X-ray analysis apparatus with radiation monitoring feature

An XRF analysis apparatus comprising:

• a housing including:
• a source of penetrating radiation to be directed at a sample, and
• a detector for detecting fluoresced radiation from the sample;
• a shield attachable to the housing to protect the user from radiation;
• a safety interlock configured to detect when the shield is attached to the housing;
• and
• a controller, responsive to the safety interlock, configured to:
• monitor usage of the source of radiation at or above a predetermined power level when the shield is not attached to the housing, and
• provide an output signal when the monitored usage of the source of penetrating radiation at or above the predetermined power level without the shield attached to the housing exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds including:
• a first percentage of a maximum allowed dose and wherein when the monitored usage of the source exceeds said first percentage of the maximum allowed dose, the output signal provided includes a first notification to the user noting the monitored usage and the percentage of the maximum allowed dosage, and
• a second percentage of the maximum allowed dose and when the monitored usage of the source exceeds said second percentage of the maximum allowed dose, the output signal provided includes a second notification to the user noting the monitored usage and the percentage of the maximum allowed dose.

An XRF analysis apparatus comprising:

• a housing including:
• a source of penetrating radiation to be directed at a sample, and
• a detector for detecting fluoresced radiation from the sample;
• a shield attachable to the housing to protect the user from radiation;
• a safety interlock configured to detect when the shield is attached to the housing;
• and
• a controller, responsive to the safety interlock, configured to:
• monitor usage of the source of radiation at or above a predetermined power level when the shield is not attached to the housing, and
• provide an output signal when the monitored usage of the source of penetrating radiation at or above the predetermined power level without the shield attached to the housing exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds including:
• a percentage of a maximum allowed dose and when the monitored usage of the source exceeds said percentage of the maximum allowed dose, the output signal provided prevents the operation of the source at or above the predetermined power level until the shielding is attached to the housing.