Television display system

Claim 2

In a scanning electron microscope of the type wherein a series of X-ray emission events are produced as a specimen is cyclically scanned by an electron beam, a display system comprising: a detector for detecting said X-ray events and producing output pulses indicative of the energy level thereof; means for converting at least some of said output pulses to energy-indicative information signals, said information signals following their respective output pulses by random unpredictable time intervals; correlation means responsive to said information signals for correlating said information signals with limits corresponding to a predetermined energy range and for producing a display pulse responsive to said correlation after a predetermined time interval following each of said respective output pulses; a television monitor having a viewing screen scanned in synchronism with said specimen; and means for applying said display pulses to said television monitor to obtain a spatially correlated X-ray area map display of said X-ray events.

Claim 3

A display system as defined in claim 1 wherein said correlation means comprise a single channel window circuit for producing a control effect when one of said information signals falls within said limits, and a timer responsive to said control effect for producing said display pulse after a predetermined delay period following the output pulse associated with said one information signal.

Claim 4

A display system as defined in claim 2 wherein said specimen is scanned in a line raster and said delay period comprises an integral number of line scanning periods.

Claim 5

A display system as defined in claim 2 wherein said electron microscope includes a detector for detecting secondary electrons and wherein means are provided for applying the output of said electron detector to said television monitor to display a micrograph of said specimen thereon in spatial correlation with said X-ray area map.

Claim 6

A display system as described in claim 2 wherein said display pulse includes a color subcarrier signal, said television monitor is a color video monitor and said spatially correlated display is a color display.

Claim 7

A display system as described in claim 1 wherein said information signals are digitally coded signals, and said correlation means include a digital window circuit for determining whether said coded signals fall within a predetermined energy range.

Claim 8

In a scanning elctron microscope of the type wherein a series of X-ray emission events are produced as a specimen is cyclically scanned by an electron beam, a display system comprising: a detector for detecting said X-ray events and producing output pulses indicative of the energy level thereof; means for converting at least some of said output pulses to energy-indicative information signals, said information signals following their associated events by random unpredictable time intervals; a first single-channel window circuit for analyzing said information signals to produce a first control effect when one of said signals falls within limits corresponding to a first predetermined energy range; a second single-channel window circuit for analyzing said information signals to produce a second control effect when one of said signals falls within limits corresponding to a second predetermined energy range; means including a timer responsive to said first control effect for producing a first display pulse and responsive to said second control effect for producing a second display pulse, each of siad pulses being produced after a predetermined delay period fOllowing the X-ray event associated with the respective control effect; a television monitor having a viewing screen scanned in synchronism with said specimen; and means for applying said first and second display pulses to said television monitor to obtain a spatially correlated display of said X-ray events having energy levels within said first and second predetermined energy ranges.

Claim 9

In a scanning elctron microscope of the type wherein a series of X-ray emission events are produced as a specimen is cyclically scanned by an electron beam, a display system comprising: a detector for detecting said X-ray events and producing output pulses indicative of the energy level thereof; means for converting at least some of said output pulses to energy-indicative information signals, said information signals following their associated events by random unpredictable time intervals; a first single-channel window circuit for analyzing said information signals to produce a first control effect when one of said signals falls within limits corresponding to a first predetermined energy range; a second single-channel window circuit for analyzing said information signals to produce a second control effect when one of said signals falls within limits corresponding to a second predetermined energy range; means including a timer responsive to said first control effect for producing a first display pulse and responsive to said second control effect for producing a second display pulse, each of siad pulses being produced after a predetermined delay period fOllowing the X-ray event associated with the respective control effect; a television monitor having a viewing screen scanned in synchronism with said specimen; and means for applying said first and second display pulses to said television monitor to obtain a spatially correlated display of said X-ray events having energy levels within said first and second predetermined energy ranges.

Claim 10

A display system as defined in claim 7 wherein said specimen is scanned in horizontal and vertical directions and said delay period comprises an integral number of horizontal scanning periods.

Claim 11

A display system as defined in claim 7 wherein said television monitor is a color monitor, and wherein said first display pulses appear on said monitor with a first distinguishing color, and said second display pulses appear on said monitor with a second distinguishing color.

Claim 12

In a scanning electron microscope of the type wherein a series of X-ray emission events are produced as a specimen is cyclically scanned by an electron beam, a display system comprising: a detector for detecting said X-ray events and producing output pulses indicative of the energy level thereof; means for converting at least some of said output pulses to energy-indicative information signals, said information signals following their associated events by random unpredictable time intervals; a color television monitor; an energy distribution analyzer for developing said television monitor from said information signals a histogram-type display of the energy levels of said X-ray events versus their cumulative occurrence over a period of time; a first single channel window for analyzing said information signals to generate a first control effect when said signals fall within limits corresponding to a first predetermined energy range; and means for varying the color of said histogram display to identify that portion of the display falling within said first predetermined energy range.

Claim 13

In a scanning electron microscope of the type wherein a series of X-ray emission events are produced as a specimen is cyclically scanned by an electron beam, a display system comprising: a detector for detecting said X-ray events and producing output pulses indicative of the energy level thereof; means for converting at least some of said output pulses to energy-indicative information signals, said information signals following their associated events by random unpredictable time intervals; a color television monitor; an energy distribution analyzer for developing said television monitor from said information signals a histogram-type display of the energy levels of said X-ray events versus their cumulative occurrence over a period of time; a first single channel window for analyzing said information signals to generate a first control effect when said signals fall within limits corresponding to a first predetermined energy range; and means for varying the color of said histogram display to identify that portion of the display falling within said first predetermined energy range.

Claim 14

A display system as defined in claim 10 which further comprises a second single channel window for analyzing said information signals to generate a second control effect when said signals fall within limits corresponding to a second predetermined energy range, and means for futher varying the color of said histogram display to identify that portion of the display falling within said second predetermined energy range.