US3872287A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of, and apparatus for, determining radiation energy distributions
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-26
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1992-07-26
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for measuring the energy distribution of ionizing radiation distinguished by a good signal-to-noise ratio, a fast response and a high degree of accuracy. By using switched integrators after a charge-sensitive amplifier connected to the radiation detector, by storing the results of integrations performed in a time T both preceding and following the instant at which a radiation quantum strikes the detector and by adding and subtracting them, a good signal-to-noise ratio is obtained, while the speeds of measuring and data processing are increased, because radiation quanta which are close to each other in time are either still measurable or are eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Henriecus Koeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of measuring the individual energies of radiation quanta, comprising the steps of: converting the radiation quanta into electrical current pulses; integrating the current pulses to produce a stepped waveform, the step heights of which are a measure of the energies of the radiation quanta; detecting the occurrences of steps in the stepped waveform; at each detected step occurrence, integrating the stepped waveform over a time period preceding the step occurrence to form a first integral value; integrating the stepped waveform over an equal time period following the step occurrence to form a second integral value; and subtracting the first integral value from the second integral value, whereby the differences between the first and second integral values are a measure of the individual energies of the radiation quanta.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of measuring the individual energies of radiation quanta, comprising the steps of: converting the radiation quanta into electrical current pulses; integrating the current pulses to produce a stepped waveform, the step heights of which are a measure of the energies of the radiation quanta; detecting the occurrences of steps in the stepped waveform; at each detected step occurrence, integrating the stepped waveform over a time period preceding the step occurrence to form a first integral value; integrating the stepped waveform over an equal time period following the step occurrence to form a second integral value; and subtracting the first integral value from the second integral value, whereby the differences between the first and second integral values are a measure of the individual energies of the radiation quanta.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the time period is the same with respect to each step occurrence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein at each detected step occurrence a time period is selected such that integrating the stepped waveform over the selected time period both preceding and following the step occurrence does not result in integrating over either a preceding or following detected step occurrence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of integrating the stepped waveform over equal time periods preceding and following a detected step occurrence includes weighting the integration more heavily close to the detected step occurrence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of integrating the stepped waveform over equal time periods preceding and following a detected step occurrence excludes the short time period during which the detected step is occurring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein false measurements are sensed while integrating the stepped waveform over equal time periods by sensing whether or not another step occurrence is detected while integrating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for measuring the individual energies of radiation quanta, comprising: a radiation detector for converting radiation quanta into electrical current pulses; a charge-sensitive integrating amplifier responsive to the radiation detector for converting the electrical current pulses into a stepped waveform; timing means for establishing successive time periods tn integrating means responsive to said timing means and to the stepped waveform for generating successive integrals of the stepped waveform over said successive time periods tn; comparing means responsive to successive integrals for detecting a difference therebetween indicative of step occurrences in the stepped waveform; a memory responsive to the successive integrals for storage thereof; means responsive to detection of step occurrences by the comparing means for each time computing the difference between the sum of a group of successive integrals preceding the detected step occurrence and the sum of an equal sized group of successive integrals following the detected step occurrence, whereby the differences are a measure of the individual energies of the radiation quanta.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
Apparatus for measuring the individual energies of radiation quanta, comprising: a radiation detector for converting radiation quanta into electrical current pulses; a charge-sensitive integrating amplifier responsive to the radiation detector for converting the electrical current pulses into a stepped waveform; timing means for establishing successive time periods tn integrating means responsive to said timing means and to the stepped waveform for generating successive integrals of the stepped waveform over said successive time periods tn; comparing means responsive to successive integrals for detecting a difference therebetween indicative of step occurrences in the stepped waveform; a memory responsive to the successive integrals for storage thereof; means responsive to detection of step occurrences by the comparing means for each time computing the difference between the sum of a group of successive integrals preceding the detected step occurrence and the sum of an equal sized group of successive integrals following the detected step occurrence, whereby the differences are a measure of the individual energies of the radiation quanta.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |