Radiation powered high dose rate and high dose radiation sensor
Inventors
Assignees
Gold Standard Radiation Detection • Gold Standard Radiation Detection Inc
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12298188-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatuses comprising a plurality of junctions providing a Seebeck effect, configured as alternating hot and cold junctions. The apparatus can be configured such that the cold junctions exhibit a different thermal behavior than the hot junctions in response to incident radiation. The junctions can be connected in series, such that the sum of the Seebeck effect from the plurality of junctions provides a sensitive, inherently calibrated indication of heating of the apparatus responsive to incident radiation, and therefore of the radiation itself.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for the measurement of penetrating or ionizing radiation incident along a radiation axis using alternating junctions formed from first and second pluralities of elements. The first plurality comprises a first material and the second plurality comprises a second material, and the elements are configured to form a first plurality of junctions and a second plurality of junctions that are connected in series. The alternating junctions define a series of junctions with a first junction connected to a first electrode and a last junction connected to a second electrode.
A differential thermal response is produced between the junctions in the first plurality and the junctions in the second plurality when subjected to penetrating or ionizing incident radiation. The thermal response difference is based on at least one of a distance between the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions relative to the direction of the incident radiation, or differential shielding associated with the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions. This differential thermal response yields an inherently calibrated voltage output proportional to radiation heating, directly relating the output to radiation dose or dose rate.
The disclosure further describes radiation self-powered thermopile/thermocouple sensor apparatus using junction groups that experience different heating conditions, including variants that use junction arrays with the alternating series connection. Constraints and embodiments include large junction arrays, different material selections for the first and/or second materials, and array geometries such as surface patterned and through-hole/via forms. Differential shielding can be implemented using radiation shield material and placement together with heat dissipation elements and/or a cold plate, and the document mentions arrangements such as thermally insulating substrates and vacuum at the junctions.
Claims Coverage
The relevant independent claim defines an apparatus with a series of alternating junctions made from first and second material pluralities, where the junctions have different thermal responses to penetrating or ionizing radiation, determined by distance and/or differential shielding. Dependent claims refine this with quantitative junction-count thresholds, material selections, and additional geometric or arrangement constraints, and other dependents further tie the radiation dose determination to the Seebeck coefficient and differential voltage behavior.
Alternating junction series from first and second material pluralities
An apparatus in which a first plurality of elements comprising a first material and a second plurality of elements comprising a second material are configured to form a first plurality of junctions and second plurality of junctions, connected in series comprising alternating junctions from the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions to define a series of junctions, with a first junction electrically communicating with a first electrode and a last junction electrically communicating with a second electrode.
Differential thermal response by distance or shielding
Junctions in the first plurality of junctions having a thermal response to penetrating or ionizing incident radiation different than a thermal response of junctions in the second plurality of junctions to penetrating or ionizing incident radiation based on at least one of a distance between the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions relative to a direction of the penetrating or ionizing incident radiation, or differential shielding associated with the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions.
Large alternating junction arrays
An apparatus characterized by a total number of junctions in the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions at least one of 1,000 or 10,000, as specified by dependent claims.
Selected first material set
An apparatus in which the first material is selected from bismuth, selenium, germanium, silicon, or Pbi5Ge37, as specified by dependent claims.
Radiation shield placement for differential shielding
An apparatus that places a radiation shield between the second plurality of junctions and penetrating or ionizing incident radiation, aligned along respective junction axes parallel to a radiation axis with a specified perpendicular separation, to provide differential shielding associated with the first plurality of junctions and the second plurality of junctions.
Across the independent claim and its dependents, the core claim language centers on constructing a series of alternating first-material and second-material junctions with a differential thermal response to penetrating or ionizing radiation. The dependents then strengthen the concept through quantitative junction-count thresholds, explicit material selections, and radiation-shield placement or geometric alignment features.
Stated Advantages
Provides a voltage output proportional to penetrating or ionizing radiation heating and directly related to radiation dose or dose rate.
Reduces the need for active power and calibration by using an inherently calibrated voltage output.
Enables time-resolved measurement of dose for medical imaging as described in the disclosure.
Supports NIST traceability for dose measurement as described in the disclosure.
Documented Applications
Medical dosimetry including medical imaging and time-resolved dose measurement, as described in the disclosure.
Nuclear forensics, as described in the disclosure.
Measurement for prompt high dose rate events, as described in the disclosure.
Imaging/time-resolved dose with NIST traceability, as described in the disclosure.
Interested in licensing this patent?