Moxtek, Inc.

Shawn S Chin

David S Hoffman

Jason Maynard

Jonathan Barron

Sanjay Kamtekar

Richard Creighton

Steven Morris

An x-ray detector can be small and have efficient cooling. In one embodiment, the x-ray detector can comprise a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) with upper electrical connections, a support, a cap, and a silicon drift detector (SDD). A planar side of the support can be directly affixed to upper electrical connections of the TEC. The support can have a non-planar side, opposite of the planar side, with a raised structure. A bottom face of the cap can be affixed to the raised structure, forming a cavity between the cap and the non-planar side of the support. The SDD can be affixed to a top face of the cap. In another embodiment, the non-planar side of the support can face the TEC. In another embodiment, a PIN photodiode can be directly affixed to a plate and the plate directly affixed to upper electrical connections of the TEC.

Thermoelectric cooler including a single, solid, and electrically insulative support/plate having a planar side directly affixed to upper electrical connections and non-planar side to a raised structure

Thermoelectric cooler mount

The invention includes an XRF analyzer with reduced x-ray attenuation between sample and target and between sample and detector. Attenuation can be reduced by removing atmospheric-air paths through which the x-rays must travel. Reduced x-ray attenuation can allow for easier detection of low-atomic-number elements. Cost saving can be achieved by reducing the number of x-ray windows.

XRF analyzer for light element detection

Growing community of inventors

Elk Ridge, UT, United States of America

Shawn S Chin