Radiation detecting electronic device and methods of operating
View Patent ↗A method of operating an electronic device including determining an initial charge level at a non-volatile charge storage structure of a radiation-sensitive device including a radiation-reactive material and determining if a first radiation event has occurred based upon the non-volatile charge storage device having a different charge level than the initial charge level. The method further includes identifying the first radiation event as associated with either a first type of radiation or a second type of radiation based upon the different charge level.
1. A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
determining an initial charge level at a non-volatile charge storage structure of a radiation-detecting device including a radiation-reactive material;
determining a first radiation event has occurred based upon the non-volatile charge storage structure having a different charge level than the initial charge level; and
identifying the first radiation event as associated with either a first type of radiation or a second type of radiation based upon the different charge level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the initial charge level includes setting the initial charge level at a non-volatile charge storage structure.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein setting the initial charge level include setting the initial charge level within a defined voltage range.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein setting an initial charge level comprises:
modifying the charge level at a non-volatile storage structure; and
reading the charge level associated with the non-volatile storage structure.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the initial charge level comprises:
reading a non-volatile storage structure to determine a charge level; and
storing the charge level associated with the non-volatile storage structure.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein storing comprises storing the charge level at an integrated circuit that includes the non-volatile charge storage structure.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the process of determining the initial charge level includes determining a first radiation event, and identifying is carried out at an integrated circuit.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting the first type of radiation and not reporting the second type of radiation.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein reporting comprises:
determining if the first radiation event matches a reporting criteria, wherein the reporting criteria is different in response to the first radiation event being of a first type of radiation, than in response to the first radiation event being of a second type radiation.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein reporting comprises:
reporting the first type of radiation using a first reporting manner; and
reporting the second type of radiation using a second reporting manner different than the first reporting manner.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a threshold voltage of a transistor device corresponds to the initial charge level.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a quantification indicator based upon the different charge level.
13. A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
determining an initial charge level at a non-volatile charge storage structure of a radiation-detecting device including a radiation-reactive material;
determining a first radiation event has occurred based upon the non-volatile charge storage structure having a different charge level than the initial charge level; and
determining a quantification indicator based upon the different charge level, wherein the quantification indicator is associated with a type of radiation.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting the quantification indicator and the initial charge level.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a duration between determining an initial charge level and determining a first radiation event.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the quantification indicator is based on a difference between the initial charge level and the different charge level.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining a quantification indicator comprises conducting multiple read operations at multiple, different read voltages.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the quantification indicator is associated with a radiation signature for identifying different types of radiation.
19. A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
setting an initial charge level within a defined voltage range at a non-volatile charge storage structure of a radiation-detecting device including a radiation-reactive material;
determining a first radiation event has occurred based upon the non-volatile charge storage structure having a different charge level than the initial charge level; and
identifying the first radiation event as associated with either a first type of radiation or a second type of radiation based upon the different charge level.