US4983834A — Large area particle detector system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

A particle detector for storing information for later retrieval corresponding to the impingement of radiation particles on its surface, comprising: means for detecting and storing information corresponding to the impingement of a pattern of radiation particles, comprising an electron trapping material for releasably storing energy corresponding to the flux and pattern of said impingement radiation particles, said electron trapping material comprising: a base material comprising an alkaline earth methal sulfide, a first dopant of samarium, and a second dopant of a cerium compound; means for applying a first wavelength of light to said means for detecting and storing information for causing said electron trapping material to release said stored energy in the form of light of a second wavelength corresponding to said flux and pattern of said impinging radiation particles; and means for sensing released light of said second wavelength and for converting said released light to electrical signals representative of said flux and pattern of said impinging radiation particles.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 160 words

A particle detector for storing information for later retrieval corresponding to the impingement of radiation particles on its surface, comprising: means for detecting and storing information corresponding to the impingement of a pattern of radiation particles, comprising an electron trapping material for releasably storing energy corresponding to the flux and pattern of said impingement radiation particles, said electron trapping material comprising: a base material comprising an alkaline earth methal sulfide, a first dopant of samarium, and a second dopant of a cerium compound; means for applying a first wavelength of light to said means for detecting and storing information for causing said electron trapping material to release said stored energy in the form of light of a second wavelength corresponding to said flux and pattern of said impinging radiation particles; and means for sensing released light of said second wavelength and for converting said released light to electrical signals representative of said flux and pattern of said impinging radiation particles.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The particle detector of claim 1, further including means for applying a third wavelength of light to said means for detecting and storing energy for erasing the information stored thereon.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein said pattern of impinging radiation particles is impinging on said detector and being stored over a period of time, effectively integrating the resulting stored pattern.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein said electron trapping material is provided in a thin film having a thickness of between 1 and 100 microns.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein said detector has resolution of at least approximately 0.1 mm.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein said electron trapping material contains traps having a depth of about 1 eV.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein at least 50 nanjoules of light energy of said second wavelength per square centimeter of said electron. trapping material is released per rad of impinging radiation particles.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 135 words

Apparatus for detecting and storing a radiation pattern, comprising: means for detecting and storing said pattern of radiation, said detecting and storing means comprising a substrate with a layer of electron trapping material which releasably stores said radiation pattern, said electron trapping material comprising: a base material comprising an alkaline earth methal sulfide, a first dopant of samarium, and a second dopant of a cerium compound; means for applying a first wavelength of light energy to said means for detecting and storing to cause said layer of electron trapping material to emit light energy of a second wavelength corresponding to the pattern and intensity of said stored radiation pattern; means for sensing said light energy of said second wavelength and converting said light energy to corresponding electrical signals; and means for analyzing said electrical signals.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 135 words

Apparatus for detecting and storing a radiation pattern, comprising: means for detecting and storing said pattern of radiation, said detecting and storing means comprising a substrate with a layer of electron trapping material which releasably stores said radiation pattern, said electron trapping material comprising: a base material comprising an alkaline earth methal sulfide, a first dopant of samarium, and a second dopant of a cerium compound; means for applying a first wavelength of light energy to said means for detecting and storing to cause said layer of electron trapping material to emit light energy of a second wavelength corresponding to the pattern and intensity of said stored radiation pattern; means for sensing said light energy of said second wavelength and converting said light energy to corresponding electrical signals; and means for analyzing said electrical signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for applying a third wavelength of light to said means for detecting and storing for erasing the radiation pattern stored thereon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said radiation pattern is stored over a period of time, effectively integrating the resulting stored pattern.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electron trapping material is provided in a thin film having a thickness of between 1 and 100 microns.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said system has a resolution of approximately 0.1 mm or better.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of detecting and storing for later read out a pattern of radiation, comprising the steps of: utilizing a particle detector and storage means comprising an electron trapping material for releasably storing energy corresponding to said pattern of radiation, said electron trapping material comprising: a base material comprising an alkaline earth methal sulfide, a first dopant of samarium, and a second dopant of a cerium compound; applying a first wavelength of light energy to said particle detector and storage means to cause said electron trapping material to release said stored energy in the form of light of a second wavelength representative of the pattern and intensity of said radiation pattern; sensing said light energy of said second wavelength and converting said light energy to corresponding electrical signals; and analyzing said electrical signals.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of detecting and storing for later read out a pattern of radiation, comprising the steps of: utilizing a particle detector and storage means comprising an electron trapping material for releasably storing energy corresponding to said pattern of radiation, said electron trapping material comprising: a base material comprising an alkaline earth methal sulfide, a first dopant of samarium, and a second dopant of a cerium compound; applying a first wavelength of light energy to said particle detector and storage means to cause said electron trapping material to release said stored energy in the form of light of a second wavelength representative of the pattern and intensity of said radiation pattern; sensing said light energy of said second wavelength and converting said light energy to corresponding electrical signals; and analyzing said electrical signals.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 13, further including the step of applying a third wavelength of light to said said electron trapping material for erasing the radiation pattern stored therein.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation pattern is cumulatively stored over a period of time, thus effectively integrating the resulting stored pattern.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said particle detector and storage means comprises an electron trapping material provided in a thin film on a substrate, said thin film having a thickness of between 1 and 100 microns.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein said base material of said electron trapping material comprises substantially strontium sulfide, said first dopant of samarium is provided in a quantity of between 70 to 300 parts per million by weight, and said second dopant of a cerium compound comprises cerium oxide provided in a quantity of between 600 to 1500 parts per million by weight.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 76 words

The particle detector of claim 1, wherein said base material of said electron trapping material comprises substantially calcium sulfide, said first dopant of samarium is provided in a quantity of between 50 to 300 parts per million by weight, and said second dopant of a cerium compound is selected from the group of cerium oxide, cerium fluoride, cerium chloride, and cerium sulfide provided in a quantity of between 200 to 1500 parts per million by weight.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said base material of said electron trapping material comprises substantially strontium sulfide, said first dopant of samarium is provided in a quantity of between 70 to 300 parts per million by weight, and said second dopant of a cerium compound comprises cerium oxide provided in a quantity of between 600 to 1500 parts per million by weight.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 74 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said base material of said electron trapping material comprises substantially calcium sulfide, said first dopant of samarium is provided in a quantity of between 50 300 parts per million by weight, and said second dopant of a cerium compound is selected from the group of cerium oxide, cerium fluoride, cerium chloride, and cerium sulfide provided in a quantity of between 200 to 1500 parts per million by weight.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said base material of said electron trapping material comprises substantially strontium sulfide, said first dopant of samarium is provided in a quantity of between 70 and 300 parts per million by weight, and said second dopant of a cerium compound comprises cerium oxide provided in a quantity of between 600 to 1500 parts per million by weight.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 75 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said base material of said electron trapping material comprises substantially calcium sulfide, said first dopant of samarium is provided in a quantity of between 50 to 300 parts per million by weight, and said second dopant of a cerium compound is selected from the group of cerium oxide, cerium fluoride, cerium chloride, and cerium sulfide provided in a quantity of between 200 to 1500 parts per million by weight.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-01-07	1994-07-09	1995-01-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-01-07	1998-07-09	1999-01-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-01-07	2002-07-09	2003-01-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Large area particle detector system

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