Real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system, comprising:
- a Geiger-Mü
eller tube;
an A/D converter having an input connected to said Geiger-Mü
eller tube;
a computer;
wireless transmitting means connected to said A/D converter for transmitting digital data to said computer; and
a video camera linked to said computer,wherein said computer is programmed to display video images from said camera simultaneously with data from said Geiger-Mü
eller tube,further comprising a variable-sensitivity meter circuit connected between said Geiger-Mü
eller tube and said A/D converter, and means for encoding the sensitivity setting of said meter circuit and supplying the encoded sensitivity setting to said wireless transmitting means.
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Abstract
A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system comprising a Geiger-Müeller meter and a video camera linked to a computer programmed to display video images from the camera simultaneously with data from the Geiger-Müeller meter. A radio modem provides wireless data communications between the Geiger-Müeller and the computer. One aspect of the invention is a retrofit of a conventional Geiger-Müeller meter to include a microcontroller with internal A/D converter enabling the meter to output instantaneous measurements in RS-232 serial format.
20 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system, comprising:
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a Geiger-Mü
eller tube;an A/D converter having an input connected to said Geiger-Mü
eller tube;a computer; wireless transmitting means connected to said A/D converter for transmitting digital data to said computer; and a video camera linked to said computer, wherein said computer is programmed to display video images from said camera simultaneously with data from said Geiger-Mü
eller tube,further comprising a variable-sensitivity meter circuit connected between said Geiger-Mü
eller tube and said A/D converter, and means for encoding the sensitivity setting of said meter circuit and supplying the encoded sensitivity setting to said wireless transmitting means.
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2. A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system, comprising:
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a Geiger-Mü
eller tube;an A/D converter having an input connected to said Geiger-Mü
eller tube;a computer; wireless transmitting means connected to said A/D converter for transmitting digital data to said computer; and a video camera linked to said computer, wherein said computer is programmed to display video images from said camera simultaneously with data from said Geiger-Mü
eller tube,further comprising a RISC microcontroller connected between said Geiger-Mü
eller tube and said wireless transmitting means, wherein said A/D converter is contained in said RISC microcontroller.
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3. A method of assessing radiation exposure, comprising:
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measuring radiation in an area of a workplace with a Geiger-Mü
eller meter having an analog electronic circuit, wherein said Geiger-Mü
eller meter is adapted for digital output with an A/D converter having an input connected to an output of said analog electronic circuit;converting radiation readings from said Geiger-Mü
eller meter to digital data using said A/D converter;obtaining video images of said area as said measuring step is performed; supplying radiation data from said Geiger-Mü
eller meter to a computer by transmitting said digital data to said computer over a wireless link;supplying said video images to said computer; processing said radiation data and video images in said computer; and displaying said radiation data and video images simultaneously on a display screen, further comprising the step of detecting the sensitivity level of said Geiger-Mü
eller meter and supplying said sensitivity level to said computer over said wireless link. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification