Patent ID: 7148483

Claim:
A radiation detector for homeland security comprising: a substantially rigid opaque tube; a scintillating fiber mounted and supported within the substantially rigid opaque tube, the scintillating fiber having a first end and a second end; the scintillating fiber having a length of between about 8 inches and about 10 feet; a light intensity measuring device mounted to the substantially rigid opaque tube in a substantially relatively immovable manner; coupling means for optically coupling the first end of the scintillating fiber to an active portion of the light intensity measuring device; means for shielding the scintillating fiber from ambient light; wherein the light intensity measuring device produces an output signal in accordance with an amount of light generated by the scintillating fiber; wherein the light intensity measuring device comprises a battery-powered photomultiplier tube attached to a first end of the substantially rigid opaque tube by a light-proof connection, wherein the coupling means comprises an adapter plate attached to the battery-powered photomultiplier tube and fitted within the first end of the substantially rigid opaque tube, wherein a light-proof cover is provided at a second end of the substantially rigid opaque tube, and wherein the scintillating fiber is enclosed entirely within the substantially rigid opaque tube between the battery-powered photomultiplier tube and the light-proof cover.