Xrf analyzer rotational filter

An x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising:

• a. an x-ray source having an x-ray emission end, and an x-ray detector having an x-ray receiving end, both carried by a housing, wherein:
• i. the x-ray source is positioned and oriented to emit x-rays from the x-ray emission end towards a focal point;
• and
• ii. the x-ray detector is positioned and oriented to face the focal point, and configured to receive, through the x-ray receiving end, fluoresced x-rays emitted from a sample disposed at the focal point;
• b. a source filter wheel, wherein the source filter wheel:
• i. is rotatable;
• ii. is carried by the housing and is disposed between the x-ray emission end and the focal point;
• iii. has a gear at an outer perimeter;
• and
• iv. comprises multiple x-ray source modification regions including at least one of:
• 1. a first, solid x-ray filter configured to filter x-rays for one x-ray energy band and a second, solid x-ray filter configured to filter x-rays for a different x-ray energy band;
• 2. a first, solid x-ray filter having a different thickness than a second, solid x-ray filter;
• 3. a first collimator having a first diameter and a second collimator having a second diameter wherein the first diameter is substantially different from the second diameter in order to provide a different x-ray collimation at the first collimator relative to the second collimator;
• 4. a solid blocking structure having a material and thickness configured to substantially block x-rays from being emitted through the blocking structure;
• 5. a protective structure comprising a solid, protective material configured to protect the x-ray source from damage by solid objects;
• or
• 6. combinations thereof;
• c. a detector filter wheel, wherein the detector filter wheel:
• i. is rotatable;
• ii. is carried by the housing and is disposed between the x-ray receiving end and the focal point;
• iii. has a gear at an outer perimeter;
• and
• iv. comprises multiple x-ray detector modification regions including:
• 1. a protective structure comprising a solid, protective material configured to protect the x-ray detector from damage by solid objects;
• and
• 2. an aperture configured to allow x-rays to pass therethrough;
• d. a gear wheel, wherein the gear wheel:
• i. meshes with the gear on the source filter wheel and the gear on the detector filter wheel;
• and
• ii. is configured to cause the source filter wheel and the detector filter wheel to rotate together.

An x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer comprising:

• a. an x-ray source having an x-ray emission end, and an x-ray detector having an x-ray receiving end, both carried by a housing, wherein:
• i. the x-ray source is positioned and oriented to emit x-rays from the x-ray emission end towards a focal point;
• and
• ii. the x-ray detector is positioned and oriented to face the focal point, and configured to receive, through the x-ray receiving end, fluoresced x-rays emitted from a sample disposed at the focal point;
• b. a filter structure, wherein:
• i. the filter structure is disposed between the x-ray emission end and the focal point;
• ii. the filter structure is disposed between the x-ray receiving end and the focal point;
• iii. the filter structure is rotatable to separately position:
• 1. at least two different x-ray source modification regions (defining source modification regions) between the x-ray emission end and the focal point;
• and
• 2. at least two different x-ray detector modification regions (defining detector modification regions) between the x-ray receiving end and the focal point;
• iv. the source modification regions include at least one of:
• 1. a first, solid x-ray filter configured to filter x-rays for one x-ray energy band and a second, solid x-ray filter configured to filter x-rays for a different x-ray energy band;
• 2. a first, solid x-ray filter having a different thickness than a second, solid x-ray filter;
• 3. a solid blocking structure having a material and thickness configured to substantially block x-rays from being emitted through the blocking structure;
• 4. a protective structure comprising a solid, protective material configured to protect the x-ray source from damage by solid objects;
• 5. a first collimator having a first diameter and a second collimator having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is substantially different from the second diameter in order to provide a different x-ray collimation at the first collimator relative to the second collimator;
• or
• 6. combinations thereof;
• v. the detector modification regions include:
• 1. a protective structure comprising a solid, protective material configured to protect the x-ray detector from damage by solid objects;
• and
• 2. an aperture configured to allow x-rays to pass therethrough.