IP Library Granted Patent US 11,513,253
Granted Patent B2
US 11,513,253 · App. 17/184,171 · Granted Nov 29, 2022

Multifaceted radiation detection and classification system

Inventors: Simon E. Labov (Berkeley, CA); Karl E. Nelson (Livermore, CA); Brandon S. Seilhan (Emeryville, CA)
Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
G01V5/0075G01T1/167G01T1/36G01V5/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,513,253
App. No.
17/184,171
Granted
Nov 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system identifying a source of radiation is provided. The system includes a radiation source detector and a radiation source identifier. The radiation source detector receives measurements of radiation; for one or more sources, generates a detection metric indicating whether that source is present in the measurements; and evaluates the detection metrics to detect whether a source is present in the measurements. When the presence of a source in the measurements is detected, the radiation source identifier for one or more sources, generates an identification metric indicating whether that source is present in the measurements; generates a null-hypothesis metric indicating whether no source is present in the measurements; evaluates the one or more identification metrics and the null-hypothesis metric to identify the source, if any, that is present in the measurements.

Claims (34)

1. A method performed by a computing system for estimating a background histogram of background counts based on measurement histograms of measurement counts of measurements collected to detect presence of a source reflected within the measurements, the method comprising:

accessing basis vectors of histograms that span a linear combination of prior background histograms derived from prior measurement histograms;

calculating a current background histogram based on the current measurement histograms;

determining whether the current background histogram has at least a specified degree of association with or disassociation with a basis vector;

upon determining that the current background histogram has at least a specified degree of association with or disassociation with a basis vector, modifying the basis vectors based on the current background histogram;

after modifying the basis vectors, adjusting the basis vectors to increase diversity;

computing a background radiation based on the basis vectors; and

detecting a source of radiation based on the computed background radiation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting attempts to maximize eigenvalues associated with a correlation matrix formed by the basis vectors.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a detection algorithm to detect presence of the source in a target measurement factoring the adjusted basis vectors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the source is a source of radiation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the prior measurement histograms are predefined histograms.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the prior measurement histograms include histograms collected during a same collection process as and prior to generating the current measurement histogram.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the prior measurement histograms not collected during the same collection process.

8. One or more computing systems for estimating a background spectral shape of background counts based on measurement spectral shapes of measurements collected to detect presence of a source spectral shape of a source within the measurements, the one or more computing systems comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage mediums for storing computer-executable instructions for controlling the one or more computing systems to:

access basis vectors that span a linear combination of prior background spectral shapes derived from prior measurement spectral shapes;

calculate a current background spectral shape for a sequence of current measurement spectral shapes;

determine whether the current background spectral shape has at least a specified degree of association with or disassociation with a basis vector;

upon determining that the current background spectral shape has the specified degree of association with or disassociation with a basis vector, modify that basis vector based on the current background spectral shape;

after modifying that basis vector, adjust the basis vectors to increase diversity;

computing a background radiation based on the basis vectors; and

detecting a source of radiation based on the computed background radiation; and

one or more processors for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the one or more computer-readable storage mediums.

9. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein instructions that adjust attempt to maximize eigenvalues association with a correlation matrix formed by the basis vectors.

10. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the instructions further apply a detection algorithm to detect presence of the source in a target measurement factoring the adjusted basis vectors.

11. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the source is a source of radiation.

12. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the prior measurement histograms are predefined histograms.

13. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the prior measurement spectral shapes include spectral shapes collected during a same collection process and prior to generating the current measurement spectral shape.

14. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the prior measurement spectral shapes are not collected during the same collection process.

15. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the computer-executable instructions include instructions to suppress the modifying of the basis vector and updating the basis vectors when the background measurements do not change for a duration.

16. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the background measurements are queued until there is a change in the spectral shape of a background measurement.

17. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the background measurements are queued until a minimum time has elapsed.

18. The one or more computing systems of claim 8 wherein the spectral shapes are represented by histograms.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS) Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 055615/0056 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: LABOV, SIMON E.; NELSON, KARL E.; SEILHAN, BRANDON S.
To: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 055394/0932 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16417324 · May 20, 2019
Provisional Application 62805825 · Feb 14, 2019
Provisional Application 62673750 · May 18, 2018
Related Publication 20210199841A1 · Jul 1, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,535,615