Abstract: A probe for receiving transmissions of electrical signals from a transmitter across an interface of a slip ring comprising a signal capture area comprising at least one segmented signal receiving strip arranged in spaced relation to the transmitter of the slip ring for receiving a signal transmitted across the interface of the slip ring. The segmented signal receiving strip configured to receive a range of frequency signal content of the signal and having a first signal receiving segment having a first frequency response, a second signal receiving segment electrically coupled to said first signal receiving segment and having a second frequency response less than the first frequency response, and a third signal coupled to the first signal receiving segment and having a third frequency response less than the first frequency response.

Abstract: A probe for receiving transmissions of electrical signals from a transmitter across an interface of a slip ring comprising a signal capture area comprising at least one segmented signal receiving strip arranged in spaced relation to the transmitter of the slip ring for receiving a signal transmitted across the interface of the slip ring. The segmented signal receiving strip configured to receive a range of frequency signal content of the signal and having a first signal receiving segment having a first frequency response, a second signal receiving segment electrically coupled to said first signal receiving segment and having a second frequency response less than the first frequency response, and a third signal coupled to the first signal receiving segment and having a third frequency response less than the first frequency response.

Abstract: A method for determining a subject's orientation includes receiving, at an imaging system, an input that indicates an orientation of a subject being imaged, automatically determining the orientation of the subject using a feature recognition system, comparing the received input to the automatically determined orientation, and generating an image, the image including orientation indicia based on the comparison. An object orientation recognition system and an imaging system are also described herein.

Abstract: A method for determining a subject's orientation includes receiving, at an imaging system, an input that indicates an orientation of a subject being imaged, automatically determining the orientation of the subject using a feature recognition system, comparing the received input to the automatically determined orientation, and generating an image, the image including orientation indicia based on the comparison. An object orientation recognition system and an imaging system are also described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for minimizing output pulse jitters in a phase locked loop. The method includes pre-setting the digital phase locked loop to a desired frequency, locking the digital phase locked loop to the desired frequency to generate an output signal, and filtering the output signal of the digital phase locked loop to maintain undesirable jitter to an acceptable range. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a medical imaging device. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a baggage imaging device.

Abstract: A data transmission system that includes a transmitter; a receiver; and a magnetically coupled rotary transformer having a first portion and a second portion in moveable relationship with one another. The transmitter is electrically and mechanically coupled to the first portion of the rotary transformer, and the receiver is electrically and mechanically coupled to the second portion of the rotary transformer. The transmitter and the receiver are configured to wirelessly communicate data across the rotary transformer while the first and the second portions of the rotary transformer are in relative rotary motion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an imaging system are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a stationary member coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member has an opened area proximate an axis about which the rotating member rotates. An x-ray source provided on the rotating member. An x-ray detector may be disposed on the rotating member and configured to receive x-rays from the x-ray source. A rotary transformer having circumferentially disposed primary and secondary windings may form part of a contactless power transfer system that rotates the rotatable portion of the gantry at very high speeds, the primary winding being disposed on the stationary member and the secondary winding being disposed on the rotating member.

Abstract: A respiratory measurement system and a method for measuring respiratory motion are provided. The system includes a strapping device that is configured to be placed across a chest of a person. The strapping device is substantially transparent to x-rays. The system further includes a sensor operatively coupled to the strapping device generating a measurement signal indicative of a displacement of the strapping device during respiration by the person.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for minimizing output pulse jitters in a phase locked loop. The method includes pre-setting the digital phase locked loop to a desired frequency, locking the digital phase locked loop to the desired frequency to generate an output signal, and filtering the output signal of the digital phase locked loop to maintain undesirable jitter to an acceptable range. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a medical imaging device. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a baggage imaging device.

Abstract: A direct electrical connection is provided between transmission line segments of a data slipring and a data acquisition system. A transformer may be provided between the data acquisition system and the transmission line segments for correcting an impedance mismatch between the slipring and the electrical connection. A method of connecting the data slipring with the data acquisition system includes providing a controlled impedance electrical cable between the transmission line segments and the data acquisition system.

Abstract: A multichannel, contactless power transfer system includes a primary power inverter disposed on a stationary side of the system, and an auxiliary power inverter disposed on the stationary side of the system. A rotary transformer has a primary side thereof disposed on the stationary side of the system and a secondary side disposed on a rotating side of the system. The rotary transformer is configured to couple primary power from an output of the primary power inverter to a primary power voltage output on the rotating side of the system, and is further configured to couple auxiliary power from an output of the auxiliary power inverter to at least one auxiliary voltage output on the rotating side of the system.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a computed tomography (CT) system includes detecting an error in at least one of a transmitted data sample in the CT system and a data sample to be transmitted in the CT system. The method also includes replacing the erroneous data sample with an error with interpolated data from neighboring data samples.

Abstract: A computerized tomography (CT) system having an apparatus and method for receiving high data rate communication is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a controlled variable attenuator for attenuating an encoded digital data signal having a wide range of power levels, a digital envelope detector for de-encoding the encoded digital data signal, a noise filtering circuit for filtering out the residual undesirable encoded signal components, and a feedback loop for maintaining a desired signal level such that the encoded digital data signal is converted to its pre-encoded state suitable for processing to generate a CT image.

Abstract: A computerized tomography (CT) system having an apparatus and method for receiving high data rate communication is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a controlled variable attenuator for attenuating an encoded digital data signal having a wide range of power levels, a digital envelope detector for de-encoding the encoded digital data signal, a noise filtering circuit for filtering out the residual undesirable encoded signal components, and a feedback loop for maintaining a desired signal level such that the encoded digital data signal is converted to its pre-encoded state suitable for processing to generate a CT image.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a communication system for transmitting high-speed data across an imaging system slip-ring. In one embodiment, the communication system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter generates encoded serial data that is transmitted across the slip-ring 1 bit at a time to the receiver. The encoded data includes command codes, message blocks having CRC data, and SYNC data. Using the commands codes, the receiver decodes the data into byte data. The receiver utilizes the CRC data to detect and correct errors in the transmitted data and the SYNC data to synchronize the receiver with the transmitter.

Abstract: A serial digital bit signal having signal bits occurring in a bit interval and at a signal bit speed, and each signal bit representing, alternatively, a first logic state and a second logic state, is transferred across a rotating interface by encoding each first logic state bit with a digital radio frequency (RF) carrier signal and coupling the encoded signal across the interface with an RF slipring.

Abstract: Dual control of image level and window of a display is accomplished by rotation of a single trackball. Rotation of the trackball within a first band including the X axis controls one parameter, and rotation of the trackball in a second band including the Y axis controls a second parameter. No changes are made in the parameters in response to rotation of the trackball in a third deadband laying between the first band and second band. The operator of a tomography system can readily change display parameters by rotation of the trackball while viewing the display.

Abstract: A set of two processors operates on image pixel data using polynomial interpolation to generate pixel data for a spatially varied image. Image data is first stored in a buffer memory, and constants used in the polynomial interpolation are stored in a constants memory. One processor operates on the data from the buffer memory using constants from the constants memory, and the interpolated data is then stored in a display memory. The second processor controls the interpolation process by addressing the memories for the retrieval and storage of data.