A method of amplifying a phase shift, comprises: receiving an input signal in response to an output signal; generating a reference signal; varying a modulation of at least one of the signals such that a ratio between modulation amplitudes of the input and reference signals is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1, and a phase difference between the reference and the input signals is from about 0.9 pi to about 1.1 pi; forming an output signal which comprises a sum of the reference and input signals, following the variation; and filtering the output signal by a bandpass filter to form a filtered output signal, wherein a bandwidth of the bandpass filter is selected such that XG<0.1, wherein X is a noise fluctuation average of the filtered output signal, and G is an expected amplification factor of a phase shift between the input and the reference signals.

An apparatus for generating a radio frequency signal based on a symbol within a constellation diagram is provided. The constellation diagram is spanned by a first axis representing an in-phase component and an orthogonal second axis representing a quadrature component. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to select a segment of a plurality of segments of the constellation diagram containing the symbol. The segment is delimited by a third axis and a fourth axis each crossing the origin of the constellation diagram and spanning an opening angle of the segment of less than about 90. The processing unit is further configured to calculate a first coordinate of the symbol with respect to the third axis, and a second coordinate of the symbol with respect to the fourth axis. The apparatus further includes a plurality of digital-to-analog converter cells configured to generate the radio frequency signal using the first coordinate and the second coordinate.

An apparatus for generating a radio frequency signal based on a symbol within a constellation diagram is provided. The constellation diagram is spanned by a first axis representing an in-phase component and an orthogonal second axis representing a quadrature component. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to select a segment of a plurality of segments of the constellation diagram containing the symbol. The segment is delimited by a third axis and a fourth axis each crossing the origin of the constellation diagram and spanning an opening angle of the segment of less than about 90. The processing unit is further configured to calculate a first coordinate of the symbol with respect to the third axis, and a second coordinate of the symbol with respect to the fourth axis. The apparatus further includes a plurality of digital-to-analog converter cells configured to generate the radio frequency signal using the first coordinate and the second coordinate.

In the present invention, an all digital, multi channel RF transmitter is utilized for a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, MRI signal generation, modulation and amplification are employed entirely digitally in the proposed RF transmitter, which enables each transmit channel to be easily and individually reconfigured in both amplitude and phase. Individual channel control ensures a homogeneous magnetic field in the multi channel RF coil in MRI. Besides the homogeneous magnetic field generation, multi-frequency MRI signal generation is made easy by the present invention with very high frequency resolution. Multi-frequency enables faster image acquisition which reduces MRI operation time. Digital Weaver Single Side Band (SSB) modulation is also incorporated into the all digital transmitter to suppress unwanted bands of Double Side Band (DSB) MRI signals. The power amplifier in the MRI transmitter does not amplify the unwanted band so that SSB modulation leads to higher power efficiency.

In the present invention, an all digital, multi channel RF transmitter is utilized for a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, MRI signal generation, modulation and amplification are employed entirely digitally in the proposed RF transmitter, which enables each transmit channel to be easily and individually reconfigured in both amplitude and phase. Individual channel control ensures a homogeneous magnetic field in the multi channel RF coil in MRI. Besides the homogeneous magnetic field generation, multi-frequency MRI signal generation is made easy by the present invention with very high frequency resolution. Multi-frequency enables faster image acquisition which reduces MRI operation time. Digital Weaver Single Side Band (SSB) modulation is also incorporated into the all digital transmitter to suppress unwanted bands of Double Side Band (DSB) MRI signals. The power amplifier in the MRI transmitter does not amplify the unwanted band so that SSB modulation leads to higher power efficiency.

Various embodiments provide for systems and methods for signal conversion of one modulated signal to another modulated signal using demodulation and then re-modulation. According to some embodiments, a signal receiving system may comprise an I/Q demodulator that demodulates a first modulated signal to an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal, an I/Q signal adjustor that adaptively adjusts the Q signal to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a transitory signal that is based on a second modulated signal, and an I/Q modulator that modulates the I signal and the adjusted Q signal to the second modulated signal. To increase the SNR, the Q signal may be adjusted based on a calculated error determined for the transitory signal during demodulation by a demodulator downstream from the I/Q modulator.

In the present invention, an all digital, multi channel RF transmitter is utilized for a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, MRI signal generation, modulation and amplification are employed entirely digitally in the proposed RF transmitter, which enables each transmit channel to be easily and individually reconfigured in both amplitude and phase. Individual channel control ensures a homogeneous magnetic field in the multi channel RF coil in MRI Besides the homogeneous magnetic field generation, multi-frequency MRI signal generation is made easy by the present invention with very high frequency resolution. Multi-frequency enables faster image acquisition which reduces MRI operation time. Digital Weaver Single Side Band (SSB) modulation is also incorporated into the all digital transmitter to suppress unwanted bands of Double Side Band (DSB) MRI signals. The power amplifier in the MRI transmitter does not amplify the unwanted band so that SSB modulation leads to higher power efficiency.

In the present invention, an all digital, multi channel RF transmitter is utilized for a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, MRI signal generation, modulation and amplification are employed entirely digitally in the proposed RF transmitter, which enables each transmit channel to be easily and individually reconfigured in both amplitude and phase. Individual channel control ensures a homogeneous magnetic field in the multi channel RF coil in MRI Besides the homogeneous magnetic field generation, multi-frequency MRI signal generation is made easy by the present invention with very high frequency resolution. Multi-frequency enables faster image acquisition which reduces MRI operation time. Digital Weaver Single Side Band (SSB) modulation is also incorporated into the all digital transmitter to suppress unwanted bands of Double Side Band (DSB) MRI signals. The power amplifier in the MRI transmitter does not amplify the unwanted band so that SSB modulation leads to higher power efficiency.

An improved quadrature modulator/demodulator (IQMD) may use two-phase quadrature local oscillator (LO) signal generation for generating 0 and 90 LO signals, and an anti-phase combiner/divider (at 0 and 180) on the RF (radio frequency) port. The IQMD may include mixers (which may be double-balanced passive mixers) that function as downconverters when a signal is incident at their radio frequency (RF) ports, and function as upconverters when signals are incident on their intermediate frequency (IF) ports. Accordingly, the IQMD may function as an I/Q modulator by connecting digital-to-analog converters (DAC) to the differential I and Q ports, and/or it may also function as an I/Q demodulator by connecting analog-to-digital converters (ADC) to the differential I and Q ports.

An improved quadrature modulator/demodulator (IQMD) may use two-phase quadrature local oscillator (LO) signal generation for generating 0 and 90 LO signals, and an anti-phase combiner/divider (at 0 and 180) on the RF (radio frequency) port. The IQMD may include mixers (which may be double-balanced passive mixers) that function as downconverters when a signal is incident at their radio frequency (RF) ports, and function as upconverters when signals are incident on their intermediate frequency (IF) ports. Accordingly, the IQMD may function as an I/Q modulator by connecting digital-to-analog converters (DAC) to the differential I and Q ports, and/or it may also function as an I/Q demodulator by connecting analog-to-digital converters (ADC) to the differential I and Q ports.