Cumulative Dose Radiation Sensor Circuit with Self-Reset Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation sensors fail to effectively track cumulative radiation doses over time, especially in applications where continuous monitoring and low power consumption are crucial, such as in electronic, medical, and food safety contexts.
Innovation Solution
A cumulative dose radiation sensor device and integrated circuit that utilizes a radiation-sensitive cell with varying resistance in response to incident radiation, coupled with a comparator and cell charging circuit to deliver output signals and reset the cell, allowing for continuous tracking of radiation exposure even when unpowered, and includes a counter to tally exposure events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of cumulative radiation doses is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation sensor operates by periodically resetting the cell to its initial resistance state after each cumulative dose measurement cycle. The cell charging circuit resets the cell in response to an output signal from the comparator, enabling periodic measurement cycles rather than continuous operation. This allows the device to track cumulative radiation doses accurately while consuming power only during measurement and reset phases, not continuously.
2Reliability
If the device operates continuously to track radiation doses, then reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to constant power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation sensor circuit is designed to automatically reset the cell to its initial resistance state using the cell charging circuit when the cumulative dose reaches a threshold detected by the comparator. This self-resetting mechanism eliminates the need for external intervention or continuous power supply, allowing the device to maintain reliability for continuous monitoring while minimizing energy loss by operating only when needed.
3Measurement precision
If a radiation sensor is designed to track cumulative doses over time, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional circuit components
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation sensor integrates multiple functions into a unified circuit architecture where the cell, comparator, and cell charging circuit work together as a cohesive system. The cell's resistance variation directly reflects cumulative radiation exposure, the comparator detects when thresholds are reached, and the cell charging circuit automatically resets the cell - all combined in a single integrated circuit that tracks cumulative doses without requiring separate complex subsystems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and continuous monitoring of cumulative radiation doses, ensuring reliable tracking and power efficiency, with the ability to perform actions based on exposure thresholds, such as disabling or signaling exposure, even when the device is unpowered or using internal power sources.
Implementation Method 1
a cell configured to be set to an initial resistance and to vary in resistance cumulatively in response to incident radiation
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to devices, integrated circuits, and methods for sensing cumulative radiation doses. In one example, a device includes a cell configured to be set to an initial resistance and to vary in resistance cumulatively in response to incident radiation. The device also includes an output terminal connected to the cell and configured to vary in voltage in response to the resistance of the cell. The device also includes a comparator configured to deliver an output signal in response to the voltage of the output terminal reaching a threshold voltage. The device also includes a cell charging circuit configured to reset the cell to the initial resistance in response to the output signal from the comparator. The device also includes a counter configured to count a number of times the comparator delivers the output signal.