Radiation Detection Apparatus Using Pulse Discrimination And A Method Of Using The Same

• US 20140131564A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics Incorporated (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics Incorporated (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Duraj, Artan, Menge, Peter R., Yang, Kan
• Granted Patent: US 9,500,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/256
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/06 for detecting naturally radioactive minerals

Abstract

A radiation detection apparatus can include a scintillator, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor. The control module can be configured to receive a pulse from the photosensor and identify a cause of noise corresponding to the pulse. Such information can be useful in determining failure modes and potentially predict future failures of radiation detection apparatuses. In another embodiment, the wavelet discrimination can be used to determine whether or not the pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse, and potentially to identify a type of radiation or a radiation source. The technique is robust to work over a variety of temperatures, and particularly, at temperatures significantly higher than room temperature.

Claims

1. A radiation detection apparatus comprising:

a scintillator;

a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator; and

a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor, wherein the control module is configured to;

receive a pulse from the photosensor; and

identify a cause of a noise corresponding to the pulse.

2. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to determine whether or not the pulse corresponds to a noise pulse.

3. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to identify a type of radiation or a radiation source corresponding to the pulse, wherein the control module is configured to perform the identification without de-noising the pulse.

4. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to:

compare the pulse to known pulses; and

obtain state information, wherein the known pulses include pulses that correspond to the state information.

5. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to generate derivative information from the pulse that can be used to determine whether the pulse is a scintillation pules or a noise pulse, identify a type of radiation or a radiation source corresponding to the pulse, identify a source of noise corresponding to the pulse, or any combination thereof.

6. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 5, wherein the derivative information includes a transform-based parameter.

7. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the derivative information includes a wavelet transform.

8. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wavelet discrimination is capable of being performed using a mother wavelet that is a Morlet wavelet.

9. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wavelet discrimination is capable of being performed using a mother wavelet that is a Haar wavelet, a Meyer wavelet, a Mexican hat wavelet, a Daubechies wavelet, a Coiflet wavelet, a Symlet wavelet, a Paul wavelet, a Difference of Gaussians wavelet, or a customized wavelet.

10. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the derivative information includes a Fast Fourier Transform, or a Discrete Cosine Transform.

11. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to monitor a health of the radiation detection apparatus.

12. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 11, wherein monitor the health of the radiation detection apparatus comprises determine when a count of a number of noise pulses or a noise pulse rate exceeds a threshold value.

13. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 11, wherein monitor the health of the radiation detection apparatus comprises determine when a fraction exceeds a threshold value, wherein the fraction is:

a first count of a number of noise pulses divided by a second count of a number of pulses corresponding to targeted radiation being captured by the scintillator or a total count;

or

a first count rate of noise pulses divided by a second count rate of pulses corresponding to targeted radiation being captured by the scintillator or a total count rate.

14. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scintillator, the photosensor, and the control module are parts of a measurement-while-drilling device.

15. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an optical coupling material disposed between the scintillator and the photosensor, wherein the optical coupling material is capable of filtering an ultraviolet radiation.

16. A radiation detection apparatus comprising:

a scintillator;

a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator; and

a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor, wherein the control module is configured to;

receive a pulse from the photosensor; and

determine whether the pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse or a noise pulse, wherein the control module is configured to perform the determination without de-noising the pulse.

17. A method of using a radiation detection apparatus comprising:

providing the radiation detection apparatus comprising a scintillator optically coupled to a photosensor that is electrically coupled to a control module;

receiving a pulse from the photosensor; and

identifying a cause of noise corresponding to the pulse.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying a type of radiation or a radiation source corresponding to the scintillation pulse wherein the identification is performed without de-noising the pulse.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising comparing the pulse to a temperature-adjusted pulse for a known cause of a noise.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring a health of the radiation detection apparatus, wherein monitoring the health of the radiation detection apparatus comprises determining when a count of a number of noise pulses or a noise pulse rate exceeds a threshold value.