X-ray fluorescence analyzer with safety features

1. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, comprising a control unit and a detector of ionizing radiation, wherein:

the detector of ionizing radiation is configured to detect at least one of:

radiation from spontaneous radioactive decay within an environment of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, and

ionizing radiation propagating past a front end of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer towards its user;

and the control unit is arranged to enable and disable an incident radiation source of portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer and is configured to disable said incident radiation source in remorse to a signal from the detector of ionizing radiation indicating presence of at least one of:

radiation from spontaneous radioactive decay, and

ionizing radiation propagating past the front end of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer towards its user.

2. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , comprising a front part that houses the incident radiation source and a detector of fluorescent X-rays, wherein the detector of ionizing radiation is located in said front part.

3. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein:

the front end defines a measurement aperture for fluorescent X-rays,

the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer comprises a handle for holding the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, and

the detector of ionizing radiation is located between said front end and said handle.

4. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 3 , comprising a shield on that side of said handle that is directed to the same direction as said front end, wherein the detector of ionizing radiation is located in the shield.

5. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein said detector of ionizing radiation is separate from a detector of fluorescent X-rays comprised in said portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

6. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , comprising:

a detector of fluorescent X-rays, having a radiation receiving surface within a measurement chamber accessed through an aperture in said front end;

wherein said detector of ionizing radiation is located outside said measurement chamber.

7. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, wherein said control unit is configured to provide an indication through said user interface as a response to said signal from the detector of ionizing radiation.

8. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , comprising two or more detectors of ionizing radiation, each of which is configured to detect radiation from at least one of: spontaneous radioactive decay within an environment of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer and ionizing radiation propagating past the front end of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

9. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 8 , wherein at least two of said two or more detectors differ from each other in being sensitive to at least one of: different kinds of ionizing radiation, and ionizing radiation at different energies.

10. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein at least one detector of ionizing radiation comprised by the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer is sensitive to the propagating direction of ionizing radiation.

11. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer according to claim 10 , further comprising a user interface, of which said control unit is configured to provide changing intensity indications of detected ionizing radiation through said user interface as a response to changes in the orientation of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer in relation to the propagating direction of ionizing radiation.

12. A computer program product stored on a non-volatile computer readable medium, comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor comprised in a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, cause the implementation of a method comprising:

measuring at least one of: an amount of ionizing radiation from spontaneous radioactive decay within an environment of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, and ionizing radiation propagating past a front end of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer towards its user, and

as a response to said measuring, providing a signal that results ire disabling of an incident radiation source of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

13. A computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein as a response to a measurement that shows the intensity of ionizing radiation from spontaneous radioactive decay to exceed a predetermined threshold,

providing, through a user interface of the portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, an indication of detected ionizing radiation.