Digital radiation dosemeter having an optoelectronic transmitter

• US 4,480,311 A
• Filed: 06/22/1981
• Issued: 10/30/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Original Assignee: Gerin Merlin
• Inventors: Pailh/e/ s, Alain, Mastain, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Application Number:
  US06/275,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 364/419, 364/527, 364/556, 364/413-415, 364/555, 377/19, 377/38, 377/42, 377/53, 377/55, 377/56, 340/600, 250/388, 455/606, 455/613, 455/602
• US Class Current: 250/281
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/15 Instruments in which pulses generated by a radiation detector are integrated, e.g. by a diode pump circuit

Abstract

This invention relates to a digital radiation dosemeter comprising a detector (12) converting the ionizing radiation to electrical impulses and an electronic survey device (14) for the storage of said impulses in a dose radiation counter (18). An optoelectronic transmitter (34, 38, 40) sends the informations to an external data processing system. A binary counter (42) operates said transmitter and cooperates with a reading control circuit (43)including a photosensitive receiver (44)connected in series with a magnetic reed switch (46).

Claims

1. A radiation detecting system for monitoring ambient ionizing radiation and including a dosemeter retained within a housing and a data processing system external to said housing and constructed to receive said dosemeter for initiating and receiving data from said dosemeter, wherein the improvement in said dosemeter comprises:

radiation detector means for detecting ionizing radiation and for producing electrical signals in response to said radiation;

electronic survey means including a dose radiation counter responsive to said electrical signals for counting and storing a count representing the instantaneous value of the detected dose of radiation;

an identifier circuit means for providing an identifying number for the dosemeter;

main data bus means coupled to said identifier circuit means and said electronic survey means for transmitting said stored count and said identifying number;

serial data transmission means coupled to receive said stored count and said identifying number for providing serial binary data representing said stored count and said identifying number;

first opto-electronic transmitter means coupled to receive said serial binary data and responsive to a control signal for transmitting said serial binary data;

first photosensitive receiver means responsive to said control signal for receiving a read command from said data processing system;

binary control means responsive to said first photosensitive receiver means and coupled to said serial data transmission means to initiate said providing of said serial binary data;

electrical switch means coupled to said first photosensitive receiver means and said first opto-electronic transmitter means for producing said control signal when actuated, and wherein the improvement in said data processing system comprises;

means for receiving said dosemeter at a predetermined position with respect to said data processing system;

second opto-electronic transmitter means positioned to transmit a read command to said first photosensitive receiver means when said dosemeter is in said predetermined position;

second photosensitive receiver means positioned to receive transmitted serial binary data from said first opto-electronic transmitter means when said dosemeter is positioned in said predetermined position for reading said stored count and said identified number; and

means responsive to said dosemeter being in said predetermined position for actuating said electrical switch means to enable initiation of a read command from said second opto-electronic transmitter means and to cause transmission of said serial binary data to said second photosensitive receiver means for reading of said stored count and said identifying number by said data processing system.

2. A radiation detection system for monitoring radiation and including a dosemeter and a data processing system coupled to receive said dosemeter to read information from said dosemeter, wherein the improvement in said dosemeter comprises:

means responsive to radiation for producing electrical signals representing said radiation;

means for counting said electrical signals and providing a stored count representing measured radiation;

means coupled to receive said stored count for providing serial binary data representing said stored count;

means responsive to a control signal for optically transmitting said serial binary data;

means responsive to said control signal for receiving an optical read signal;

means responsive to said optical read signal for initiating transmission of said serial binary data; and

switch means coupled to provide said control signal when actuated; and

wherein the improvement in said data processing system comprises;

means responsive to a predetermined position of said dosemeter with respect to said data processing system for actuating said switch means;

means for transmitting an optical read command following actuation of said switch means; and

means for receiving said optically transmitted serial binary data following actuation of said switch means to read said stored count.

3. A radiation detecting system for monitoring ambient ionizing radiation and including a dosemeter retained within a housing and a data processing system external to said housing and constructed to receive said dosemeter for initiating and receiving data from said dosemeter, wherein the improvement in said dosemeter comprises:

radiation detector means for detecting ionizing radiation and for producing electrical signals in response to said radiation;

electronic survey means including a dose radiation counter responsive to said electrical signals for counting and storing a count representing the instantaneous value of the detected dose of radiation;

main data bus means coupled to said electronic survey means for transmitting said stored count;

serial data transmission means coupled to receive said stored count for providing serial binary data representing said stored count;

first opto-electronic transmitter means coupled to receive said serial binary data and responsive to a control signal for optically transmitting said serial binary data;

first photosensitive receiver means responsive to said control signal for receiving a read command from said data processing system;

binary control means responsive to said first photosensitive receiver means and coupled to said serial data transmission means to initiate said providing of said serial binary data;

electrical switch means coupled to said first photosensitive receiver means and said first opto-electronic transmitter means for producing said control signal when actuated, and wherein the improvement in said data processing system comprises;

means for receiving said dosemeter at a predetermined position with respect to said data processing system;

second opto-electronic transmitter means positioned to transmit a read command to said first photosensitive receiver means when said dosemeter is in said predetermined position;

second photosensitive receiver means positioned to receive transmitted serial data from said dosemeter when positioned in said predetermined position for reading said stored count; and

means responsive to said dosemeter being in said predetermined position for actuating said electrical switch means to enable initiation of a read command from said second opto-electronic transmitter means and to cause transmission of said serial binary data to said second photosensitive receiver means for reading of said stored count by said data processing system.