Cooling device for control unit of magnetic resonance apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device having a control unit for a detector unit which is comprised by a magnetic resonance apparatus, in which the control unit comprises at least two electronics which generate waste heat during operation of the magnetic resonance apparatus, and the control unit is to be arranged on a surface of the detector unit, the cooling device comprises an active cooling unit which comprises at least one piezoelectric fan which is designed to generate an air flow at a surface of the control unit and / or at a surface of at least one of the at least two electronic components.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling device having a control unit for a detector unit of a magnetic resonance system and to a magnetic resonance system. Background Art

[0002] In a magnetic resonance apparatus, the body of the object to be examined, in particular the patient to be examined, is usually subjected to a relatively high main magnetic field, for example, a main magnetic field of 1.5, 3 or 7 Tesla, by means of a main magnet. In addition, gradient pulses are output by means of a gradient coil unit. Subsequently, high-frequency radio frequency pulses (HF pulses), in particular excitation pulses, are transmitted via a radio frequency antenna unit by means of a suitable antenna device, which causes the nuclear spins of specific atoms resonantly excited by the HF pulses to tilt by a defined flip angle relative to the magnetic field lines of the main magnetic field. When the nuclear spins relax, radio frequency signals, so-called magnetic resonance signals, are emitted, which are received by means of a suitable radio frequency antenna and subsequently further processed. Finally, the desired image data can be reconstructed from the raw data thus obtained.

[0003] In order to operate a magnetic resonance device, a radio frequency antenna unit and in particular a gradient coil unit are controlled by means of electric current. In order to generate gradient pulses, an electric current is conducted into the gradient coils of the gradient coil unit, the amplitude of the electric current reaching several hundred A and the electric current being subjected to a change in the direction of the current with a rate of rise and rate of fall of several hundred kA / s. The radio frequency antenna unit is driven with a smaller electric power than the gradient coil unit. Like the main control unit of the magnetic resonance device, which performs the central control and coordination of the individual components, the energy source and amplifier unit for the gradient coil unit and the radio frequency antenna unit are typically arranged spatially separated from the detector unit of the magnetic resonance device. The magnetic resonance device additionally requires a control unit in the direct vicinity of the detector unit, which implements the control coordinated centrally by the main control unit and / or correspondingly controls the individually connected subcomponents of the individual components. Therefore, such a control unit includes a control electronic device, in particular an electronic component, which is configured, for example, to:

[0004] - Controlling the various coil elements comprised by the transmitting coil by means of the connection matrix

[0005] -Coordination of MR signals received from different receive coil elements

[0006] -Digitize electrical signals

[0007] -Integrate sensor data, especially temperature sensor data

[0008] -Manage patient support equipment

[0009] The electronic components typically include a circuit board. The control unit, in particular the electronic components, is typically located at the outer housing of the detector unit and / or the main magnet. This reduces the number of individual transmission cables between the main control unit and the components of the magnetic resonance device, and enables the control unit to be supplied with power, and the exchange of data, for example between the main control unit and the control unit, can be performed optically, and only a small number of electrical signals should be exchanged.

[0010] Such electronic components typically have an electrical power of less than 2 kW. The power requirement of such electronic components is preferably between 50 W and 500 W. In addition, such electronic components typically generate less than 1000 W, in particular less than 500 W of waste heat during the operation of the magnetic resonance device. The compact design of the magnetic resonance device results in little free available space and a high integration density of electronic components, in particular circuit boards. Since the control unit including such electronic components is positioned near the detector unit, in particular near the main magnet, cooling of the control unit is required. Summary of the invention

[0011] The object on which the present invention is based is to provide an improved cooling device for a control unit of a detector unit of a magnetic resonance device, the cooling device being designed to cool particularly effectively components of the control unit that generate heat during operation of the magnetic resonance device. The object is achieved by the cooling device according to the present invention. Advantageous embodiments are described below.

[0012] The cooling device according to the invention comprises a control unit for a detector unit which is comprised by a magnetic resonance device.

[0013] The control unit comprises at least two electronic components which generate waste heat during operation of the magnetic resonance system, in particular the detector unit, and is to be arranged and / or can be arranged and / or permanently or reversibly connected to the surface of the detector unit.

[0014] The cooling device comprises an active cooling unit comprising at least one piezoelectric fan configured to generate an air flow at a surface of the control unit and / or at a surface of at least one of the at least two electronic components.

[0015] The detector unit typically comprises at least one main magnet, a gradient coil unit and a radio frequency antenna unit. The detector unit is typically surrounded by a housing unit. The detector unit may include a housing unit. The housing unit typically closes the detector unit outwardly, in particular also closes the detector unit toward a patient accommodation area that is typically cylindrically surrounded by the detector unit. The housing unit defines a surface and / or has a surface facing away from the detector unit, which surface may be referred to as a surface of the detector unit.

[0016] The control unit can be arranged on the surface of the detector unit. For this purpose, the control unit and / or the surface of the detector unit, in particular the housing unit, can have a fixing device so that the control unit can be reversibly detachably arranged on the detector unit. The detector unit can be permanently connected to the detector unit, in particular to the surface of the detector unit. The control unit arranged on the surface of the detector unit has a contact point and / or a contact surface with the detector unit.

[0017] The piezoelectric fan typically comprises a fan-shaped structure, in particular a fan-shaped element, and a piezoelectric unit, which is connected to the fan-shaped structure. Applying an electrical signal to the piezoelectric unit typically causes the movement of the fan-shaped structure. The movement of the fan-shaped structure is configured to generate an air flow. The active cooling unit typically comprises at least two, preferably at least four, particularly preferably at least six piezoelectric fans.

[0018] The active cooling unit, in particular at least one piezoelectric fan, is typically integrated into the control unit and / or arranged at the control unit, so that the air flow generated by the piezoelectric fan circulates around the at least one electronic component. In particular, the control unit preferably has no closed surfaces and preferably comprises openings and / or slits. This enables an air flow around the individual electronic components comprised by the control unit.

[0019] The air flow generated by the active cooling unit enables convection of waste heat, in particular fluid transport of waste heat of the electronic components away from the electronic components. This results in active cooling of the electronic components.

[0020] Piezoelectric fans are typically robust and typically have a long service life with a low energy requirement. In addition, the piezoelectric fan has a robust and reliable functionality independently of the magnetic field, in particular the main magnetic field and / or the stray magnetic field. The cooling unit is therefore designed such that a control unit comprised by the cooling unit can be reliably cooled. In addition, a cooling medium, such as water, can be omitted, which makes the use of the cooling unit simple and flexible.

[0021] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the control unit is designed such that two of the at least two electronic components are arranged next to each other and spaced apart from each other by a gap, and that the active cooling unit is designed to generate an air flow through the gap.

[0022] At least two electronic devices are preferably arranged parallel to each other. Typically, all electronic devices included by the control unit are arranged side by side, wherein each two electronic devices are spaced apart from each other by a gap. In addition to the electronic devices arranged at the edge of the control unit, each electronic device has two adjacent electronic devices, wherein the adjacent electronic devices are respectively arranged spaced apart from the electronic device by a gap. The electronic device typically has a planar shape. The electronic device typically has a cube shape or a cube-shaped envelope, wherein when the control unit is arranged at the detector unit, preferably, the first edge of the cube is arranged parallel to the x-axis, the second edge of the cube is arranged parallel to the y-axis, and the third edge of the cube is arranged parallel to the z-axis.

[0023] The cube typically has three side lengths, wherein the third of the three side lengths of the cube, in particular the height of the cube, is at most 30%, preferably at most 20%, particularly preferably at most 15% of the first of the three side lengths and / or the second of the three side lengths. The third side length preferably corresponds to the length of the third edge. The straight line parallel to the third side length is preferably formed perpendicular to the gap and / or corresponds to the soldered connection between two adjacent electronic components. The gap is preferably an opening and / or an air-filled space and / or a free space between two adjacent electronic components. The air flow generated through the gap achieves particularly effective cooling of the two electronic components forming the gap.

[0024] One embodiment of the cooling device proposes that the active cooling unit includes at least two piezoelectric fans configured to generate an air flow through a gap and is designed so that the at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged at an opening of the gap at the same distance from at least one of the electronic components separated from each other by the gap, and when the cooling device is arranged at the surface of the detector unit, the at least two piezoelectric fans have different distances from the surface of the detector unit.

[0025] Therefore, the embodiment proposes that at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged so that they generate an air flow in the gap. To this end, at least two piezoelectric fans are preferably arranged side by side so that at most one of the at least two piezoelectric fans is arranged on the soldered connection between two adjacent electronic components. At least two piezoelectric fans are preferably arranged along a straight line parallel to the adjacent electronic components. The opening of the gap typically corresponds to an end of the gap, in particular an upper end or a lower end. The opening of the gap may also correspond to an extension of the gap beyond the two electronic components.

[0026] The gap is preferably parallel to a plane that is arranged perpendicular to the surface of the detector unit when the cooling device is arranged at the surface of the detector unit. Therefore, the embodiment proposes that in a projection view of the gap perpendicular to the surface of the detector unit, at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged one above the other. Therefore, the embodiment proposes that in a projection view of the gap parallel to the surface of the detector unit, at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged side by side. The arrangement of at least two piezoelectric fans enables a particularly strong and wide air flow in the gap, and thereby achieves particularly uniform cooling of two electronic components adjacent to the gap.

[0027] One embodiment of the cooling device proposes that the active cooling unit includes at least two piezoelectric fans configured to generate an air flow through a gap and is designed so that the at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged at an opening of the gap at different distances from at least one electronic component of the electronic components separated from each other by the gap, and when the cooling device is arranged at the surface of the detector unit, the at least two piezoelectric fans have the same distance from the surface of the detector unit.

[0028] Therefore, the embodiment proposes that at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged so that the piezoelectric fans generate an air flow in the gap. To this end, the at least two piezoelectric fans are preferably arranged side by side so that at least two of the at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged on a soldered connection between two adjacent electronic components. Therefore, the embodiment proposes that in a projection view of the gap perpendicular to the surface of the detector unit, at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged side by side. Therefore, the embodiment proposes that in a projection view of the gap parallel to the surface of the detector unit, at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged one above the other. The arrangement of at least two piezoelectric fans enables a particularly fast air flow in the gap and thereby achieves particularly uniform cooling of the two electronic components adjacent to the gap.

[0029] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the control unit is designed in such a way that, when the control unit is arranged on the surface of the detector unit, the longitudinal sides of the at least one electronic component and the intermediate space extend predominantly vertically.

[0030] The electronic device typically has a cube shape or a cube-shaped envelope, wherein when the control unit is arranged at the detector unit, preferably, the first edge of the cube is arranged parallel to the x-axis, the second edge of the cube is arranged parallel to the y-axis, and the third edge of the cube is arranged parallel to the z-axis. The third edge typically corresponds to the height of the electronic device and has the smallest length of the three edges. The longitudinal side of the electronic device is typically defined by a plane including the first edge and the second edge. The longitudinal side preferably corresponds to the largest flat surface of the surface of the electronic device. The arrangement and / or construction of the control unit according to the embodiment achieves particularly effective removal of the waste heat of the electronic device generated during the operation of the magnetic resonance device, because the upward natural convection of heat supports cooling. The active cooling unit can thus generate an air flow particularly effectively.

[0031] An alternative embodiment provides that the control unit is arranged on the surface of the detector unit such that the longitudinal side of the at least one electronic component and the intermediate space extend predominantly horizontally. This allows for a flexible arrangement of the control unit.

[0032] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the piezoelectric fan is arranged below the gap in the vertical direction, and the fan-shaped element comprised by the piezoelectric fan is directed toward the at least two electronic components. The piezoelectric fan, in particular the fan-shaped element, is preferably designed to generate an air flow through the gap upward in the vertical direction. The embodiment achieves particularly effective cooling of the at least two electronic components by supporting natural convection of the waste heat upward.

[0033] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the piezoelectric fan is arranged above the gap in the vertical direction, and the fan-shaped element comprised by the piezoelectric fan faces away from the at least two electronic components. The piezoelectric fan, in particular the fan-shaped element, is preferably designed to suck in and direct the air present in the gap upward, thereby generating an air flow in the gap. The embodiment achieves particularly effective cooling of the at least two electronic components and flexible use of the active cooling unit by supporting the natural convection of the waste heat upward.

[0034] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the active cooling unit comprises an air deflection device, the piezoelectric fan is arranged in the horizontal direction and the air deflection device is designed to direct an air flow into the gap and / or out of the gap in the vertical direction.

[0035] The piezoelectric fan and in particular the fan-shaped element comprised by the fan are preferably arranged horizontally. The piezoelectric fan can be arranged above or below the gap. The air deflection device can include a plate bent at 90°. The embodiment achieves a low structural height of the active cooling unit, so that despite the long fan-shaped element comprised by the piezoelectric fan, a compact construction and effective cooling can still be achieved.

[0036] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the two electronic components each have a hot surface and are arranged in such a way that exactly one hot surface faces the gap, and that the piezoelectric fan is designed to generate an air flow through the gap.

[0037] The two electronic components are preferably configured as planar elements. Each of the two electronic components preferably has exactly one hot surface. The hot surface of the electronic component typically corresponds to a portion of the surface of the electronic component, through which the largest portion of the waste heat can be discharged. The electronic component typically has two longitudinal sides. The longitudinal sides of the electronic component can be configured as hot surfaces. The two electronic components are preferably arranged so that exactly one hot surface of one of the two electronic components faces the gap. The two electronic components are preferably arranged so that exactly one hot surface of one of the two electronic components faces away from the gap. Preferably, at least one piezoelectric fan is configured to generate an air flow through the gap. The embodiment achieves that only one of the two electronic components discharges waste heat into the gap via its hot surface, thereby achieving uniform and effective cooling of all electronic components included in the control unit.

[0038] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the two electronic components each have a hot surface and are arranged such that the two hot surfaces face the gap, and the piezoelectric fan is designed to generate an air flow through the gap. According to this embodiment, the two hot surfaces of the two electronic components face one gap. This enables particularly effective cooling, even with a reduced number of piezoelectric fans.

[0039] One embodiment of the cooling device proposes that the control unit includes at least four electronic components and at least three gaps, two of the at least four electronic components are arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other by one of the three gaps, the active cooling unit is configured to generate an air flow through at least one of the three gaps, and the at least four electronic components each have a thermal surface and are arranged so that at least one of the three gaps does not have a facing thermal surface and the gap does not have a piezoelectric fan associated with the gap. According to the embodiment, the thermal surface is concentrated against the first gap, while the second gap does not have an abutting thermal surface. This makes it possible to largely omit the air flow in the second gap. In particular, a clear association for the piezoelectric fan for the second gap can be omitted. Active cooling of the first gap of the two thermal surfaces by means of the active cooling unit can be designed particularly effectively.

[0040] One embodiment of the cooling device proposes that at least two electronic components are respectively configured as planar elements, which are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other by gaps, and the control unit should be arranged on the surface of the detector unit so that the flat surface of the planar element is arranged perpendicular to the surface of the detector unit. The planar element typically has a cube shape or a cube-shaped envelope, wherein the cube has a particularly small spatial extension in one of the three spatial directions. The other two of the three spatial directions typically define a plane to which the two longitudinal sides of the planar element are parallel. Preferably, all electronic components are arranged parallel to each other and each two adjacent electronic components are separated from each other by a gap. The embodiment achieves a particularly compact structure of the control unit and thereby also a compact structure of the cooling device.

[0041] One embodiment of the cooling device additionally comprises a passive cooling unit, which comprises a heat sink arranged at the surface of the electronic component. The passive cooling unit preferably comprises two or more heat sinks, at least one of which is respectively arranged at the surface of the electronic component. Preferably, at least one heat sink is arranged at each electronic component. It is also conceivable that one of the at least two electronic components does not have a heat sink. Therefore, the embodiment proposes a combination of an active cooling unit and a passive cooling unit, thereby particularly effectively supporting the radiation and convection of waste heat.

[0042] One embodiment of the cooling device provides that the heat sink has a plurality of fins which are parallel to one another and are in the form of projections perpendicular to the surface of the electronic component, and the active cooling unit is designed to generate an air flow along the fins. The fins in particular increase the surface and thereby improve the possibility of discharging waste heat into the surroundings, thereby improving passive cooling. The heat sink, in particular the fins, preferably has a vertical orientation. As a result, the fins of the heat sink can particularly well support convection.

[0043] The invention is also based on a magnetic resonance device, which comprises a detector unit and a cooling device according to the invention with a control unit for the detector unit, wherein the cooling device with the control unit is arranged on the surface of the detector unit. The detector unit typically comprises a main magnet, a gradient coil unit and a radio frequency antenna unit. The detector unit may also comprise a local coil unit, which is designed for detecting MR signals and is designed as a radio frequency antenna.

[0044] The embodiments of the magnetic resonance device according to the invention are constructed similarly to the embodiments of the cooling device according to the invention. The advantages of the magnetic resonance device according to the invention correspond essentially to the advantages of the cooling device according to the invention described in detail above. The features, advantages or alternative embodiments mentioned here can also be transferred to other claimed subjects, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the exemplary embodiments described below and with reference to the drawings.

[0046] The accompanying drawings show:

[0047] Figure 1 A first view showing a schematic diagram of a magnetic resonance system according to the invention,

[0048] Figure 2 A second view of a schematic diagram of a magnetic resonance system according to the invention is shown,

[0049] Figure 3 A first view showing a first embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0050] Figure 4 A first view showing a second embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0051] Figure 5 A second view showing a third embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0052] Figure 6 A first view showing a fourth embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0053] Figure 7 A first view showing a fifth embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0054] Figure 8 A first view showing a sixth embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0055] Fig. 9 A first view showing a seventh embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0056] Fig.10 A third view showing an eighth embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention, and

[0057] Fig.11 A first embodiment of a piezoelectric fan is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Figure 1 The first view of a schematic diagram of a magnetic resonance system 11 according to the invention is shown. The magnetic resonance system 11 comprises a detector unit 13 and has a cylindrical patient receiving area 14 for receiving a patient 15, wherein the patient receiving area 14 is cylindrically surrounded by the detector unit 13 in the circumferential direction. The patient 15 can be pushed into the patient receiving area 14 by means of a patient support device 16 of the magnetic resonance system 11.

[0059] The detector unit 13 comprises a main magnet 17 for generating a strong and in particular constant main magnetic field 18, in particular in the patient receiving area 14. The detector unit 13 also has a gradient coil unit 19 for position encoding during imaging. The gradient coil unit 19 is controlled by means of a gradient control unit 28. The magnet unit 13 also has a radio frequency antenna unit 20 for transmitting RF pulses, which in the illustrated case is designed as a body coil fixedly integrated into the magnetic resonance system 11, and a radio frequency antenna control unit 29 for exciting polarizations occurring in the main magnetic field 18 generated by the main magnet 17. The radio frequency antenna unit 20 is controlled by the radio frequency antenna control unit 29 and radiates high-frequency radio frequency pulses into an examination space, which is substantially formed by the patient receiving area 14. In order to receive MR signals, the magnetic resonance system 11 has a local coil unit 12, which is designed as an antenna unit for receiving radio frequencies and is positioned close to an examination region of the patient 15, in particular the body surface of the patient.

[0060] The magnetic resonance device 11 has a main control unit 24 for controlling the main magnet 17, the gradient control unit 28 and the radio frequency antenna control unit 29. The main control unit 24 centrally controls the magnetic resonance device 11, for example the execution of MR control sequences. In addition, the main control unit 24 comprises a reconstruction unit (not shown in detail) for reconstructing medical image data detected during the magnetic resonance examination. The magnetic resonance device 11 has a display unit 25. Control information, for example control parameters and reconstructed image data can be displayed to a user on the display unit 25, for example at least one monitor. In addition, the magnetic resonance device 11 has an input unit 26, by means of which information and / or control parameters can be input by a user during the measurement process. The main control unit 24 can include a gradient control unit 28 and / or a radio frequency antenna control unit 29 and / or a display unit 25 and / or an input unit 26.

[0061] Furthermore, the magnetic resonance system has a cooling device 40 with a control unit 39 for the detector unit 13. The cooling device 40 is arranged on the surface of the detector unit 13. The control unit 39 typically has an electrical connection to the local coil unit 12 and / or the patient support device 16 and / or the radio frequency antenna unit 20 and / or the main magnet 17 and / or the gradient coil unit 19 and / or other components of the magnetic resonance system that are not described in detail. The control unit 39 typically has electronic components for implementing control information preset by the main control unit 24 and / or the gradient control unit 28 and / or the radio frequency antenna control unit 29 and / or is designed for controlling the local coil unit 12 and / or the patient support device 16 and / or the radio frequency antenna unit 20 and / or the main magnet 17 and / or the gradient coil unit 19 in accordance with the control information and / or receiving and / or processing information of the same components of the detector unit 13 and / or the magnetic resonance system 11. The electronic components generate waste heat during operation of the magnetic resonance system, wherein in Figure 1 An active cooling unit 41 , which is not shown in detail in the cooling device 40 , is designed to generate an air flow.

[0062] The control unit 39 may include a gradient control unit 28 and a radio frequency antenna control unit 29. The control unit 39 is typically constructed separately from the main control unit 24. The main control unit 24 is preferably arranged outside the HF shielded room surrounding the detector unit 13. The control unit 39 is preferably arranged inside the HF shielded room surrounding the detector unit 13.

[0063] The magnetic resonance system 11 shown may of course include other components that are usually present in a magnetic resonance system 11. Otherwise, the general mode of operation of the magnetic resonance system 11 is known to a person skilled in the art, so that a detailed description of the other components is omitted.

[0064] Figure 2 The schematic diagram shows a second view of a schematic diagram of a magnetic resonance system 11 according to the invention. The second view is perpendicular to the first view and shows in particular the arrangement of a cooling device 40 on the surface of the detector unit 13. Figure 2 The embodiment shown in Figure 1 The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 differs in particular in that the cooling device 40 is arranged laterally as centrally as possible, instead of being arranged laterally as in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , it is arranged laterally on the lower half of the detector unit 13 .

[0065] Figure 3The first view of a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. The cooling device 40 comprises a control unit 39, wherein the control unit 39 comprises a plurality of electronic components 35, 351, 352, 353, 354 which generate waste heat during operation of the magnetic resonance device. Examples of such electronic components 35 are local coil distributor matrices 35, 351, radio frequency antenna receiving distributors 35, 352, radio frequency antenna transmitting distributors 35, 353 and control matrices 35, 354.

[0066] The control unit 39 may be arranged on a surface of the detector unit 13 and include an active cooling unit 41 . The active cooling unit 41 includes a plurality of piezoelectric fans 42 which are designed to generate an air flow on a surface of the control unit 39 , in particular on a surface of the electronics 35 .

[0067] According to the embodiment, the electronic devices 35 are arranged side by side in parallel, wherein two of the electronic devices 35 are separated from each other by a gap 50, so that two adjacent electronic devices 35 are spaced apart from each other by the gap. The control unit 39 preferably includes a plurality of gaps 50, wherein the number of gaps 50 typically corresponds to the number of electronic devices 35 included by the control unit 39 reduced by one.

[0068] The active cooling unit 41 is designed to generate an air flow through at least one gap 50, preferably through all gaps 50. The electronic components 35 are preferably each designed as a planar element, so that they are each arranged vertically on the surface of the detector unit 13. In this arrangement, the longitudinal sides of the electronic components 35, in particular the planar elements, extend mainly vertically, that is, in the y direction. According to this embodiment, the gaps 50 also extend in the vertical direction, that is, in the y direction.

[0069] Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the piezoelectric fan 42 comprised by the active cooling unit 41 is arranged below the gap 50 in the vertical direction so that the sector 43 of the piezoelectric fan 42 is directed toward the electronic device 35. Each gap 50 can be associated with exactly one piezoelectric fan 42, which generates an air flow in the gap 50 associated therewith.

[0070] Figure 4 A first view of a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. Figure 3The difference of the embodiment shown in the embodiment is that two piezoelectric fans 42 are provided at the opening of the gap 50, and the two piezoelectric fans 42 are jointly configured to generate an air flow through the gap 50. The embodiment shows in particular two piezoelectric fans 42 below the gap 50 between two electronic components 352, 353, wherein the first electric fan 42 is at a smaller distance from the electronic component 352 than from the electronic component 353, and the second electric fan 42 is at a smaller distance from the electronic component 353 than from the electronic component 352.

[0071] Figure 5 A second view of a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. The third embodiment in the second view can be shown, for example, along Figure 4 . According to the embodiment, the active cooling unit 41 includes a plurality of piezoelectric fans 42, which are collectively configured to generate an air flow through the gap 50 between the electronic components 351, 352. The plurality of piezoelectric fans 42 are arranged so that the plurality of piezoelectric fans 42 have the same spacing from the electronic component 351 at the opening of the gap 50. Likewise, the spacings of the plurality of piezoelectric fans 42 from the electronic component 352 are preferably the same, respectively. If the embodiment of the cooling device 40 is arranged at the surface of the detector unit 13, the plurality of piezoelectric fans have different spacings from the surface of the detector unit 13.

[0072] Figure 6 The first view of the schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. According to this embodiment, a plurality of piezoelectric fans 42 are arranged vertically, ie in the y-direction, above the gap 50 , wherein the sectors comprised by the piezoelectric fans 42 face away from the electronic components 35 .

[0073] Figure 7 A first view of a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of a cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. The fifth embodiment provides that the active cooling unit 41 comprises an air deflection device 44. Here, the number of air deflection devices 44 preferably corresponds to the number of piezoelectric fans 42, which are arranged in the horizontal direction, i.e. in the x-direction. Each piezoelectric fan 42 is associated with an air deflection device 44 in the horizontal direction, which is configured to introduce an air flow into the gap 50 in the vertical direction. Preferably, at least one piezoelectric fan 42 is arranged below each gap 50 in the horizontal direction together with the air deflection device 44.

[0074] Figure 8The first view of the schematic diagram of the sixth embodiment of the cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. The electronic components 35, 351, 352, 353, 354 each have a hot surface 38 and are arranged so that exactly one hot surface 38 faces a gap 50. A plurality of piezoelectric fans 42 are designed to generate an air flow in each of the gaps 50.

[0075] Fig. 9 The first view of the schematic diagram of the seventh embodiment of the cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. The electronic components 35, 351, 352, 353, 354 each have exactly one hot surface 38 and are arranged so that two hot surfaces 38 face a gap 50. This applies, for example, to the gaps 50 between adjacent electronic components 351, 352 and the gaps 50 between adjacent electronic components 353, 354.

[0076] The cooling device 40 includes at least two piezoelectric fans 42 , which generate air flows in the gaps 50 between the electronic components 351 , 352 and between the electronic components 353 , 354 .

[0077] According to the embodiment, the gap 50 between two adjacent electronic devices 352, 353 does not have a thermal surface 38 facing the gap 50. The gap 50 preferably does not have a piezoelectric fan 42 associated with the gap 50. Exemplarily, Fig. 9 A control unit 39 is shown having four electronic components 35, 351, 352, 353, 354 and three gaps 50, wherein two of the four electronic components 35, 351, 352, 353, 354 are arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other by one of the three gaps 50. The active cooling unit 41 is designed to generate an air flow through at least two gaps 50. The four electronic components 35, 351, 352, 353, 354 each have a thermal surface 38 and are arranged such that at least one of the three gaps 50 has no facing thermal surface 38.

[0078] Fig.10 A third view of a schematic diagram of an eighth embodiment of a cooling device 40 according to the invention is shown. The third view is preferably perpendicular to the first view and perpendicular to the second view. The embodiment additionally comprises a passive cooling unit with a heat sink 39, which is arranged at the surface of the electronic device 35. The heat sink 39 has a plurality of fins 37 which are parallel to each other and in the form of protrusions perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device 35. The active cooling unit 41 is configured to generate an air flow along the fins 37.

[0079] Fig.11A schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a piezoelectric fan 42 is shown. The piezoelectric fan 42 comprises a piezoelectric unit 45, a sector 43 and a piezoelectric control unit 46. The piezoelectric control unit 46 comprises a voltage source and is configured to supply a voltage to the piezoelectric unit 45. The voltage source is preferably configured to generate a voltage of at least 10 V, particularly preferably at least 20 V. The piezoelectric unit 45 is connected to the sector 43 so that the vibration of the piezoelectric unit 45 is transmitted to the sector 43, which thereby generates an air flow.

[0080] Although the details of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail through the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0081] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with either male or female gender identities are included.

Claims

1. A cooling device having a control unit for a detector unit, the detector unit being comprised by a magnetic resonance device, The control unit comprises at least two electronic components which generate waste heat during operation of the magnetic resonance system, and the control unit is to be arranged on a surface of the detector unit, The cooling device comprises an active cooling unit comprising at least one piezoelectric fan configured to generate an air flow at a surface of the control unit and / or at a surface of at least one of the at least two electronic components.

2. The cooling device according to claim 1, The control unit is designed such that two of the at least two electronic components are arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other by a gap, and the active cooling unit is designed to generate an air flow through the gap.

3. The cooling device according to claim 2, The active cooling unit comprises at least two piezoelectric fans configured to generate an air flow through the gap and is designed so that the at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged at an opening of the gap at the same distance from at least one of the electronic components separated from each other by the gap, and when the cooling device is arranged at the surface of the detector unit, the at least two piezoelectric fans have different distances from the surface of the detector unit.

4. The cooling device according to claim 2 or 3, The active cooling unit comprises at least two piezoelectric fans configured to generate an air flow through the gap and is designed so that the at least two piezoelectric fans are arranged at an opening of the gap at different distances from at least one of the electronic components separated from each other by the gap, and when the cooling device is arranged at the surface of the detector unit, the at least two piezoelectric fans have the same distance from the surface of the detector unit.

5. The cooling device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, The control unit is designed in such a way that, when the control unit is arranged on the surface of the detector unit, a longitudinal side of at least one electronic component and the intermediate space extend predominantly vertically.

6. The cooling device according to claim 5, The piezoelectric fan is vertically disposed below the gap, and a fan-shaped member comprised by the piezoelectric fan faces the at least two electronic components.

7. The cooling device according to claim 5, The piezoelectric fan is disposed above the gap in a vertical direction, and a fan-shaped member comprised by the piezoelectric fan faces away from the at least two electronic components.

8. The cooling device according to claim 5, The active cooling unit comprises an air deflection device, the piezoelectric fan is arranged in a horizontal direction, and the air deflection device is configured to introduce the air flow into the gap and / or lead it out from the gap in a vertical direction.

9. The cooling device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, The two electronic components each have a hot surface and are arranged in such a way that exactly one hot surface faces the gap, and the piezoelectric fan is designed to generate an air flow through the gap.

10. The cooling device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, The two electronic components each have a hot surface and are arranged such that the two hot surfaces face the gap, and the piezoelectric fan is designed to generate an air flow through the gap.

11. The cooling device according to any one of the preceding claims, The control unit comprises at least four electronic components and at least three gaps, wherein two of the at least four electronic components are arranged side by side and separated from each other by each one of the three gaps, the active cooling unit is configured to generate an air flow through at least one of the three gaps, and the at least four electronic components each have a thermal surface and are arranged so that at least one of the three gaps does not have a facing thermal surface and the gap does not have a piezoelectric fan associated with the gap.

12. A cooling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two electronic components are each designed as a planar element, The planar elements are arranged parallel to one another and are spaced apart from one another by gaps, Furthermore, the control unit is arranged on the surface of the detector unit such that the planar surface of the planar element is arranged perpendicular to the surface of the detector unit.

13. A cooling device according to any one of the preceding claims, The cooling apparatus additionally includes a passive cooling unit including a heat sink disposed at a surface of the electronic device.

14. The cooling device according to claim 13, The heat sink has a plurality of fins which are parallel to each other and in the form of protrusions perpendicular to the surface of the electronic device, and the active cooling unit is configured to generate an air flow along the fins. 15 . A magnetic resonance system comprising a detector unit and a cooling device according to claim 1 having a control unit for the detector unit, wherein the cooling device having the control unit is arranged on a surface of the detector unit.

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