Berkeley Nucleonics sends Personal Radiation Detectors to Japan

As news crews from NBC News head to Japan to report on the difficult situation following last weeks earthquake and tsunami, they will be equipped with state-of-the-art radiation detection devices from Berkeley Nucleonics, a manufacturer of nuclear detection systems in California. The radiation detectors are about the size of a doctor’s pager and fit on the belt of the user. They alarm in the presence of nuclear radiation and store accumulated dose over a period of time. The instruments were provided on Saturday afternoon as company staff met with NBC couriers in San Rafael. The rush was in an urgent attempt to meet deadlines for staff reporters who were leaving the country. Other instruments from Berkeley Nucleonics currently deployed in Japan include the SAM Isotope Identifier, see here

The ability to alarm is useful for people not expecting to encounter nuclear radiation. Accumulated dose is an added feature that allows people to continue critical work such as search and rescue with a preset total dose alarm indicating when the worker should retreat from the area.

The thresholds for acceptable doses of radiation are set by various US agencies including the US EPA, which has maintained that an accumulated dose up to 5 REM (Roentgen Equivalent in Man) is acceptable per year. For emergency workers and first responders, higher limits are allowed. See the diagram below for common activities and the related exposure rates.

Arbitrary Waveform Generator Makes MEMS Waveforms

MEMS, microelectromechanical systems, require complex driving waveforms to achieve optimal performance and device lifetime. Often many of the same devices are needed for a given application. Cost considerations usually require these many devices to be operated open loop. If the driving waveform to these many devices can be optimized, both performance and lifetime for the MEMS devices can be dramatically improved. BNC’s arbitrary waveform generator, Model 645, has been an effective tool in determining what that waveform should be.

For example, MEMS switch lifetimes can be maximized by careful selection of the driving waveform. It has been shown that the number of reliable switch operations on a particular RF MEMS switch can range from 10*4 to 10*8 depending on the actuator drive voltage level. It has also been shown that tailoring of the waveform shape can also increase the switching speed by reducing contact bounce. An example of such a waveform is a pulse to activate the switch, a period of no signal and then a hold pulse at a level much lower than the activation pulse. An ARB is used to adjust the timing and amplitude of each phase of the drive signal. With an ARB one
can even adjust the shape of the driving pulses from step function to bandwidth-limited drives.

What was particularly useful was the Model 645’s ability to store complete sets of the 14-bit, 256K waveform so that one could tweak, store and compare with other waveforms. The Model 645 offers 14-bit resolution and a 125 MSa/s sampling rate, giving this MEMS application the time and amplitude control it needed. More details on the complete benchtop line of test equipment is available at www.berkeleynucleonics.com or 800-234-7858.

IAEM Conference

Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation exhibited at the International Association of Emergency Managers conference in San Antonio, TX.

NEW BLUE LIGHT PULSE GENERATOR AT 405 NM

Berkeley Nucleonics is introducing the new Model 040 Light Pulse Generator. The new module leverages state of the art laser chip production and efficient packaging techniques to deliver 10mW of calibrated light pulses at 405nm. The light is delivered via a single-mode optical fiber coupled to an FC connector. Custom fibers and connectors include Polarization Maintaining and Multi-Mode fibers, and ST or SMA front panel connectors. Rates up to 10MHz with pulse delay and width resolution of 1nS are provided. An impulse mode delivers a sub-nanosecond, fixed with pulse in single or double pulse modes.

As a group, the light pulse generators offer unmatched flexibility in optical signal control for benchtop testing, R&D, simulations and optical component design. The optical signals are programmable and are married to a TTL and ECL output for addition setup controls. Power levels are adjustable in 10 microwatt steps. The system includes interlock safety and keyswitch controls. The safety features of the new product meet IATA and FDA Class 1, Class II and Class IIIB safety requirements. The instrument is manufactured in compliance with CFR Title 21, Chapter 1, Sub-Chapter J and with reporting policies compliant with CFR Title 21, Part 1002/1003.

“The breakthrough is diode technology enables Berkeley Nucleonics to source efficient, low power blue chip lasers for fast pulsing applications. Testing of PMT tubes, optical circuits and switches, photodiode production or sensor calibration are some of the immediate applications”, comments John Yee, Applications Manager.

BNC at Hotzone Hazmat Conference

Here is a look at our booth at the Hotzone Hazmat Conference in Houston, TX. We are displaying our SAM 940 Isotope Identifier and several of our other radiation detection gear utilized by Hazmat and First Responder teams.

New Processing Capability Coupled with Time Slice Data Logging in Nuclear Detection System

Berkeley Nucleonics introduces the Rad-Cart, an integrated GPS radiological solution for environmental remediation. The nuclear detection system logs isotope specific and full data over a broad energy range and simplifies post processing activities. The nuclear detection and spectroscopy system includes large volume NaI detectors ( up to 4"x4"x16") with resolution at 7%, a performance specification virtually unmatched in the industry. Detector mechanicals and housings are customized for the terrain in the application with shock absorption options. The resultant data logs include second by second isotopic data along with GPS (Lat / Long / Altitude optional) and time stamps. The accurate logs of data are achievable via a time-slice technique that leverages patented algorithms with modern day processing power. The algorithm, called QCC, performs a compression that gives high sensitivity needed for pCi/gm measurements.

"QCC has been in the Berkeley Nucleonics isotope identifiers for over 10 years. What is new is the powerful data processing in the Eagle-L SAM System", comments Robert Corsetti, Nuclear Products Manager for Berkeley.

The microprocessor in the system performs fast data logging and automated acquisition simultaneously. All data is readily available on a flash card convenient for mapping and volumetric conversions. Streaming data is also available for systems tied to a USB or Ethernet network. For more, see www.berkeleynucleonics.com or call 800-234-7858.

About Berkeley Nucleonics
Founded in 1963, BNC is an internationally recognized pioneer in the development of precision test, measurement and nuclear instrumentation. Headquartered in San Rafael, California, BNC also provides an accredited training program and a variety of calibration custom development services.

Model 575 - AT45-High Voltage – 45V Pulses with Fast Risetimes

This new output stage for the Model 575 Digital Delay / Pulse Generator increases max pulse amplitudes to 45V. The company has used modern circuitry to achieve these higher voltages with the same pulse generator architecture, resulting in a low cost for the dual channel output stage. The 45V pulses have risetimes <2.0 nS and pulse widths as wide as 10 seconds, with repetition rates up to 100 KHz. The performance achievements enable faster testing of high power lasers systems and enable developments in laser diode drivers and pump lasers. Other applications which benefit are capacitor banks, semiconductor assay and pyrotechnics detonations. Sled tests and high speed cameras, shutters and frame-grabbers all have potential benefits with the fast high voltage pulser.

"While we have offered pulsers up to 1000 Volts for quite some time, the fast risetimes and rep rates in the Model AT45 introduce new functionality customers have asked for. We can upgrade units in the field or offer the systems new for under three thousand dollars", comments Applications Engineer John Yee.

"The higher voltage outputs come at a time when customers are reluctant to purchase additional capital equipment and are looking for expanding the functionality of their existing product. We are pleased with the results."