METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR REMOTELY MONITORING THE LOCATION AND USAGE HISTORY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS STORED WITH A SHIELDED CONTAINER OR OVERPACK

• US 20120235051A1
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geoforce Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Geoforce Incorporated
• Inventors: MacLean, James S. III, Taylor, Brandon C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,599,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/390.04
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/018 Involving non-radio wave signals or measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/06 Details of, or accessories to, the containers

Abstract

A radioactive source information tracking and reporting system and method is disclosed. The system and method include a device operable to detect a presence of a radioactive source contained within a shielded container. The device is further operable to detect a location of the shielded container. A message is generated and transmitted to a central facility. The message includes a shielded container identifier, a location of the shielded container, and an indication of the presence of the radioactive source.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A device comprising:

a processor configured to report information regarding a shielded container and a first radioactive source contained within the shielded container, wherein a shielding around the shielded container is configured to inhibit a communication of radioactive particles through the shielding;

a global positioning system (GPS) device coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication device coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the report;

a first sensor coupled to the processor and configured to detect a presence of the first radioactive source within the shielded container.

26. The device as set forth in claim 25, further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a motion of the shielded container.

27. The device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive beacon signal comprising a location identifier from an external source and, upon receiving the beacon signal, the processor is configured to transmit at least one of:

a location;

a second identifier and an indication of the presence of the first radioactive source as part of a message.

28. The device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of a cellular modem, a satellite modem, a wifi transceiver, and infrared transceiver and a radio frequency transceiver.

29. The device as set forth in claim 28, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the report, via a short range communication to a relay wireless communication device, to a central facility.

30. The device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to detect a change in one of the presence of the first radioactive source and the location of the shielded container.

31. The device as set forth in claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to store, in a memory unit, information relating to the detected change and transmit the information to the central facility at a time subsequent to the detection of the change in one of the presence of the first radioactive source and location of the shielded container.

32. The device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the first sensor is configured to at least one of:

detect at least one of a Gamma, Beta and Neutron particle; and

identify the first radioactive source.

33. The device as set forth in claim 32, wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of an RFID transponder, a SAW device, and a RuBee™

transceiver.

34. The device as set forth in claim 25, wherein the report comprises at least one of geographic location information, storage pit identification information, radiation level information, radiation type information, maintenance history, handling procedures and emergency response documentation.

35. A system comprising:

a shielded container comprising;

an insulating material disposed around an inner cavity, the insulating material configured to inhibit a communication of radioactive particles through the shielding;

the inner cavity dimensioned to contain the first radioactive source; and

a radiation tracking unit coupled to the shielded container, the radiation tracking unit configured to generate a report regarding the first radioactive source, the radiation tracking unit comprising;

processing circuitry configured to detect the presence or absence of the radioactive source within the inner cavity;

a wireless communication device configured to receive command and query information and transmit report information; and

a location determination device coupled to the processing circuitry.

36. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the processing circuitry comprises an accelerometer configured to detect a motion of the shielded container.

37. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to receive beacon signal comprising a location identifier from an external source and, upon receiving the beacon signal, the processor is configured to transmit at least one of:

a location;

a second identifier and an indication of the presence of the first radioactive source as part of a message.

38. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the communication device comprises at least one of a cellular modem, a satellite modem, a wifi transceiver, and infrared transceiver and a radio frequency transceiver.

39. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the report, via a short range communication to a relay wireless communication device, to a central facility.

40. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect a change in one of the presence of the first radioactive source and the location of the shielded container.

41. The system as set forth in claim 40, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to store, in a memory unit, information relating to the detected change and transmit the information to the central facility at a time subsequent to the detection of the change in one of the presence of the first radioactive source and location of the shielded container.

42. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to at least one of:

detect at least one of a Gamma, Beta and Neutron particle; and

identify the first radioactive source.

43. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the processing circuitry comprises at least one of an RFID transponder, a SAW device, and a RuBee™

transceiver.

44. The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein the report comprises at least one of geographic location information, storage pit identification information, radiation level information, radiation type information, maintenance history, handling procedures and emergency response documentation.

45. A method comprising:

detecting, by a cargo tracking device, a presence of a first radioactive source contained within a shielded container, the shielded container comprising an insulating material configured to inhibit communication of radioactive particles from the first radioactive source; and

transmitting a report regarding the first radioactive source in the shielded container.

46. The method as set forth in claim 45, further comprising determining, by a cargo tracking device, a location of the shielded container.

47. The method as set forth in claim 45, further comprising detecting, by a second sensor in the cargo tracking device, a motion of the shielded container.

48. The method as set forth in claim 45, further comprising:

receiving, by the cargo tracking device, a beacon signal comprising a location identifier from an external source; and

upon receiving the beacon signal, transmitting, by the cargo tracking device, at least one of;

a location, a second identifier, and an indication of the presence of the first radioactive source as part of a message.

49. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the cargo tracking device comprises at least one of a cellular model, a satellite modem, a wifi transceiver, and infrared transceiver and a radio frequency transceiver.

50. The method as set forth in claim 46, further comprising detecting, by the cargo tracking device, a change in one of:

the presence of the first radioactive source and the location of the shielded container.

51. The method as set forth in claim 50, further comprising:

storing information relating to the detected change; and

transmitting the information to a central facility at a time subsequent to the detection of the change in one of the presence of the first radioactive source and location of the shielded container.

52. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein detecting the presence of the first radioactive source within the shielded container further comprises at least one of:

detecting at least one of a Gamma, Beta and Neutron particle; and

identifying the radioactive source.

53. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein detecting the presence of the first radioactive source comprises using at least one of an RFID transponder, a SAW device, and a RuBee™

transceiver.

54. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein the report regarding the first radioactive source comprises at least one of geographic location information, storage pit identification information, radiation level information, radiation type information, maintenance history, handling procedures, and emergency response documentation.

55. The method as set forth in claim 45, wherein transmitting the report regarding the first radioactive source in the shielded container further comprises transmitting the report, via a short range communication to a relay wireless communication device, to a central facility.