Radiation detector with an ionizable gas atop an integrated circuit
First Claim
1. A radiation detection system for measuring radiation, the system comprising:
- a radiation detector having at least one radiation detection subassembly including;
means for defining a volume of gas, said gas being a detection medium adapted to be ionized by said radiation;
a surface element positioned in direct contact with said gas and being part of said means for defining a volume of gas;
means for generating an electric field within said volume of gas and for collecting ions present therein including at least one collecting electrode positioned on said surface element for collecting ions created in said ionizable gas;
amplifying means electrically connected to said collecting electrode for generating a signal representative of the collected ions;
controlled discharge means for removing charge from said collecting electrode; and
means for minimizing inaccuracies in said system due to leakage currents to said collecting electrode from said discharge means or said amplifying means;
interface means for buffering said signal generated by said amplifying means;
detector control means for controlling said controlled discharge means; and
means for supplying power to said at least one radiation detection subassembly and said detector control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The radiation detector includes tissue equivalent bubbles of plastic defining volumes of gas to be ionized by radiation. One or more integrated circuit (ICs) are disposed below the volumes of gas and a collecting electrode on the IC is in direct contact with the gas. Circuitry for generating an electric field within the volume of gas moves the ions therein to the collecting electrode. The collecting electrode is part of an amplifying circuit disposed within the IC. The output from the amplifier is representative of the collected ions and therefore representative of the radiation. The signal from the amplifier is sent to an interface which conditions, buffers and stores the signal. The radiation dose and dose rate are computed in the interface. A communications section transfers that data from the radiation detector. A separate calibration and display unit calibrates the interface by controlling the conditioning of the signal. An area monitor and air monitor are further enhancements of the radiation detector. The radiation detector includes several circuitry arrangements for minimizing inaccuracies due to leakage currents to the collecting electrode from the amplifying circuit. Such circuitry arrangements include duplicate discharge and amplifying circuits not connected to a functioning collecting electrode; subtracting circuitry for subtracting a signal valued proportional to the leakage current; and a current source inducing current opposite in polarity to the leakage current.
79 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A radiation detection system for measuring radiation, the system comprising:
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a radiation detector having at least one radiation detection subassembly including; means for defining a volume of gas, said gas being a detection medium adapted to be ionized by said radiation; a surface element positioned in direct contact with said gas and being part of said means for defining a volume of gas; means for generating an electric field within said volume of gas and for collecting ions present therein including at least one collecting electrode positioned on said surface element for collecting ions created in said ionizable gas; amplifying means electrically connected to said collecting electrode for generating a signal representative of the collected ions; controlled discharge means for removing charge from said collecting electrode; and means for minimizing inaccuracies in said system due to leakage currents to said collecting electrode from said discharge means or said amplifying means; interface means for buffering said signal generated by said amplifying means; detector control means for controlling said controlled discharge means; and means for supplying power to said at least one radiation detection subassembly and said detector control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification