Capacitively decoupled tunable loop microstrip (TLM) array at 7 T

Microstrip transmission-line loop arrays have been recently proposed for parallel imaging at ultrahigh fields due to their advantages in element decoupling and to their increased coil quality factor. In the microstrip loop array design, interconnecting capacitors become necessary to further improve the decoupling between the adjacent elements when nonoverlapped loops are placed densely. However, at ultrahigh fields, the capacitance required for sufficient decoupling is very small. Hence, the isolations between the elements are usually not optimized and the array is extremely sensitive to the load. In this study, a theoretical model is developed to analyze the capacitive decoupling circuit. Then, a novel tunable loop microstrip (TLM) array that can accommodate capacitive decoupling more easily at ultrahigh fields is proposed. As an example, a four-element TLM array is constructed at 7 T. In this array, the decoupling capacitance is increased to a more reasonable value. Isolation between the adjacent elements is better than -37 dB with the load. The performance of this TLM array is also demonstrated by MRI experiments.     

Current CONtrolled Transmit And Receive Coil Elements (C2ONTAR) for Parallel Acquisition and Parallel Excitation Techniques at High-Field MRI

A novel intrinsically decoupled transmit and receive radio-frequency coil element is presented for applications in parallel imaging and parallel excitation techniques in high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Decoupling is achieved by a twofold strategy: during transmission elements are driven by current sources, while during signal reception resonant elements are switched to a high input impedance preamplifier. To avoid B(0) distortions by magnetic impurities or DC currents a resonant transmission line is used to relocate electronic components from the vicinity of the imaged object. The performance of a four-element array for 3 T magnetic resonance tomograph is analyzed by means of simulation, measurements of electromagnetic fields and bench experiments. The feasibility of parallel acquisition and parallel excitation is demonstrated and compared to that of a conventional power source-driven array of equivalent geometry. Due to their intrinsic decoupling the current-controlled elements are ideal basic building blocks for multi-element transmit and receive arrays of flexible geometry.     

基于互耦电感的两节准方波脉冲形成网络设计

针对小型化紧凑型脉冲源的应用需求,开展了基于互耦电感的两节准方波脉冲形成网络设计技术研究。首先介绍了两节脉冲形成网络互耦电感解耦的条件,并根据常用的三种脉冲形成网络模型运用拉普拉斯变换推导出了相应的输出脉冲电流表达式,并利用准方波的Prony级数表达式,通过求解非线性方程组获得了准方波脉冲的解析表达式,进一步求解出各网络元件的参数。然后研究了电感耦合系数在电路中的影响,提出了利用互耦电感设计准方波脉冲形成网络的方法。模拟仿真结果表明:基于互耦电感的两节脉冲形成网络可获得输出波形质量较好的准方波脉冲输出。利用互耦电感这一巧妙设计,可以较方便地实现准方波脉冲形成网络的设计。     

电磁带隙微带天线馈源阵设计

 针对阵列天线在大反射面馈电中的应用,设计一种基于电磁带隙（EBG）结构的馈源阵列。在深入研究EBG结构带隙特性的基础上,制作一个基于EBG结构的六边形7元微带天线阵,并对其性能进行了实测和分析。结果表明：EBG结构可以有效抑制天线阵元之间的互耦,改善天线匹配及圆极化特性;基于EBG结构的六边形馈源阵列较无EBG结构性能有较大提高,适用作反射面天线的焦平面馈电阵。     

Noise properties of a NMR transceiver coil array

The use of multiple radiofrequency (RF) surface coil elements has applications in both fast parallel imaging and conventional imaging techniques. Through implementation of a simple magnetic decoupling network, 50 Omega matching can be achieved in both the transmitter and receiver chains, enabling the use of conventional RF power amplifiers and preamplifiers for transceive applications. Unlike phased array coil arrangements using low impedance preamplifiers for decoupling, the noise correlation between 50 Omega coils decoupled with discrete components has not been characterized. We have measured the dependence of coil quality factor (Q-factor) and noise correlation on coil separation and shown these quantities to be consistent with theoretical arguments, at least at 4 T (170 MHz). Our results suggest that a coil system for transmission and reception of NMR signals with 50 Omega coils can be built to take advantage of all the benefits of conventional array coils and with the added advantages of using conventional amplifiers.     

Hybrid Monopole/Loop Coil Array for Human Head MR Imaging at 7 T

The monopole coil and loop coil have orthogonal radiofrequency (RF) fields and thus are intrinsically decoupled electromagnetically if they are laid out appropriately. In this study, we proposed a hybrid monopole/loop technique which could combine the advantages of both loop arrays and monopole arrays. To investigate this technique, a hybrid RF coil array containing four monopole channels and four loop channels was developed for human head magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 7 T. In vivo MR imaging and g-factor results using monopole-only channels, loop-only channels and all channels of the hybrid array were acquired and evaluated. Compared with the monopole-only and loop-only channels, the proposed hybrid array has the higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and better parallel imaging performance. Sufficient electromagnetic decoupling and diverse RF magnetic field (B₁) distributions of monopole channels and loop channels may contribute to this performance improvement. From experimental results, the hybrid monopole/loop array has low g-factor and excellent SNR at both periphery and center of the brain, which is valuable for human head imaging at ultrahigh fields.     

Optimization of an 8-Channel Loop-Array Coil for a 7 T MRI System with the Guidance of a Co-Simulation Approach

Minimizing coupling between coil elements is technically challenging in designing large-sized, volume-type phased-array coils for human head imaging at ultrahigh fields, e.g., 7 T. As a widely used decoupling method, the capacitive decoupling method has shown excellent performance for loop array. However, building a multi-channel loop array with capacitive decoupling method is laborious that tuning frequency and matching of one coil element will affect adjacent elements and even next adjacent elements. In this study, we made an 8-channel loop-array transmit/receive radio-frequency coil on a 7 T magnetic resonance imaging system with the guidance of frequency domain three-dimensional electromagnetic and radio-frequency circuit co-simulation. The position of decoupling capacitors was investigated and values of all capacitors were predicted from co-simulation. The co-simulation approach cost about 2 days and the error of the predicted and practical capacitance was <5 %. To demonstrate the accuracy of simulation, we evaluated the simulated and measured S-parameter matrixes and B ₁ ⁺ profiles in a birdcage-like excitation mode on a cylindrical water phantom. In addition, B ₁ ⁺ maps and images of human head were shown with the fabricated coil. To demonstrate the parallel imaging performance of this coil array, GRE images using GRAPPA acceleration with the reduction factor R of 1, 2, 3, and 4 were acquired.     

邻近电感互耦的准方波脉冲形成网络设计

针对小型化紧凑型脉冲源的应用需求,开展了电感存在互耦的准方波脉冲形成网络设计技术研究。首先介绍了基于坐标轮换-直接搜索法的准方波脉冲形成网络优化技术研究,获得了网络元件的电感、电容值以及准方波的解析表达式;然后推导了邻近电感互耦网络的等效去耦电路解算方法,基于回溯法,最终给出了全网络各元件值的求解算法;最后分别针对等电容情形及规定电容的情形,求解给出了网络元件参数值。算例结果表明:电感存在互耦的准方波脉冲形成网络可获得较理想的准方波脉冲输出。基于互耦电感的巧妙设计,有利于实现紧凑型准方波脉冲形成网络的设计。     

Electromagnetic coupling reduction in dual-band microstrip antenna array using ultra-compact single-negative electric metamaterials for MIMO application

In this paper, an ultra-compact single negative(SNG) electric waveguided metamaterial(WG-MTM) is first investigated and used to reduce the mutual coupling in E H planes of a dual-band microstrip antenna array. The proposed SNG electric WG-MTM unit cell is designed by etching two different symmetrical spiral lines on the ground, and has two stopbands operating at 1.86 GHz and 2.40 GHz. The circuit size is very compact, which is only λ_0/33.6 ×λ_0/15.1(where λ_0 is the wavelength at 1.86 GHz in free space). Taking advantage of the dual-stopband property of the proposed SNG electric WG-MTM, a dual-band microstrip antenna array operating at 1.86 GHz and 2.40 GHz with very low mutual coupling is designed by embedding a cross shaped array of the proposed SNG electric WG-MTM. The measured and simulated results of the designed dual-band antenna array are in good agreement with each other, indicating that the mutual coupling of the fabricated dual-band antenna array realizes 9.8/11.1 d B reductions in the H plane, 8.5/7.9 d B reductions in the E plane at1.86 GHz and 2.40 GHz, respectively. Besides, the distance of the antenna elements in the array is only 0.35 λ_0(where λ_0 is the wavelength at 1.86 GHz in free space). The proposed strategy is used for the first time to reduce the mutual coupling in E H planes of the dual-band microstrip antenna array by using ultra-compact SNG electric WG-MTM.     

新型电谐振人工异向介质抑制阵列天线单元间互耦

基于电谐振原理和镜像原理设计了一种周期性接地边耦合SRRs(split ring resonators)结构的新型电谐振人工异向介质,进而将该人工异向介质应用于抑制微带阵列天线元间的互耦.与传统微带阵列天线中的用于抑制互耦的电磁结构相比,该人工电磁结构不仅体积小(厚度仅为0·005λ0),而且能获得优异的阵列单元间互耦抑制性能(抑制度达16·8dB).该研究成果表明人工异向介质在高密度高性能微带天线阵列设计中具有良好的应用潜能.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations on microstrip active array antennas and power combiners

In this paper, microstrip active array antennas and power combiners are investigated. The mutual impedance of a rectangular microstrip patch array is analyzed based on the Richmond's reaction integral equation and Galerkin technique in spectral-domain. The computer-aided analysis and design of the active array are then carried out by coupling the mutual impedances to the large-signal characteristics of Gunn diodes with a harmonic balance technique. Based on the theoretical study, microstrip active patch array antennas are investigated experimentally.     

A Novel Magnetic Resonance Phased-Array Coil Designed with FDTD Algorithm

Radio-frequency receiver phased-array coils in magnetic resonance imaging systems are used to pick up the signals emitted by the nuclei with high signal-to-noise ratio and a large region of sensitivity. Since the quality of obtained images strongly depends upon the correct choice of the coil geometry and position, array coils have to be designed by minimizing the mutual interaction among nearby coil elements and this is generally achieved by overlapping such adjacent elements. In this paper, we describe the use of a numerical solver based on finite-difference time-domain method to determine the optimal overlap distance, which guarantees the maximum decoupling level between the coil loops, for array coils constituted by various geometry elements. A novel array coil was designed, constituted by a couple of elliptical geometry elements in “folding” version around the animals’ spine curvature, for small animals’ imaging applications.     

Transceiver-Phased Arrays for Human Brain Studies at 7 T

The paper describes technological advances in high-field (7 T) transceiver-phased arrays developed for magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain. The first part of this work describes an 8-element inductively decoupled split elliptical transceiver-phased array with selectable geometry, which provides an easy and efficient way of compensating for changes in mutual inductive coupling associated with difference in loading due to variability in head shape and size. The second part of the work describes a double-row 16-element (2 × 8) transceiver array to extend the homogeneous transmit B ₁ profile in the longitudinal direction. Multiplexing eight transmit channels between the two rows of the array provides homogeneous excitation over the entire volume. The final section describes design and construction of a double-tuned ³¹P/¹H 16-element (8 at each frequency) array. The array improves transmission efficiency and B ₁ homogeneity at ¹H frequency in comparison with ³¹P/¹H quadrature transverse electromagnetic volume coil. For ³¹P studies, the array also improves transmission efficiency (38%), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for central brain locations (20%) and provides substantially greater SNR (up to 400%) for peripheral locations.     

Mutual coupling of elements in finite microstrip antennas

The mutual coupling of the radiating elements in microstrip antennas is studied using a rigorous electrodynamic approach in which the field singularities at the radiator edges are taken into account with analytic accuracy. A spectral method is employed in combination with a method of semi-inversion by extraction of the Green-function singularity. The degree of interaction of the elements of microstrip structures at the fundamental and higher current harmonicsis determined, and the applicability of various approximations is assessed.Radio-Astronomy Institute, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 35, No. 8, pp. 688–701, August, 1992.     

基于互耦补偿策略的IFFT算法及其应用

介绍了一种基于互耦补偿矩阵(MCCM)的迭代快速傅里叶变换(IFFT)技术,并将其应用于宽角度扫描相控阵的低旁瓣综合中。首先,在所提出的综合方法中,将互耦补偿矩阵引入到IFFT技术中以考虑阵元间的互耦效应,使考虑互耦的阵列远场重新满足方向图乘积原理。然后,提出了一款基片集成波导背腔结构的宽波束天线单元,该天线能够同时激励起TE110与TE210两种模式从而展宽其工作频带且具有宽波束性能,并且基于此单元分别建立了阵元数为35,75,100的宽角度扫描相控阵天线。最后,利用所提出的IFFT技术对这三个相控阵进行低旁瓣综合。与基于有源单元方向图遗传算法的对比结果表明,在-60°到60°的扫描范围内均能实现低旁瓣电平,并且IFFT优化算法具有更快的速度。     

Theoretical study of two-element array of equilateral triangular patch microstrip antenna on ferrite substrate

The radiation characteristics of a two-element array of equilateral triangular patch microstrip antenna on a ferrite substrate are studied theoretically by considering the presence of bias magnetic field in the direction of propagation of electromagnetic waves. It is found that the natural modes of propagation in the direction of magnetic field are left- and right-circularly polarized waves and these modes have different propagation constants. In loss-less isotropic warm plasma, this array antenna geometry excites both electromagnetic (EM) and electroacoustic plasma (P) waves in addition to a nonradiating surface wave. In the absence of an external magnetic field, the EM- and P-waves can be decoupled into two independent modes, the electroacoustic mode is longitudinal while the electromagnetic mode is transverse. The far-zone EM-mode and P-mode radiation fields are derived using vector wave function techniques and pattern multiplication approaches. The results are obtained in both plasma medium and free space. Some important antenna parameters such as radiation conductance, directivity and quality factor are plotted for different values of plasma-to-source frequency.     

Decoupling potentials for the three-body final state Schrödinger equation of knockout reactions

In the conventional distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) approach the three-body final state of a knockout reaction is decoupled by assuming a plane wave form for the coupling term. The influence of this decoupling approximation on the analyses of cluster knockout reactions has been investigated for a test case where the exact solution is obtainable. A proper treatment of the coupling term causes large oscillations in the effective distorting optical potentials for the decoupled Schrödinger equation. These decoupling potentials depend strongly not only on the partial wave angular momentum,l but also on their azimuthal projection,m.     

水下应用的电容式微机械超声换能器阵列设计

为提高用于水下成像的电容式微机械超声换能器的指向性,文中用ANSYS力电耦合分析法设计了工作频率为400 k Hz的收发一体传感器的结构参数并完成了实验验证。同时研究了阵列设计方法,分析了电容式微机械超声换能器阵列各参数对指向性的影响,完成了从微小敏感单元到阵列的设计,实现了阵列指向性的优化设计。该阵列为16阵元的线阵,阵元间距为1.925 mm,阵元宽度为1.82 mm。进行了水下指向性测试,实验表明该线阵的-3 dB主瓣宽度为5?,最大旁瓣级为-13.5 dB,对称性好。该设计是实现较远距离的探测,提高成像分辨率的前提。     

馈电损耗及高辐射效率微带天线阵研究

 根据串、并馈电微带天线阵列结构,建立了各自等效参数模型,定量分析了微带馈电网络功率损耗对微带天线阵列增益的影响,借助微带线和同轴电缆组成的低损耗混合馈电网络,采用串并馈电方式,完成了C波段4×24元高效率微带天线阵的设计。实测天线阵的各项指标均优于设计要求,其中阵列增益达到25.4 dB,实现了64.5%的辐射效率,较相同阵元数目的微带串馈列实测增益提高1.1 dB,与等效参数理论计算结果很好地吻合。     

Accurate Analysis of Planar Microstrip Antenna Array

For the microstrip patch resonator, as a planar antenna of a microstrip, a set of equations that represents the electromagnetic fields in the x and z direction as function of the electric field in the y direction are obtained applying the TTL method. This method is very suitable at microwave and antenna applications, and gives accurate complex resonant frequency, which contributes definitively to obtain higher precision antenna parameters. For each type of array is calculated the array factor, considering the excitation, phase and the relative displacement between the elements as well as the dimensions and number of elements.