Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. Apparatus for X-ray analysis of a sample, comprising: an X-ray source, which irradiates the sample; and  an X-ray detector device, which receives X-rays from the sample responsive to the irradiation, the device comprising:  an array of radiation-sensitive detectors, which generate electrical signals responsive to radiation photons incident thereon; and  processing circuitry comprising a plurality of signal processing channels, each coupled to process the signals from a respective one of the detectors so as to generate an output dependent upon a rate of incidence of the photons on the respective detector and upon a distribution of the energy of the incident photons. 2. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the array of detectors comprises an array of radiation-sensitive diodes. claim 1 3. Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the diodes comprise silicon diode detectors. claim 2 4. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of signal processing channels comprises an integrated circuit disposed on a common substrate with the respective detector. claim 1 5. Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the common substrate comprises a semiconductor chip including integrated circuits belonging to a multiplicity of the signal processing channels. claim 4 6. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing channels process the signals in accordance with adjustable processing parameters. claim 1 7. Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the processing parameters are adjusted independently for different ones of the channels responsive to different incidence rates of the photons at the respective detectors. claim 6 8. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing channels comprise discriminators, which reject signals corresponding to photons outside a predetermined energy range. claim 1 9. Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry comprises a threshold control circuit, which adjusts the predetermined energy range of the discriminators. claim 8 10. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal processing channels comprise counters, which count the number of photons incident on the respective detectors responsive to the energy of the photons, and wherein the processing circuitry comprises a bus common to a multiplicity of the channels, which receives and outputs respective photon counts from the channels in turn. claim 1 11. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector device receives X-rays reflected from the sample. claim 1 12. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector device receives fluorescent X-rays emitted by the sample. claim 1 13. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the X-ray source comprises a monochromator, such that the sample is irradiated with substantially monochromatic X-rays at a predetermined energy. claim 1 14. Apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the signal processing channels comprise discriminators, which are adjusted to reject signals corresponding to photons outside an energy range including the predetermined energy of the monochromatic X-rays. claim 13 15. A method for X-ray analysis of a sample, comprising: irradiating the sample with X-rays;  receiving X-rays from the sample, responsive to the irradiation, at an array of detectors in respective, predetermined locations, which detectors generate electrical signals responsive to X-ray photons incident thereon; and  processing the signals from the array of detectors in respective processing channels, so as to generate an output indicative of a rate of arrival of the photons incident at the respective locations and dependent upon a distribution of the energy of the incident photons. 16. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein processing the signals comprises providing a plurality of channels each comprising an integrated circuit disposed on a common substrate with the respective detector for processing signals generated by the detector. claim 15 17. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein processing the signals comprises processing signals in accordance with processing parameters, which are independently adjustable for different ones of the channels. claim 15 18. A method according to  claim 17 , wherein processing the signals comprises adjusting the processing parameters in the channels responsive to an incidence rate of the photons on the detectors. claim 17 19. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein processing the signals comprises discriminating signal levels so as to reject signals corresponding to photons outside a predetermined energy range. claim 15 20. A method according to  claim 19 , wherein processing the signals comprises counting the number of photons incident at each of the locations within the predetermined energy range. claim 19 21. A method according to  claim 20 , wherein irradiating the sample comprises irradiating the sample with substantially monochromatic X-rays at a selected energy, and wherein discriminating the signal levels comprises rejecting signals corresponding to photons outside an energy range including the selected energy of the monochromatic X-rays. claim 20 22. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein receiving the X-rays comprises receiving X-rays reflected from the sample. claim 15 23. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein receiving the X-rays comprises receiving fluorescent X-rays emitted by the sample. claim 15 24. Radiation detection apparatus, comprising: an array of radiation-sensitive detectors, which generate electrical signals responsive to radiation photons incident thereon; and  processing circuitry comprising:  a plurality of signal processing channels, each channel coupled to process the signals from a respective one of the detectors and comprising a counter, which counts the number of photons incident on the respective detector, wherein each of the channels comprises an integrated circuit disposed on a common substrate with the respective detector; and  a bus common to a multiplicity of the channels, which receives and outputs respective photon counts from the channels in turn. 25. Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the signal processing channels comprise discriminators, which reject signals corresponding to photons outside a predetermined energy range, so that the counters count only photons within the predetermined energy range. claim 24 26. Apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the processing circuitry comprises a threshold control circuit, which adjusts the predetermined energy range of the discriminators. claim 25 27. Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the array of detectors comprises an array of radiation-sensitive diodes. claim 24 28. Apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the diodes comprise silicon diode detectors. claim 27 29. Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the common substrate comprises a semiconductor chip including integrated circuits belonging to a multiplicity of the signal processing channels. claim 24