Wavelength dispersive X-ray microanalysis controlled by a microprocessor

The many possibilities offered by the microprocessor and the availability in the market of reliable devices, in quantity and at competition prices, had led the authors to develop a microprocessor based electronic system for the CAMEBAX electron microprobe. The object of this development was to replace the hardwired control electronics by a programmable system for the control of the WDS spectrometers, the specimen movements, and for the acquisition and reduction of data. The operation and the design of the microprocessor control system are described in this paper, and are an integral part of the CAMEBAX-MICRO instrument which has replaced the previous model, the CAMEBAX-MBX. (Auth.)