US 12,259,507 B2
Distance and direction-sensitive cosmogenic neutron sensors
Marek Zreda, Tucson, AZ (US); Steven Hamann, Oro Valley, AZ (US); Martin Schrön, Leipzig (DE); and Markus Köhli, Heidelberg (DE)
Assigned to QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLC, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed by QUAESTA INSTRUMENTS, LLC, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/667,914.
Application 17/667,914 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/102,118, filed on Nov. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,249,036.
Application 17/102,118 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/213,741, filed on Dec. 7, 2018, granted, now 10,845,318, issued on Nov. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/596,315, filed on Dec. 8, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0163687 A1, May 26, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 23/05 (2006.01); G01N 23/02 (2006.01); G01N 23/09 (2018.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); G01T 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01T 3/00 (2013.01) [G01N 23/025 (2013.01); G01N 23/09 (2013.01); G01N 33/246 (2013.01); G01N 2223/616 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A local area, thermal cosmogenic neutron sensor for detecting moisture within a measurement surface, the local area cosmogenic neutron sensor comprising:
a neutron detector positionable above the measurement surface;
a neutron shield positioned around a portion of the neutron detector, whereby the neutron shield substantially covers lateral sides of the neutron detector and substantially an entirety of a top of the neutron detector, wherein the neutron shield is positioned to interact with cosmogenic neutrons propagating to the lateral sides or the top of the neutron detector, thereby substantially blocking thermal, epithermal, and fast cosmogenic neutrons propagating to the lateral sides or the top of the neutron detector from reaching the neutron detector, and wherein the neutron shield is not positioned on a bottom side of the neutron detector; and
a stand structure holding the neutron detector and the neutron shield in a position a spaced vertical distance above the measurement surface with the bottom side of the neutron detector facing the measurement surface,
wherein local area, thermal cosmogenic neutrons propagating from the measurement surface below and near the neutron detector travel through an air space before arriving at the neutron detector.