Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection (Jan 2006)

USB-based radiation monitor

  • Drndarević Vujo,
  • Jevtić Nenad,
  • Đurić Radivoje

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2298/NTRP0602073D
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 2
pp. 73 – 78

Abstract

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The Universal Serial Bus has become a dominant interface for the connection of standard peripheral devices to a PC computer. This paper analyzes the possibilities of USB bus applications in the field of measurement and environmental monitoring. As a result, a gamma radiation monitor consisting of an USB-based universal peripheral device and a gamma probe with a GM counter, has been designed. For the interfacing monitor with the powerful and easy to use LabVIEW software package, an instrument driver as a set of virtual instruments has been developed. The proposed monitor is a flexible instrument which can be used for laboratory measurements, as an environ mental radiation monitor or for training purposes. Connected to the laptop computer, the monitor becomes a portable instrument suitable for field measurements. Basic measurements and functionality properties of the radiation monitor are presented here.

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