Sensor system for high-radiation environments

• US 9,509,888 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Remote Ocean Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Remote Ocean Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kalfas, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US15/041,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20160182778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65, 348/81, 348/82, 348/61, 348/73, 348/175, 348/180, 348/187, 348/184, 348/185, 348/169, 348/83, 382/141, 382144-149
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/003 Remote inspection of vessels, e.g. pressure vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/01 Inspection of the inner surfaces of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/207 Assembling, maintenance or repair of reactor components G21C3/334 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A detection system is provided for use in a high-radiation environment includes a sensor assembly with a housing enclosing an unshielded radiation-hardened sensor for generating a digital signal of detected data corresponding to an object of interest and a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) for converting the digital signal into a serial bit stream. A high-frequency transmission cable transmits the serial bit stream to a signal processing module located outside of the high-radiation environment where a second SERDES deserializes the serial bit stream to generate a decoded signal that is processed to generate an output at a display device corresponding to the detected object.

Claims

1. A detection system for detection of an object located in a high-radiation environment, comprising:

a detection assembly comprising

a housing;

an unshielded radiation-hardened sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor configured for generating a digital signal in response to detection of at least a portion of the object; and

a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) disposed within the housing for converting the digital signal from the sensor into a serial bit stream;

a transmission cable connected at a first end to the detection assembly, the transmission cable configured for transmitting the serial bit stream at a high frequency, the transmission cable having a cable length of 15 meters or longer; and

a processing module disposed outside of the high-radiation environment for receiving the transmitted serial bit stream, the processing module comprising;

a second SERDES adapted for deserializing the serial bit stream to generate a decoded signal; and

a signal processor adapted to process the decoded signal to generate an output at a display device comprising data corresponding to the detected at least a portion of the object.

2. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a watertight enclosure.

3. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from stainless steel.

4. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises radiation shielding enclosing the first SERDES.

5. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the display device is incorporated within an inspection workstation and wherein the inspection workstation comprises a controller for controlling operation of the detection assembly.

6. The detection system of claim 5, further comprising a robotic delivery system responsive to the controller.

7. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a CMOS, CCD or CID sensor.

8. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a color image sensor.

9. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmission cable transmits at microwave or higher frequency.

10. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is radiation hardened to operate without significant signal degradation up to 2 MRad total integrated dose.

11. A detection system for detection of at least a portion of an object located in a hazardous underwater environment, comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising;

a housing having a watertight seal;

an unshielded radiation-hardened sensor disposed within the housing, the sensor configured for generating a digital signal corresponding to a detected portion of the object; and

a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) disposed within the housing for converting the signal from the sensor into a serial bit stream;

a transmission cable connected at a first end to the sensor assembly, the transmission cable configured for transmitting the serial bit stream at a microwave or higher frequency, the transmission cable having a cable length of 15 meters or longer; and

a processing module disposed outside of the hazardous underwater environment for receiving the transmitted serial bit stream, the processing module comprising;

a second SERDES adapted for deserializing the serial bit stream to generate a decoded signal; and

a signal processor adapted to process the decoded signal to generate an output at a display device comprising data representing the detected portion of the object.

12. The detection system of claim 11, wherein the housing is formed from stainless steel.

13. The detection system of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises radiation shielding enclosing the first SERDES.

14. The detection system of claim 11, wherein the display device is incorporated within an inspection workstation and wherein the inspection workstation comprises a controller for controlling operation of the sensor assembly.

15. The detection system of claim 14, further comprising a robotic delivery system responsive to the controller.

16. The detection system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a CMOS, CCD or CID sensor.

17. The detection system of claim 11, wherein the sensor is radiation hardened to operate without significant signal degradation up to 2 MRad total integrated dose.

18. An inspection system for inspection of one or more objects of interest located in a high-radiation environment, the system comprising:

a sensor assembly comprising an unshielded radiation-hardened sensor disposed within a sealed housing, the sensor configured for generating a detected data signal corresponding to the one or more objects of interest;

a transmission cable connected to the sensor assembly, the transmission cable configured for transmitting data at microwave or higher frequency, the transmission cable having a second end extending outside of the high-radiation environment;

a signal processing module disposed outside of the high-radiation environment, connected to the transmission cable for receiving the transmitted detected data signal, the signal processing module comprising a processor adapted to process a detected data signal to generate an output at a display device corresponding to the one or more objects of interest; and

a SERDES pair comprising a first SERDES disposed within the sensor assembly, the first SERDES configured for serializing detected data to generate a serial bit stream for transmission across the transmission cable, and a second SERDES disposed within the signal processing module, the second SERDES configured for deserializing the serial bit stream for input to the processor.

19. The inspection system of claim 18, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises radiation shielding enclosing the first SERDES.

20. The inspection system of claim 18, wherein the display device is incorporated within an inspection workstation and wherein the inspection workstation comprises a controller for controlling operation of the camera assembly.

21. The inspection system of claim 20, further comprising a robotic delivery system responsive to the controller.

22. The inspection system of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a CMOS, CCD or CID sensor.