RADIATION DIRECTIONAL FINDER AND ISOTOPE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090294678A1
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Measurement Technology, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Innovative American Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: FRANK, DAVID L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/370.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2907 Angle determination; Directional detectors; Telescopes prospecting by the use of nuclear radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity G01V5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/08 with semiconductor detectors

Abstract

A system and method determine a direction associated with gamma and/or neutron radiation emissions. A first radiation photon count associated with a first detector in a detector set is received from the first detector. The first radiation photon count is associated with at least one radiation source. A second radiation photon count associated with a second detector in the detector set is received from the second detector. The first radiation photon count is compared to the second radiation photon count. One of the first detector and the second detector is identified to have detected a larger number of radiation photons than the other. The at least one radiation source is determined to be substantially in a direction in which the one of the first detector and the second detector that has detected the larger number of radiation photons is facing.

Claims

1. A method for determining a direction associated with gamma and/or neutron radiation emissions from a radiation source at stand-off distances, the method comprising:

receiving from a first detector in a detector set, a first radiation photon count associated with the first detector, wherein the first radiation photon count is associated with at least one radiation source located at a stand-off distance from the first detector;

receiving from a second detector in the detector set, a second radiation photon count associated with the second detector, wherein the second radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source which is located at a stand-off distance from the second detector;

comparing the first radiation photon count to the second radiation photon count;

identifying, based on the comparing, that one of the first detector and the second detector has detected a larger number of radiation photons than the other; and

determining, based on the identifying, that the at least one radiation source is in a direction that is substantially identical to a direction in which the one of the first detector and the second detector that has detected the larger number of radiation photons is facing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first detector and the second detector are coupled together in a configuration such that each detector shields the other detector from detected radiation emissions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration includes:

a body portion of the first detector being mechanically coupled to a body portion of the second detector so that the first detector and the second detector are adjacent to each other, and wherein a sensing portion of the first detector and a sensing portion of the second detector face opposite directions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second radiation photon count comprise a gamma particle radiation photon count.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second radiation photon count comprise a neutron particle radiation photon count.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a third detector in at least one additional detector set, a third radiation photon count associated with the third detector, wherein the third radiation photon count being associated with the at least one radiation source which is located at a stand-off distance from the third detector; and

receiving from at least a fourth detector in the at least one additional detector set, at least a fourth radiation photon count associated with the at least fourth radiation detector, wherein the at least fourth radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source which is located at a stand-off distance from the fourth detector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third detector and the at least fourth detector are coupled together in a configuration such that each detector shields the other detector from detected radiation emissions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuration includes:

a body portion of the third detector being mechanically coupled to a body portion of the at least fourth detector so that the third detector and the at least fourth detector are adjacent to each other, and wherein a sensing portion of the third detector and a sensing portion of the at least fourth detector face opposite directions.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the detector set and the at least one additional detector set being situated with respect to each other in a configuration creating

a first quadrant between a first portion of the first detector and a first portion of the third detector,

a second quadrant between a second portion of the first detector and a first portion of the fourth detector,

a third quadrant between a first portion of the second detector and a second portion of the fourth detector, and

a fourth quadrant between a second portion of the second detector and a second portion of the third detector.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the first detector and the first portion of the third detector are situated substantially perpendicular with respect to each other, and

wherein the second portion of the first detector and the first portion of the fourth detector are situated substantially perpendicular with respect to each other, and

wherein the first portion of the second detector and the second portion of the fourth detector are situated substantially perpendicular with respect to each other, and

wherein the second portion of the second detector and the second portion of the third detector are situated substantially perpendicular with respect to each other.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the first radiation photon count to the second radiation photon count, and comparing the third photon radiation count to the at least fourth radiation photon count;

identifying, based on the comparing, which of the first and second detectors comprises the largest radiation photon count, and which of the third and at least fourth detectors comprises the largest radiation photon count;

determining, based on the identifying, one of the first, second, third, and fourth quadrants that corresponds to the two detectors that have been identified; and

determining that the at least one radiation source is located in a direction associated with the quadrant that has been determined.

12. A radiation direction finder system, for determining a direction associated with gamma and/or neutron radiation emitted from an object, the system comprising:

at least one frame structure comprising at least a first portion and a second portion configured to be located relative to an object;

at least one set of radiation detectors mechanically coupled to the at least one frame structure, wherein the at least one set of radiation detectors includes a first detector and at least a second detector, wherein the first detector and the at least second detector are mechanically coupled together in a configuration such that each detector shields the other detector from detected radiation emissions, and wherein a body portion of the first detector is mechanically coupled to a body portion of the at least second detector so that the first detector and the at least second detector are adjacent to each other, and wherein a sensing portion of the first detector and a sensing portion of the at least second detector face opposite directions; and

at least one information processing system coupled to the at least one set of radiation detectors, wherein the at least one information processing system is adapted to;

receive from a first detector in a detector set, a first radiation photon count determined by the first detector, wherein the first radiation photon count is associated with at least one radiation source associated with an object;

receive from a second detector in the detector set, a second radiation photon count determined by the second detector, wherein the second radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source associated with the object;

compare the first radiation photon count to the second radiation photon count;

identify, based on the first radiation photon count being compared to the second radiation photon count, that one of the first detector and the second detector has detected a larger number of radiation photons than the other; and

determine, based on identifying that one of the first detector and the second detector has detected a larger number of radiation photons than the other, that the at least one radiation source is in a direction that is substantially identical to a direction in which the one of the first detector and the second detector that has detected the larger number of radiation photons is facing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first detector and the at least second detector comprise one of a gamma radiation sensor and a neutron radiation sensor.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one additional set of radiation detectors being situated in a perpendicular configuration with respect to the at least one set of radiation detectors, wherein the at least one additional set of radiation detectors includes a third detector and at least a fourth detector, wherein the third detector and the at least fourth detector are mechanically coupled together in a configuration such that each detector shields the other detector from detected radiation emissions, and wherein a body portion of the third detector is mechanically coupled to a body portion of the at least fourth detector so that the third detector and the at least second fourth are adjacent to each other, and wherein a sensing portion of the third detector and a sensing portion of the at least fourth detector face opposite directions.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the information processing system is further adapted to:

receive from the third detector, a third radiation photon count determined by the third detector, wherein the third radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source;

receive from the at least fourth detector, at least a fourth radiation photon count determined by the at least fourth detector, wherein the at least fourth radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source;

compare the first radiation photon count to the second radiation photon count, and compare the third photon radiation count to the at least fourth radiation photon count;

identify, based on the comparing, which of the first and second detectors comprises the largest radiation photon count, and which of the third and at least fourth detectors comprises the largest radiation photon count;

determining, based on the identifying, one of the first, second, third, and fourth quadrants that corresponds to the two detectors that have been identified; and

determining that the at least one radiation source is located in a direction associated with the quadrant that has been determined.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second first radiation photon count is one of a gamma radiation photon count and a neutron radiation photon count.

17. A system for determining a direction associated with gamma and/or neutron radiation emitting from an object, the system comprising:

at least one vehicle;

at least one set of radiation detectors mechanically coupled to the at least one vehicle, wherein the at least one set of radiation detectors includes a first detector and at least a second detector, wherein the first detector and the at least second detector are mechanically coupled together in a configuration such that each detector shields the other detector from detected radiation emissions, and wherein a body portion of the first detector is mechanically coupled to a body portion of the at least second detector so that the first detector and the at least second detector are adjacent to each other, and wherein a sensing portion of the first detector and a sensing portion of the at least second detector face opposite directions;

at least one network; and

at least one information processing system communicatively coupled to the at least one network and the at least one set of radiation detectors, wherein the at least one information processing system is adapted to;

receive from a first detector in a detector set, a first radiation photon count associated with the first detector, wherein the first radiation photon count is associated with at least one radiation source;

receive from a second detector in the detector set, a second radiation photon count determined by the second detector, wherein the second radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source;

compare the first radiation photon count to the second radiation photon count;

determining, based at least on the first radiation photon count being compared to the second radiation photon count, that the at least one radiation source is in a direction in which the one of the first detector and the second detector is substantially facing.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first detector and the at least second detector comprise at least one of a gamma radiation sensor and a neutron radiation sensor.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one additional set of radiation detectors mechanically coupled to the at least one vehicle and situated in a substantially perpendicular configuration with respect to the at least one set of radiation detectors, wherein the at least one additional set of radiation detectors includes a third detector and at least a fourth detector, wherein the third detector and the at least fourth detector are mechanically coupled together in a configuration such that each detector shields the other detector from detected radiation emissions, and wherein a body portion of the third detector is mechanically coupled to a body portion of the at least fourth detector so that the third detector and the at least second fourth are adjacent to each other, and wherein a sensing portion of the third detector and a sensing portion of the at least fourth detector face opposite directions.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the information processing system is further adapted to:

receive from the third detector, a third radiation photon count determined by the third detector, wherein the third radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source;

receive from the at least fourth detector, at least a fourth radiation photon count determined by the at least fourth detector, wherein the at least fourth radiation photon count is associated with the at least one radiation source;

compare the third radiation photon count to the fourth radiation photon count;

determine, based at least on the first radiation photon count being compared to the second radiation photon count and the third radiation photon count being compared to the fourth radiation photon count, that the at least one radiation source is located in a direction in which contemporaneously

one of the first detector and the second detector is substantially facing, and

one of the third detector and fourth detector is substantially facing.