High Voltage Line Remote Control via Digital Signal Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical imaging systems, such as PET scanners, face challenges in remotely adjusting and controlling the high bias voltage gradient for photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and avalanche photodiodes (APDs), requiring additional wiring and potentially introducing noise that affects detector performance.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a high voltage connection line that carries both a high DC supply voltage and a digital control signal, using AC block and coupling units, isolators, and digitally controlled adjustment units like digital potentiometers or EEPROMs to remotely adjust the voltage gradient, allowing for noise-free operation during scans and eliminating the need for additional wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional potentiometers are used to adjust high bias voltage in remote detector units, then voltage gradient adjustment is possible, but additional wiring is required and noise is introduced affecting detector performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical potentiometers with digitally controlled adjustment units (such as digital potentiometers or MOSFET-based voltage dividers) that can be controlled remotely via digital signals. This substitution eliminates the need for manual mechanical adjustment while maintaining remote adjustability, and the digital control mechanism introduces less noise compared to conventional potentiometer wiring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary digital control system that communicates adjustment commands to the remote detector unit. This intermediary layer allows voltage gradient adjustment to be performed remotely through digital signals rather than direct mechanical connection, reducing noise transmission and eliminating the need for additional analog wiring between the control unit and detector
2Ease of operation
If additional wiring is added for remote control of high voltage bias, then remote adjustment capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing high voltage supply line multi-functional by enabling it to carry both power and digital control signals. The digitally controlled adjustment unit responds to digital signals transmitted through the same connection infrastructure used for power supply, eliminating the need for separate control wiring and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power transmission function and control signal transmission function into a single communication channel. By combining these functions, the system reduces the number of separate wires needed, simplifies the wiring harness, and lowers installation and maintenance complexity while maintaining full remote control capability
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional potentiometers are used for voltage adjustment, then voltage gradient can be adjusted, but manual adjustment is required and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical potentiometers with digitally controlled adjustment units that can be programmed and controlled automatically. This allows for precise voltage gradient adjustment through digital commands, eliminating manual intervention and significantly reducing adjustment time while maintaining or improving precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the digitally controlled adjustment unit can receive commands from the control unit, adjust the voltage gradient accordingly, and report status back to the control system. This closed-loop control enables automatic adjustment without manual intervention, reducing time loss while ensuring precise voltage gradient settings
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables remote control of the voltage gradient without introducing noise during data acquisition, reducing costs by eliminating the need for extra wiring and improving detector performance by allowing sequential setup and adjustment of the high voltage bias.
Implementation Method 1
a first AC block unit (825) coupled to said high voltage line for blocking said high DC supply voltage
Implementation Method 2
a first AC coupling unit (840) coupled to said high voltage line for coupling said digital control signal onto said high voltage line
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device with a high voltage connection line for carrying a high DC supply voltage has a control unit generating said high DC supply voltage which is fed through a first AC block unit to said high voltage connection line and generating a digital control signal fed through a first AC coupling unit to said high voltage connection line, and a remotely located unit a second AC block unit coupled to said high voltage connection line for receiving said high DC supply voltage and a second AC coupling unit coupled to said high voltage connection line for receiving said digital control signal.