Radiation protection circuit for protection against gamma ray and neutron radiation
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorArye Rosen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit for protecting a protected circuit against radiation has a PIN diode series coupled to a laser, which is optically coupled to a photodiode. The photodiode is coupled to the protected circuit. When radiation occurs, the resistance of the PIN diode increases, which causes the laser to cease emitting light. In turn, the resistance of the photodiode increases, thereby decreasing the current from a power supply through the protected circuit.
Claims9
A protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit adapted to be coupled to a first power supply against gamma ray and neutron radiation, said protection circuit comprising:
- a photodiode adapted to be coupled to said protected circuit and said first power supply;
- a laser optically coupled to said photodiode;
- a PIN diode coupled to said laser;
- and
- a second power supply coupled to said PIN diode and to said laser.
A circuit comprising:
- a radiation sensitive circuit to be protected against gamma ray and neutron radiation;
- and
- protection means, series coupled to said protected circuit, for providing an impedance that increases with increases in gamma ray and neutron radiation.
A circuit as claimed in claimed 2, wherein said protection means comprises a threshold device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.