Edward L Reber

US Patent:

6953937, Oct 11, 2005

Filed:

Jun 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/607735

Inventors:

Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
Rahmat Aryaeinejad - Idaho Falls ID, US
David F. Spencer - Idaho Falls ID, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01T001/00

US Classification:

250395, 250364, 250391

Abstract:

A pulse discrimination method for discriminating between pulses having a short decay period and a long decay period, may comprise: Detecting the pulse; integrating a rise portion of the pulse; integrating a decay portion of the pulse; and comparing the integrated rise portion of the pulse with the integrated decay portion of the pulse to distinguish between a pulse having a long decay period and a pulse having a short decay period.

US Patent:

7174272, Feb 6, 2007

Filed:

Dec 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/304850

Inventors:

Larry G. Blackwood - Idaho Falls ID, US
Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kenneth W. Rohde - Idaho Falls ID, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702179, 702 66, 702 67, 702127, 702172, 702180, 702181, 250395

Abstract:

A method for detecting an element is disclosed and which includes the steps of providing a gamma-ray spectrum which depicts, at least in part, a test region having boundaries, and which has a small amount of the element to be detected; providing a calculation which detects the small amount of the element to be detected; and providing a moving window and performing the calculation within the moving window, and over a range of possible window boundaries within the test region to determine the location of the optimal test region within the gamma-ray spectrum.

US Patent:

7307256, Dec 11, 2007

Filed:

Apr 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/100800

Inventors:

Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
James K. Jewell - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kenneth W. Rohde - Idaho Falls ID, US
Edward H. Seabury - Idaho Falls ID, US
Larry G. Blackwood - Idaho Falls ID, US
Andrew J. Edwards - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kurt W. Derr - Idaho Falls ID, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01J 5/02

US Classification:

25033907

Abstract:

A method of detecting explosives in a vehicle includes providing a first rack on one side of the vehicle, the rack including a neutron generator and a plurality of gamma ray detectors; providing a second rack on another side of the vehicle, the second rack including a neutron generator and a plurality of gamma ray detectors; providing a control system, remote from the first and second racks, coupled to the neutron generators and gamma ray detectors; using the control system, causing the neutron generators to generate neutrons; and performing gamma ray spectroscopy on spectra read by the gamma ray detectors to look for a signature indicative of presence of an explosive. Various apparatus and other methods are also provided.

US Patent:

7329872, Feb 12, 2008

Filed:

Sep 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/231141

Inventors:

Larry G. Blackwood - Idaho Falls ID, US
Andrew J. Edwards - Idaho Falls ID, US
James K. Jewell - Idaho Falls ID, US
Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
Edward H. Seabury - Idaho Falls ID, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01F 23/00
G01J 1/42

US Classification:

2503581, 250372

Abstract:

A method for detecting an element is described and which includes the steps of providing a gamma-ray spectrum which has a region of interest which corresponds with a small amount of an element to be detected; providing nonparametric assumptions about a shape of the gamma-ray spectrum in the region of interest, and which would indicate the presence of the element to be detected; and applying a statistical test to the shape of the gamma-ray spectrum based upon the nonparametric assumptions to detect the small amount of the element to be detected.

US Patent:

7501637, Mar 10, 2009

Filed:

Oct 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/877192

Inventors:

Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
James K. Jewell - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kenneth W. Rohde - Idaho Falls ID, US
Edward H. Seabury - Idaho Falls ID, US
Larry G. Blackwood - Idaho Falls ID, US
Andrew J. Edwards - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kurt W. Derr - Idaho Falls ID, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01T 1/00

US Classification:

25039007

Abstract:

A method of detecting explosives in a vehicle includes providing a first rack on one side of the vehicle, the rack including a neutron generator and a plurality of gamma ray detectors; providing a second rack on another side of the vehicle, the second rack including a neutron generator and a plurality of gamma ray detectors; providing a control system, remote from the first and second racks, coupled to the neutron generators and gamma ray detectors; using the control system, causing the neutron generators to generate neutrons; and performing gamma ray spectroscopy on spectra read by the gamma ray detectors to look for a signature indicative of presence of an explosive. Various apparatus and other methods are also provided.

US Patent:

7795595, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Jan 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/358883

Inventors:

Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kenneth W. Rohde - Idaho Falls ID, US
Larry G. Blackwood - Bozeman MT, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01T 3/00

US Classification:

25039001

Abstract:

A method for calibrating acquired spectra for use in spectral analysis includes performing Gaussian peak fitting to spectra acquired by a plurality of NaI detectors to define peak regions. A Na and annihilation doublet may be located among the peak regions. A predetermined energy level may be applied to one of the peaks in the doublet and a location of a hydrogen peak may be predicted based on the location of at least one of the peaks of the doublet. Control systems for calibrating spectra are also disclosed.

US Patent:

7847265, Dec 7, 2010

Filed:

Jul 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/841857

Inventors:

Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID, US
Kenneth W. Rohde - Idaho Falls ID, US
Larry G. Blackwood - Bozeman MT, US

Assignee:

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01T 3/00

US Classification:

25039001

Abstract:

A method and system for detecting at least one explosive in a vehicle using a neutron generator and a plurality of NaI detectors. Spectra read from the detectors is calibrated by performing Gaussian peak fitting to define peak regions, locating a Na peak and an annihilation peak doublet, assigning a predetermined energy level to one peak in the doublet, and predicting a hydrogen peak location based on a location of at least one peak of the doublet. The spectra are gain shifted to a common calibration, summed for respective groups of NaI detectors, and nitrogen detection analysis performed on the summed spectra for each group.

US Patent:

62556576, Jul 3, 2001

Filed:

Sep 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/145054

Inventors:

Jerald D. Cole - Idaho Falls ID
Mark W. Drigert - Idaho Falls ID
Edward L. Reber - Idaho Falls ID
Rahmat Aryaeinejad - Idaho Falls ID

Assignee:

Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

G01T 306
G01T 124

US Classification:

250367

Abstract:

In one aspect, the invention encompasses a method of detecting radioactive decay, comprising: a) providing a sample comprising a radioactive material, the radioactive material generating decay particles; b)providing a plurality of detectors proximate the sample, the detectors comprising a first set and a second set, the first set of the detectors comprising liquid state detectors utilizing liquid scintillation material coupled with photo tubes to generate a first electrical signal in response to decay particles stimulating the liquid scintillation material, the second set of the detectors comprising solid state detectors utilizing a crystalline solid to generate a second electrical signal in response to decay particles stimulating the crystalline solid; c) stimulating at least one of the detectors to generate at least one of the first and second electrical signals, the at least one of the first and second electrical signals being indicative of radioactive decay in the sample. In another aspect, the invention encompasses an apparatus for identifying and quantitating radioactive nuclei of a sample comprising radioactive material that decays to generate neutrons and high-energy. gamma. -rays.