Hand-held survey probe

This invention was made with United States Government support under Contract No. DE-AC07-05ID1457 awarded by United States Department of Energy. The United States Government has certain rights in the invention.

This invention relates to survey probes in general and, more specifically, to survey probes that are configured to provide increased accuracy during use.

The use of a hand-held survey or detection probe to survey oneself, or another surface, is commonly referred to as “frisking”. One error committed by radiation workers and emergency responders when using a hand-held detection or survey probe to frisk, e.g., survey for radiation, is moving the probe too quickly over the surface. This problem is often referred to as “turbo-frisking”. Such an error may allow dangerous radioactive contamination to go undetected because the probe did not have adequate time over the contaminated area to detect the radiation present.

Another error committed while frisking, e.g., surveying for radioactive contamination, is not holding the probe close enough to the surface being surveyed to adequately detect potential contamination. This type of error often occurs when surveying for alpha radiation due to the relatively short travel distance of alpha particles. This error may also occur when surveying for beta radiation.

Still another problem encountered when surveying is accidentally contacting the surface with the survey probe. Such accidental contact may transfer radioactive contamination to the probe, which generally causes all future readings to be in error.

Typically, radiation workers and emergency responders are trained to maintain a proper probe speed and distance while surveying for radioactive contamination. Currently, there is no automated device that provides accurate feedback to the operator with respect to proper survey speed and probe distance.

A monitoring system for providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe may include an optical sensor in attachment to the detection probe, the optical sensor being configured to generate output data corresponding to a position of the detection probe with respect to a surface; a microprocessor in communication with the optical sensor, the microprocessor being configured to receive the output data corresponding to the position of the detection probe; a software medium, the software medium having code to process the output data with the microprocessor and the code having pre-programmed parameters and being configured to make a comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters; and an indicator device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicator device being configured to indicate a result of the comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters.

In various other embodiments, the pre-processed parameters may comprise a maximum velocity standard, a minimum distance standard or a maximum distance standard.

In still other embodiments, the indicator device may comprise an excess velocity indicator, a normal velocity indicator, a minimum distance indicator, a maximum distance indicator, or a contact indicator.

In another embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a hand-held radiation detection probe; an optical sensor operatively associated with the hand-held radiation detection probe, the optical sensor being configured to generate output data corresponding to a position with respect to a surface; a microprocessor in communication with the optical sensor, the microprocessor being configured to receive the output data; a software medium, the software medium having code to process the output data with the microprocessor, and the code having pre-programmed parameters and being configured to make a comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters; and an indicator device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicator device being configured to indicate a result of the comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters.

In yet another embodiment, there is provided a method of providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe, comprising generating output data with an optical sensor, the output data corresponding to a position of the detection probe with respect to a surface; processing the output data, including comparing the output data to pre-programmed parameters; and indicating a result from comparing the output data to the pre-programmed parameters.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a monitoring system for providing operational feedback to a user of a hand-held radiation detection probe;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the monitoring system shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the monitoring system shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of a monitoring system in which the hand-held radiation detection probe also comprises optical sensors and is attached to a separate monitor via a cable;

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a monitoring system for providing operational feedback to a user of a hand-held radiation detection probe in which a housing is mounted to a forward portion of a survey probe, and the system is powered by an electrical connection to a power source of the survey probe;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an integrated, self-contained hand-held radiation detection probe with a monitoring system for providing operational feedback to a user;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a monitoring system for providing feedback to a user of a hand-held survey probe;

FIG. 7A illustrates a monitoring system integrated within a hand-held detection probe;

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram of a method for providing operational feedback to a user of a hand-held radiation detection probe; and

FIGS. 9-13 illustrate several alternative embodiments of the method shown in the diagram of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of monitoring system 100 for providing operational feedback to a user of a survey or detection probe, such as, for example, hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Alternatively, the monitoring system 100 may be used in conjunction with any type of survey or detection probe (e.g., not necessarily a radiation detection probe) wherein the speed and distance-from-surface of the probe is desired for measurement or operation. Monitoring system 100 may include an optical sensor 104 , a microprocessor 106 , as shown by dashed lines, a software medium having code 108 , as shown by dashed lines, and an indicator device 110 . Optical sensor 104 may be attached to hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Optical sensor 104 may be configured to generate output data 112 ( FIG. 7 ), corresponding to a relative position of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 with respect to a surface 114 .

Microprocessor 106 may communicate with optical sensor 104 . Microprocessor 106 may be configured to receive output data 112 corresponding to the relative position of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 with respect to surface 114 . Code 108 may be configured to process output data 112 with microprocessor 106 . Code 108 may have pre-programmed parameters 116 (see FIG. 7 ) for proper use of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Alternatively, pre-programmed parameters 116 may be based on any desired set of operating, testing, or other conditions for use of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Code 108 may be configured to compare output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 . Indicator device 110 may communicate with microprocessor 106 . Indicator device 110 may be configured to indicate at least one result from comparing output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 .

FIGS. 1-5 show a housing 118 . A connector 119 may be provided for attaching housing 118 to hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Housing 118 may be an aftermarket retrofit device for one or more types of probes or a modular component of an originally manufactured probe. Housing 118 may include optical sensor 104 , microprocessor 106 , code 108 , and indicator device 110 . Generally, housing 118 may be attached to hand-held radiation detection probe 102 in any manner as would be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a frontal view of monitoring system 100 shown in FIG. 1 with connector 119 disconnected from hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . FIG. 3 illustrates a back view of monitoring system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . In FIG. 5 , housing 118 is shown mounted to a forward portion of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . However, it should be appreciated that housing 118 may be configured for mounting on various sides of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 , including, but not limited to, the bottom or side portions. For example, such attachment could be achieved by mounting housing 118 on the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 or by connecting the housing 118 to the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 using cable 109 as shown in FIG. 4 .

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , hand-held radiation detection probe 102 comprises not only a radiation detector, but also an optical movement sensor 128 and an optical range sensor 138 . Hand-held radiation detection probe 102 may be connected to a separate monitor 107 (including housing 118 ) via cable 109 . Thus, the user may be able to survey surface 114 when surface 114 is not in the same location as monitor 107 and housing 118 . As is explained in additional detail below, monitor 107 may provide feedback related to probe speed and survey rate, distance between hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and surface 114 , and any contact between hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and surface 114 . This feedback may include a visual cue, or an audible cue, or a combination of visual and audible cues to the operator. Monitor 107 may alert the operator when pre-programmed parameters 116 (see FIG. 7 ) are exceeded with respect to survey velocity and probe distance. Monitor 107 may also alert the operator when the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 approaches surface 114 . The monitor 107 may provide benefits for training purposes and during regular operation. During training, the monitor 107 may provide immediate feedback for trainees on the proper “frisking” speed and distance from the surface 114 . As such, the trainees do not have to guess and make assumptions about the proper frisking speed or distance.

Referring back now to FIG. 1 , a battery power source 120 , as shown by dashed lines, may be provided within housing 118 . Battery power source 120 may be electrically connected to optical sensor 104 , microprocessor 106 , and indicator device 110 .

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which optical sensor 104 , microprocessor 106 , and indicator device 110 may each include an electrical connection 122 to a power source 124 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 .

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment in which optical sensor 104 , microprocessor 106 , code 108 , and indicator device 110 may be integral with a housing 126 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . In this embodiment, optical sensor 104 and indicator device 110 may comprise the only externally visible difference between integrated, self-contained hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and other survey probes.

Referring again to FIG. 3 , in the embodiment shown, optical sensor 104 may include optical movement sensor 128 . Thus, output data 112 from optical sensor 104 may comprise a rate of movement of optical movement sensor 128 with respect to surface 114 .

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , pre-programmed parameters 116 for proper use of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 may include a maximum velocity standard 130 for hand-held radiation detection probe 102 with respect to surface 114 . Code 108 may be configured to determine a velocity of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 output data 112 the velocity being a determined velocity 132 . Comparing output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 may include comparing determined velocity 132 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 to maximum velocity standard 130 . Pre-programmed parameters 116 may also include a minimum velocity standard. Pre-programmed parameters 116 may include any other standards as would be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art after becoming familiar with the monitoring system 100 of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 , for example, indicator device 110 may include an excess velocity indicator 134 for indicating, or registering, when determined velocity 132 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 exceeds maximum velocity standard 130 . Indicator device 110 may also include a normal velocity indicator 136 for indicating when determined velocity 132 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 is within maximum velocity standard 130 . In another embodiment, normal velocity indicator 136 may also indicate when determined velocity 132 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 is between maximum velocity standard 130 and the minimum velocity standard.

Optical sensor 104 may include optical range sensor 138 . Optional range sensor 138 may be used together with or separate from optical movement sensor 128 . Output data 112 may comprise a distance from the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 to the surface 114 as determined by optical range sensor 138 , the distance being a determined distance 140 . Pre-programmed parameters 116 for proper use of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 may include a minimum distance standard 142 or a maximum distance standard 143 between hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and surface 114 , or both. Code 108 may be configured to ascertain the determined distance 140 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 from output data 112 . Comparing output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 may include comparing determined distance 140 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 to minimum distance standard 142 , or maximum distance standard 143 , or both.

Indicator device 110 may include a minimal distance indicator 144 for indicating, or registering, when determined distance 140 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 is below minimum distance standard 142 . Indicator device 110 may also include a normal distance indicator 146 for indicating when determined distance 140 of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 is above minimum distance standard 142 , or below maximum distance standard 143 , or between minimum distance standard 142 and maximum distance standard 143 . Indicator device 110 may also include a maximum distance indicator 147 for indicating when determined distance 140 exceeds maximum distance standard 143 .

In an embodiment, code 108 may be configured to determine from output data 112 contact between surface 114 and hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Indicator device 110 may include a contact indicator 148 for indicating when code 108 determines contact with surface 114 by hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Indicator device 110 may include a visual cue, such as LED 150 , for example. In addition to, or as an alternative to the visual cue, indicator device 110 may include an audible cue, such as audible beeper 152 . Other types of visual and audible cues may also be employed as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , pre-programmed parameters 116 may be configured with frisking parameters 154 for a first type of frisking (e.g., frisking for alpha radiation). In another embodiment, pre-programmed parameters 116 may be configured with frisking parameters 156 for a second type of frisking (e.g., frisking for beta-gamma radiation).

For a multi-programmed device, pre-programmed parameters 116 may include a first set of frisking parameters 154 for the first type of frisking (e.g., frisking for alpha radiation) and a second set of frisking parameters 156 for the second type of frisking (e.g., frisking for beta-gamma radiation). A selector 158 may be provided to provide operator switch input between the first set of alpha frisking parameters 154 and the second set of beta-gamma frisking parameters 156 . Selector 158 may be configured for manual operation by the user to switch between the first set of alpha frisking parameters 154 and the second set of beta-gamma frisking parameters 156 . Alternatively, selector 158 may be configured for automatic operation by microprocessor 106 . Selector 158 may be configured for switching to the first set of alpha frisking parameters 154 based on detected alpha radiation. Selector 158 may be configured for switching to the second set of beta-gamma frisking parameters 156 based on detected beta radiation or detected gamma radiation.

FIG. 7A shows a schematic illustration of a monitoring system 100 A integrated within a hand-held detection probe 102 A. In an embodiment, monitoring system 100 A may include an optical sensor 104 A, a microprocessor 106 A, a software medium having code 108 A, and an indicator device 110 A. Monitoring system 100 A may be configured for use in various types of survey devices such as metal detecting wands.

Optical sensor 104 A may be configured to generate output data 112 A corresponding to a position of hand-held detection probe 102 A with respect to a surface 114 A. Microprocessor 106 A may communicate with optical sensor 104 A. Microprocessor 106 A may be configured to receive output data 112 A corresponding to the position of hand-held detection probe 102 A with respect to surface 114 A.

Code 108 A may be configured to process output data 112 A with microprocessor 106 A. Code 108 A may have pre-programmed parameters 116 A, as shown by dashed lines, for proper use of hand-held detection probe 102 A, for example. Code 108 A may be configured to compare output data 112 A to pre-programmed parameters 116 A.

Indicator device 110 A may communicate with microprocessor 106 A. Indicator device 110 A may be configured to indicate at least one result from comparing output data 112 A to pre-programmed parameters 116 A.

FIG. 8 shows a method 800 of providing operational feedback to a user of hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . In one embodiment, method 800 may include generating 802 output data 112 with an optical sensor 104 , wherein the output data 112 may correspond to the position of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 with respect to surface 114 . Method 800 may also include processing 804 the output data 112 , including comparing the output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 for use of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Method 800 may further include indicating 806 a result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 .

Optionally, indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include activating 808 a visual cue or an audible cue. Activating 808 the visual cue or the audible cue may occur when comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 discloses that the output data 112 is outside of normal or established operating conditions. Activating 808 the visual cue and the audible cue may occur when comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 discloses that the output data 116 is within normal or established operating conditions.

Activating 808 the visual cue may include activating 810 LED 150 . Activating 808 the audible cue may include activating 812 audible beeper 152 .

In an embodiment of method 900 shown in FIG. 9 , processing 804 the output data 112 , including comparing the output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 , may include determining 814 from the output data 112 the determined velocity 132 of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 , and comparing 816 the determined velocity 132 of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 to a maximum velocity standard 130 . Indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include registering 818 when the determined velocity 132 of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 exceeds the maximum velocity standard 130 .

FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of method 1000 in which processing 804 the output data 112 , including comparing the output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 , may include determining 820 the determined velocity 132 of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 from the output data 112 , and comparing 822 the determined velocity 132 of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 to the maximum velocity standard 130 . Indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 (e.g., the determined velocity 132 ) to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include registering 824 when the determined velocity 132 of the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 is within the maximum velocity standard 130 . In still other embodiments, indicating 806 the result may include registering when the determined velocity 132 is below the minimum velocity standard, or between the minimum velocity standard and the maximum velocity standard 132 .

With reference to FIG. 11 , method 1100 comprises processing 804 the output data 112 , including comparing the output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 . Method 1100 may include determining 826 the determined distance 140 between the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and the surface 114 using the output data 112 , and comparing 828 the determined distance 140 to a minimum distance standard 142 . Indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include registering 830 when the determined distance 140 between the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and the surface 114 is below the minimum distance standard 142 .

Method 1200 , shown in FIG. 12 , comprises processing 804 the output data 112 , including comparing the output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 . Method 1200 may include determining 832 the determined distance 140 between the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 and the surface 114 from the output data 112 , and comparing 834 the determined distance 140 to a minimum distance standard 142 . Indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include registering 836 when the determined distance 140 exceeds the maximum distance standard 143 .

In yet another embodiment, indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include registering when the determined distance 140 is above the minimum distance standard 142 , is below the maximum distance standard 143 , or falls between the minimum distance standard 142 and the maximum distance standard 143 .

Method 1300 , shown in FIG. 13 , comprises processing 804 the output data 112 , including comparing the output data 112 to pre-programmed parameters 116 . Method 1300 may include determining 838 from the output data 112 whether the surface 114 has been contacted by the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 . Indicating 806 the result from comparing the output data 112 to the pre-programmed parameters 116 may include registering 840 when contact of the surface 114 by the hand-held radiation detection probe 102 is determined.

As shown in FIG. 8 , method 800 may further include selecting 844 pre-programmed parameters 116 configured for alpha frisking prior to processing 804 the output data 112 . Method 800 may further include selecting 842 pre-programmed parameters 116 configured for beta-gamma frisking prior to processing 804 the output data 112 .

During use by a radiation worker or by an emergency responder, the novel monitoring system 100 , 100 A may increase the level of safety by helping operators avoid errors associated with moving the probe too quickly and holding the probe too far away from the surface while surveying themselves or others for radioactive contamination.

The monitoring system 100 , 100 A may eliminate or reduce the “grey area” between proper survey practices and the improper practice of “turbo-frisking” (i.e., moving the probe too fast). The monitoring system 100 , 100 A may be used as a training aid to teach proper probe speed and distance-from-surface while surveying for radioactive contamination, for example. In an embodiment, the monitoring system 100 may be retrofitted, e.g., attached, to existing radiation detection probes for training and actual survey use. In another embodiment, the monitoring system 100 , 100 A may be integrated directly into the probe head of a survey meter. The monitoring system 100 , 100 A may be configured for generally any “frisking” application where the speed and distance from the surface of a hand-held item is desired for measurement or operation.

The monitoring system 100 , 100 A may include optical sensing technology, simple microprocessor and LED/audible output combined with custom software to continuously monitor proper “frisk” rate and distance from surface. If measurements exceed the pre-programmed values for proper frisking, the operator may be alerted by LED or beeper, or both, which allows for immediate correction of technique. The monitoring system 100 may be configured for operator selection between alpha frisking and beta-gamma frisking, for example, and the device will provide proper rate and surface distance feedback. The monitoring system 100 , 100 A may be configured for use with custom software to continuously monitor proper frisk rate and distance from surface.

Having herein set forth preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is anticipated that suitable modifications can be made thereto, which will nonetheless remain within the scope of the invention. The invention shall, therefore, only be construed in accordance with the following claims.