Radiation camera system and method

摘要

A radiation camera system and method incorporating a radiation sensor/detector (RSD) and automated operation of coded camera aperture masks (CAMs) is disclosed that may be advantageously applied to real-time tracking of radiological hot spots in crisis, maintenance, decontamination, and/or maintenance scenarios. The system/method integrates automated camera RSD positioning, CAM identification, and CAM rotation. The system incorporates computerized controls in conjunction with remotely controlled horizontal/vertical tilting motors to direct the RSD aperture position and view of the RSD. CAMs may be installed in the camera manually and are automatically identified by the system via the use of encoding magnets that are detected using a Hall-effect sensor. The CAMs may be rotated after installation in the camera by computer control to predefined positions such as “mask” and “anti-mask” to affect the desired degree of radiation screening to be applied to the RSD.

主权项

1. A radiation camera system comprising:
(a) radiation sensor/detector (RSD); (b) coded camera aperture mask (CAM); (c) CAM ID reader (CIR); (d) mask rotation motor (MRM); (e) rotation detection sensor (RDS); (f) radiation camera enclosure (RCE); and (g) computing control device (CCD); wherein: said RCE is configured to mechanically couple said RSD, said CAM, said MRM, said RDS, and said CCD; said CAM is configured to cover said RSD and collimate radiation external to said RCE that is presented to said RSD; said MRM is configured to rotate said CAM under direction of said CCD; said CAM further comprises coded identification indicia (CII); said CII encodes a unique CAM identification and aperture mask type being applied to said RSD via said CAM; said CIR is configured to read said CII and transmit said unique CAM identification said aperture mask type to said CCD; said CAM further comprises a plurality of rotation indicia (PRI) that identify the current rotation angle of said CAM; said plurality of rotation indicia (PRI) are configured to provide a clock with time intervals configured to detect the presence or absence of said CII when said CAM is rotated; said RDS is configured to detect said plurality of rotation indicia (PRI); said CCD is configured to capture detected radiation data from said RSD and transmit said detected radiation data via a digital communications medium (DCM) to a host computer system (HCS); said CCD is configured to receive rotation commands from said HCS via said DCM and activate said MRM in response to said rotation commands; and said CCD is configured to capture rotation data from said RDS and transmit said rotation data via said DCM to said HCS.