# US 9,435,755 B2 · Scalable and tunable neutron detection instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,755 B2 - Document ID: US9435755B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/894,305 - Filed: 2013-05-14 - Published: 2014-03-20 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-20 - Assignees: Rhombus Holdings LLC - Applicants: Rhombus Holdings LLC - Inventors: Anshuman Roy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435755B2 ## CPC - G01N 23/222: using neutron activation analysis [NAA] - G01T 3/08: with semiconductor detectors - B82Y 15/00: Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors - Y10S 977/734: Fullerenes, i.e. graphene-based structures, such as nanohorns, nanococoons, nanoscrolls or fullerene-like structures, e.g. WS2 or MoS2 chalcogenide nanotubes, planar C3N4, etc. - Y10S 977/742: Carbon nanotubes, CNTs - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - 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) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A method for detecting particles is presented. The method comprises generating a reaction to a plurality of particles using a converter material, wherein the converter material is operable to interact with the plurality of particles, and wherein a subset of the plurality of particles comprises neutrons. Further, the method comprises converting a response to the reaction to a readable electrical signal using a sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an array of pixels. Also, the method comprises processing the readable electrical signal from the sensor to generate information for each pixel on the array of pixels and transmitting the information to a processing unit. Also, the method comprises executing a discrimination procedure using the information for distinguishing between instances of impingement of neutrons and non-neutron particles on the array of pixels. Further, the method comprises determining the radionuclide or non-radionuclide source of origin of the neutron and non-neutron particles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting particles, said method comprising: generating a reaction to a plurality of particles using a plurality of different converter materials, wherein each of said converter materials are designed to generate a detectable reaction with one of said plurality of particles; converting a response to said reaction to a readable electrical signal using a plurality of discrete pixel sensor arrays wherein each pixel sensor array is composed of one of the plurality of different converter materials such that each pixel sensor array is designed to detect a different type of particle in said plurality of particles; processing said readable electrical signal from said plurality of pixel sensor arrays to generate information regarding each pixel on said pixel sensor arrays; transmitting said information to a processing unit; and analyzing said information using said processing unit to determine instances of impingement of said plurality of particles on each of said pixel sensor arrays; wherein each pixel sensor array is in communication with a particle discrimination algorithm dedicated to detecting a type of particle in said plurality of particles that the converter material included in the pixel sensor array is designed to detect, and wherein each discrimination algorithm distinguishes between instances of impingement of a type of particle it is dedicated to detect and impingement of particles it is not dedicated to detect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said pixel sensor arrays are readily available sensors used in consumer electronic device camera systems. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising focusing said plurality of particles towards said pixel sensor arrays using a lens apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing further comprises creating an information vector for each pixel on each pixel sensor array, wherein information for said information vector is selected from a group consisting of: a location value for a pixel; an intensity value for said pixel, wherein said intensity value is a measure of intensity related to an impingement of at least one particle on said pixel; and a time-stamp for said pixel, wherein said time-stamp records the time at which said impingement occurred. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of particles is selected from a group of subatomic particles consisting of: neutrons, gamma rays, beta particles, alpha particles, neutrinos, and ions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of particles is selected from a group consisting of: subatomic particles, atoms and molecules. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: increasing sensitivity to said plurality of particles by using a plurality of said pixel sensor arrays, wherein said plurality of said pixel sensor arrays are configured to operate in parallel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: determining a pattern of impingement of said plurality of particles on said plurality of said pixel sensor arrays; and displaying said pattern of impingement on a display screen of a graphical user interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of said pixel sensor arrays are loaded on a plurality of printed circuit boards, wherein said plurality of printed circuit boards are configured to detect said plurality of particles in parallel, and further wherein each of said plurality of printed circuit boards comprises at least one of said pixel sensor arrays. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining a pattern of impingement of said plurality of particles on said plurality of said pixel sensor arrays in three dimensional space; and comparing said pattern of impingement to a library of digital particle signatures to determine a respective identity of said plurality of particles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a source of said plurality of particles is determined based on said pattern of impingement, wherein said source is selected from a group consisting of: radionuclide and non-radionuclide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: eliminating noise generated within said pixel sensor arrays. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for detecting particles, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of different converter materials operable to generate a reaction to a plurality of particles, wherein each of said converter materials are designed to generate a detectable reaction with one of said plurality of particles; a plurality of pixel sensor arrays operable to convert a response to said detectable reaction to a readable electrical signal, wherein each of said plurality of pixel sensor array is composed of one of the plurality of different converter materials such that each pixel sensor array is designed to detect a different type of particle in said plurality of particles; a processing device configured to: process said readable electrical signal from said plurality of pixel sensor arrays to generate information regarding each pixel on said pixel sensor arrays; analyze said information to determine instances of impingement of said plurality of particles on each of said pixel sensor arrays, wherein each pixel sensor array is in communication with a particle discrimination algorithm dedicated to detecting a type of particle in said plurality of particles that the converter material included in the pixel sensor array is designed to detect; and wherein each discrimination algorithm distinguishes between instances of impingement of a type of particle it is dedicated to detect and impingement of particles it is not dedicated to detect. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a housing operable to encapsulate said plurality of pixel sensor arrays and said processing unit, wherein said housing is designed to restrict entry of certain select particles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said housing is constructed using flexible materials. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a display module for displaying information regarding said instances of impingement through a graphical user interface, wherein said housing further comprises said display module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said display module is configured to flag an alarm for a user when said instances of impingement cross over a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of pixel sensor arrays comprises a plurality of sensor elements, and wherein each of said plurality of sensor elements comprises a lens apparatus, wherein said lens apparatus is configured to focus said plurality of particles towards a respective sensor of an element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said plurality of said pixel sensor arrays are loaded on a plurality of printed circuit boards, wherein said plurality of printed circuit boards are configured to detect said plurality of particles in parallel, and further wherein each of said plurality of printed circuit boards comprises at least one of said pixel sensor arrays. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of printed circuit boards are designed using flexible materials. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a source of said plurality of particles is determined based on a pattern of impingement, wherein said source is selected from a group consisting of: radionuclide and non-radionuclide. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of pixel sensor arrays is easily detachable from a respective printed circuit board. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a pixel sensor array can be detached from a respective printed circuit board and replaced with an easily available pixel sensor array from a consumer electronic device camera.