Radiation detection and acquisition system

Abstract

A radiation detection and acquisition system including a plurality of radiation detector modules each characterized by the integration in a compact package of a scintillator probe and supporting electronics which provide digital pulse count signals in response to detected scintillations that may be transmitted by a differential line driver on twisted shielded wire pairs over great distances to a count signal processing unit while maintaining signal integrity. The digital pulse count output is independent of the type of radiation detected whereby the same count signal processing unit may be employed with different detectors for respective different radiations. The detector module may also have an analog signal output so that it may be interfaced to an analog signal analyzer and a third output of the detector module provides a digital output signal that reflects saturation of the electronics due to a high rate of detected scintillation events (pulse pile-up). A remotely located, microprocessor-based signal processing unit is provided to acquire count signals received on multiple channels from respective detector probes, to display such data and to transmit such data to a controller or monitor for process control and/or monitoring. Acquisition is effected via at least one detector/processor interface module having plural transmission line inputs for connection to respective detection modules and a common transmission line output for connection of said inputs to the signal processing unit.