System for Wireless, Motion and Position-Sensing, Integrating Radiation Sensor and Energy Harvester for Occupational and Environmental Dosimetry

• US 20150338525A1
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landauer, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Landauer, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: VALENTINO, Daniel J., YODER, R. Craig
• Granted Patent: US 9,417,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0247 using a charging unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0488 with spectral filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/02 Dosimeters G01T1/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/16 Measuring radiation intensity G01T1/29 takes precedence ; self-powered detectors G01T3/006; using an ionisation chamber filled with a liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric G01T3/008
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/025 specially adapted for use from aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

Described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data when an individual wearing a dosimeter is active. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data whether an individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to radiation. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data whether a dosimeter was in a particular location when the dosimeter was exposed to radiation. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data where on the body of an individual the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to radiation. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data the probability that an individual is wearing a dosimeter that is assigned to the individual.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining whether an individual was wearing a dosimeter during a monitored period based upon motion and time data obtained from the dosimeter, and

(b) determining whether an individual was wearing the dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation sources based upon measured radiation dosage data for the dosimeter, motion data for the dosimeter, time data associated with the radiation dosage data, and time data associated with the motion data,

(c) reporting whether the dosimeter was worn during a monitored period via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation sources to a storage medium, and

(d) reporting whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation sources via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses to a storage medium.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the dosimeter comprises a device for generating a location beacon and wherein the location data is based on data from the location beacon.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an accelerometer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise a a gyroscope.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an energy harvester.

18. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining a dosimeter was in a location when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses based on radiation dosage data for the dosimeter, motion data for the dosimeter, time data associated with the radiation dosage data, time data associated with the motion data, and location data and location data for the dosimeter, and

(b) reporting whether the dosimeter was in the location when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the dosimeter was in the location when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses to a storage medium.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the dosimeter comprises a device for generating a location beacon and wherein the location data is based on data from the location beacon.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an accelerometer.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise a gyroscope.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an energy harvester.