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:
Apr. 10, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 23, 2010
John Pesce, Melrose, MA (US);
Lee Grodzins, Lexington, MA (US);
John Pesce, Melrose, MA (US);
Lee Grodzins, Lexington, MA (US);
Thermo Niton Analyzers LLC, Billerica, MA (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for screening lead concentration compliance of objects, particularly consumer products such as toys, using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The measured intensity ratio of the characteristic Land Lx-rays of lead provides an indication of whether the lead is located primarily in a coating (e.g., paint) layer on the object, or in a thin or thick bulk material. If the intensity ratio indicates that the lead is located in a coating layer or distributed in a thin bulk material, an areal density of lead is determined from at least one of the characteristic x-ray intensities, and the measured areal density is compared to specified lower and upper limits to determine whether the object is unambiguously compliant, unambiguously non-compliant, or indeterminate.