PET Detector Clock Synchronization Using Phase-Shifted Reset Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PET systems face challenges in synchronizing the clock counters of multiple detectors, leading to potential discrepancies in detecting radiation rays, which affects the clarity and accuracy of medical images.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for clock synchronization in PET detectors, involving a reset signal generator that sends preliminary reset signals with different phases to detectors, which provide feedback to determine an optimal reset signal for synchronized clock starting or resetting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single reset signal is transmitted to multiple PET detectors, then the system structure remains simple, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to transmission and detection environment differences causing jump edge detection discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single reset signal into multiple preliminary reset signals with different phases (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). Each detector receives a specific phase signal, ensuring that at least one detector can accurately detect the jump edge despite transmission environment differences. This segmentation approach maintains system simplicity while improving synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the phase parameter of the reset signals to create multiple variants. By transmitting preliminary reset signals with different phases and selecting the one with the best detection accuracy, the system overcomes transmission environment variations without significantly increasing overall complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple preliminary reset signals with different phases are transmitted to detectors, then synchronization accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to additional signal generation and feedback processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where detectors send detection results back to the reset signal generator. The generator uses this feedback to determine which phase signal achieved accurate detection and selects that signal for final synchronization. This feedback loop ensures high synchronization accuracy while managing complexity through intelligent signal selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by transmitting multiple phase variants of reset signals before final synchronization. This preliminary testing allows the system to identify the optimal signal phase in advance, ensuring accurate synchronization while the complexity is confined to the preliminary selection phase rather than continuous operation.
3Measurement precision
If detectors simultaneously detect radiation rays using synchronized clocks, then medical image accuracy improves, but the system requires complex synchronization mechanisms to ensure all detectors start at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-compensating for transmission environment differences through phase-diversified reset signals. By anticipating potential detection failures and providing multiple phase options in advance, the system ensures synchronized detection starts without requiring overly complex real-time synchronization mechanisms, thereby improving medical image accuracy with manageable complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for clock synchronization. The system may include a reset signal generator connected with a plurality of detectors. The reset signal generator may be configured to generate a set of preliminary reset signals to be detected and transmit the set of preliminary reset signals to the plurality of detectors. Each of the set of preliminary reset signals may have a different phase. Each of the plurality of detectors may be configured to generate first feedback data for each of the set of preliminary reset signals and transmit the first feedback data to the reset signal generator. The reset signal generator may be further configured to generate, for each of the plurality of detectors, a reset signal based on the first feedback data and transmit the reset signal to each of the plurality of detectors. Each of the plurality detectors may be further configured to execute a clock synchronization in itself based on the reset signal.