SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Tailpulse Signal Generator For Testing, Calibrating and Validating Multi-Channel Analyzer Systems
- Notice Date
- 8/4/2009
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 238990
— All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization, 7000 East Avenue, L-795, Livermore, California, 94550
- ZIP Code
- 94550
- Solicitation Number
- FBO208-09
- Archive Date
- 9/5/2009
- Point of Contact
- Connie L Pitcock, Phone: 925-422-1072
- E-Mail Address
-
pitcock1@llnl.gov
(pitcock1@llnl.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Opportunity : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to license intellectual property rights covering this technology for commercialization. Background : For purposes of testing, calibrating, and validating multi-channel analyzers (MCA) used in radiation detection systems, there is a need to artificially generate electronic pulses which mimic or otherwise simulate tailpulses such as those produced by Germanium gamma detectors, since radioactive sources are often not readily available to use for on-location testing of radiation detection equipment, for example at ports of entry. Additionally, in order to realistically mimic the tailpulses generated by Germanium and scintillator detectors, pulse amplitudes must vary in a near random pattern and the process of pulse generation must take into account pulse pileup, i.e. the addition or accumulation of tailpulses which takes place when one or more additional tailpulses occur before the previous pulses have decayed. Finally, for validating the identification feature of a MCA, it's essential that the tailpulse generator be able to reproduce energy spectra of specific radioactive materials. Analog circuits have been used to produce fixed amplitude tailpulses. Commercially available Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWGs) have also been used. However, AWGs respond slowly to changes in the pulse timing and amplitude required for mimicking the tailpulses produced by radiation detectors. Efforts to duplicate the pileup effect, i.e. summation of tailpulses have been largely unsuccessful. Therefore there is a need for tailpulse generators/simulators capable of producing electronic pulses which realistically simulate tailpulse signals produced by radiation detector and reproduce the energy spectra from any radioactive material, real or computer generated, by including the effects of pulse pileup and random or near-random pulse timing. Description : LLNL's tailpulse signal generator system produces electronic pulses similar to that produced by gamma detectors such as Germanium detectors and scintillation detectors, commonly called tailpulses, including summation of the tail pulses called pileup in order to reproduce energy spectra from any radioactive material, real or computer generated. Tailpulses are fast-rising pulses with rise-times of approximately 100 nanoseconds and fall times of approximately 100 microseconds. Pileup occurs when additional tailpulses occur before the previous pulses have decayed, causing the pulses to add up or accumulate. The invention receives a data file comprising an energy histogram spectrum that was produced by measurement of the gamma photons from gamma producing sources or from a computer generated energy histogram and produces the tailpulse signals in a pseudo-random sequence, including the pileup effect, effectively imitating the signals that would be produced by the Germanium or scintillation detectors, thereby reproducing the original energy spectrum. Advantages : LLNL's tailpulse signal generator provides a means of testing, calibrating and validating multi-channel analyzer systems and training operators of multi-channel analyzer systems by substituting for gamma producing sources, thus removing the need for testing with expensive and dangerous radioactive material. Potential Applications : This system could be used at U.S. ports of entry for validation of nuclear detector systems used to detect and identify prohibited nuclear material. This system could also be used by manufacturers of nuclear detection and analysis systems to validate their equipment. In addition, the system could be used as a tool to train technicians at ports of entry on the use of multi-channel analyzer systems, providing tailpulses to generate spectra that mimic the spectra of potentially hazardous radioactive material. Development Status: U.S. Patent 7,552,017 issued 6/23/09 for this invention. Field testing has been conducted with successful results. LLNL has a prototype system available for demonstration. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at http://ipo.llnl.gov/workwithus/partneringprocess.php for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Tailpulse Signal Generator technology should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. •3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Industrial Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 208-09 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Tailpulse Signal Generator technology.
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- Record
- SN01898097-W 20090806/090804235436-c42a6fdb95fa98ad7cebe33795febf47 (fbodaily.com)
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