Patent Abstract:
The invention includes various electronic devices for avoiding or minimizing XRF analyzer user fatigue. In one embodiment, the XRF analyzer can include a finger tap switch for activating the XRF analysis. In another embodiment, the XRF analyzer can include a hand sensor and a finger tap switch, activation of both required to activate the XRF analysis. In another embodiment, the XRF analyzer can include a microphone capable of receiving a verbal command from a user and a finger tap switch, both receipt of the verbal command and activation of the finger tap switch required to activate the XRF analysis. Additional benefits of some embodiments include improving XRF analysis safety and avoiding XRF analyzer theft.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/886,342, filed on Oct. 19, 2015, which (a) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/821,350, filed on Aug. 7, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/039,767, filed on Aug. 20, 2014; and (b) claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/095,302, filed on Dec. 22, 2014. All of the foregoing are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is related generally to XRF Analyzers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     X-ray florescence (XRF) analyzers typically perform an XRF analysis while a user presses a plunger-type trigger. It can be fatiguing for the user to press and hold the trigger during the entire analysis. Another possible problem of XRF analyzers is inadvertent emission of x-rays if the trigger is accidently pressed. Another concern is that a person who is not trained in XRF analysis might use the XRF analyzer, which could result in personal injury or equipment damage. XRF analyzers can be expensive. Theft of XRF analyzers can be another concern to XRF analyzer owners. 
     Some or all of the above description may also be applicable to laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis tools, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Raman spectroscopy tools. 
     SUMMARY 
     It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to avoid or minimize fatigue of an x-ray florescence (XRF) analyzer user, improve XRF analysis safety, and avoid XRF analyzer theft. The present invention is directed to various embodiments of XRF analyzers that satisfy these needs. Each embodiment may satisfy one, some, or all of these needs. 
     The XRF analyzer can comprise an x-ray source configured to emit x-rays towards a sample, an x-ray detector configured to receive fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample, an activation switch, and an electronic processor. The activation switch can be electrically coupled to the electronic processor to activate an XRF analysis. The XRF analysis can include the electronic processor causing the x-ray source to emit x-rays towards the sample, the x-ray detector to receive the fluoresced x-rays emitted from the sample, and analysis of the fluoresced x-rays. 
     In one embodiment, the activation switch can include a finger sensor. The finger sensor can comprise a temperature sensor, a photo sensor, a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, and/or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to receive a signal from an RFID tag on a user of the XRF analyzer. In another embodiment, the activation switch can include a finger tap switch capable of activating the XRF analysis by a tap from a finger of the user on the finger tap switch. In another embodiment, the activation switch can include a microphone capable of receiving a verbal command from the user to activate the XRF analysis upon receipt of the verbal command. In another embodiment, the activation switch can include a combination of the finger sensor, the finger tap switch, and/or the microphone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a XRF analyzer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer  10  is shown comprising an x-ray source  12 , an x-ray detector  11 , an activation switch  13 , and an electronic processor  17 . The x-ray source  12  can be configured to emit x-rays  22  towards a sample  21 . The x-ray detector  11  can be configured to receive fluoresced x-rays  23  emitted from the sample  21 . 
     The activation switch  13  can be electrically coupled to the electronic processor  17  and operable to activate an XRF analysis. The electronic processor  17  can be electrically coupled to the x-ray source  12  and the x-ray detector  11 . The XRF analysis can include (1) the electronic processor  17  causing the x-ray source  12  to emit x-rays  22  towards the sample  21 ; (2) the x-ray detector  11  receiving the fluoresced x-rays  23  emitted from the sample  21 ; and (3) analysis of the fluoresced x-rays  23 . The analysis of the fluoresced x-rays  23  can mean that the x-ray detector  11  amplifies a signal based on the fluoresced x-rays  23  and the electronic processor  17  analyzes the amplified signal to determine material composition of the sample  21 . The analysis of the fluoresced x-rays  23  can also mean that the x-ray detector  11  sends an amplified or unamplified signal to the electronic processor  17  which emits the signal through a wire or wirelessly to another device (e.g. external computer) for analysis of material composition of the sample  21 . 
     The activation switch  13  can include various types of activation devices that can minimize fatigue of an x-ray XRF analyzer  10  user. For example, the activation switch  13  can include a finger sensor, a finger tap switch, and/or a microphone. 
     The finger sensor can, comprise a temperature sensor, a photo sensor, a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, and/or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to receive a signal from an RFID tag on a user of the XRF analyzer. Thus, the XRF analysis can be activated by the temperature sensor sensing heat of a finger of the user, the photo sensor sensing the finger due to a decrease in light, the pressure sensor sensing pressure of the finger of the user, the capacitive sensor sensing a change in capacitance due to the finger of the user, and/or the RFID reader sensing presence of the RFID tag on the user. The RFID tag can be attached to the user by a ring, glove, wrist strap, or other convenient device. (The temperature sensor, the photo sensor, the pressure sensor, the capacitive sensor, and the RFID reader associated with the finger sensor can be a primary or finger temperature sensor, a primary or finger photo sensor, a primary or finger pressure sensor, a primary or finger capacitive sensor and a primary or finger RFID reader, respectively.) 
     Each of these different types of finger sensors has different advantages and disadvantages, and thus one type might be better for one application and another type for another application. For example, a capacitive sensor might be preferred because it would be less likely to cause activation of the XRF analysis by a non-human object pressed against the activation switch  13 . As another example, the photo sensor or pressure sensor might be preferred over the capacitive sensor if the user likely would wear gloves while using the XRF analyzer  10 . It might also be preferred to combine multiple of these devices, such as for example the pressure sensor and the capacitive sensor in order to avoid undesirable activation of the XRF analysis. The RFID reader could be combined with any of the other sensors to improve safety by avoiding unauthorized use of the XRF analyzer  10 —only the user could use the XRF analyzer  10  as long as the user kept the RFID tag in, a secure location. Also, the RFID reader could help to discourage or avoid theft because the thief would have to steal both the XRF analyzer  10  and the RFID tag in order to operate the unit. This theft of both could be difficult if the XRF analyzer  10  and the RFID tag were stored in separate locations. 
     The finger sensor can activate the XRF analysis by the user&#39;s finger touching the activation switch  13  or by merely approaching the activation switch  13 . A required touch can avoid undesired activation or continuation of the XRF analysis. The finger sensor can be a pressure sensor that is configured to activate the XRF analysis only by force within a certain range that is typical of force applied by a finger, thus further avoiding undesired activation of the XRF analysis. For example, the pressure sensor can be configured to activate the XRF analysis by the finger of the user pressing the pressure sensor with a pressure of between 10 and 30 newtons of force. On the other hand, allowing a mere approach of the user&#39;s finger for activation can reduce user fatigue. The finger sensor can be configured to activate the XRF analysis by the finger of the user approaching, but not touching, the finger sensor. For example, the finger sensor can have a photo sensor and can be configured to activate the XRF analysis when the user&#39;s finger approaches less than 6 millimeters of the finger sensor. 
     Another way of avoiding user fatigue is for the activation switch  13  to include a finger tap switch. Thus, XRF analysis can be activated by a tap of the user&#39;s finger rather than requiring the user to continuously hold the activation switch. For example the activation switch  13  can include a temperature sensor, a photo sensor, a pressure sensor, and/or a capacitive sensor that activate the XRF analysis with a tap of the user&#39;s finger rather than requiring the user to continuously hold the activation switch. The finger tap switch can be configured to activate the XRF analysis by multiple taps, such as a double tap for example (similar to use of a computer mouse). Multiple taps can reduce the chance of undesired activation an XRF analysis. Each tap (whether single, double, or more) can have a short required duration. This required duration can be user controlled, similar to a computer mouse. For example, each tap can have a required duration of less than 0.1 second in one aspect, less than 0.25 second in another aspect, less than one second in another aspect, or less than three seconds in another aspect. 
     Use of a microphone, capable of receiving a verbal command from a user to activate the XRF analysis, as the activation switch  13 , can avoid the chance of undesired activation of the XRF analysis because the XRF analysis would not be accidently activated by setting the XRF analyzer  10  on top of another device. A microphone might also be preferable if the user will wear gloves during the analysis. The microphone can also be useful for discouraging theft by requiring a password or voice recognition of the user&#39;s voice for XRF analysis. The microphone could also be configured to receive a command from the user to stop the analysis. The activation switch  13  can include the microphone plus the finger sensor and/or the finger tap switch to further avoid undesired activation of the XRF analysis, thus improving XRF analysis safety. 
     Addition of a hand sensor  14  can also avoid undesired activation or continuation of the XRF analysis. The hand sensor  14  can be located at a handle  18  of the XRF analyzer  10  and spaced apart from the activation switch  13 . The hand sensor  14  can be electrically coupled to the electronic processor  17 , the finger switch  13 , or both. The hand sensor  14  can comprise a temperature sensor, a photo sensor, a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, and/or an RFID reader configured to receive a signal from an RFID tag on the user of the XRF analyzer  10 . (The temperature sensor, the photo sensor, the pressure sensor, the capacitive sensor, and the RFID reader associated with the hand sensor can be a secondary or hand temperature sensor, a secondary or hand photo sensor, a secondary or hand pressure sensor, a secondary or hand capacitive sensor and a secondary or hand RFID reader, respectively.) Thus, the hand sensor combined with the activation switch  13  (microphone, finger sensor, and/or the finger tap switch) can help avoid accidental activation or continuation of the XRF analysis by the XRF analyzer  10  allowing XRF analysis only upon activation of the activation switch  13  (by sensing the finger or voice of the user) and the hand sensor  14  sensing the hand of the user. 
     An indicator light and/or a speaker  19  can be electrically coupled to the electronic processor  17  and can be configured to notify the user upon activation of the XRF analysis. This can further improve XRF analysis safety by alerting the user of the XRF analysis. 
     The XRF analyzer  10  can also include an interlock switch  16  located at an exterior of the XRF analyzer  10  and electrically coupled to the electronic processor  17  to further improve XRF analysis safety. The interlock switch  16  can be located at an x-ray  22  emission end of the XRF analyzer  10 . The interlock switch  16  can be configured to allow activation of the XRF analysis only when the interlock switch  16  is pressed (e.g. against the sample  21 ). The interlock switch  16  can be combined with the activation switch  13  and or the hand sensor  14 . 
     Another device on the XRF analyzer  10  to improve XRF analysis safety is a kill switch  15 . The kill switch  15  can be located at an exterior of the XRF analyzer  10 , electrically coupled to the electronic processor  17 , and configured to terminate the XRF analysis when pressed. The kill switch  15  can be located for easy access by the finger or hand of the XRF analyzer  10  user. 
     In addition, the XRF analyzer  10  can comprise a housing that can include the handle, and can carry the x-ray source  12 , the x-ray detector  11 , the activation switch  13 , the electronic processor  17 , the hand sensor  14 , the indicator light and/or the speaker  19 , the interlock switch  16 , and the kill switch  15 . 
     Some or all of the above description, and the following claims, may also be applicable to laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzers, and Raman spectroscopy tools. The term “XRF analyzer” used herein can be replaced by some or all of the following: LIBS spectrometer, XRD analyzer, Raman spectroscopy equipment, and XRF analyzer.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7