Wireless, motion and position-sensing, integrating radiation occupational and environmental dosimetry

• US 8,822,924 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landauer, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Landauer, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Valentino, Daniel J., Yoder, R. Craig, Thistlethwaite, James R. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kiho
• Application Number:
  US13/906,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20130320212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 2503361-3362
• US Class Current: 250/336.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0488 with spectral filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/02 Dosimeters G01T1/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/026 Semiconductor dose-rate meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/16 Measuring radiation intensity G01T1/29 takes precedence ; self-powered detectors G01T3/006; using an ionisation chamber filled with a liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric G01T3/008
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/17 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular type of detector pulse-selection circuits H03K, G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/244 Auxiliary details, e.g. casings, cooling, damping or insulation against damage by, e.g. heat, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/08 with semiconductor detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/025 specially adapted for use from aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Described is a radiation dosimeter including multiple sensor devices (including one or more passive integrating electronic radiation sensor, a MEMS accelerometers, a wireless transmitters and, optionally, a GPS, a thermistor, or other chemical, biological or EMF sensors) and a computer program for the simultaneous detection and wireless transmission of ionizing radiation, motion and global position for use in occupational and environmental dosimetry. The described dosimeter utilizes new processes and algorithms to create a self-contained, passive, integrating dosimeter. Furthermore, disclosed embodiments provide the use of MEMS and nanotechnology manufacturing techniques to encapsulate individual ionizing radiation sensor elements within a radiation attenuating material that provides a “filtration bubble” around the sensor element, the use of multiple attenuating materials (filters) around multiple sensor elements, and the use of a software algorithm to discriminate between different types of ionizing radiation and different radiation energy.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a radiation sensor array comprising one or more radiation sensors mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB);

wherein each of the one or more radiation sensors is surrounded by a filter material to provide an optimal angular response to radiation detected by each of the one or more radiation sensors; and

wherein the optimal angular response of each of the one or more radiation sensors is independent of the angle of incidence of the radiation detected by each of the one or more radiation sensors.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more radiation sensors are ionizing radiation sensors.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more radiation sensors are non-ionizing radiation sensors, hazardous chemical sensors, or other biochemical substance sensors.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises:

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter material includes radiation attenuating material.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the radiation attenuating material is capable of attenuating x-rays and gamma-rays.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the radiation attenuating material is capable of filtering-out alpha particles and beta radiation.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more radiation sensors are encapsulated by the filter material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter material is comprises a spherical or half-spherical (dome) geometry.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter material is includes thin metallic layers selected from at least one of copper, tin, aluminum and tungsten.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a remote sensor chip configured to transmit data via an unspecified wireless transmission communication protocol.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more radiation sensors comprise a plurality of radiation sensors.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein a first radiation sensor of the plurality of radiation sensors is surrounded by a first filter material, wherein a second radiation sensor of the plurality of radiation sensors is surrounded by a second filter material, and wherein the second filter material is different from the first filter material.

14. An integrated sensor module comprising:

a radiation sensor array;

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor,

wherein the radiation sensor array comprises one or more radiation sensors;

wherein each of the one or more radiation sensors is surrounded by a filter material to provide an optimal angular response to radiation detected by each of the one or more radiation sensors.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the radiation sensor array comprises ionizing radiation sensors.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the radiation sensor array comprises non-ionizing radiation sensors, hazardous chemical sensors, or other biochemical substance sensors.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the on-board wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data via an unspecified wireless transmission communication protocol.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into a dosimetry badge.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV'"'"'s).

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the integrated sensor module employs a flocking algorithm to coordinate between multiple UAV'"'"'s and track the position and distribution of materials.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into unmanned water-based vehicles.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the integrated modular sensor architecture employs a flocking algorithm to coordinate between multiple unmanned water-based vehicles and track the position and distribution of materials.

23. An autonomous mobile sensor network for tracking a position and distribution of materials comprising:

an integrated sensor module comprising;

a radiation sensor array;

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor,

wherein the radiation sensor array comprises one or more radiation sensors;

wherein each of the one or more radiation sensors is surrounded by a filter material to provide an optimal angular response to radiation detected by each of the one or more radiation sensors;

a communication device;

a wireless network;

a public data network; and

a remote data server, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with the integrated sensor module and the wireless network;

wherein the wireless network is also configured to communicate with the public data network; and

wherein the public data network is also configured to communicate with the remote data server.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the radiation sensor array comprises ionizing radiation sensors.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the radiation sensor array comprises non-ionizing radiation sensors, hazardous chemical sensors, or other biochemical substance sensors.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the on-board wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data via an unspecified wireless transmission communication protocol.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the materials include at least one of radiation, chemicals, biological agents, or electromagnetic fields.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the materials are airborne.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the materials are waterborne.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into a dosimetry badge.

31. The device of claim 23, wherein the communication between the communication device and the integrated sensor module occurs via an unspecified wireless transmission communication protocol.

32. The device of claim 23, wherein the communication between the communication device and the wireless network occurs via data network transmission communication protocol.

33. The device of claim 23, wherein the communication between the wireless network and the public data network occurs via the Internet.

34. The device of claim 23, wherein the communication between the public data network and the remote data server occurs via the Internet.

35. An autonomous mobile wireless sensor base station network for tracking a position and distribution of materials comprising:

an integrated sensor module comprising;

a radiation sensor array;

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor,

wherein the radiation sensor array comprises one or more radiation sensors;

wherein each of the one or more radiation sensors is surrounded by a filter material to provide an optimal angular response to radiation detected by each of the one or more radiation sensors;

a wireless sensor base station;

a wireless network;

a public data network; and

a distributed data server, wherein the wireless sensor base station is configured to communicate with the integrated sensor module and the wireless network;

wherein the wireless network is also configured to communicate with the public data network; and

wherein the public data network is also configured to communicate with the distributed data server.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the radiation sensor array comprises ionizing radiation sensors.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the radiation sensor array comprises non-ionizing radiation sensors, hazardous chemical sensors, or other biochemical substance sensors.

38. The device of claim 35, wherein the on-board wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data via an unspecified wireless transmission communication protocol.

39. The device of claim 35, wherein the materials include at least one of radiation, chemicals, biological agents, or electromagnetic fields.

40. The device of claim 35, wherein the materials are airborne.

41. The device of claim 35, wherein the materials are waterborne.

42. The device of claim 35, wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into a dosimetry badge.

43. The device of claim 35, wherein the wireless sensor base station comprises:

a wireless transmitter and receiver;

a data network interface; and

a second integrated sensor module comprising;

a radiation sensor array;

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor.

44. The device of claim 35, wherein the communication between the wireless sensor base station and the integrated sensor module occurs via an unspecified wireless transmission communication protocol.

45. The device of claim 35, wherein the communication between the wireless sensor base station and the wireless network occurs via data network transmission communication protocol.

46. The device of claim 35, wherein the communication between the wireless network and the public data network occurs via the Internet.

47. The device of claim 35, wherein the communication between the public data network and the distributed data server occurs via the Internet.

48. An integrated sensor module comprising:

a radiation sensor array;

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor,

wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV'"'"'s),

wherein the integrated sensor module employs a flocking algorithm to coordinate between multiple UAV'"'"'s and track the position and distribution of materials.

49. An integrated sensor module comprising:

a radiation sensor array;

an on-board motion sensor;

an on-board geospatial positioning sensor;

an on-board power harvester;

an on-board wireless transmitter; and

an on-board temperature sensor,

wherein the integrated sensor module is integrated into unmanned water-based vehicles,

wherein the integrated modular sensor architecture employs a flocking algorithm to coordinate between multiple unmanned water-based vehicles and track the position and distribution of materials.