The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 30, 1991
Thomas G Miller, Madison, AL (US);
General Research Corporation, Vienna, VA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for detecting a particular type of particle in an energy range of interest are provided. The apparatus includes two photomultipliers (24, 26) which are spaced apart in facing relation to one another. A scintillator (22) is positioned between the photomultipliers (24, 26). The scintillator (22) comprises an array of optical fibers, preferably light pipes (40), arranged substantially contiguously side-by-side. Each of the light pipes (40) has a first end proximate the first photomultiplier (24) and an opposing second end proximate the second photomultiplier (26). Each light pipe (40) has one of its ends being non-transmissive of light. The light pipes are arranged so that contiguous ones of the light pipes (40) do not have their same ends being non-transmissive of light. Each of the light pipes (40) in the array have a cross sectional dimension thereof chosen in relation to a distance that the particular type of particle in the energy range of interest can travel. A signal processor unit (28) uses signals from the photomultipliers (24, 26) to determine when a particular type of particle in the energy range of interest is detected. The signal processor unit (28) discriminates between different types of particles and rays by determining the number of light pipes (40) affected within a predetermined time interval by an incoming particle or ray.