The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1999
Masao Sato, Chiba, JP;
Seiko Instruments Inc., , JP;
Abstract
An improved x-ray analyzer may be portable to permit on-site or outdoor analysis without the possibility of emitting harmful x-rays. A housing of the analyzer contains an x-ray generation system for generating x-rays and irradiating the x-rays onto a sample under analysis, an x-ray detection system for detecting x-rays emitted by the sample in response to irradiation of the sample by x-rays by the x-ray generation system, and a safety mechanism for permitting x-rays to be emitted from the housing only when a sample is under analysis. A normally-closed shutter is disposed between the x-ray generation system and a measurement window mounted to the housing through which x-rays are emitted. The safety mechanism includes a first switch which permits the shutter to be opened only when the housing is in contact with a sample under analysis so as to prevent the emission of x-rays from the housing when the housing is not in contact with a sample under analysis. The first switch is a pressure-actuated micro-switch mounted proximate the measurement window so as to become actuated when the measurement window is brought into contact with the sample under analysis to permit opening of the shutter. A hand grip is preferably mounted to the housing and has a second switch mounted thereto and actuatable when the hand grip is engaged by a user's hand to prevent opening of the shutter when the second switch is engaged.