Method of detecting and outputting radiation dose rate information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10007002-B2
Application number	US-201715592822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2017
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. The position of the worker within the RCA can be stored in conjunction with the measured dose rate as detected by a dosimeter worn by the worker at such position, potentially also with a time stamp. These data can then be employed to generate the dosage rate map of the RCA that shows the various dose rates at various locations within the RCA and that can be visually output for viewing by the worker or other personnel outside the RCA.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of visually outputting a set of continually updated data pertaining to a number of dose rates within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) during an operation wherein a worker is situated within an interior region of the RCA, the method comprising:
for each dosimeter of a number of dosimeters situated within the RCA:
periodically detecting from the dosimeter a measured dose rate that is representative of a rate at which the dosimeter is exposed to ionizing radiation,
detecting a position within the RCA where the dosimeter is situated when the measured dose rate is detected, and
storing in a storage as a part of a data record a data entry that comprises at least the measured dose rate and the position;

employing the data record to determine a number of most current dose rates, each most current dose rate of the number of most current dose rates being associated with a corresponding location from among a number of locations within the RCA, the most current dose rate being representative of a rate at which an object situated at the corresponding location would be exposed to ionizing radiation; and
outputting on a visual display a visible output that includes a number of visual objects, at least some of visual objects of the number of visual objects each being representative, at least in part, of a most current dose rate of the number of most current dose rates and the corresponding location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising visually displaying as a part of the visible output a dosage rate map that comprises a first visual object of the number of visual objects that is representative of at least a portion of the RCA and that further comprises a number of second visual objects of the number of visual objects that each include at least one indicium that is representative, at least in part, of a most current dose rate of the number of most current dose rates and the corresponding location.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the number of second visual objects are situated with respect to the first visual object in a fashion that is representative of the arrangement of the number of locations within the RCA.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least some of the second visual objects of the number of second visual objects each include as the at least one indicium a visual element that includes at least a first numeral that is representative of the most current dose rate.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a first subset of the at least some of the second visual objects each include a second indicium in the form of a first color that is representative of the most current dose rate, and wherein a second subset of the at least some of the second visual objects each include another second indicium in the form of a second color that is representative of the most current dose rate, the first color and the second color being different from one another and being representative of the most current dose rates in the first subset being different from the most current dose rates in the second subset.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein at least some of the second visual objects of the number of second visual objects each include as the at least one indicium a visual element that includes a color that is representative of the most current dose rate.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising depicting the visible output on a visual display that is situated on the worker and is disposed proximate an eye of the worker.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing as a portion of the data entry a corresponding time when the measured dose rate was detected, the corresponding time being at least one of prior to the operation and during the operation.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising situating a dosimeter of the number of dosimeters in proximity to the worker to enable the dosimeter to move with the worker within the RCA.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
situating a dosimeter of the number of dosimeters on a movable platform that is movable about the RCA; and
moving the movable platform about the RCA to cause the dosimeter to move with the movable platform within the RCA.

Assignees

• Westinghouse Electric Co Llc

Inventors

• Norrell Michael S

Classifications

• G06F3/147

  using display panels · CPC title

• G01T1/02 Primary

  Dosimeters (G01T1/15 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01T7/00

  Details of radiation-measuring instruments · CPC title