MOBILE RADIATION SURVEILLANCE NETWORK

• US 20090033487A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Detect, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Detect, Inc.
• Inventors: Clarke, Christopher James McInnis, McFadden, Robert Cassin, Lal, Shannon Dinesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,026,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/169 Exploration, location of contaminated surface areas
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms

Abstract

A detection system and method having at least one detection unit, and a control centre unit.

The detection unit includes at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions, a locator for actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit, and a communicator configured to communicate the sensor data and location data.

The control centre includes a receiver for receiving the sensor data and the location data, together with a control processor which is configured to determine a threat level correlated to the sensor data.

Claims

1. A detection system comprising:

a) at least one detection unit, wherein the detection unit comprises;

i) at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions;

ii) locator for actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit; and

iii) a communicator configured to communicate the sensor data and the location data,

b) a control centre, wherein the control centre comprises;

i) a receiver for receiving the sensor data and the location data;

ii) a control processor configured to;

(1) determine a threat level correlated to the sensor data, and

(2) automatically modify threshold data, correlated to the incoming location data, with incoming sensor data,

c) a data storage unit operatively coupled to the control centre and configured to store threshold data, wherein;

i) the threshold data is correlated to previously stored sensor data and correlated location data;

ii) the threshold data comprises at least one data point corresponding to a predetermined threshold level.

2. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a communications network configured to provide a communications link between the communicator and the receiver.

3. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the detection unit further comprises a timer for generating timing data correlated to the time at which the sensor data is generated.

4. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor operatively coupled to the control processor, wherein the monitor is configured to generate a graphical display correlated to the sensor data and corresponding location data.

5. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the graphical display comprises a map.

6. A method of detecting threatening conditions, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a control centre;

b) providing at least one mobile detection unit, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions;

c) actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit;

d) communicating the sensor data and the location data to the control centre;

e) providing threshold data correlated to previously stored sensor data and correlated location data;

f) determining a threat level correlated to the sensor data, wherein said threat level determination comprises comparing the sensor data generated in step b) to the threshold data corresponding to the location data determined in step c); and

g) automatically modifying threshold data in step e), correlated to the incoming location data in step c), with incoming sensor data in step b).

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of generating a graphical display correlated to both the sensor data and the location data.