Device, method and system to control an imaging system

Abstract

A control device of an imaging system has a computer with communication interfaces for central control of the imaging system, and components each having a communication interface for local control of units of the imaging system. The communication interfaces of the components are respectively connected via a connection with an interface of the computer, and a transmitting component, among the components transfers data via the computer to a receiving component, among the components, for the exchange of information between the components.

Claims

1. A control assembly for an imaging system, said imaging system comprising a plurality of imaging system components, said control assembly comprising: a computer comprising a plurality n of computer communication interfaces, said computer being configured for centralized control of said imaging system components; each of said imaging system components comprising a component communication interface, with the respective component communication interfaces for all of said imaging system components being a total of n component communication interfaces; a plurality n of communication connections each proceeding only between one computer communication interface and one component communication interface; at least one of said imaging system components being configured as a transmitting component and at least one other of said imaging system components being configured as a receiving component, with the respective component communication interfaces of said transmitting component and said receiving component being configured to transmit information in an information transfer from said transmitting component to said receiving component exclusively via a communication path formed by the communication connection between the component communication interface of the transmitting component and the one computer connection interface connected thereto, said computer, and the communication connection between the component communication interface of the receiving component and said one computer communication interface connected thereto; a group controller connected to one of said computer communication interfaces and connected to multiple, but not all, imaging system components, with the respective component communication interfaces of said multiple imaging system components being connected, via respective ones of said communication connections and via said group controller, to said one computer communication interface to which said group controller is connected; and said group controller being configured to provide control information from said computer to said multiple imaging system components to control said multiple imaging system components as a group.

2. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiving component is configured to request said information by transmitting a request to said computer via said communication path, and wherein said computer is configured to transmit said request to the transmitting component via said communication path.

3. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitting component is configured to transmit said information at a data rate and wherein said receiving component is configured to receive said information at said data rate, and wherein the respective component communication interfaces of said transmitting component and said receiving component are adapted to said data rate.

4. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of communication connections are selected from the group consisting of hardwired connections and wireless connections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a known controller.

(2) FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a controller according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a controller according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a controller 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The controller 20 of an image processing system or imaging scanner has a computer 100, for example a measurement and control computer (measurement and reconstruction computer) or, respectively, a measurement and control system (MARS) and n distributed components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n, and is designated as a distributed controller. The components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n—for example for general communication tasks, to control gradients of a gradient arrangement (gradient array) to control a transmitter unit (TX unit) and to process radio-frequency signals in the transmitter unit or to control a receiver unit (RX unit) and to digitize radio-frequency (RF) reception signals in said receiver unit—can thus be arranged as close as possible to the respectively controlled unit of the image processing system, for example in a control room, examination room or equipment room. Multiple components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n, can be associated with one unit, or one component among the components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n can be associated with multiple units.

(5) The computer 100 has n communication interfaces (ports) 110.sub.1-110.sub.n, a processor 120 and memory 130. Furthermore, the computer 100 can comprise a communication device 170. The communication device 170 can be executed in hardware (for example as a processor, DSP or FPGA) or in software (for example as a program module that is executed by the processor 120).

(6) Each of the n components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n has a respective communication interface 210.sub.1-210.sub.n that is connected via a computer connection 300.sub.1-300.sub.n with one of the interfaces 110.sub.1-110.sub.n of the computer 100 for the transfer of instructions, information and result data. The computer connections 300.sub.1-300.sub.n can be executed in a wired, wireless or optical (for example by means of optical waveguides, OWG) manner.

(7) The computer 100 generates instructions in an operating sequence by means of the processor 120 and a program (stored in the memory 130) for a measurement, which instructions are transferred to the various components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n. The operating sequence also defines the processing of result data that have been generated by the components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n and transferred to the computer 100.

(8) To exchange information between components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n, a transmitting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n transfers the information to the computer 100; and the computer 100 transfers the information to the receiving component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n. For the transfer, the computer 100 can establish a direct connection (for example by means of the communication device 170) between the transmitting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n and the receiving component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n or initially receive the information to be transferred from the transmitting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n, possibly process the information—for example store (buffer, for instance), associate, analyze, split up and/or merge it—and then send it to the receiving component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n. The information can be transferred from a transmitting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n to multiple (for example two, three, four or five) receiving components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n. Furthermore, a receiving component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n can receive information from multiple (for example two, three, four or five) transmitting components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n. The information can be transmitted as data (for example in data packets or data streams).

(9) All information of the imaging system thus can be potentially available in the computer 100. A component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n that requires information from another component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n can request the information at the computer 100, which registers the request and transmits the information (after transfer from the other component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n to said computer 100) to the requesting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n. Since the computer 100 communicates the information, it is sufficient if the requesting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n specifies the information; the requesting component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n neither needs to know nor specify the other component 200.sub.1-200.sub.n.

(10) Furthermore, the computer 100 can centrally execute comprehensive tasks, for example control and monitoring of the system and the information. The availability of specific information can be regulated (in particular limited), for example via a rights system.

(11) A (maximum) transfer speed of the communication interface 210.sub.1-210.sub.n of the components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n can respectively be adapted to a required data rate DR.sub.i of each component 200.sub.i. Furthermore, the (maximum) transfer speed of the communication interfaces 110.sub.1-110.sub.n of the computer 100 can respectively be matched to the transfer speed of the corresponding connected communication interfaces 210.sub.1-210.sub.n of the components 200.sub.1-200.sub.n.

(12) According to a modification of the preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more interfaces 110.sub.1-110.sub.n of the computer 100 can be physically arranged in an interface unit of the computer 100 that can be spatially displaced from the computer 170. The interface unit can be connected with the computer 100 via an internal computer connection, for example a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe or PCI-E) connection or extension. The interface unit can furthermore comprise the communication device 170.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a controller 30 according to a further embodiment of the invention. The controller 30 furthermore comprises a connection component 500.sub.1. The connection component 500.sub.1 comprises communication interfaces 510.sub.1, 540.sub.1, 550.sub.1 and 560.sub.1 and is (logically) arranged between the computer 100 and a group of components 200.sub.2-200.sub.4. The components 200.sub.2-200.sub.4 of the group are, for example, associated with a unit (such as a TX unit).

(14) The components 200.sub.2-200.sub.4 of the group are respectively connected via their communication interfaces 210.sub.2-210.sub.4 and the computer connections 300.sub.2-300.sub.4 with one of the interfaces 540.sub.1, 550.sub.1 and 560.sub.1 of the connection component 500.sub.1. The connection component 500.sub.1 is in turn connected via its communication interface 510.sub.1 and the computer connection 300.sub.n+i with one of the interfaces 110.sub.1-110.sub.n of the computer 100. For example, only the connection component 500.sub.1 is thus directly connected with the computer 100. This can on the one hand lead to an unloading of the computer 100 and a reduction of the latency given transfers within the group of components 200.sub.2-200.sub.4, and on the other hand to an increase of the latency given transfers between a component 200.sub.2-200.sub.4 of the group and a component 200.sub.1, 200.sub.n outside of the group, as well as a loss of the availability of all information in the computer 100.

(15) Through the use of multiple (for example two, three, four or five) connection components, different topologies can be realized, for example hierarchies (such as recursive hierarchies), networks and layers. For example, a control device can furthermore comprise an additional connection component with communication interfaces that is logically arranged between the computer 100 and the connection component 500.sub.1; wherein the communication interface 510.sub.1 of the connection component 500.sub.1 is connected via a connection with a communication interface of the additional connection component; and an additional communication interface of the additional connection component is connected via the connection 300.sub.n+1 with one of the interfaces 110.sub.1-110.sub.n of the computer 100. Alternatively, a control device can furthermore comprise an additional connection component with communication interfaces that is logically arranged in parallel with the connection component 500.sub.1; wherein the communication interfaces of the components of an additional group are respectively connected via the connections with one of the interfaces of the additional connection component; and the communication interface of the additional connection component is connected via an additional connection with one of the interfaces 110.sub.1-110.sub.n of the computer 100.

(16) Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution to the art.