Semiconductor chip-based radiation detector
View Patent ↗The present invention is a self-contained device for measuring exposure to radiation which includes an integrated circuit device incorporating a polymer dispersed liquid crystal component that resides on a semiconductor substrate.
1. A self-contained device for measuring exposure to radiation comprising:
a semiconductor substrate;
a light source for producing a light output, wherein the light source is mounted on the semiconductor substrate;
a splitting device for separating the light output into at least two split portions;
a polymer dispersed liquid crystal component residing on the semiconductor substrate, the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component illuminated by at least one of the split light output portions;
a device in contact with semiconductor substrate for generating an electrical field within the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component;
a first detector to detect the intensity of the light output portion that passes through the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component;
a second detector to detect the intensity of at least one light component that did not illuminate the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component;
a logic device for comparing the intensities detected by the first and second detectors, and determining if a warning signal should be generated; and
a device for generating a warning signal if the logic device determines a warning signal should be generated.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one lens for focusing the light output of the light source.
3. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one lens to focus the at least one split light portions that illuminates the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a semiconductor laser.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first detector is a silicon detector.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second detector is a silicon detector.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is central processing unit capable of being programmed.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the central processing unit is programmed with a value for an acceptable difference in the intensities detected by the first and second detectors such that if a relative difference is less than the programmed value, no warning signal is generated by the central processing unit.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the central processing unit is programmed with a value for an acceptable difference in the intensities detected by the first and second detectors such that if a relative difference is greater than the programmed value, a warning signal is generated by the central processing unit.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the warning signal is at least an audible sound.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the warning signal is at least a visual indicator.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the warning signal is at least transmitted over a wireless network to a remote location.
15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the warning signal is at least a physical vibration to alert a user.
16. A method for making a self-contained device for measuring exposure to radiation comprising:
contacting a light source for producing a light output with a semiconductor substrate, wherein the light;
contacting a splitting device, for separating the light output into at least two split portions, with a semiconductor substrate;
contacting a polymer dispersed liquid crystal component, illuminated by at least one of the split light output portions, with a semiconductor substrate;
contacting a device for generating an electrical field within the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component, with a semiconductor substrate;
contacting a first detector, to detect the intensity of the light output portion that passes through the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component, with a semiconductor substrate;
contacting a second detector, to detect the intensity of at least one light component that did not illuminate the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component, with a semiconductor substrate;
contacting a logic device, for comparing the intensities detected by the first and second detectors, and determining if a warning signal should be generated, with a semiconductor substrate; and
contacting a device for generating a warning signal, if the logic device determines a warning signal should be generated, with a semiconductor substrate.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
at least one lens for focusing the light output of the light source.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising at least one lens to focus the at least one split light portions that illuminates the polymer dispersed liquid crystal component.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the light source is a laser.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the light source is a semiconductor laser.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first detector is a silicon detector.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second detector is a silicon detector.
24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the logic device is central processing unit capable of being programmed.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the central processing unit is programmed with a value for an acceptable difference in the intensities detected by the first and second detectors such that if a relative difference is less than the programmed value, no warning signal is generated by the central processing unit.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the central processing unit is programmed with a value for an acceptable difference in the intensities detected by the first and second detectors such that if a relative difference is greater than the programmed value, a warning signal is generated by the central processing unit.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the warning signal comprises an audible sound.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the warning signal comprises a visual indicator.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the warning signal comprises a warning means transmitted over a wireless network to a remote location.
30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the warning signal comprises a physical vibration to alert a user.