Patent ID: 7332728
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: G01J,G01N,G01T,G01V,G08B

Abstract:
1. A radiation detection system for a multisided container comprising: a plurality of liner panels each sized to line an interior wall of a respective side of the container; each of the liner panels having an optical fiber embedded therein and extending in a path across substantially the entire area of the panel, the optical fiber having a first end and a second end; the optical fiber being reactive to nuclear radiation impinging on the panel to cause an irreversible decrease in light-carrying capacity of the optical fiber; the ends of the optical fiber of the plurality of liner panels being interconnected to provide a continuous optical path through the plurality of liner panels; a light source optically coupled to one end of the optical fiber path of the interconnected liner panels for introducing light having a coded pattern of light; a light detector optically coupled to the other end of the optical path of the interconnected liner panels for receiving light from the optical path; a circuit connected to the light detector and operative to detect a change in the error rate in the coded pattern of the light in the optical fiber and in response to radiation impinging on the optical fiber to provide an indication thereof; wherein the circuit connected to the light detector is operative to: determine a profile of the error rate over time in response to radiation impinging on the optical fiber; and provide an output indication of a changed profile above a predetermined threshold.