RF Cabin Power Distribution Board With Synchronized Switching Regulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical imaging systems, particularly MR-PET hybrid systems, the integration of switching regulators within the RF cabin is restricted due to noise coupling concerns, limiting their efficiency and increasing cooling demands, while traditional power distribution methods require multiple DC voltages and complex cabling.
Innovation Solution
A power management framework that includes a power distribution board within the RF cabin, synchronized with an external reference clock, using switching regulators that operate in self-drive and forced clock modes to generate multiple power rails efficiently, minimizing spectral interference and reducing cabling complexity by utilizing a single DC power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If switching regulators are placed outside the RF cabin, then noise coupling into the RF spectrum is minimized, but power distribution efficiency decreases and cooling demands increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful switching noise from the RF cabin environment by placing switching regulators outside, while simultaneously bringing the beneficial high-efficiency power conversion function inside through synchronized switching regulators that operate at frequencies excluded from the RF spectrum, thus resolving the contradiction between noise isolation and power efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter of the switching regulators to match the reference clock frequency, which is specifically chosen to be excluded from the RF spectrum. This parameter change allows the switching regulators to operate efficiently inside the RF cabin without coupling noise into the RF signals
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple DC voltages are used for power distribution, then different power rails can be provided, but cabling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal single DC power input that can provide multiple different power rails through synchronized switching regulators. The system converts a single input voltage into multiple output voltages with different levels, eliminating the need for multiple separate DC voltage inputs and their associated complex cabling while maintaining full adaptability for different power rail configurations
3Ease of manufacture
If linear regulators are used for power conversion, then ease of use and low cost are achieved, but efficiency decreases and heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the switching regulators by synchronizing them to the reference clock frequency, which is specifically selected to be excluded from the RF spectrum. This allows the system to use efficient switching regulation instead of linear regulation while avoiding RF noise coupling, thus improving power conversion efficiency without the typical drawbacks of switching regulators
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harmful effect of switching noise into a benefit by carefully selecting the reference clock frequency to be excluded from the RF spectrum. The switching regulators operate at this frequency, generating no harmful noise while maintaining high efficiency, thus turning what could be a harmful factor into a design advantage
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 high-efficiency power distribution within the RF cabin, reducing noise interference, cooling demands, and cabling complexity, while ensuring frequency synchronization and monitoring of power rails, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and integrity of medical imaging systems.
Implementation Method 1
The switching regulator converts an input voltage to an output voltage by temporarily storing the input voltage energy and later releasing the energy at a different output voltage
Implementation Method 2
a clock circuit that generates one or more output clock signals based on a reference clock signal from the external reference clock
Data Source
AI summary
A framework for power management. The framework includes at least one power distribution board disposed within a radio-frequency (RF) cabin of a medical imaging system and coupled to an external reference clock. The power distribution board may include a clock circuit that generates one or more output clock signals based on a reference clock signal from the external reference clock. One or more switching regulators may be coupled to the clock circuit. The one or more switching regulators may be synchronized to the one or more output clock signals and provide power to one or more endpoint loads.