Method, apparatus and device for real-time characterization of a radiation beam

• US 20040149924A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kevin J. Russell
• Original Assignee: Kevin J. Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Kevin J.
• Application Number:
  US10/357,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/394
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/243 Modular detectors, e.g. arrays formed from self contained units constructional or manufacturing details H01L25/00

Abstract

Disclosed is radiation beam analyzer and method of using same, the analyzer having a matrix having a plurality of slots for removably receiving one or more radiation detector modules, and a processor in data communication with each said module, said processor adapted to receive and process radiation data from said radiation detector modules and provide said processed data to a user.

Claims

1. A radiation beam analyzer, comprising:

a matrix having a plurality of slots for removably receiving one or more radiation detector modules; and

a processor in data communication with each said module, said processor adapted to receive and process radiation data from said radiation detector modules and provide said processed data to a user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slots comprise electrical connectors for establishing data communication between said radiation detector modules and said processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiation detector modules comprise ion chamber detectors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiation detector modules comprise solid-state detectors.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each said solid state detector comprises one or more diodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each said solid state detector further comprises:

one or more integrators to receive a signal from each said diode; and

one or more multiplexers adapted to receive an address and use said address to determine which diode signal to route through to said processor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a matrix multiplexer to address each said radiation detector module.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a matrix multiplexer to address each said diode within each said radiation detector module.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radiation data is analog and said processor further comprises analog to digital converters to convert said analog signals.

10. A method of analyzing a radiation beam, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of radiation detector modules;

providing a matrix having a plurality of slots for removably receiving said radiation detector modules;

placing said matrix in the path of the radiation beam;

receiving from each said module radiation data; and

processing said data for display to a user.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a processor for addressing each individual radiation detector module and receiving said radiation data therefrom.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said processor is programmed to indicate when a said radiation detector module has failed.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said processor is programmed to indicate when said radiation detector modules need to be rotated.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said radiation beam is a high energy beam.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

periodically rotating radiation detector modules exposed to higher energy levels with those exposed to lesser energy levels.

16. A machine-readable storage medium having a set of instructions, readable by machine, for analyzing radiation beams by executing a method comp rising the steps of:

receiving radiation data from a plurality of radiation detector modules removably mounted in a matrix, said matrix placed in the path of said radiation beam; and

processing said data for display to a user.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

individually addressing each said radiation detector module to receive radiation data from one said radiation detector module at a time.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

indicating to the user when said radiation detector module exposed to higher levels of radiation energy need to be rotated with those exposed to lower levels of radiation energy.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

indicating to the user when a said radiation detector module has failed.