Larry G Blackwood

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:

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.