Patent ID: 7567871

Claim:
A method for performing spectral microanalysis of a specimen, the method including the steps of: a. collecting spectra from pixels spaced about a region of interest on the specimen, wherein each spectrum includes emission counts measured across a range of energies; b. periodically during the collection: (1) condensing the collected spectra, wherein the condensing of the collected spectra comprises at least one step selected from: combining the emission counts in adjacent energy intervals within the range of energies and spatially combining the spectra in adjacent pixels; (2) analyzing the condensed spectra while collecting the spectra thus far to determine the probable components present at the pixels, and (3) outputting the probable components present at the pixels includes displaying: a. an image of at least some of the pixels within the region of interest, and b. labels naming the probable components of at least some of the pixels within the region of interest.