# US 9,040,928 B2 · Detection of ionising radiation

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- Number: US 9,040,928 B2
- Document ID: US9040928B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/298,025
- Filed: 2011-11-16
- Published: 2012-03-15
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-29
- Assignees: BAE SYSTEMS plc
- Applicants: Michael Dunleavy; Sajad Haq; Douglas Beverley Stevenson King; Nicholas Robert Giacomo Colosimo; Jonathan Alexander Silvie; Philip Lawrence Webberley
- Inventors: Michael Dunleavy; Sajad Haq; Douglas Beverley Stevenson King; Nicholas Robert Giacomo Colosimo; Jonathan Alexander Silvie; Philip Lawrence Webberley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040928B2

## CPC

- G01T 5/08: Scintillation chambers (discharge tubes H01J40/00, H01J47/00)
- G01T 1/2002: {Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers}
- G01T 1/201: {using scintillating fibres}
- G01T 1/204: the detector being a liquid
- G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00)

## Abstract

A detector for detecting ionizing radiation comprises a scintillator 10 selected to emit light in response to incidence thereon of radiation to be detected, at least one detector 16 for detecting said emitted light, and at least one optical waveguide 12 for transmitting said emitted light to said detector 16. The optical waveguide typically comprises a flexible solid or hollow fiber that can be incorporated into a flexible mat or into a fiber-reinforced structure, so that the detector is integrated therewith.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detector for detecting ionising radiation, comprising:
a scintillator selected to emit light in response to incident radiation;
at least one detector for detecting the emitted light;
a plurality of optical waveguides, the plurality of optical waveguides disposed orthogonally in rows and columns and for transmitting the emitted light to the detector, wherein each of the plurality of optical waveguides comprises a hollow optical fibre containing a replaceable scintillator material in the hollow of the optical fibre,
at least one manifold configured to selectively introduce and withdraw different scintillator materials from the plurality of optical waveguides to adapt the detector for detecting radiation of different types; and
a processor configured to receive output from the at least one detector and control the introduction and withdrawal of the different scintillator materials from the plurality of optical waveguides based on different types of radiation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the reflective material is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, indium and aluminum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical fibres are disposed orthogonally in three dimensions (X,Y,Z).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detector comprises:
means for detecting light emissions at opposite ends of the waveguide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator material is responsive to at least one of alpha particles, beta particles (electrons), x-ray radiation, gamma radiation, neutrons, protons.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical waveguides is responsive to a selected radiation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical waveguides are arranged in layers, with each layer being responsive to a predetermined radiation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator material comprises a liquid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator material comprises a gel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein the detector is a flexible mat.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The detector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical waveguides is a flexible optical fibre.