Detector assembly

• US 20060284101A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xcounter AB (Varex Imaging Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xcounter AB (Varex Imaging Corporation)
• Inventors: Francke, Tom, Peskov, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US11/239,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20060284101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/373
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station

Abstract

The invention is related to a detector assembly for detecting vapours, smoke and flames, comprising a detector unit 1 having a UV sensitive photocathode 3, an anode 5, a voltage supply unit 9 connected to the UV sensitive photocathode 3 and to the anode 5 to create an electric field such that photoelectrons emitted from the UV sensitive photocathode 3, when struck by UV light, are forced to move towards the anode 5, and a readout arrangement for detecting charges induced by electrons moving towards the anode 5 thereby generating a signal related to the intensity of detected UV light. The detector assembly further comprises an artificial source 21 for emitting radiation having wavelengths within a wavelength interval, the source 21 being oriented such that UV light from the source 21 can strike the UV sensitive photocathode 3. The wavelength interval coincides with a transmission band of air, and with an absorption band of vapours containing molecules of a complex structure. If a decrease of the signal between the detector 1 and the source 21 is detected a presence of a vapour can be established. The invention is also related to such a method.

Claims

1. A detector assembly for detecting vapours, said detector assembly comprising:

a detector unit comprising a UV sensitive photocathode and an anode;

a voltage supply unit connected to the UV sensitive photocathode and to the anode to create an electric field such that photoelectrons emitted from the UV sensitive photocathode when struck by UV light are forced to move towards the anode;

a readout arrangement for detecting charges induced by electrons moving towards the anode thereby generating a signal related to the intensity of detected UV light, wherein an artificial source for emitting radiation having wavelengths within a wavelength interval, the source being oriented such that UV light from the source can strike the UV sensitive photocathode;

said wavelength interval coinciding with a transmission band of air, and said wavelength interval further coinciding with an absorption band of vapours containing molecules of a complex structure; and

that said readout arrangement is arranged to detect a decrease of said signal between the detector and the source, whereby a presence of a vapour can be established.

2. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector assembly further is arranged to detect flames emitting UV-light by detecting an increase of said signal.

3. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wavelength interval is 121.6 nm±

5 nm.

4. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wavelength interval is 121.6 nm±

0.5 nm.

5. Detector assembly as claimed claim 2, wherein said vapour detection and said flame detection is performed essentially simultaneously.

6. Detector assembly as claimed claim 5, wherein the artificial light source is arranged to emit pulsed radiation, and the detector unit is arranged to detect said radiation from said artificial source at regular intervals.

7. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein an additional detector unit is provided, and the two detector units are arranged to detect UV-light from flames and the artificial source, respectively, by being provided with different spectral filters.

8. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector unit includes a gas suitable for electron amplification.

9. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between the detector unit and the source is a few cm, preferably about 1 cm.

10. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wavelength interval is 120-185 nm.

11. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detector unit and said source are arranged within a low-pressure chamber.

12. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein air is circulated between said detector unit and said artificial source.

13. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detector unit and said artificial source are mounted within a housing comprising one or more air passages.

14. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said one or more air passages comprise filtering means for filtering large-sized particles.

15. Detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vapours are one or more of the following:

smoke from a fire, gasoline vapour, alcohol vapour or hazardous vapours.

16. Detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vapour is constituted by molecules containing more than three atoms.

17. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source comprises a gas tight chamber including a wire connected to a voltage supply.

18. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said gas tight chamber contains a gas filling of Ar or H₂ at a pressure of 1 atm or below.

19. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said wire is arranged so as to create a corona discharge having a strong emission at λ

=121.6 nm.

20. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a vapour-identifying unit for identification of the particular vapour.

21. Detector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detector unit comprises a position-sensitive detector.

22. Detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photocathode comprises a layer of CsTe having a coating of CsI.

23. A method for detecting vapours by utilising a detector unit comprising a UV sensitive photocathode and an anode, a voltage supply unit connected to the UV sensitive photocathode and to the anode to create an electric field such that photoelectrons emitted from the UV sensitive photocathode when struck by UV light are forced to move towards the anode, and a readout arrangement for detecting charges induced by electrons moving towards the anode thereby generating a signal related to the intensity of detected UV light, said method comprising the steps of:

emitting, at an artificial source, radiation having wavelengths within a wavelength interval, said wavelength interval coinciding with a transmission band of air, and said wavelength interval further coinciding with an absorption band of vapours containing molecules of a complex structure;

emitting UV light from said source such that UV light from the source can strike the UV sensitive photocathode; and

detecting, at said readout arrangement, a decrease of said signal between the detector and the source, whereby a presence of a vapour can be established.

24. Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein flames emitting UV-light are further detected by detecting an increase of said signal.

25. Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said wavelength interval is within an interval of 121.6 nm±

5 nm.

26. Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said wavelength interval is within an interval 121.6 nm±

0.5 nm.

27. Method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising the step of detecting, by said detector assembly, flames and vapours essentially simultaneously.

28. Method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the step of emitting, at the artificial light source, a pulsed radiation, and detecting, by said detector unit, radiation from said artificial source, at regular intervals.

29. Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said method is performed within a low-pressure chamber comprising said detector unit and said artificial source.

30. Method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of circulating air between said detector unit and said artificial source.

31. Method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising the step of filtering out large-sized particles from the air before said step of circulating the air.

32. Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said vapours are one or more of the following:

smoke from a fire, gasoline vapour, alcohol vapour or hazardous vapours.

33. Method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said vapour is constituted by molecules containing more than three atoms.

34. A photocathode excited by incident UV light, the photocathode comprising a conductive substrate coated with a layer of CsTe emitting photoelectrons characterised in that

said photocathode further comprises a coating of CsI on top of said CsTe layer.