JPS6042386Y2 - Multi-channel pulse height sorting device for X-ray spectrometer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a multichannel wave height selection device for X-ray energy spectrometry analysis.

A conventional multi-channel wave height sorting device performs an operation of adding 1 to the number of stored addresses at a specified address using a signal obtained by digitally converting the height of each output pulse from an X-ray detector as memory address designation information. After operating for a certain period of time, the contents of the memory are read out and recorded in the order of addresses, and an energy distribution map of the X-rays emitted from the sample can be obtained.

Although this device can accommodate a large number of channels, it has the disadvantages that it is expensive and that it takes time to analyze data because it is stored in a memory and then read out and recorded.

The primary purpose of obtaining an X-ray energy distribution map using X-ray energy spectrometry is to obtain the peak wavelength and peak height of the energy distribution, and obtaining the energy distribution map is a preparatory work.

Therefore, it is not a good idea to spend a lot of money and time to draw an energy distribution map.

If you can accurately know the peak wavelength of the energy distribution, you can perform X-ray energy spectroscopy by adjusting the wave height of the wave height selector to match the energy of X-rays of that wavelength and counting only the detected pulses of X-rays of that wavelength for a predetermined period of time. The purpose of analytical operations can be distantly related.

In this way, the number of channels of the pulse height selector may be small, and the time required for analysis can be shortened compared to an indirect method in which analysis data is stored in a memory and then read out before the analysis results are known.

The present invention was made from the above-mentioned viewpoints with the object of providing an apparatus in which the distribution of X-ray energy can be visually displayed and the screening wave height can be easily set.

The wave height of the output pulse of the X-ray detector of the present invention is divided into a plurality of heights, and a plurality of first groups of light emitting elements corresponding to each division are arranged in a line in order of the wave height of the above pulses, and a plurality of pulses are detected. Each time the pulse height belongs, the light-emitting element for the section to which the pulse height belongs emits light for a certain period of time, and a plurality of gates are provided corresponding to the above-mentioned wave height sections, and by opening any gate among them, that gate corresponds. The detection signal of the X-ray detection pulse of the height is inputted to the corresponding counter etc. through the gate, and the second group of light emitting elements that are lit by opening the corresponding gate is connected to the light emitting element. The present invention provides wave height sorting devices arranged in rows.

According to the above configuration, the light emitting elements of the first group appear brighter than other light emitting elements because the larger the number of X-ray detection pulses belonging to the corresponding wave height division per time, the higher the ratio of lighting to unit time. By arranging the first group of light emitting elements in a line in the order of pulse height divisions, the wave height distribution is displayed according to the brightness of the eye.

Then, if you open the gate belonging to the wave height section within the appropriate range above and below the wave height section that appears brightest, the light emitting elements of the second group belonging to that section will light up.
Since the second group of light emitting elements are lined up with the first group of light emitting elements, it is clearly displayed which wave height division has been selected for the wave height distribution.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to Examples. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, A1 to An are level comparators, one input terminal of which is given a comparison reference voltage.

The comparison reference voltage is a constant voltage connected in series with resistors R1 to R.
It is divided by n+1 columns.

Therefore, the reference voltage increases successively from A1 to An.

X-ray detection pulses are simultaneously applied to the ten input terminals of each of the comparators A1 to An through the preamplifier PA.

Assume that the waveform of one X-ray detection pulse applied all at once to the comparators A1 to An this winter is as shown in FIG.

In the figure, the scale on the vertical axis is the reference voltage E1 of each comparator A1 to An.
En, and the wave height of the pulse is between Em and Em11.

Therefore, the outputs of the comparators from A1 to Am are at high level, and the outputs from +1 to An remain at low level.

Figure 3 has the time scale aligned with Figure 2, and A1- in Figure 3.
Am is a time chart showing changes in the outputs of the comparators A1 to Am, and the timing of the rise of the output is delayed according to the slope of the rise side of the pulse waveform in FIG.

The outputs of the comparators A1 to An are the flip-flops D1 to Dn.
In this case, D1
~Dm is set.

The output of the comparator A1 falls at time tl in Fig. 2, and this falling triggers the one-shot circuit PGl, which outputs a pulse of approximately 1 μSec at the timing indicated by R in Fig. 3. The flip-flops D1 to Dn are reset by the falling edge of .

The above pulse is a three-man power AND gate And l ~ Andn
is applied to one terminal of each.

The reset outputs of the flip-flops D2 to Dn, which are one step higher than the AND gates, are applied to the other terminals of each AND gate, so the gates that are actually opened when the above pulse is applied are those of the set flip-flops. In the present example, the one at the highest level is only the one corresponding to Dm.

Since the set outputs of the corresponding flip-flops D1 to Dn are applied to the remaining terminals of each of the two terminals Andl to Andn, in this case, only Andm is open and the set output of Dm is 1 μsec. It becomes a pulse and is output from Andm.

This pulse sets Fm in the group of flip-flops F1 to Fn, and at the same time triggers the one-shot circuit PG2 at the falling edge of the output of the one-shot circuit PG1, PG2 outputs a pulse of about 1 m5ec, and at the falling edge, the flip-flops F1 to Fn Reset Fn.

The light emitting diodes d1 to dn of the first group are lit by the set outputs of the flip-flops F1 to Fn, but in this case, only Fm is set among the flip-flops F1 to Fn, so it is the Q terminal of Fm that lights up. Only the connected light emitting diode DM lights up for about 1m5ec.

The first group of light emitting diodes is located in panel B as shown in Figure 4.
Arrange them in a row at the top.

When some of the X-ray detection pulses have a higher height than others, for example, if there are many pulses with a height between Em and Em+1 in the current example, the corresponding light emitting diode dm will light up more than the others. Looks brighter than others.

In this way, the energy distribution of the X-ray detection pulse is visually displayed by the distribution of the brightness during lighting in the row of diodes d1 to dn.

The outputs of the AND gates Andl-Andn are applied to one input terminal of the two-person AND gates Un1-U.

One end of each vertical line Y1 to Yn of the matrix is a manual switch S
The second group of light emitting diodes d'l to d'n are connected to the voltage via terminals 1 to Sn to the other end.

For the two-player and gate Unl~U songs, the vertical lines Y1~Yn of the matrix Mx have the same number and the horizontal lines X1~X
Of the n gates, those with the same additive number are connected, and the output of each AND gate Unl to Unn is outputted through an OR circuit OR1 and applied to a counter and other devices.

Now, when one of the switches 81 to Sn is closed, power is applied to the light emitting diode d'i through the vertical line Yi, so that the light emitting diode emits light.

On the other hand, and gate Uni opens, so if and gate A
When a pulse responsive to the X-ray detection pulse is output through ndi as described above, the pulse is output through Uni and OR circuit OR1.

That is, by closing the switch Si, an X-ray detection pulse whose height is between Ei and Ei-)-1 is selected and output.

At the same time, selection of the X-ray detection pulse in that height range is indicated by lighting up d'i of the second group of light emitting diodes.

In FIG. 4, d'l to d'n are the above-mentioned second group of light emitting diodes, which are arranged side by side with the first group of light emitting diodes, and the knobs S1 to Sn of the switches S1 to Sn also correspond to d'l to d'n.
It is provided in parallel with ~d'n.

It is preferable that the light emitting diodes emit different colors in the first group and the second group.

Also number 1. It goes without saying that instead of using the second light emitting diode, only one row of dichroic light emitting diodes may be used.

When a gas ionization type X-ray detector is used, the number of wave height divisions, ie, the number of channels, by the above-mentioned circuit is sufficient for the separation capability based on the wave height of output pulses of X-ray energy.

That is, the subscript n of each code in the above embodiment is after IC@.

In such a case, if the present invention is applied, it is particularly effective in reducing the number of circuit elements and making the device inexpensive.

According to the present invention, when the X-rays emitted from the sample are actually observed, the energy distribution of the X-rays is visually displayed as the distribution of lighting brightness by the row of light-emitting elements of the first group. The peak of the distribution can be easily seen, so the wave height can be selected accurately, and the selection result is displayed by the rows of the second group of light emitting elements, making it easy to see which position in the brightness distribution of the rows of light emitting elements of the first group is selected. Taka is always displayed, so
The suitability of the selection can be easily and clearly determined, and even when the center of the pulse height distribution is displaced due to circuit drift, the selected pulse height can be immediately corrected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a waveform diagram of an X-ray detection pulse, Fig. 3 is a time chart explaining the operation of the above embodiment circuit, and Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of a display and operation panel in an embodiment of the device. A1~An...Level comparison circuit, D1~Dn・
...Flip-flop, d1~dn, d' l
~d'n...Light-emitting diode, S...
Switch for wave height selection setting.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a level selection circuit that has a plurality of level divisions and outputs a signal from the level division to which the input X-ray detection pulse belongs; and a first group that corresponds to each of the level divisions of the circuit and is triggered by the signal and turned on for a certain period of time. A light emitting element array corresponding to each level division of the level selection circuit described above, a manual switch for selectively taking out the output signal of each level division, and a manual switch corresponding to each of the above level divisions, and a manual switch for selectively extracting the output signal of each level division. A second group of light emitting elements that are arranged adjacent to the corresponding first group of light emitting elements in a one-to-one relationship and are lit in conjunction with each other (setting the manual switch to the signal extraction side of each level classification) Multi-channel wave height selection device for X-ray analysis equipment consisting of rows.