Patent ID: 7763859

Claim:
A method of detecting pileups from an output signal of a preamplifier of an energy-dispersive radiation spectrometry system, comprising: testing an instantaneous slope of said preamplifier output signal against a noise trigger value; after the instantaneous slope has been determined to exceed said noise trigger value, identifying a first subsequent portion of said preamplifier output signal wherein the instantaneous slope of said preamplifier output signal increases to a maximum; following said first subsequent portion, identifying a second subsequent portion of said preamplifier output signal wherein the instantaneous slope of said preamplifier output signal still exceeds said noise trigger level but has decreased by more than said noise trigger level from said maximum; and following said second subsequent portion and before the instantaneous slope declines below said noise trigger level, identifying a third subsequent portion of said preamplifier output signal wherein the instantaneous slope of said preamplifier output signal increases by more than said noise trigger value, and, in response thereto, determining that a pileup has occurred.