APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AMPLIFYING A RADIO-FREQUENCY SIGNAL

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for amplifying a radio-frequency signal and an MRI system comprising the apparatus. An aspect of the present invention proposes an apparatus for amplifying a radio-frequency (RF) signal comprising: a magnetically insensitive input balun (10) for converting the RF signal in unbalanced format into balanced signals; at least two groups of MOSFETs, each group including at least one MOSFET (30, 40), for respectively amplifying the balanced signals in a push-pull way; a magnetically insensitive output balun (60) for converting the amplified balanced signals into an unbalanced format; a magnetically insensitive input matching network (20, 20′) for matching input impedances of the at least two groups of MOSFETs with output impedances of the magnetically insensitive input balun (10); a magnetically insensitive output matching network (50, 50′) for matching output impedances of the at least two groups of MOSFETs with input impedances of the magnetically insensitive output balun (60); a magnetically insensitive protection circuit (70, 70′) for protecting a direct current (DC) power supply which provides DC for driving the at least two groups of MOSFETs from the amplified balanced signals. The proposed apparatus not only has a high power output but is also magnetically insensitive, so that it can operate in an environment of strong magnetic fields, such as the MRI scanner room.

主权项

1. An apparatus for amplifying a radio-frequency signal, comprising:
a magnetically insensitive input balun for converting the RF signal in unbalanced format into balanced signals; at least two groups of MOSFETs, each group including at least one MOSFET for respectively amplifying the balanced signals in a push-pull way; a magnetically insensitive output balun for converting the amplified balanced signals into an unbalanced format; a magnetically insensitive input matching network for matching input impedances of the at least two groups of MOSFETs with output impedances of the magnetically insensitive input balun; and a magnetically insensitive output matching network for matching output impedances of the at least two groups of MOSFETs with input impedances of the magnetically insensitive output balun, and wherein further comprising a magnetically insensitive protection circuit for protecting a direct current power supply which provides DC for driving the at least two groups of MOSFETs from the amplified balanced signals.