Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110303852 | SCINTILLATOR INCLUDING A SCINTILLATOR PARTICULATE AND A POLYMER MATRIX - A scintillator device includes a polymeric polymer matrix, a neutron sensing particulate material dispersed within the polymer matrix, and a scintillating particulate material dispersed within the polymer matrix. In an embodiment, the neutron sensing particulate material has an average characteristic length of not greater than about 3 microns. The scintillating particulate material has an average characteristic length of at least about 16 microns. In another embodiment, a ratio of the average characteristic length of the scintillating particulate material to the average characteristic length of the neutron sensing particulate material is at least about 55. In a further embodiment, an energy deposited in the scintillating particulate material by a positively charged particle is at least about 1.25 MeV. | 12-15-2011 |
20110309257 | RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING A SCINTILLATING MATERIAL AND AN OPTICAL FIBER AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - A radiation detection system can include optical fibers and a material disposed between the optical fibers. In an embodiment, the material can include a fluid, such as a gas, a liquid, or a non-Newtonian fluid. In another embodiment, the material can include an optical coupling material. In a particular embodiment, the optical coupling material can include a silicone rubber. In still another embodiment, the optical coupling material has a refractive index less than 1.50. In still another embodiment, the radiation detection system can have a greater signal:noise ratio, a light collection efficiency, or both as compared to a conventional radiation detection system. Corresponding methods of use are disclosed that can provide better discrimination between neutrons and gamma radiation. | 12-22-2011 |
20120126127 | RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF USING THE SAME - A radiation detection system can include a scintillator that is capable of emitting scintillating light in response to capturing different types of targeted radiation, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor. The control module can be configured to analyze state information of the radiation detection system, and select a first technique to determine which type of targeted radiation is captured by the scintillator, wherein the first technique is a particular technique of a plurality of techniques to determine which type of targeted radiation was captured by the scintillator, and the selection is based at least in part on the analysis. In an embodiment, the radiation detection system can be used to change from one technique to another in real time or near real time to allow the radiation detection system to respond to changing conditions. | 05-24-2012 |
20120132823 | RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ANALYZING AN ELECTRICAL PULSE OUTPUT BY A RADIATION DETECTOR - A radiation detection system can include a photo sensor to receive light from a scintillator via an input and to send an electrical pulse at an output in response to receiving the light. The radiation detection system can also include a pulse analyzer that can determine whether the electrical pulse corresponds to a neutron-induced pulse, based on a ratio of an integral of a particular portion of the electrical pulse to an integral of a combination of a decay portion and a rise portion of the electrical pulse. Each of the integrals can be integrated over time. In a particular embodiment, the pulse analyzer can be configured to compare the ratio with a predetermined value and to identify the electrical pulse as a neutron-induced pulse when the ratio is at least the predetermined value. | 05-31-2012 |
20120223252 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN IMAGING ARRAY USING NON-UNIFORM SEPTA - An imaging array has imaging pixels, non-uniform septa, an axial center and a radial perimeter. The septa are positioned in the array such that there is a septum between adjacent ones of the imaging pixels. At least one parameter of the septa varies at least once from the center to the perimeter of the array. The parameter may increase from the center to the perimeter. The parameter may comprise density or atomic number of the septa. Alternatively, the parameter of the septa may be their radial thicknesses which vary relative to the center. | 09-06-2012 |
20120305778 | SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL INCLUDING A RARE EARTH HALIDE, AND A RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL - A scintillation crystal can include Ln | 12-06-2012 |
20130193332 | RADIATION DETECTION APPARATUSES INCLUDING OPTICAL COUPLING MATERIAL, AND PROCESSES OF FORMING THE SAME - A radiation detection apparatus can have optical coupling material capable of absorbing wavelengths of light within approximately 75 nm of a wavelength of scintillating light of a scintillation member of the radiation detection apparatus. In an embodiment, the optical coupling material can be disposed between a photosensor of the radiation detection apparatus and the scintillation member. In a particular embodiment, the composition of the optical coupling material can include a dye. In an illustrative embodiment, the dye can have a corresponding a* coordinate, a corresponding b* coordinate, and an L* coordinate greater than 0. In another embodiment, the optical coupling material can be disposed along substantially all of a side of the photosensor. | 08-01-2013 |
20130240742 | SCINTILLATION CRYSTALS HAVING FEATURES ON A SIDE, RADIATION DETECTION APPARATUSES INCLUDING SUCH SCINTILLATION CRYSTALS, AND PROCESSES OF FORMING THE SAME - A scintillation crystal capable of emitting scintillation light can have a main body and a feature extending from the main body along a side of the scintillation crystal. The feature can have a dimension that is no greater than 2.5 times a wavelength of the scintillating light. In an embodiment, the feature and the main body can have substantially the same composition, and in a further embodiment the scintillation crystal can be interface free between the feature and the main body. The feature can be formed along the side of the scintillation crystal by removing portions of the scintillation crystal. In particular, the feature can be formed by abrading a surface of the scintillation crystal with an abrasive material. | 09-19-2013 |
20130277544 | Radiation Detector and Method of Using a Radiation Detector - A radiation detector can include a photosensor to receive light via an input and to send an electrical pulse via an output in response to receiving the light. The radiation detector can also include a pulse analyzer to send an indicator to a pulse counter when the electrical pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse and to not send the indicator to the pulse counter when the electrical pulse corresponds to a noise pulse. The pulse analyzer can be coupled to the output of the photosensor. A method can include receiving an electrical pulse at a pulse analyzer from an output of a photosensor and determining whether the electrical pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse or a noise pulse, based on a pulse shape of the electrical pulse. The method can also include sending the electrical pulse to a pulse counter when the electrical pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse. | 10-24-2013 |
20140030832 | Pixelated Scintillation Detector and Method of Making Same - A scintillation detector may include a pixelated scintillation crystal mechanically and optically coupled to a position sensitive photodetector, such as a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT). The pixelated scintillation crystal may be coupled to the position sensitive photodetector without using a window between the crystal and photodetector. According to one method of constructing the scintillation detector, a solid scintillation crystal may be coupled to the position sensitive photodetector and cut while coupled to the photodetector to form the pixelated scintillation crystal. | 01-30-2014 |
20140091223 | Scintillation Pixel Array, Radiation Sensing Apparatus Including The Scintillation Pixel Array and a Method of Forming a Scintillation Pixel Array - The disclosure relates to a scintillation pixel array, a radiation sensing apparatus, a scintillation apparatus, and methods of making a scintillation pixel array wherein scintillation pixels have beveled surfaces and a reflective material around the beveled surfaces. The embodiments described herein can reduce the amount of cross-talk between adjacent scintillation pixels. | 04-03-2014 |
20140091224 | Apparatus Including a Light Emitting Device, a Layer Having a Positive Refractive Index, and a Layer Having a Negative Refractive Index - An apparatus can include a light emitting device and a light sensing device optically coupled to the light emitting device via a first layer and a second layer. In an embodiment, the first layer can have a first thickness and a first index of refraction with a value greater than 0 and the second layer can have a second thickness and a second index of refraction with a value less than 0. In a particular embodiment, the light emitting device can include a scintillator and the light sensing device can include a photosensor. | 04-03-2014 |
20140091227 | Neutron Sensor, a Neutron Sensing Apparatus Including the Neutron Sensor and Processes of Forming the Neutron Sensors - A neutron sensor includes neutron-sensing particles and a scintillator coating surrounding the neutron-sensing particles. In an embodiment, the neutron-sensing particles include | 04-03-2014 |
20140103227 | RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING A SCINTILLATING MATERIAL AND AN OPTICAL FIBER - A radiation detection system can include optical fibers and a material disposed between the optical fibers. In an embodiment, the material can include a fluid, such as a gas, a liquid, or a non-Newtonian fluid. In another embodiment, the material can include an optical coupling material. In a particular embodiment, the optical coupling material can include a silicone rubber. In still another embodiment, the optical coupling material has a refractive index less than 1.50. In still another embodiment, the radiation detection system can have a greater signal:noise ratio, a light collection efficiency, or both as compared to a conventional radiation detection system. Corresponding methods of use are disclosed that can provide better discrimination between neutrons and gamma radiation. | 04-17-2014 |
20140117242 | SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL INCLUDING A RARE EARTH HALIDE, AND A RADIATION DETECTION APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SCINTILLATION CRYSTAL - A scintillation crystal can include Ln | 05-01-2014 |
20140131564 | Radiation Detection Apparatus Using Pulse Discrimination And A Method Of Using The Same - A radiation detection apparatus can include a scintillator, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor. The control module can be configured to receive a pulse from the photosensor and identify a cause of noise corresponding to the pulse. Such information can be useful in determining failure modes and potentially predict future failures of radiation detection apparatuses. In another embodiment, the wavelet discrimination can be used to determine whether or not the pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse, and potentially to identify a type of radiation or a radiation source. The technique is robust to work over a variety of temperatures, and particularly, at temperatures significantly higher than room temperature. | 05-15-2014 |
20140246595 | RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ANALYZING AN ELECTRICAL PULSE OUTPUT BY A RADIATION DETECTOR - A radiation detection system can include a photosensor to receive light from a scintillator via an input and to send an electrical pulse at an output in response to receiving the light. The radiation detection system can also include a pulse analyzer that can determine whether the electrical pulse corresponds to a neutron-induced pulse, based on a ratio of an integral of a particular portion of the electrical pulse to an integral of a combination of a decay portion and a rise portion of the electrical pulse. Each of the integrals can be integrated over time. In a particular embodiment, the pulse analyzer can be configured to compare the ratio with a predetermined value and to identify the electrical pulse as a neutron-induced pulse when the ratio is at least the predetermined value. | 09-04-2014 |
20150076360 | SCINTILLATOR AND RADIATION DETECTOR INCLUDING THE SCINTILLATOR - A radiation detector can include a solid organic/plastic scintillator that enables neutron and gamma interactions to be readily distinguished via pulse-shape discrimination. Embodiments make use of a scintillator including a polymer matrix with a dispersed scintillation material exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence. The scintillation material can include an organic luminescent material that is free of heavy metals and in which excited triplet states are efficiently promoted into excited singlet states by thermal energy, the excited singlet states then generating a delayed fluorescence when decaying to ground state. As a result, the scintillation material, when exposed to ionizing radiation, can produce a combination of prompt and delayed fluorescence sufficient to enable neutron and gamma interactions to be readily distinguished via pulse-shape discrimination techniques. | 03-19-2015 |
20150115144 | SCINTILLATOR AND PULSE SHAPE DISCRIMINATION FOR USE WITH THE SCINTILLATOR - In an embodiment, scintillator can have a Figure of Merit of 0.4 at a temperature greater than 120° C., a Figure of Merit of at least 0.05 at a temperature of at least 160° C., or both. In another embodiment, a scintillator can include a Br-containing or an I-containing elpasolite. Either scintillator can be used in a radiation detection apparatus that include a photosensor and a radiation detection apparatus. Such an apparatus can be used to detect and discriminate two different types of radiation over a wide range of temperatures. The radiation detection apparatus can be useful in drilling, well logging, or as a portal detector. | 04-30-2015 |