Patent ID: 6593575
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: A61B,G01T

Abstract:
For use in a medical imaging system, a timing circuit comprising:a clock having a primary frequency of operation, wherein the clock provides at least a first clock signal that varies at the primary frequency; a counter including first and second counter elements coupled to the clock, wherein the first counter element receives the first clock signal and in response provides a first count signal that varies at the primary frequency, and wherein the second counter element receives a second clock signal, and in response provides a second count signal; a status detection circuit including first and second status circuits coupled to the clock, wherein the first status circuit receives the first clock signal and an event detection signal and in response provides a first status signal indicative of whether the event detection signal has experienced a first status change, and wherein the second status circuit receives the second clock signal and the event detection signal and in response provides a second status signal indicative of whether the event detection signal has experienced the first status change; and an output circuit including first and second registers coupled to the clock and respectively coupled to the first and second counters and to the first and second status circuits, wherein the first and second registers respectively receive the first and second clock signals, the first and second count signals, and the first and second status signals, respectively, and in response respectively provide first and second output signals that collectively form an overall output signal indicative of a time at which the event detection signal experienced the first status change.