signal indicating the power supply
readiness. This signal has the same definition as the control
signal. If the signal toggles at 2,5MHz ± 1ppm the THYRE is
working within its specified limits. Static high level indicates
overvoltage, static low level indicates undervoltage condition.
LEDs
Green (left)= PS enabled by TBC
Yellow (middle) = output V OK
Yellow (right) = output voltage >24V (used to indicate cap
bank discharged)
Low Voltage Power Supply
A logical power supply, mounted on the RF Filter Panel, provides
the TX Box with low voltages of +6, 15 and +17V DC.
These voltages are monitored by the TBX controller.
Figure 50 TX Box Power Supply - Filter Panel
Inputs
Two sets of 3 phase AC over 2 circuit breakers.
Fiber optic Thyre_On signal. When the signal toggles at
2,5MHz ± 1ppm the THYRE is enabled. A static HIGH or LOW
level disables the THYRE.
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RF System - TX Box (TBX)
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Body Coil Figure 51 Body Coil Block Diagram
The Spectras Body Coil is a circular polarized (CP) resonant
antenna system transducing the current/voltage signals from the
TX Box to an electro-magnetic field, the magnetic component of
which is designated as the B1 field. The energy in the B1 field
provides the excitation of the proton nuclei in the MR-experiment.
Although the Body Coil is used primarily to transmit the excitation
pulses, it can also be used as a receive coil, typically when making
scout scans (topology images) used for slice positioning. This multi
functional use of the Body Coil requires a detune circuit to allow
fast enable/disable of the coil when used only as a transmit coil
(dynamic detuning). For this PIN diodes are used.
Function
Two phase shifted signals are applied to the resonator at 90°
physical intervals. The resulting current flowing in the coil will be a
sine wave. If the energy distribution between the two resonator
halves is equal, a homogeneous B1 field will result. In order to
improve the B1 homogeneity in the area of the abdomen or
shoulders and to improve the SAR distribution in these areas the
TrueForm mode is used. Trueform is an elliptical B1 field resulting
from a phase shifting of the applied RF signals within the TX Box
(which see). Selection between normal and TrueForm mode is
determined by the examined Region in the syngoMR software.
Decoupling Figure 52 Body Coil Parts Location
Being a CP coil, decoupling between resonator systems is an
important issue. Strong coupling between the two resonator
systems leads to high transmitter reference values and hence
reduces the performance of the RF-transmit path. A procedure for
checking and, if necessary, optimizing the decoupling is located in
the Service Software platform under Tune Up / BC Tuning.
Detuning
When using local coils a detune circuit brings the Body Coil to off-
resonance to prevent coupling with the Local Coils and thus
absorbing any MR echo signal. For receive-only local coils the
detuning is achieved dynamically (fast switching times). PIN diodes
are the devices used to accomplish the detuning. A control voltage
of -30 V is applied for dynamic detuning. To tune the coil, the
diodes are enabled with a positive voltage and a current of 5A. The
PIN diode control signals are supplied by the BC_DYN board in the
RFCEL.
Faraday Shield
The RF shield (Faraday shield) is laminated on the inside of the
Gradient Coil and connected over the magnet shell to ground. The
RF shield reduces B1 field losses into the gradient coil as well as
serves to prevent possible disturbances.
Specifications
Specification Value
Design 32-element Birdcage
Tube diameter 60 cm
S/N 29
CPL <=1500W
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RF System - Body Coil
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RFCEL - RF Cabin Electronics Figure 53 RFCEL Rack Location
Introduction
The RFCEL is a rack unit housing the components belonging to the
receiver, coil control and SAR monitor as well as the intercom
controller. All boards share a common backplane used to distribute
both control signals and power supplies.
RFCEL Cooling
The RFCEL rack unit is actively cooled by a water-air heat
exchanger and a fan blower assembly. This cooling also climates
the TX Box, situated directly above the RFCEL unit. The RFCEL rack
is hermetically sealed to avoid problems with dust, condense water
from magnet, EMC problems etc.
RFCEL Contents
The RFCEL unit contains these boards:
Main Supply Module - MSM
RFCEL_Com
Intercom
DIG_RX32 (only 1)
BC_Dyn
LC_Dyn (3x)
IF_RCCS/Synthesizer
IF_RX24 (only 1)
The RFCEL_Com is the main controller for the receiver, coil control
and SAR monitor functional blocks. It also acts as the ISO-Ring
master, the controller for the PMU and several patient handling
functions as well as cover lighting and BC identification.
The Intercom board is covered in the Patient Handling section.
Figure 54 RFCEL Board Masks and LEDs
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RF System - RFCEL - RF Cabin Electronics
