IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,646,422
Granted Patent B2
US 12,646,422 · App. 18/222,878 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Method and system for simulating handling of radioactive material safety during training

Inventors: Kyle Matthew Sternberg (Los Alamos, NM); George Andrew Erickson (Los Alamos, NM)
Assignee: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
G09B23/20G09B5/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,646,422
App. No.
18/222,878
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a container filled with material other than radioactive material. The system also includes a capacitor disposed on the container. The capacitor is disposed over a surface of the container. A power source, e.g., 5 V, is used for powering the capacitor that is connected to the power source through a resistor ranging between 20 and 40 mega ohms. A processor is used and configured to generate a feedback based on a measured charging/discharging associated with the capacitor as a user moves with respect to the container. In one nonlimiting example, the processor is configured to generate a rolling average of the charging/discharging. An output device of the system may be configured to render feedback to the user based on the proximity of the user with respect to the container. In some nonlimiting examples, the output device is configured to render the feedback based on the rolling average.

Claims (33)

1 . A system comprising:

a simulative container filled with a material;

a capacitor disposed on the simulative container, wherein the capacitor is configured to charge and discharge in response to a proximity of a user;

a power source coupled to the simulative container and configured to power the capacitor;

a processor configured to generate a feedback in response to a measured charging and discharging of the capacitor as a user moves relative to the simulative container; and

an output device configured to provide the feedback to the user based on movement of the user relative to the simulative container.

2 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the simulative container is spherical.

3 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the simulative container comprises Tungsten.

4 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the material is inert.

5 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the power source is a 5V power source, and wherein the capacitor is connected to the power source through a resistor ranging between 20 and 40 mega ohms.

6 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein a portion of a surface of the simulative container acts as the capacitor.

7 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to measure a speed of the charging and discharging.

8 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the output device is configured to output an auditory click rate that increases in frequency as the user moves closer to the container and decreases in frequency as the user moves away from the simulative container.

9 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the output device is configured to output an auditory click rate that changes in frequency based on a speed that the user moves relative to the simulative container.

10 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the output device is a light source.

11 . The system as described in claim 10 , wherein the light is blue.

12 . The system as described in claim 10 , wherein a flashing frequency of the light source depends on a proximity of the user to the simulative container.

13 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a rolling average of the charging and discharging of the capacitor, and wherein the output device is configured to provide the feedback based on the rolling average.

14 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the feedback is sounding an auditory or visual alarm.

15 . The system as described in claim 1 , wherein the feedback is audio feedback as verbal instructions on how the user is to approach the simulative container.

16 . The system as described in claim 1 further comprising a glove coated with metallic material that is worn by the user and wherein the glove acts as one plate of the capacitor and wherein a surface of the simulative container acts as another plate of the capacitor.

17 . The system as described in claim 1 further comprising a magnetic ring that is worn by the user, wherein the magnetic ring generates current on the simulative container as the magnetic ring moves with respect to the simulative container, and wherein the generated current causes the capacitor to charge and discharge based on proximity of the user and movement with respect to the simulative container.

18 . A system comprising:

a simulative container filled with a material;

a sensor configured to sense a position or movement of a user with respect to the simulative container;

a processor configured to determine the position and the movement of the user with respect to the simulative container, wherein the determining is based on sensed data from the sensor; and

an output device configured to provide feedback to the user based on movement of the user relative to the simulative container.

19 . The system as described in claim 18 , wherein the sensor is one of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR), inductive sensing, radio frequency (RF) sensing, microwave sensing, and radar sensing.

20 . A system comprising:

a simulative container filled with a material, wherein the simulative container includes an electrical circuitry that increases/decreases electrical charges or causes electrical charges to flow in response to a proximity of a user with respect to the simulative container;

a power source coupled to the simulative container and configured to power the electrical circuitry;

a processor configured to generate a feedback in response to a measured increases/decreases in electrical charge or the electrical charges flow as the user moves relative to the simulative container; and

an output device configured to provide the feedback to the user based on movement of the user relative to the simulative container.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2025
From: STERNBERG, KYLE MATTHEW; ERICKSON, GEORGE ANDREW
To: TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 070021/0052 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63392271 · Jul 26, 2022
Related Publication 20240038096A1 · Feb 1, 2024
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