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. 29, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2009
Pauls Stradins, Golden, CO (US);
Howard M. Branz, Boulder, CO (US);
Qi Wang, Littleton, CO (US);
Harold R. Mchugh, Santa Ynez, CA (US);
Pauls Stradins, Golden, CO (US);
Howard M. Branz, Boulder, CO (US);
Qi Wang, Littleton, CO (US);
Harold R. McHugh, Santa Ynez, CA (US);
Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Golden, CO (US);
Abstract
An apparatus () for detecting slow or thermal neutrons () including an alpha particle-detecting layer () that is a hydrogenated amorphous silicon p-i-n diode structure. The apparatus includes a bottom metal contact () and a top metal contact () with the diode structure () positioned between the two contacts () to facilitate detection of alpha particles (). The apparatus () includes a neutron conversion layer () formed of a material containing boron-10 isotopes. The top contact () is pixilated with each contact pixel extending to or proximate to an edge of the apparatus to facilitate electrical contacting. The contact pixels have elongated bodies to allow them to extend across the apparatus surface () with each pixel having a small surface area to match capacitance based upon a current spike detecting circuit or amplifier connected to each pixel. The neutron conversion layer () may be deposited on the contact pixels () such as with use of inkjet printing of nanoparticle ink.