Patent ID: 6181766
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
A computerized tomography system, comprising:a rotating frame, having an aperture adapted to rotationally encircle a test object placed in an image plane therein, and including an x-ray source and a detector array each disposed on opposite sides of said aperture, said source emitting x-rays within said image plane at each of several angular positions along the rotational path of the aperture and said detector array receiving said emitted x-rays which pass through the test object, said detector array providing a plurality of detectors and adapted for rotation in an image plane coincident with selected axial positions within said aperture, said first frame thereof, said detector array providing an image signal indication of the intensity of the x-rays received thereby, said image signal indication comprising a serial digital bit data signal, each said serial digital bit occurring in an associated bit interval and at a data signal bit speed, and each representing, alternatively, a first logic state and a second logic state which, collectively, are representative of a view of the test object at the related angular position of the aperture;a stationary frame, in fixed relation to said rotating frame, and including a signal processor with memory for receiving said serial digital bit data signal associated with each said view at each said angular position, for providing a cross-sectional image of the test object as a composite of said views;a signal transmitter disposed on said rotating frame for encoding said serial digital bit data signal with a digital radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to provide a digitally encoded serial digital bit data signal; wherein said signal transmitter digitally encodes only the bit intervals associated with each first logic state bit of said serial digital bit data signal; electromagnetic coupler having first and second elements disposed on said rotating frame and said stationary frame, respectively, said first element receiving said encoded serial digital bit data signal from said signal transmitter for providing electromagnetic coupling thereof to said second element; anda signal receiver disposed on said second frame and responsive to said second element, for translating said digitally encoded serial digital bit data signal to its pre-encoded state; wherein said signal receiver translates the received first logic state encoded signal into first logic state bits and second logic state bits in correspondence with the pre-encoded state of said serial digital bit data signal.