Radiation detection method and apparatus

Abstract

A radiation detection method and apparatus for detection of radiation in a small, portable, relatively inexpensive device. A radiation sensitive memory device and a radiation hardened memory device receive digital data from a digital data generator such as a pseudo-random word generator. The radiation sensitive memory device outputs an exposed digital data stream which, while stored in the radiation sensitive memory device, is susceptible to radiation incident upon the radiation sensitive memory device. The radiation hardened memory device is much less sensitive to radiation than the radiation sensitive memory device such that the test digital data stream output by the radiation hardened memory device is much less effected by radiation than the exposed digital data stream. The exposed digital data stream and the test digital data stream are compared to determine whether the exposed digital data stream was exposed to radiation while stored in the radiation sensitive memory device. Differences between the exposed digital data stream and the test digital data stream are generally indicative of exposure to radiation. Errors detected between the exposed digital data stream and the test digital data stream are measured per unit time and can be converted to a radiation exposure measurement. One or more pre-set radiation exposure measurement thresholds establish conditions at which alarms are activated in the event that the radiation exposure measurement exceeds one of the thresholds. The radiation exposure measurement can also be displayed, such as on an LCD display.

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