Apparatus systems and methods of sensing chemical bio-chemical and radiological agents using electrophoretic displays

• US 9,128,192 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Gov'T Represented By Secretary Of The Navy Chief Of Naval Research
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Christophersen, Marc, Phlips, Bernard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, J. Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kessel, Maris R
• Application Number:
  US13/019,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20120193551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 204/606, 204/450, 359/290, 359/296, 250/472.1, 250/473.1, 250/474.1, 250/475.2, 250/482.1, 250/484.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/02 Dosimeters G01T1/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 3/14 Arrangements for focusing or reflecting ray or beam H01J3/02, H01J3/04 take precedence

Abstract

Caesium-137 irradiates electronic paper. An incoming gamma-ray from the Cs-137 interacts with a particle inside a micro-container by generating a recoil electron and/or a hole. Because the recoil electron physically leaves the particle, the particle is charged depending on the dose from the radiation source. And, the charge of the particles change, which results in a movement of the particles within the micro-container. After refreshing the electronic paper, a visible difference in the gray-scale can be seen. Thus, the visible difference in the gray-scale is an effect caused by the irradiation of the electronic paper, showing sensitivity to high energy radiation—thus, non-optimized electronic paper is sensitive to high energy radiation and can be used as a radiation dosimeter. In addition, electronic paper can be used for sensing chemical and bio-chemical agents, as well as detecting high energy radiation.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a film laminated to a substrate, wherein the film comprises microcontainers containing;

a liquid;

particles comprising tungsten or CdTe; and

carbon particles;

wherein the tungsten or CdTe particles and the carbon particles are in a colloidal suspension in the liquid; and

a voltage source coupled to the film capable of applying an electric field across the film; and

a color scale indicating color changes in the film corresponding to one or more levels of exposure to gamma rays.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the particles comprising tungsten.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the particles comprising CdTe.

4. A method comprising:

providing a device comprising;

a film laminated to a substrate, wherein the film comprises microcontainers containing;

a liquid;

particles comprising tungsten or CdTe; and

carbon particles;

wherein the tungsten or CdTe particles and the carbon particles are in a colloidal suspension in the liquid;

a voltage source coupled to the film capable of applying an electric field across the film; and

a color scale indicating color changes in the film corresponding to one or more levels of exposure to gamma rays in an environment suspected of containing gamma rays; and

comparing the color scale to the film to determine the level of exposure to the film of gamma rays.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a charge couple device imager is used to measure the color of the film.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

activating the voltage source to restore the film to its original color.