JPH10197638A - Radiation measuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radiation measuring system in which establishment of communication between a dosimeter and a data reader can be determined without utilizing any magnetic switch. SOLUTION: A data reader 10 comprises a light emitter 18 and a light receiver 20 and a dosimeter 12 comprises a light emitter 30 and a light receiver 32. An specified optical call signal is outputted constantly from the data reader 10. The dosimeter 12 performs intermittent receiving where the light receiving period per unit time is limited and when a calling signal is received within that period, a response data is returned back to the data reader 10. Consequently, communication is established between them. Since the light is not received constantly by the dosimeter 12, consumption of a battery 28 can be lessened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation measurement system, and more particularly to a radiation measurement system including a portable dosimeter and a data reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable dosimeter is used for controlling radiation exposure of persons working in nuclear power plants, radiation medical facilities, accelerator facilities, and the like. In order to manage the exposure, it is necessary to total the exposure dose of each person for each predetermined period. For this reason, a system has been put to practical use in which the measured values (dose) of each dosimeter are transmitted to a data reading device (data processing device) such as a host computer, and the exposure dose of each person is collectively managed by the device. I have.

Conventionally, as for data transmission between a dosimeter and a data reading device, those using electrical contacts, those using radio waves, those using light (infrared rays), and the like have been proposed. For those using electrical contacts, poor contact is pointed out, and for those using radio waves, problems such as transmission efficiency and noise are pointed out. I have. That is, dose data is transmitted as an optical signal from a dosimeter to a data reader using optical communication (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 53-103778 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-38275). In the system described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-38275, a magnet is arranged on the data reading device side, and a magnetic switch is arranged on the dosimeter side. When the dosimeter is inserted into the holder of the data reading device, the magnetic switch is turned on by the magnetism of the magnet, and this triggers the optical transmission of the dose data.

[0004]

However, in consideration of the system cost, miniaturization of the dosimeter, malfunction of the switch or poor mechanical operation, a system that does not require components such as a magnet and a magnetic switch is desired. In particular, there is a strong demand for such a system in which several or dozens of dosimeters are managed by one or more data readers. On the other hand, it is possible for the dosimeter to always receive the interrogation signal from the data reader, but in this case, the consumption of the small battery built in the dosimeter cannot be ignored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a radiation measurement method capable of determining establishment of communication between a dosimeter and a data reading device without using a magnetic switch or the like. It is to provide a system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a radiation measurement system which can reduce the number of parts to reduce the system cost, and at the same time, can downsize the dosimeter.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a portable dosimeter for detecting radiation,
In a radiation measurement system including: a data reading device from which detection data from the dosimeter is read; a first light transmission unit that optically transmits an interrogation signal; and a first light reception unit that receives the detection data. A light receiving means, wherein the dosimeter receives the interrogation signal, wherein the second light receiving means performs intermittent light receiving with a limited light receiving time per unit time; and And a second optical transmission unit for optically transmitting the detection data after the interrogation signal is received by the optical reception unit.

According to the above configuration, when the dosimeter receives the interrogation signal from the data reader, the dosimeter transmits the detection data to the data reader in response thereto. In the dosimeter, the light receiving time per unit time is limited, that is, intermittent light receiving is performed. For this reason, the power consumption can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where light is always received. According to the present invention, a mechanical switch for starting communication can be eliminated, so that the dosimeter can be downsized and the system cost can be reduced. The light receiving time per unit time is appropriately set in consideration of responsiveness until communication establishment, battery consumption during communication, and the like. Since the data reading device is usually supplied with electric power from a commercial power supply or the like,
The power consumption associated with continuously or repeatedly generating interrogation signals in the data reader is of little concern.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the second optical receiving means includes a determination circuit for determining the interrogation signal. The determination circuit is configured by hardware or software, and determines whether the received signal is an interrogation signal.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the determination circuit operates only during the period of performing the intermittent light reception. As a result, the power consumption can be further reduced.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the interrogation signal is an n-bit optical pulse. Where n
The bit is, for example, 8 bits, and the bit content may be changed for each combination of the dosimeter and the data reader.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the interrogation signal is repeatedly optically transmitted until communication with the dosimeter is established. In this case, the optical transmission may be continuously and repeatedly performed, or the optical transmission may be repeatedly and intermittently performed.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, optical communication between the data reader and the dosimeter is performed using infrared light. As a result, the influence of light beams in other wavelength ranges can be eliminated.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises variable setting means for varying at least one of a period and a period of the intermittent light reception. It is desirable that the intermittent light receiving period and the period be set in accordance with the generation period of the interrogation signal on the data reading device side.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, optical communication of management information is performed between the dosimeter and the data reading device. Here, the management information includes battery remaining amount information, an identification code (ID), and the like.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a radiation measuring system according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration. The radiation measurement system according to the present invention includes a fixedly installed data reader 10 and one or more dosimeters 12.

The data reading device 10 is constituted by, for example, a host computer, and has a microcomputer 14 in this embodiment. The microcomputer 14 controls data communication, data reading, data processing, display processing, and the like according to a predetermined program. The display device 16 displays the result of the data processing, and displays a predetermined message indicating the end of the data communication, which will be described later. Data reader 1
0 has a light emitter 18 and a light receiver 20. The light emitter 18 and the light receiver 20 are connected to the microcomputer 14 via the optical communication controller 22. The data reader 10 receives power supply from a normal commercial power supply.

The light emitter 18 functions as a means for repeatedly and periodically generating an interrogation signal described later. The interrogation signal is generated by the microcomputer 14. Then, when the interrogation signal is input to the optical communication controller 22, it is converted into a drive pulse for the light emitter 18, and the interrogation signal is optically output as an optical signal in the light emitter 18 to which the drive pulse is supplied. You. This interrogation signal functions as a signal for activating data communication, and is repeatedly and periodically generated in a state where communication between the dosimeter 12 and the data reading device 10 is not established. The light emitter 18 functions as a means for outputting a management signal, which will be described later, in addition to emitting the interrogation signal.

On the other hand, the light receiver 20 is means for receiving detection data as an optical signal transmitted from the dosimeter 12 when communication is established between the dosimeter 12 and the data reading device 10. The detection data is input to the microcomputer 14 via the optical communication controller 22. Then, predetermined processing is executed based on the detected data, for example, a dose is calculated, and the calculation result is displayed on the display device 16. In addition, various data are stored in an external storage device (not shown) for exposure management.

Next, the dosimeter 12 will be described. The dosimeter 12 is carried by a person working in a radiation handling facility,
It is used for exposure control. The dosimeter 12 has a microcomputer 23. The microcomputer 23 has a data communication function, a measurement control function, a display processing function, and the like. The microcomputer 23 is connected to a radiation detector 24 including, for example, a semiconductor detector. This radiation detector 2
The detection result from No. 4 is stored in a memory provided inside the microcomputer 23. Specifically, the detection data is stored as an integrated value of the detection result. The microcomputer 23 has a timer, and controls optical transmission and optical reception, which will be described later, according to the timer.
The EEPROM 26 is connected to the microcomputer 23 as a non-volatile memory, and stores data necessary for the system even if the battery 28 is powered down.

The dosimeter 12 has a light emitter 30 and a light receiver 32. The light emitter 30 and the light receiver 32 are connected to the microcomputer 23 via the optical communication controller 34.
It is connected to the. Therefore, the interrogation signal and the management signal from the data reader 10 are received by the light receiver 32 and are transmitted to the microcomputer 23 via the optical communication controller 34.
Is input to The microcomputer 23 has a determination function of determining whether the interrogation signal is appropriate. When the interrogation signal is received, the microcomputer 23 sends the detection data stored therein to the optical communication controller 34.
As a result, an optical pulse corresponding to the detection data is supplied to the light emitter 30, and the detection data is optically output as an optical signal. As described above, the detected data is stored in the data reading device 1.
0 is received by the light receiver 20. The light emitter 30 also functions as an optical output unit of management information under the control of the microcomputer 23. The management information includes, for example, an identification number (ID number) of the dosimeter 12,
Also, information on the remaining amount of the battery 28 is included. Display 2
5 displays a dose calculated by the microcomputer 23 and the like.

Next, communication between the data reading device 10 and the dosimeter 12 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows light emission and light reception in the data reading device 10 as a timing chart. Light emitting device 18 of data reader 10
Under the control of the microcomputer 14, repeatedly outputs a predetermined interrogation signal at a predetermined cycle. Here, FIG.
Is, for example, 3 ms, and t2 is, for example, 1 m
s. Here, the interrogation signal is composed of, for example, a predetermined character, and is composed of, for example, predetermined 8-bit data. The optical transmission rate of this 8-bit data is 9600b
ps, and the time required for transmitting one character is, for example, about 1 ms as described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, transmission is performed for 1 ms during 3 ms, and reception is performed in other periods. On the other hand, in the dosimeter 12, the light receiving period of the light receiver 32 is set to a predetermined time per unit time, that is, intermittent light receiving is performed. For example, when t3 shown in FIG. 3 is 1 s, the reception period t4 is, for example, 10 ms. That is, power saving can be achieved by receiving only a very short time per unit time. Even with such intermittent light reception, there is substantially no inconvenience.
Can be almost certainly responded to the interrogation signal from the data reader 10. As is clear from the relationship between FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the transmission period t1 and the reception period t4 are set such that three interrogation signals are included in one reception period t4.

According to such intermittent light reception, for example, an increase in power consumption can be suppressed to about 10% as compared with a case where no light reception is performed.

FIG. 4 shows a data reader 10 and a dosimeter 1
2 shows a state in which communication is established with the communication device 2. As described above, the light emitter 18 in the data reader 10 outputs an interrogation signal in a predetermined cycle. In such a state, when a predetermined portion of the dosimeter 12 is brought closer to a predetermined portion of the data reading device 10, any interrogation signal is received within the intermittent reception period t4 of the dosimeter 12. After receiving the interrogation signal, the microcomputer 23 starts a predetermined determination routine to determine whether the interrogation signal is appropriate. If it is determined that the signal is a legitimate interrogation signal, a response signal is optically transmitted from the light emitter 30 as an optical signal under the control of the microcomputer 23. The response signal is transmitted to the data reading device 1 as shown in FIG.
0 is received by the light receiver 20. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (2), communication is established between the data reading device 10 and the dosimeter 12, and data transmission is performed while performing a predetermined handshake. In this case, in addition to the transmission of the detection data, the identification number of the dosimeter 12 and the remaining amount information of the battery 28 are optically transmitted to the data reading device 10. For example, predetermined control information for the microcomputer 23 to perform operation control is output from the data reading device 10 as an optical signal, and the optical signal is received by the dosimeter 12.

In the communication established state, half-duplex communication is performed. In the above embodiment, the integrated value of the detection result of the detector 24 is optically transmitted as detection data.
May calculate the dose itself and output it to the data reader 10 as detection data.

In the above embodiment, optical communication is performed using infrared light. Dosimeter 1 in the above embodiment
2 may be configured such that the period and cycle of the intermittent light reception can be variably set from the data reading device 10 side. Alternatively, the dosimeter 12 may be configured such that such a period and cycle can be variably set by a user.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The establishment of communication between the dosimeter and the data reader can be determined without using a magnetic switch or the like. Further, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the number of parts can be reduced and the system cost can be reduced, and at the same time, the dosimeter can be downsized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a radioactive measurement system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing timings of light emission and light reception on the data reading device side.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing timings of light emission and light reception on the dosimeter side.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a state in which communication is established between the data reading device and the dosimeter.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 data reader, 12 dosimeter, 14 microcomputer, 18 light emitter, 20 light receiver, 23 microcomputer, 24 radiation detector, 28 battery, 30 light emitter, 32 light receiver.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A radiation measurement system comprising: a portable dosimeter for detecting radiation; and a data reading device for reading detection data from the dosimeter, wherein the data reading device transmits an interrogation signal to an optical device. A first light transmitting means for transmitting; and a first light receiving means for receiving the detection data, wherein the dosimeter is a means for receiving the interrogation signal, wherein a light receiving time per unit time is limited. Second optical receiving means for performing the intermittent light reception, after the interrogation signal is received by the second optical receiving means,
And a second optical transmission means for optically transmitting the detection data. 2. The radiation measurement system according to claim 1, wherein said second optical receiving means includes a determination circuit for determining said interrogation signal. 3. The radiation measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the determination circuit operates only during a period in which the intermittent light reception is performed. 4. The radiation measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the interrogation signal is an n-bit light pulse. 5. The radiation measurement system according to claim 4, wherein the interrogation signal is repeatedly optically transmitted until communication with the dosimeter is established. 6. The radiation measurement system according to claim 1, wherein optical communication between the data reader and the dosimeter is performed using infrared light. 7. The radiation measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a variable setting unit that varies at least one of a period and a period of the intermittent light reception. 8. The radiation measurement system according to claim 1, wherein optical communication of management information is performed between the dosimeter and the data reading device.