Patents by Inventor MICHAEL S. NORRELL

MICHAEL S. NORRELL has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10459227
    Abstract: A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. Another method of visually outputting to a worker a number of visual indicia that are representative of a number of parameters of an operation performed inside or outside the RCA includes periodically receiving a number of inputs from a number of detectors, employing the inputs to determine values for the parameters, and depicting the number of visible indicia on an electronic visual display that is situated on the worker and that is disposed proximate an eye of the worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Norrell
  • Patent number: 10310267
    Abstract: A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. Another method of visually outputting to a worker a number of visual indicia that are representative of a number of parameters of an operation performed inside or outside the RCA includes periodically receiving a number of inputs from a number of detectors, employing the inputs to determine values for the parameters, and depicting the number of visible indicia on an electronic visual display that is situated on the worker and that is disposed proximate an eye of the worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Norrell
  • Publication number: 20180275404
    Abstract: A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. Another method of visually outputting to a worker a number of visual indicia that are representative of a number of parameters of an operation performed inside or outside the RCA includes periodically receiving a number of inputs from a number of detectors, employing the inputs to determine values for the parameters, and depicting the number of visible indicia on an electronic visual display that is situated on the worker and that is disposed proximate an eye of the worker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: MICHAEL S. NORRELL
  • Publication number: 20180239139
    Abstract: A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. Another method of visually outputting to a worker a number of visual indicia that are representative of a number of parameters of an operation performed inside or outside the RCA includes periodically receiving a number of inputs from a number of detectors, employing the inputs to determine values for the parameters, and depicting the number of visible indicia on an electronic visual display that is situated on the worker and that is disposed proximate an eye of the worker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: MICHAEL S. NORRELL
  • Patent number: 10007002
    Abstract: A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. The position of the worker within the RCA can be stored in conjunction with the measured dose rate as detected by a dosimeter worn by the worker at such position, potentially also with a time stamp. These data can then be employed to generate the dosage rate map of the RCA that shows the various dose rates at various locations within the RCA and that can be visually output for viewing by the worker or other personnel outside the RCA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Norrell
  • Publication number: 20170248702
    Abstract: A method includes detecting currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing an operation within a Radiologically Controlled Area (RCA) and visually outputting to the worker a dosage rate map of ionizing radiation within the RCA. The visual output can be visually depicted on a display that is worn by the worker during the operation and that is situated in proximity to the worker's eye. The position of the worker within the RCA can be stored in conjunction with the measured dose rate as detected by a dosimeter worn by the worker at such position, potentially also with a time stamp. These data can then be employed to generate the dosage rate map of the RCA that shows the various dose rates at various locations within the RCA and that can be visually output for viewing by the worker or other personnel outside the RCA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: MICHAEL S. NORRELL
  • Patent number: 9664796
    Abstract: A method includes detecting on an ongoing basis the currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing a maintenance or other operation within the RCA, and visually outputting information that pertains to the ionizing radiation to which the worker is being exposed during the operation. The information that is visually output can include information such as the current dose rate and the overall dose to which the worker has been subjected, but can additionally include information such as the time remaining before which the worker will have been exposed to the maximum allowable dose. Furthermore, it is possible for the visual display to output visual indicia that represent a comparison the exposure to ionizing radiation that had been planned as a function of time prior to the operation being commenced with the actual exposure to ionizing radiation as the operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Norrell, Joonhyung Choi, Melissa M. Walter, Sabryna D. Henze, Robert W. Flammang
  • Publication number: 20160238715
    Abstract: A method includes detecting on an ongoing basis the currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing a maintenance or other operation within the RCA, and visually outputting information that pertains to the ionizing radiation to which the worker is being exposed during the operation. The information that is visually output can include information such as the current dose rate and the overall dose to which the worker has been subjected, but can additionally include information such as the time remaining before which the worker will have been exposed to the maximum allowable dose. Furthermore, it is possible for the visual display to output visual indicia that represent a comparison the exposure to ionizing radiation that had been planned as a function of time prior to the operation being commenced with the actual exposure to ionizing radiation as the operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL S. NORRELL, JOONHYUNG CHOI, MELISSA M. WALTER, SABRYNA D. HENZE, ROBERT W. FLAMMANG