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:
Mar. 04, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 23, 2010
Lloyd G. Clonts, Knoxville, TN (US);
Ronald G. Cooper, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Morris Lowell Crow, Jr., Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Bruce W. Hannan, Maryville, TN (US);
Jason P. Hodges, Knoxville, TN (US);
John D. Richards, Knoxville, TN (US);
Richard A. Riedel, Knoxville, TN (US);
Lloyd G. Clonts, Knoxville, TN (US);
Ronald G. Cooper, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Morris Lowell Crow, Jr., Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Bruce W. Hannan, Maryville, TN (US);
Jason P. Hodges, Knoxville, TN (US);
John D. Richards, Knoxville, TN (US);
Richard A. Riedel, Knoxville, TN (US);
UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Abstract
Provided are sensors and methods for detecting thermal neutrons. Provided is an apparatus having a scintillator for absorbing a neutron, the scintillator having a back side for discharging a scintillation light of a first wavelength in response to the absorbed neutron, an array of wavelength-shifting fibers proximate to the back side of the scintillator for shifting the scintillation light of the first wavelength to light of a second wavelength, the wavelength-shifting fibers being disposed in a two-dimensional pattern and defining a plurality of scattering plane pixels where the wavelength-shifting fibers overlap, a plurality of photomultiplier tubes, in coded optical communication with the wavelength-shifting fibers, for converting the light of the second wavelength to an electronic signal, and a processor for processing the electronic signal to identify one of the plurality of scattering plane pixels as indicative of a position within the scintillator where the neutron was absorbed.