Hybrid radiation detection system
First Claim
1. A method for combining the individual spectral data from a plurality of ionizing radiation detectors to produce a single combined spectrum radiation analysis, the method comprising:
- providing a first computing device, wherein the first computing device accepts input from a plurality of calibrated spectroscopic detectors;
detecting, using the spectroscopic detectors, the radiation level from a radioactive source;
computing spectral histograms for at least two of the spectroscopic detectors;
separating the photopeak counts from the underlying continuum counts using baseline estimation for each spectral histogram to create a respective peak spectral array;
rebinning each peak spectral array to conform to a common energy calibration;
convolving the rebinned peak spectral arrays to create a convolution array;
redistributing counts, according to the local convolution array distribution, in each rebinned spectral array over a symmetrical energy region proportional to the respective photopeak shape calibration at the channel energy;
summing the redistributed counts to obtain the combined spectrum; and
preparing a report related to the combined spectrum for display to a user.
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Abstract
A system for combining the spectral data from multiple ionizing radiation detectors of different types and having different photopeak energy resolutions. First, baseline estimation is performed on each spectral histogram separately, discerning peak regions from underlying continuum using respective peak response functions. All spectra are subsequently rebinned to the same energy calibration and the peak spectra are convolved to produce a single convolution spectrum. All peak counts are redistributed locally according to the convolution spectrum in energy regions proportional to respective local energy resolution. The summation of these redistributed peak spectra can then be analyzed as a single spectrum using a common photopeak response and energy calibration. This process can be embodied in software or firmware. A preferred hybrid system might include a combination of lower resolution, higher efficiency detectors and higher resolution, lower efficiency detectors.
25 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for combining the individual spectral data from a plurality of ionizing radiation detectors to produce a single combined spectrum radiation analysis, the method comprising:
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providing a first computing device, wherein the first computing device accepts input from a plurality of calibrated spectroscopic detectors; detecting, using the spectroscopic detectors, the radiation level from a radioactive source; computing spectral histograms for at least two of the spectroscopic detectors; separating the photopeak counts from the underlying continuum counts using baseline estimation for each spectral histogram to create a respective peak spectral array; rebinning each peak spectral array to conform to a common energy calibration; convolving the rebinned peak spectral arrays to create a convolution array; redistributing counts, according to the local convolution array distribution, in each rebinned spectral array over a symmetrical energy region proportional to the respective photopeak shape calibration at the channel energy; summing the redistributed counts to obtain the combined spectrum; and
preparing a report related to the combined spectrum for display to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hybrid ionizing radiation detection system, the system comprising:
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two or more ionizing radiation detectors, each with dedicated output conditioning circuitry; and a processing device, wherein the processing device performs the method steps comprising; (a) obtaining spectral histograms from two or more calibrated spectroscopic detectors; (b) separating the photopeak counts from the underlying continuum counts using baseline estimation for each spectral histogram to create a respective peak spectral array; (c) rebinning each peak spectral array to conform to a common energy calibration; (d) convolving the rebinned peak spectral arrays to create a convolution array; (e) redistributing counts, according to the local convolution array distribution, in each rebinned spectral array over a symmetrical energy region proportional to the respective photopeak shape calibration at the channel energy; and (f) summing the redistributed counts to obtain the combined spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, the program product comprising instructions, operable to enable a processing device to execute a procedure for combining the spectral data from a plurality of ionizing radiation detectors to produce a single combined spectrum, the program instructions comprising:
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obtaining the outputs from a plurality of calibrated spectroscopic detectors positioned to detect the radiation level from a radioactive source; computing spectral histograms for at least two of the spectroscopic detectors; separating the photopeak counts from the underlying continuum counts using baseline estimation for each spectral histogram to create a respective peak spectral array; rebinning each peak spectral array to conform to a common energy calibration; convolving the rebinned peak spectral arrays to create a convolution array; redistributing counts, according to the local convolution array distribution, in each rebinned spectral array over a symmetrical energy region proportional to the respective photopeak shape calibration at the channel energy; summing the redistributed counts to obtain the combined spectrum and preparing a report related to the combined spectrum for display to a user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification