System and device for object detection and identification using gamma, X-ray and/or neutron radiation

• US 7,429,736 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polimaster Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Estate Of Aliaksandr A. Antanouski
• Inventors: Antanouski, Aliaksandr Alexeevich
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taningco; Marcus H
• Application Number:
  US10/544,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 250/390.07
• US Class Current: 250/370.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like

Abstract

The invention belongs to systems of identification of remote objects by detecting gamma, X-ray and neutron radiations, particularly, to systems allowing to identify objects that are concealed or forbidden to transfer, for example, at customs, checkpoints etc. The task of the present invention is to create mobile and simultaneously high capacity objects monitoring and identification system. Moreover, invention task is to make it possible to develop distributed multilevel system, as for departmental usage, and open system for common usage. The set problem is solved by that the detection unit is made separately with a micro controller and data transfer device, the preprocessing unit is supplied with a channel for data acquisition from detection unit, and processor, and display unit and two-way channel of communication with object identification expert system. The set problem is solved by that the information processing unit is made of two hierarchic separate parts, interconnected by communication channel, one of which is preprocessing unit/units, and second part is expert system, that in case of need can connected by communication channel with the first part, and is located separately with all preprocessing devices service capability.

Claims

1. An object identification system comprising:

at least one detection unit for positioning at a check point to detect gamma, X-ray and neutron radiations resulting from nuclear decay from an object being inspected at said check point and emitting a corresponding detection signal thereto, said detection unit including a microprocessor controller and an information transfer device; and

a preprocessing unit for receiving and analyzing said detection signal to identify the object at said check point, said preprocessing unit including a display unit, an information input device, a processor having a spectrum analysis unit for identification of radioisotopes based on the radiations and a connecting unit for communicating with an expert system for receiving instructions and radioisotope information therefrom for further processing of the object at said check point,

wherein the detection unit and the preprocessing unit form an integral device in a common housing.

2. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the connecting unit includes a channel for two-way transfer of audio and video information.

3. The object identification system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said preprocessing unit is a mobile device selected from the group consisting of a smart phone and a notebook.

4. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the preprocessing unit includes an optical scanner.

5. The object identification system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the detection units disposed at a plurality of check points, each the detection unit being connected to the preprocessing unit and including an identification marker.

6. The object identification system of claim 1, further comprising a common housing containing the detection unit and the preprocessing unit.

7. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the preprocessing unit is selectively connected to a remote expert system for receiving instructions therefrom for further processing of the object at the check point.

8. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the preprocessing unit has a receiver selectively connected to a global positioning system to determine the geographic location of the object at the check point.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the common housing includes a personal communicator with a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the common housing includes a mobile telephone with a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra.

11. An object identification system comprising:

at least one detection unit for detecting gamma, X-ray and neutron radiations resulting from nuclear decay in an object being inspected at the check point, the detection unit emitting a corresponding detection signal, the detection unit including a microprocessor controller and an information transfer device;

a preprocessing unit for receiving and analyzing the detection signal to identify the object, the preprocessing unit including a display unit, an information input device, a processor having a spectrum analysis unit and a connecting unit for communicating with an expert system for receiving instructions therefrom for further processing of the object,

wherein the detection unit and the preprocessing unit form an integral device in a common housing; and

an expert system remote from the detection unit for receiving instructions from the preprocessing unit for further processing of the object and having a communication channel connected to one of a national emergency warning system and a departmental emergency warning system.

12. The object identification system of claim 11, wherein the preprocessing unit has a receiver selectively connected to a global positioning system to determine the geographic location of the object at the check point.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the common housing includes a personal communicator with a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the common housing includes a mobile telephone with a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra.

15. A portable hand-held system for identification of a radiation source, the system comprising:

a portable detection unit that detects ionizing radiation from nuclear decay in the radiation source and provides a corresponding detection signal based on the detected radiation;

a spectrum analysis unit for analyzing a radiation spectrum corresponding to radioisotope signatures detected by the detection unit;

a display unit for displaying results of the spectrum analysis; and

a connecting unit for communicating with an expert system and for receiving instructions and radioisotope information for further processing of the radiation source,

wherein the detection unit, the spectrum analysis unit, the display unit and the connecting unit form an integral device in a common housing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the common housing includes a mobile telephone that includes a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the ionizing radiation includes gamma radiation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the ionizing radiation includes X-ray radiation.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the ionizing radiation includes a neutron radiation.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the ionizing radiation includes neutron, gamma and X-ray radiation.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the system includes a global positioning system receiver, and wherein the connecting unit communicates current position of the system to the expert system.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system includes a mobile telephone that includes a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectrum.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the system includes a global positioning system receiver.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is connected using a wireless protocol to a mobile device that includes a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra, the mobile device being any of a laptop, a personal communicator and a mobile telephone.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the common housing includes a personal communicator with a microprocessor for the analyzing of the radiation spectra.

26. A portable hand-held system for identification of a radiation source, the system comprising:

a portable detection unit that detects gamma radiation, X-ray radiation and neutron radiation emitted due to nuclear decay in the radiation source being inspected and provides a corresponding detection signal based on the radiation;

a radioisotope analysis unit for analyzing radiation detected by the detection unit for determining radioisotope information;

a display unit for displaying results of the analysis to a user, including radiation spectrum and the radioisotope information;

a GPS receiver providing a current position information; and

a connecting unit for communicating the results of the analysis and the current location to a remote computer,

wherein the detection unit, the radioisotope analysis unit, the display unit, the GPS receiver and the connecting unit form an integral device.