Compact particle sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9824786-B2
Application number	US-201514795538-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Jul 10, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

An energy sensor is provided including a collimator comprising a plurality of sensor apertures aligned in a plurality of directions configured to allow passage of an energetic particle or photon in a specific direction for respective apertures of the plurality of sensor apertures and at least one energy detector configured to measure the energetic particle or photon including a plurality of detector segments. Respective detector segments of the plurality of detector segments are aligned with the respective sensor apertures and a detector segment which measures the energetic particle or photon is indicative of a directionality of the energetic particle or photon.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. An energy sensor comprising:
a collimator comprising a plurality of sensor apertures aligned in a plurality of directions configured to allow passage of an energetic particle or photon in a specific direction for respective apertures of the plurality of sensor apertures;
a first energy detector configured to measure the energetic particle or photon comprising a plurality of detector segments, wherein respective detector segments of the plurality of detector segments are aligned with the respective sensor apertures and a detector segment which measures the energetic particle or photon is indicative of a directionality of the energetic particle or photon; and
a second energy detector configured to measure the energetic particle or photon, wherein measuring the energetic particle or photon at the second energy detector is indicative of the energetic particle or photon having an energy satisfying a predetermined nullification threshold, wherein satisfaction of the predetermined nullification threshold by the energetic particle or photon is indicative of the energetic particle or photon having sufficient energy to negate a directionality applied by the collimator.

2. The energy sensor of claim 1 , wherein the second energy detector is segmented and coincidence between the detector segment of the first energy detector which measures the energetic particle or photon and a detector segment of the second energy detector which measures the energetic particle or photon is indicative of the directionality of the energetic particle or photon.

3. The energy sensor of claim 1 further comprising:
a third energy detector disposed between the first energy detector and the second energy detector configured to measure an energy level of the energetic particle or photon.

4. The energy sensor of claim 1 , wherein the collimator comprises a plurality of plates.

5. The energy sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sensor apertures further comprise one or more ridges or projections.

6. The energy sensor of claim 1 further comprising:
a shield configured to absorb at least a portion of energetic particles or photons which do not pass through a sensor aperture.

7. The energy sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sensor aperture size limits at least in part degradation or destruction of the energetic particle or photon.

8. An energy sensor comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers or particle tubes configured to guide passage of an energetic particle or photon from a receiving end to a discharge end, wherein respective receiving ends of respective optical fibers or particle tubes of the plurality of optical fibers or particle tubes are aligned in a plurality of directions;
a collimator comprising a plurality of sensor apertures configured to allow passage of the energetic particle or photon, wherein a respective discharge ends of the respective optical fibers or particle tubes are aligned with respective sensor apertures;
a first energy detector configured to measure the energetic particle or photon comprising a plurality of detector segments, wherein respective detector segments of the plurality of detector segments are aligned with the respective sensor apertures and a detector segment which measures the energetic particle or photon is indicative of a directionality of the energetic particle or photon; and
a second energy detector configured to measure the energetic particle or photon, wherein measuring the energetic particle or photon at the second energy detector is indicative of the energetic particle or photon having an energy satisfying a predetermined nullification threshold, wherein satisfaction of the predetermined nullification threshold by the energetic particle or photon is indicative of the energetic particle or photon having sufficient energy to negate a directionality applied by the collimator.

9. The energy sensor of claim 8 further comprising:
a receiving dome configured to align the optical fibers or particle tubes in the plurality of directions.

10. The energy sensor of claim 8 further comprising:
a receiving pyramid configured to align the optical fibers or particle tubes in the plurality of directions.

11. The energy sensor of claim 8 further comprising:
a third energy detector disposed between the first energy detector and the second energy detector configured to measure an energy level of the energetic particle or photon.

12. The energy sensor of claim 8 , wherein the collimator comprises a plurality of plates.

13. The energy sensor of claim 8 further comprising:
a shield configured to absorb at least a portion of energetic particles or photons which do not pass through a sensor aperture.

14. The energy sensor of claim 8 , wherein the sensor aperture size limits at least in part the degradation or destruction of the energetic particle or photon.

15. An energy sensor array comprising: a high energy sensor comprising:
a collimator comprising a plurality of sensor apertures aligned in a plurality of directions configured to allow passage of an energetic particle or photon in a specific direction for respective apertures of the plurality of sensor apertures;
a first energy detector configured measure the energetic particle or photon comprising a plurality of detector segments, wherein respective detector segments of the plurality of detector segments are aligned with the respective sensor apertures and the respective detector segment which measures the energetic particle or photon is indicative of a directionality of the energy particle or wave;
a second energy detector configured to measure the energetic particle or photon, wherein measuring the energetic particle or photon at the second energy detector is indicative of the energetic particle or photon having an energy satisfying a predetermined nullification threshold wherein satisfaction of the predetermined nullification threshold by the energetic particle or photon is indicative of the energetic particle or photon having sufficient energy to negate a directionality applied by the collimator; and
a third energy detector disposed between the first energy detector and the second energy detector configured to measure an energy level of the energetic particle or photon; and

a medium energy sensor comprising
a second collimator comprising a second plurality of sensor apertures aligned in a second plurality of directions configured to allow passage of a second energetic particle or second photon in a second specific direction for respective apertures of the second plurality of sensor apertures;
a fourth energy detector configured to measure the second energetic particle or second photon comprising a second plurality of detector segments, wherein respective detector segments of the second plurality of detector segments are aligned with the respective second sensor apertures and the respective second detector segment which measures the second energetic particle or second photon is indicative of a second directionality of the second energetic particle or second photon; and
a fifth energy detector configured to measure the second energetic particle or second photon, wherein measuring the second energetic particle or second photon at the fifth energy detector is indicative of the second energetic particle or second photon having an energy satisfying a second predetermined nullification threshold.

16. The energy sensor array of claim 15 further comprises: a low energy sensor.

Assignees

• Univ Johns Hopkins

Inventors

• Sotirelis Thomas S
• Andrews G Bruce

Classifications

• G01T1/36

  Measuring spectral distribution of X-rays or of nuclear radiation {spectrometry (pulse selection circuits per se H03K; investigation of materials by radiation diffraction G01N23/20; spectrometer tubes H01J49/00)} · CPC title

• G01T1/2907

  Angle determination; Directional detectors; Telescopes (prospecting by the use of nuclear radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity G01V5/00) · CPC title

• G21K1/02 Primary

  using diaphragms, collimators · CPC title