Hand-held survey probe

A system for providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe may include an optical sensor to generate data corresponding to a position of the detection probe with respect to a surface; a microprocessor to receive the data; a software medium having code to process the data with the microprocessor and pre-programmed parameters, and making a comparison of the data to the parameters; and an indicator device to indicate results of the comparison. A method of providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe may include generating output data with an optical sensor corresponding to the relative position with respect to a surface; processing the output data, including comparing the output data to pre-programmed parameters; and indicating results of the comparison.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to survey probes in general and, more specifically, to survey probes that are configured to provide increased accuracy during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of a hand-held survey or detection probe to survey oneself, or another surface, is commonly referred to as “frisking”. One error committed by radiation workers and emergency responders when using a hand-held detection or survey probe to frisk, e.g., survey for radiation, is moving the probe too quickly over the surface. This problem is often referred to as “turbo-frisking”. Such an error may allow dangerous radioactive contamination to go undetected because the probe did not have adequate time over the contaminated area to detect the radiation present.

Another error committed while frisking, e.g., surveying for radioactive contamination, is not holding the probe close enough to the surface being surveyed to adequately detect potential contamination. This type of error often occurs when surveying for alpha radiation due to the relatively short travel distance of alpha particles. This error may also occur when surveying for beta radiation.

Still another problem encountered when surveying is accidentally contacting the surface with the survey probe. Such accidental contact may transfer radioactive contamination to the probe, which generally causes all future readings to be in error.

Typically, radiation workers and emergency responders are trained to maintain a proper probe speed and distance while surveying for radioactive contamination. Currently, there is no automated device that provides accurate feedback to the operator with respect to proper survey speed and probe distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A monitoring system for providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe may include an optical sensor in attachment to the detection probe, the optical sensor being configured to generate output data corresponding to a position of the detection probe with respect to a surface; a microprocessor in communication with the optical sensor, the microprocessor being configured to receive the output data corresponding to the position of the detection probe; a software medium, the software medium having code to process the output data with the microprocessor and the code having pre-programmed parameters and being configured to make a comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters; and an indicator device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicator device being configured to indicate a result of the comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters.

In various other embodiments, the pre-processed parameters may comprise a maximum velocity standard, a minimum distance standard or a maximum distance standard.

In still other embodiments, the indicator device may comprise an excess velocity indicator, a normal velocity indicator, a minimum distance indicator, a maximum distance indicator, or a contact indicator.

In another embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a hand-held radiation detection probe; an optical sensor operatively associated with the hand-held radiation detection probe, the optical sensor being configured to generate output data corresponding to a position with respect to a surface; a microprocessor in communication with the optical sensor, the microprocessor being configured to receive the output data; a software medium, the software medium having code to process the output data with the microprocessor, and the code having pre-programmed parameters and being configured to make a comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters; and an indicator device in communication with the microprocessor, the indicator device being configured to indicate a result of the comparison of the output data to the pre-programmed parameters.

In yet another embodiment, there is provided a method of providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe, comprising generating output data with an optical sensor, the output data corresponding to a position of the detection probe with respect to a surface; processing the output data, including comparing the output data to pre-programmed parameters; and indicating a result from comparing the output data to the pre-programmed parameters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows an embodiment of monitoring system100for providing operational feedback to a user of a survey or detection probe, such as, for example, hand-held radiation detection probe102. Alternatively, the monitoring system100may be used in conjunction with any type of survey or detection probe (e.g., not necessarily a radiation detection probe) wherein the speed and distance-from-surface of the probe is desired for measurement or operation. Monitoring system100may include an optical sensor104, a microprocessor106, as shown by dashed lines, a software medium having code108, as shown by dashed lines, and an indicator device110. Optical sensor104may be attached to hand-held radiation detection probe102. Optical sensor104may be configured to generate output data112(FIG. 7), corresponding to a relative position of hand-held radiation detection probe102with respect to a surface114.

Microprocessor106may communicate with optical sensor104. Microprocessor106may be configured to receive output data112corresponding to the relative position of hand-held radiation detection probe102with respect to surface114. Code108may be configured to process output data112with microprocessor106. Code108may have pre-programmed parameters116(seeFIG. 7) for proper use of hand-held radiation detection probe102. Alternatively, pre-programmed parameters116may be based on any desired set of operating, testing, or other conditions for use of hand-held radiation detection probe102. Code108may be configured to compare output data112to pre-programmed parameters116. Indicator device110may communicate with microprocessor106. Indicator device110may be configured to indicate at least one result from comparing output data112to pre-programmed parameters116.

FIGS. 1-5show a housing118. A connector119may be provided for attaching housing118to hand-held radiation detection probe102. Housing118may be an aftermarket retrofit device for one or more types of probes or a modular component of an originally manufactured probe. Housing118may include optical sensor104, microprocessor106, code108, and indicator device110. Generally, housing118may be attached to hand-held radiation detection probe102in any manner as would be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 2illustrates a frontal view of monitoring system100shown inFIG. 1with connector119disconnected from hand-held radiation detection probe102.FIG. 3illustrates a back view of monitoring system100shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. InFIG. 5, housing118is shown mounted to a forward portion of hand-held radiation detection probe102. However, it should be appreciated that housing118may be configured for mounting on various sides of hand-held radiation detection probe102, including, but not limited to, the bottom or side portions. For example, such attachment could be achieved by mounting housing118on the hand-held radiation detection probe102or by connecting the housing118to the hand-held radiation detection probe102using cable109as shown inFIG. 4.

In another embodiment shown inFIG. 4, hand-held radiation detection probe102comprises not only a radiation detector, but also an optical movement sensor128and an optical range sensor138. Hand-held radiation detection probe102may be connected to a separate monitor107(including housing118) via cable109. Thus, the user may be able to survey surface114when surface114is not in the same location as monitor107and housing118. As is explained in additional detail below, monitor107may provide feedback related to probe speed and survey rate, distance between hand-held radiation detection probe102and surface114, and any contact between hand-held radiation detection probe102and surface114. This feedback may include a visual cue, or an audible cue, or a combination of visual and audible cues to the operator. Monitor107may alert the operator when pre-programmed parameters116(seeFIG. 7) are exceeded with respect to survey velocity and probe distance. Monitor107may also alert the operator when the hand-held radiation detection probe102approaches surface114. The monitor107may provide benefits for training purposes and during regular operation. During training, the monitor107may provide immediate feedback for trainees on the proper “frisking” speed and distance from the surface114. As such, the trainees do not have to guess and make assumptions about the proper frisking speed or distance.

Referring back now toFIG. 1, a battery power source120, as shown by dashed lines, may be provided within housing118. Battery power source120may be electrically connected to optical sensor104, microprocessor106, and indicator device110.

FIG. 5illustrates an embodiment in which optical sensor104, microprocessor106, and indicator device110may each include an electrical connection122to a power source124of hand-held radiation detection probe102.

FIG. 6illustrates yet another embodiment in which optical sensor104, microprocessor106, code108, and indicator device110may be integral with a housing126of hand-held radiation detection probe102. In this embodiment, optical sensor104and indicator device110may comprise the only externally visible difference between integrated, self-contained hand-held radiation detection probe102and other survey probes.

Referring again toFIG. 3, in the embodiment shown, optical sensor104may include optical movement sensor128. Thus, output data112from optical sensor104may comprise a rate of movement of optical movement sensor128with respect to surface114.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, pre-programmed parameters116for proper use of hand-held radiation detection probe102may include a maximum velocity standard130for hand-held radiation detection probe102with respect to surface114. Code108may be configured to determine a velocity of hand-held radiation detection probe102output data112the velocity being a determined velocity132. Comparing output data112to pre-programmed parameters116may include comparing determined velocity132of hand-held radiation detection probe102to maximum velocity standard130. Pre-programmed parameters116may also include a minimum velocity standard. Pre-programmed parameters116may include any other standards as would be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art after becoming familiar with the monitoring system100of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, for example, indicator device110may include an excess velocity indicator134for indicating, or registering, when determined velocity132of hand-held radiation detection probe102exceeds maximum velocity standard130. Indicator device110may also include a normal velocity indicator136for indicating when determined velocity132of hand-held radiation detection probe102is within maximum velocity standard130. In another embodiment, normal velocity indicator136may also indicate when determined velocity132of hand-held radiation detection probe102is between maximum velocity standard130and the minimum velocity standard.

Optical sensor104may include optical range sensor138. Optional range sensor138may be used together with or separate from optical movement sensor128. Output data112may comprise a distance from the hand-held radiation detection probe102to the surface114as determined by optical range sensor138, the distance being a determined distance140. Pre-programmed parameters116for proper use of hand-held radiation detection probe102may include a minimum distance standard142or a maximum distance standard143between hand-held radiation detection probe102and surface114, or both. Code108may be configured to ascertain the determined distance140of hand-held radiation detection probe102from output data112. Comparing output data112to pre-programmed parameters116may include comparing determined distance140of hand-held radiation detection probe102to minimum distance standard142, or maximum distance standard143, or both.

Indicator device110may include a minimal distance indicator144for indicating, or registering, when determined distance140of hand-held radiation detection probe102is below minimum distance standard142. Indicator device110may also include a normal distance indicator146for indicating when determined distance140of hand-held radiation detection probe102is above minimum distance standard142, or below maximum distance standard143, or between minimum distance standard142and maximum distance standard143. Indicator device110may also include a maximum distance indicator147for indicating when determined distance140exceeds maximum distance standard143.

In an embodiment, code108may be configured to determine from output data112contact between surface114and hand-held radiation detection probe102. Indicator device110may include a contact indicator148for indicating when code108determines contact with surface114by hand-held radiation detection probe102. Indicator device110may include a visual cue, such as LED150, for example. In addition to, or as an alternative to the visual cue, indicator device110may include an audible cue, such as audible beeper152. Other types of visual and audible cues may also be employed as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In an embodiment shown inFIG. 7, pre-programmed parameters116may be configured with frisking parameters154for a first type of frisking (e.g., frisking for alpha radiation). In another embodiment, pre-programmed parameters116may be configured with frisking parameters156for a second type of frisking (e.g., frisking for beta-gamma radiation).

For a multi-programmed device, pre-programmed parameters116may include a first set of frisking parameters154for the first type of frisking (e.g., frisking for alpha radiation) and a second set of frisking parameters156for the second type of frisking (e.g., frisking for beta-gamma radiation). A selector158may be provided to provide operator switch input between the first set of alpha frisking parameters154and the second set of beta-gamma frisking parameters156. Selector158may be configured for manual operation by the user to switch between the first set of alpha frisking parameters154and the second set of beta-gamma frisking parameters156. Alternatively, selector158may be configured for automatic operation by microprocessor106. Selector158may be configured for switching to the first set of alpha frisking parameters154based on detected alpha radiation. Selector158may be configured for switching to the second set of beta-gamma frisking parameters156based on detected beta radiation or detected gamma radiation.

FIG. 7Ashows a schematic illustration of a monitoring system100A integrated within a hand-held detection probe102A. In an embodiment, monitoring system100A may include an optical sensor104A, a microprocessor106A, a software medium having code108A, and an indicator device110A. Monitoring system100A may be configured for use in various types of survey devices such as metal detecting wands.

Optical sensor104A may be configured to generate output data112A corresponding to a position of hand-held detection probe102A with respect to a surface114A. Microprocessor106A may communicate with optical sensor104A. Microprocessor106A may be configured to receive output data112A corresponding to the position of hand-held detection probe102A with respect to surface114A.

Code108A may be configured to process output data112A with microprocessor106A. Code108A may have pre-programmed parameters116A, as shown by dashed lines, for proper use of hand-held detection probe102A, for example. Code108A may be configured to compare output data112A to pre-programmed parameters116A.

Indicator device110A may communicate with microprocessor106A. Indicator device110A may be configured to indicate at least one result from comparing output data112A to pre-programmed parameters116A.

FIG. 8shows a method800of providing operational feedback to a user of hand-held radiation detection probe102. In one embodiment, method800may include generating802output data112with an optical sensor104, wherein the output data112may correspond to the position of the hand-held radiation detection probe102with respect to surface114. Method800may also include processing804the output data112, including comparing the output data112to pre-programmed parameters116for use of the hand-held radiation detection probe102. Method800may further include indicating806a result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116.

Optionally, indicating806the result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116may include activating808a visual cue or an audible cue. Activating808the visual cue or the audible cue may occur when comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116discloses that the output data112is outside of normal or established operating conditions. Activating808the visual cue and the audible cue may occur when comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116discloses that the output data116is within normal or established operating conditions.

Activating808the visual cue may include activating810LED150. Activating808the audible cue may include activating812audible beeper152.

In an embodiment of method900shown inFIG. 9, processing804the output data112, including comparing the output data112to pre-programmed parameters116, may include determining814from the output data112the determined velocity132of the hand-held radiation detection probe102, and comparing816the determined velocity132of the hand-held radiation detection probe102to a maximum velocity standard130. Indicating806the result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116may include registering818when the determined velocity132of the hand-held radiation detection probe102exceeds the maximum velocity standard130.

FIG. 10illustrates yet another embodiment of method1000in which processing804the output data112, including comparing the output data112to pre-programmed parameters116, may include determining820the determined velocity132of the hand-held radiation detection probe102from the output data112, and comparing822the determined velocity132of the hand-held radiation detection probe102to the maximum velocity standard130. Indicating806the result from comparing the output data112(e.g., the determined velocity132) to the pre-programmed parameters116may include registering824when the determined velocity132of the hand-held radiation detection probe102is within the maximum velocity standard130. In still other embodiments, indicating806the result may include registering when the determined velocity132is below the minimum velocity standard, or between the minimum velocity standard and the maximum velocity standard132.

With reference toFIG. 11, method1100comprises processing804the output data112, including comparing the output data112to pre-programmed parameters116. Method1100may include determining826the determined distance140between the hand-held radiation detection probe102and the surface114using the output data112, and comparing828the determined distance140to a minimum distance standard142. Indicating806the result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116may include registering830when the determined distance140between the hand-held radiation detection probe102and the surface114is below the minimum distance standard142.

Method1200, shown inFIG. 12, comprises processing804the output data112, including comparing the output data112to pre-programmed parameters116. Method1200may include determining832the determined distance140between the hand-held radiation detection probe102and the surface114from the output data112, and comparing834the determined distance140to a minimum distance standard142. Indicating806the result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116may include registering836when the determined distance140exceeds the maximum distance standard143.

In yet another embodiment, indicating806the result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116may include registering when the determined distance140is above the minimum distance standard142, is below the maximum distance standard143, or falls between the minimum distance standard142and the maximum distance standard143.

Method1300, shown inFIG. 13, comprises processing804the output data112, including comparing the output data112to pre-programmed parameters116. Method1300may include determining838from the output data112whether the surface114has been contacted by the hand-held radiation detection probe102. Indicating806the result from comparing the output data112to the pre-programmed parameters116may include registering840when contact of the surface114by the hand-held radiation detection probe102is determined.

As shown inFIG. 8, method800may further include selecting844pre-programmed parameters116configured for alpha frisking prior to processing804the output data112. Method800may further include selecting842pre-programmed parameters116configured for beta-gamma frisking prior to processing804the output data112.

During use by a radiation worker or by an emergency responder, the novel monitoring system100,100A may increase the level of safety by helping operators avoid errors associated with moving the probe too quickly and holding the probe too far away from the surface while surveying themselves or others for radioactive contamination.

The monitoring system100,100A may eliminate or reduce the “grey area” between proper survey practices and the improper practice of “turbo-frisking” (i.e., moving the probe too fast). The monitoring system100,100A may be used as a training aid to teach proper probe speed and distance-from-surface while surveying for radioactive contamination, for example. In an embodiment, the monitoring system100may be retrofitted, e.g., attached, to existing radiation detection probes for training and actual survey use. In another embodiment, the monitoring system100,100A may be integrated directly into the probe head of a survey meter. The monitoring system100,100A may be configured for generally any “frisking” application where the speed and distance from the surface of a hand-held item is desired for measurement or operation.

The monitoring system100,100A may include optical sensing technology, simple microprocessor and LED/audible output combined with custom software to continuously monitor proper “frisk” rate and distance from surface. If measurements exceed the pre-programmed values for proper frisking, the operator may be alerted by LED or beeper, or both, which allows for immediate correction of technique. The monitoring system100may be configured for operator selection between alpha frisking and beta-gamma frisking, for example, and the device will provide proper rate and surface distance feedback. The monitoring system100,100A may be configured for use with custom software to continuously monitor proper frisk rate and distance from surface.

Having herein set forth preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is anticipated that suitable modifications can be made thereto, which will nonetheless remain within the scope of the invention. The invention shall, therefore, only be construed in accordance with the following claims.