Energy harvester for wireless, motion and position-sensing, integrating radiation sensor for occupational and environmental dosimetry

• US 9,103,920 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kiho
• Application Number:
  US14/274,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20140299783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 250/336.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

An apparatus comprising: a radiation sensor having one or more radiation sensors and an on-board power harvester.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a radiation sensor comprising one or more radiation sensors;

an on-board power harvester,

wherein the power harvester converts radiofrequency energy into electrical energy,

wherein the radiofrequency energy is adjustable,

wherein the power harvester comprises a radiofrequency coil, and

wherein the radiofrequency coil is adjustable to optimize an integration of radio frequency receiver coils and sensors into a fabric.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the power harvester comprises an electromagnetic vibration energy harvester.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power harvester converts mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the power harvester converts light energy into electrical energy.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the power harvester converts heat energy into electrical energy.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the heat is generated by one of a human or animal body, a combustive device and a heat-generating thermocouple.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the power harvester comprises a radiofrequency receiver having a radiofrequency receiving antenna, wherein the size and shape of the radiofrequency receiving antenna is adjusted to optimize a collection of radiofrequency energy.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a mechanical energy of the power harvester is adjustable.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the power harvester comprises an adjustable magnet and coil.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an on-board motion sensor.

11. A The device of claim 1 comprising:

a radiation sensor array comprising the one or more radiation sensors, wherein the power harvester converts mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy, and

wherein the resonant excitation of the power harvester has a frequency range of 6-8 Hz.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises an on-board motion sensor.

13. A device comprising:

a radiation sensor array comprising one or more radiation sensors; and

a power harvester, wherein the power harvester converts mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy,

wherein the resonant excitation of the power harvester has a frequency range of 6-8 Hz,

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.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the power harvester comprises a levitating electromagnetic vibration energy harvester.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the one or more radiation sensors are ionizing radiation sensors.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the one or more radiation sensors are non-ionizing radiation sensors, hazardous chemical sensors, or other biochemical substance sensors.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises an on-board motion sensor.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises:

a position locating sensor.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises an on-board wireless transmitter.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises an on-board temperature sensor.