Sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector

Claim 2

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in superimposition with said grid network, specific ones of said light emitters and specific ones of said light conduits disposed in exclusive spaced relationship and specific other ones of said light emitters and a specific unique combination of said light conduits disposed in exclusive spaced relationship, whereby the position of each one of said specific ones of said light emitters is identified only by one of said specific ones of said light conduits and the position of each one of said specific other ones of said light emitters is identified only by each one of said specific unique combination of said light conduits.

Claim 3

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in superimposition with said grid network, specific ones of said light emitters and specific ones of said light conduits disposed in exclusive spaced relationship and specific other ones of said light emitters and a specific unique combination of said light conduits disposed in exclusive spaced relationship, whereby the position of each one of said specific ones of said light emitters is identified only by one of said specific ones of said light conduits and the position of each one of said specific other ones of said light emitters is identified only by each one of said specific unique combination of said light conduits.

Claim 4

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in superimposition with said grid network, specific ones of said light emitters and specific ones of said light conduits disposed in exclusive spaced relationship and specific other ones of said light emitters and a specific unique combination of said light conduits disposed in exclusive spaced relationship, whereby the position of each one of said specific ones of said light emitters is identified only by one of said specific ones of said light conduits and the position of each one of said specific other ones of said light emitters is identified only by each one of said specific unique combination of said light conduits.

Claim 5

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining in a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in super-imposition with said grid network, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits; c. said light emitters disposed in a plurality of row pairs, the first of said pair being in bisecting staggered spaced relaTion to the second of said pair.

Claim 6

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining in a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in super-imposition with said grid network, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits; c. said light emitters disposed in a plurality of row pairs, the first of said pair being in bisecting staggered spaced relaTion to the second of said pair.

Claim 7

The sensing matrix as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said light emitter is a scintillator.

Claim 8

The sensing matrix as claimed in claim 3 wherein said scintillator is composed of a thallium-activated sodium iodide crystal.

Claim 9

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining in a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in super-imposition with said grid network, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits; c. said light conduits disposed in a plurality of row pairs, the first of said pair being in bisecting staggered spaced relation to the second of said pair.

Claim 10

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining in a grid network; and b. a plurality of light conduits defining an array which is in super-imposition with said grid network, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits; c. said light conduits disposed in a plurality of row pairs, the first of said pair being in bisecting staggered spaced relation to the second of said pair.

Claim 11

The sensing matrix as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said light conduit is composed of an acrylic resin.

Claim 12

A radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. sensing matrix means including a plurality of visible light emitters defining a grid network in superimposition with a plurality of light conduits defining an array, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits; b. a plurality of photo-detecting means, each said photo-detecting means optically coupled to each said light conduit, respectively, each said photo-detecting means generating an output signal in response to visible light at its input; c. analyzer means electrically communicating with said photo-detecting means for generating an analog pulse in response to selected signals generated by said photo-detecting means; and d. address register and memory means electrically communicating with said analyzer means for receiving and storing said analog pulses in address positions corresponding to the location of said emitters in said sensing matrix.

Claim 13

A radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. sensing matrix means including a plurality of visible light emitters defining a grid network in superimposition with a plurality of light conduits defining an array, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits; b. a plurality of photo-detecting means, each said photo-detecting means optically coupled to each said light conduit, respectively, each said photo-detecting means generating an output signal in response to visible light at its input; c. analyzer means electrically communicating with said photo-detecting means for generating an analog pulse in response to selected signals generated by said photo-detecting means; and d. address register and memory means electrically communicating with said analyzer means for receiving and storing said analog pulses in address positions corresponding to the location of said emitters in said sensing matrix.

Claim 14

The radioactivity-distribution detector as claimed in claim 7 including: a. discriminator means electrically communicating with said photodetecting means for generating a pulse in response to each signal generated by said photo-detecting means; and b. logic means electrically communicating with said discriminator means and said address register and memory means, said logic means generating an accept signal when the pulse as at the output of said discriminator means is indicative of the position of one of said emitters, said logic means generating a reject signal when the pulse as at the output of said discriminator means is indicative of the position of at least two of said emitters, said accept and reject being applied to said address register and memory means, said analog pulse as at the output of said analyzer means being stored in said address register and memory means only when an accept signal is generated by said logic means.

Claim 15

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining in a grid network; b. a plurality of light conduits defining a first array which is in superimposition with said grid network, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits of said first array and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits of said first array; and c. a plurality of light conduits defining a second array which is in superimposition with said first array, each said conduit of said second array being in bisecting spaced relationship with four adjacent conduits of said first array.

Claim 16

A sensing matrix for a radioactivity-distribution detector comprising: a. a plurality of light emitters defining in a grid network; b. a plurality of light conduits defining a first array which is in superimposition with said grid network, specific ones of said emitters being in exclusive spaced relationship with selected ones of said conduits of said first array and other ones of said emitters being in spaced relationship with a unique combination of said conduits of said first array; and c. a plurality of light conduits defining a second array which is in superimposition with said first array, each said conduit of said second array being in bisecting spaced relationship with four adjacent conduits of said first array.

Claim 17

The sensing matrix as claimed in claim 9 wherein said light emitters are disposed in a plurality of row pairs, the first of said pair being in bisecting staggered spaced relation to the second of said pair.

Claim 18

The sensing maTrix as claimed in claim 9 wherein said light conduits of said first array are disposed in a plurality of row pairs, the first of said pair being in bisecting staggered spaced relation to the second of said pair.