Enhanced vehicle radiation monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A radiation detection system for scanning an object for ionizing radiation, comprising at least one radiation detector which provides an output related to the level of ionizing radiation impinging thereon, a sensing device which evaluates and provides an output related to a shape characteristic of an object being scanned by the at least one radiation detector, and a processor operatively connected to the at least one radiation detector and sensing device for processing the outputs thereof, the output of the sensing device being used to compensate for variations in the level of background radiation resulting from variations in the shape characteristic of the object;
- said at least one radiation detector being directed toward a scan area through which the object can move for scanning by said at least one radiation detector;
said sensing device being positioned in relation to said scan area such that it is operative to determine the height of the object passing through said scan area relative to a base line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation detection system and method for scanning an object for ionizing radiation are generally characterized by at least one radiation detector which provides an output related to the level of ionizing radiation impinging thereon, a sensing device which evaluates and provides an output related to a shape characteristic of an object being scanned by the radiation detector, and a processor operatively connected to the radiation detector and sensing device for processing the outputs thereof. The output of the sensing device is used to compensate for variations in ambient background level arising from the sensed shape characteristic of the object. With such a system, the possibility of a geometry induced false alarm is minimized. In a preferred embodiment adapted for dynamic vehicle monitoring, the sensing device is a level detector operative to detect the level of the material in a truck or rail car passing by the radiation detector or detectors. The processor is operatively connected to the radiation detector and level detector for issuing an alarm signal upon satisfying a predetermined criteria, the processor being operative to use the output of the level detector to compensate the output of the radiation detector for variations in the background level arising from differences in the level of the material. The foregoing enables maximum sensitivity to be maintained while eliminating or reducing false alarms arising from variations in scrap loads that otherwise might have triggered a false alarm in previously used systems.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A radiation detection system for scanning an object for ionizing radiation, comprising at least one radiation detector which provides an output related to the level of ionizing radiation impinging thereon, a sensing device which evaluates and provides an output related to a shape characteristic of an object being scanned by the at least one radiation detector, and a processor operatively connected to the at least one radiation detector and sensing device for processing the outputs thereof, the output of the sensing device being used to compensate for variations in the level of background radiation resulting from variations in the shape characteristic of the object;
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said at least one radiation detector being directed toward a scan area through which the object can move for scanning by said at least one radiation detector; said sensing device being positioned in relation to said scan area such that it is operative to determine the height of the object passing through said scan area relative to a base line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A radiation detection system for scanning an object for ionizing radiation, comprising at least one radiation detector which provides an output related to the level of ionizing radiation impinging thereon, a sensing device which evaluates and provides an output related to a shape characteristic of an object being scanned by the at least one radiation detector, and a processor operatively connected to the at least one radiation detector and sensing device for processing the outputs thereof, the output of the sensing device being used to compensate for variations in level of background radiation resulting from variations in the shape characteristic of the object;
said sensing device being positioned in relation to a scan area in front of said at least one radiation detector such that it is operative to determine the height of the object passing through said scan area relative to a base line. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A radioactive material detection system for scanning material for radioactive objects, comprising
at least one radiation detector on which ionizing radiation can impinge to induce an output related to the level of such impinging ionizing radiation, the at least one radiation detector being configured for passage thereby of the material to be scanned, the at least one radiation detector being sensitive to background radiation that is at least partially shielded by the material as the material is being passed thereby, and the at least one radiation detector being operative to provide an output indicative of incident background radiation and any incident radiation arising from a radioactive object in the material as the material is passed by the at least one radiation detector, a height detector operative to detect the height of the material passing by the at least one radiation detector and provide an output representative of the height, a processor operatively connected to the at least one radiation detector and height detector for issuing an alarm signal upon the outputs of the at least one radiation detector and the height detector satisfying a predetermined criteria, the processor being operative to use the output of the height detector to compensate the output of the at least one radiation detector for variations in the level of background radiation resulting from differences in the height of the material.
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11. A method of scanning for a load of material for radioactive substances, comprising the steps of:
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passing a load of material to be scanned past a radiation detector, the radiation detector being exposed to background radiation when the load of material is not being passed thereby and the background radiation being at least partially shielded by the load of material when the load of material is being passed thereby, the radiation detector providing an output indicative of incident background radiation and any incident radiation arising from a radioactive substance in the load of material, using a height detector to measure the height of the load of material along the length thereof, and using a processor to process the outputs of the radiation detector and the height detector, said processing step including the steps of using the output of the height detector to compensate the output of the radiation detector for variations in the level of background radiation resulting from differences in the height of the material and issuing an alarm upon the compensated output of the radiation detector satisfying a predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification