Method and apparatus for collecting data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10575799-B2
Application number	US-201815960237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2018
Priority date	Apr 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting data is provided. According to an example, the apparatus for collection data may include: n number of detector arrays, n number of DAS circuits and a back-end processor. Each of the DAS circuits may include an analog-to-digital converter and a front-end processor coupled with the analog-to-digital converter. Each of front-end processors is coupled with the back-end processor via an independent transmission line. For each of the detector arrays, the detector array may be configured to output analog signals based on detected scanning rays penetrating through a subject. The analog-to-digital converter may be configured to perform an analog-to-digital conversion on the analog signals to generate raw data. The front-end processor may be configured to logarithmically compress the raw data and transmit the logarithmically-compressed raw data to the back-end processor via the transmission line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of collecting data, applied to an apparatus for collecting data, wherein the apparatus for collecting data comprises:
n number of detector arrays, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1;
n number of data acquisition system (DAS) circuits respectively coupled with one detector array, wherein each of the DAS circuits comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a front-end processor coupled with the analog-to-digital converter; and a back-end processor coupled with each of the front-end processors, wherein each of the front-end processors is coupled with the back-end processor via an independent transmission line;
the method comprises:
for each of the detector arrays, generating, by the detector array, analog signals based on scanning rays which penetrate through a subject and detected by the detector array;
outputting, by the detector array, the analog signals to the analog-to-digital converter coupled with the detector array;
performing, by the analog-to-digital converter, an analog-to-digital conversion on the analog signals to generate raw data;
outputting, by the analog-to-digital converter, the raw data to the front-end processor coupled with the analog-to-digital converter;
logarithmically compressing, by the front-end processor, the raw data to obtain logarithmically compressed raw data; and transmitting, by the front-end processor, the logarithmically compressed raw data to the back-end processor via the independent transmission line connecting the front-end processor and the back-end processor.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the front-end processors comprises:
a memory storing a logarithm table; and a first Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for logarithmically compressing the raw data by searching the logarithm table.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein each of the front-end processors comprises a same configuration equation as the first FPGA.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
synchronically receiving and latching, by the back-end processor, the logarithmically compressed raw data transmitted by the front-end processors.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the back-end processor comprises:
a clock generator for providing a clock signal; and a second FPGA for synchronically receiving and latching the logarithmically compressed raw data transmitted by the front-end processors at an edge of the clock signal.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission line comprises a plurality of flexible cables.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission line comprises a circuit board containing a flexible portion.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting, by the back-end processor, the logarithmically compressed raw data to a computer for reconstructing an image.

9. An apparatus for collecting data, comprising:
n number of detector arrays, respectively configured to output analog signals based on scanning rays which penetrate through a subject and detected by the detector arrays, wherein n is an integer greater than 1;
n number of data acquisition system (DAS) circuits respectively coupled with one of the detector arrays, wherein each of the DAS circuits comprises
an analog-to-digital converter to perform an analog-to-digital conversion on the analog signals to generate raw data, and a front-end processor coupled with the analog-to-digital converter and configured to logarithmically compress the raw data; and a back-end processor coupled with each of front-end processors via an independent transmission line and configured to receive the logarithmically compressed raw data transmitted by each of the front-end processors via the independent transmission line.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein each of the front-end processor comprises:
a memory storing a logarithm table; and a first Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for logarithmically compressing the raw data by searching the logarithm table.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the front-end processors comprises a same configuration equation as the first FPGA.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the back-end processor is further configured to:
synchronically receive and latch the logarithmically compressed raw data transmitted by the respective front-end processors.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the back-end processor comprises:
a clock generator for providing a clock signal; and a second FPGA configured to synchronically receive and latch the logarithmically compressed raw data transmitted by the respective front-end processors at an edge of the clock signal.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the transmission line comprises a plurality of flexible cables.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the transmission line comprises a circuit board containing a flexible portion.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the back-end processor is further configured to output the logarithmically compressed raw data to a computer for reconstructing an image.

Assignees

• Shenyang Neusoft Medical Sys

Inventors

• Hu Xiaoqing

Classifications

• G01N23/046 Primary

  using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• H03M1/12

  Analogue/digital converters ({H03M1/001 – } H03M1/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B6/52

  Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis · CPC title

• A61B6/42 Primary

  Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis · CPC title

• G01T1/16

  Measuring radiation intensity (G01T1/29 takes precedence {; self-powered detectors G01T3/006; using an ionisation chamber filled with a liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric G01T3/008}) · CPC title