Device and method for simulating hazardous material detection

• US 5,722,835 A
• Filed: 09/19/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Argon Electronics (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Steven D. Pike
• Inventors: Pike, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/710,530
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 434/218, 434/219
• US Class Current: 434/218
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/36 Detecting the response signal , e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

The present invention is a device that simulates a radioactive, bacteriological and/or hazardous chemical source and a radioactivity, bacteriological and/or hazardous chemical detector, to train individuals in the correct use of a real radioactivity, bacteriological and/or hazardous chemical detector. A magnet, ultrasound emitter, or passive radio identification device (PRID) is used to simulate the hazardous material source. The PRID may include a magnet. The simulated detector includes a Hall effect device to detect the magnet when used. When the magnet is detected as a trainee moves the simulated detector close to the PRID, the simulated detector outputs a 50 ms RF burst to activate the PRID. The simulated detector may transmit the burst every 250 ms when the magnet is not used in the PRID. Once activated, the PRID waits for completion of the 50 ms pulse, and then transmits a signal that identifies the type of contamination to the simulated detector. The ultrasound emitters and magnet can be used without the need for the RF pulse to simulate a single contamination material, or the ultrasound emitters can use multiple frequencies for different materials. The ultrasound emitters may emit a modulated signal that identifies the type of contamination to the simulated detector, similar to the PRID.

Claims

1. A system for simulating detection of hazardous materials, said system comprising:

emitting means for emitting a first signal, said first signal simulating a hazardous material;

a detector having identification means programmed for identifying said first signal as a specific hazardous material; and

a remote control device having transmitting means for transmitting a second signal to said detector, said second signal determining the manner in which said identification means responds to said first signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said emitting means is a permanent magnet and said first signal is a magnetic field; and

said identification means include magnetic field detecting means for detecting said magnetic field and a microcomputer coupled to said magnetic field detecting means, said microcomputer identifying said magnetic field as the specific hazardous material.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said emitting means is an ultrasound emitter and said first signal is an ultrasound signal; and

said identification means comprise an ultrasound receiver and a microcomputer coupled to said ultrasound receiver, said microcomputer identifying said ultrasound signal as said specific hazardous material.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control device further comprises:

input means for inputting a command by an instructor, said input means being coupled to said transmitting means to initiate transmission of said second signal by said transmitting means upon receiving the command.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means of said remote control device is an electromagnetic transmitter.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said identification means comprise:

sensing means for sensing said first signal; and

a microcomputer coupled to said sensing means, said microcomputer of said detector being programmed to identify said first signal as the specific hazardous material.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detector further comprises:

a power supply connected to said identification means;

a receiver for receiving said second signal, said receiver being coupled to said identification means; and

display means for displaying the presence of said first signal, said display means being coupled to said identification means.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein

said detector further comprises a switch coupled to said identification means and said display means, said switch selecting a type of hazardous material signal which said display means will display;

and

said display means displays the presence of said first signal when said switch is set to display said first signal of the specific hazardous material.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said identification means includes a microcomputer having a memory for recording all signals simulating hazardous materials.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detector further comprises calculating means for calculating the distance between said detector and said emitting means.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said emitting means is an electromagnetic emitter and said first signal is an electromagnetic signal;

and

said identification means includes an electromagnetic receiver and a microcomputer coupled to said electromagnetic receiver, said microcomputer identifying said electromagnetic signal as the specific hazardous material.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein

said electromagnetic emitter is a PRID;

and

said detector includes an activating device coupled to said identification means, said activating device activating said PRID to transmit said electromagnetic signal when said detector is within range of said PRID.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein

said activating device comprises an electromagnetic transmitter coupled to said microcomputer of said detector, said electromagnetic transmitter emitting an electromagnetic pulse;

and

said electromagnetic pulse activating said PRID to emit said electromagnetic signal.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said electromagnetic emitter includes a power supply.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said electromagnetic signal has a non-modulated operating frequency, the non-modulated operating frequency being identified by said microcomputer as the specific hazardous material.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein

said electromagnetic signal has a modulated operating frequency, the modulated operating frequency carrying information concerning the identity of the hazardous material;

and

said identification means also includes a demodulator coupled to said microcomputer and said electromagnetic receiver;

whereby said identification means interprets the modulated operating frequency to identify the specific hazardous material.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

said PRID includes a permanent magnet that generates a magnetic field;

said detector includes magnetic field detecting means for detecting said magnetic field, said magnetic field detecting means being coupled to said microcomputer; and

said activating device of said detector activating said PRID to transmit said electromagnetic signal when said magnetic field detecting means detects said magnetic field.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein

said electromagnetic signal has a modulated operating frequency, the modulated operating frequency carrying information concerning the identity of the hazardous material;

and

said identification means also includes a demodulator coupled to said microcomputer and said electromagnetic receiver;

whereby said identification means interprets the modulated operating frequency to identify the specific hazardous material.

19. The system according to claim 3, wherein said ultrasound signal has a non-modulated operating frequency, the non-modulated operating frequency being identified by said microcomputer as the specific hazardous material.

20. The system according to claim 3, wherein

said ultrasound signal has a modulated operating frequency, the modulated operating frequency carrying information concerning the identity of the hazardous material;

and

said identification means also includes a demodulator coupled to said microcomputer and said ultrasound receiver;

whereby said identification means interprets the modulated operating frequency to identify the specific hazardous material.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detector includes a microcomputer having a memory, said microcomputer being programmed to identify a correct operating procedure, whereby said memory records an error when an actual operating procedure deviates from the correct operating procedure.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said detector includes a display coupled to said microcomputer, said display displaying all recorded errors.

23. The system according to claim 1,

wherein said detector includes a microcomputer programmed to identify a correct operating procedure, and a display coupled to said microcomputer;

whereby said microcomputer identifies an error when an actual operating procedure deviates from the correct operating procedure; and

whereby said display displays the error as the error occurs.

24. A method of using a system for simulating detection of hazardous material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an emitting device that emits a signal simulating the hazardous material;

detecting the emitting device signal according to an operating procedure using a detector programmed to detect and identify the emitting device signal as a specific hazardous material;

providing a remote control device that emits a second signal separate and distinct from the emitting device signal, the second signal determining the manner in which the detector responds to the emitting device signal;

performing a decontamination procedure for the hazardous material simulated by the emitting device signal.

25. The method according to claim 24, including the step of:

instructing the detector to identify the emitting device signal as the specific hazardous material having a reduced contaminant level.

26. The method according to claim 24, including the step of:

providing a confidence checker that emits a signal detectable by the detector as the specific hazardous material; and

detecting the confidence checker signal prior to said step of detecting the emitting device signal.

27. The method according to claim 26, including the step of:

repeating detection of the confidence checker signal periodically.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the detector includes a microcomputer having a memory for recording the operating procedure, the method including the step of:

providing a digital computer; and

loading the recorded operating procedure from the memory of the microcomputer into the digital computer.

29. The method according to claim 24, including the steps of:

monitoring the operating procedure; and

monitoring errors when the operating procedure deviates from a correct operating procedure.