Real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsJames D. McGlothlin, Wei-Hsung Wang, Ryan M. Traylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system comprising a Geiger-Müeller meter and a video camera linked to a computer programmed to display video images from the camera simultaneously with data from the Geiger-Müeller meter. A radio modem provides wireless data communications between the Geiger-Müeller and the computer. One aspect of the invention is a retrofit of a conventional Geiger-Müeller meter to include a microcontroller with internal A/D converter enabling the meter to output instantaneous measurements in RS-232 serial format.
Claims4
A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system, comprising:
- a Geiger-Müeller tube;
- an A/D converter having an input connected to said Geiger-Müeller tube;
- a computer;
- wireless transmitting means connected to said A/D converter for transmitting digital data to said computer;
- and
- a video camera linked to said computer,
- wherein said computer is programmed to display video images from said camera simultaneously with data from said Geiger-Müeller tube,
- further comprising a variable-sensitivity meter circuit connected between said Geiger-Müeller tube and said A/D converter, and means for encoding the sensitivity setting of said meter circuit and supplying the encoded sensitivity setting to said wireless transmitting means.
A real-time video radiation exposure monitoring system, comprising:
- a Geiger-Müeller tube;
- an A/D converter having an input connected to said Geiger-Müeller tube;
- a computer;
- wireless transmitting means connected to said A/D converter for transmitting digital data to said computer;
- and
- a video camera linked to said computer,
- wherein said computer is programmed to display video images from said camera simultaneously with data from said Geiger-Müeller tube,
- further comprising a RISC microcontroller connected between said Geiger-Müeller tube and said wireless transmitting means, wherein said A/D converter is contained in said RISC microcontroller.
A method of assessing radiation exposure, comprising:
- measuring radiation in an area of a workplace with a Geiger-Müeller meter having an analog electronic circuit, wherein said Geiger-Müeller meter is adapted for digital output with an A/D converter having an input connected to an output of said analog electronic circuit;
- converting radiation readings from said Geiger-Müeller meter to digital data using said A/D converter;
- obtaining video images of said area as said measuring step is performed;
- supplying radiation data from said Geiger-Müeller meter to a computer by transmitting said digital data to said computer over a wireless link;
- supplying said video images to said computer;
- processing said radiation data and video images in said computer;
- and
- displaying said radiation data and video images simultaneously on a display screen,
- further comprising the step of detecting the sensitivity level of said Geiger-Müeller meter and supplying said sensitivity level to said computer over said wireless link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.