Abstract: An apparatus and method for sanitizing contaminated masks with UV-C radiation in a home or work environment is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rack structure with a plurality of arms, wherein each arm contains a fastener to permit users to secure an N-95, cloth, or surgical mask to the fastener in an expanded position. A UV-C bulb of sufficient size to provide a sanitizing effect yet prevent significant emission of ozone is placed on the rack structure to deliver uninterrupted UV-C rays to the mask surfaces. A housing structure covers the entire unit, including an inner reflective metallic surface and forming a seal to prevent the escape of UV-C radiation from the housing structure. A timing mechanism controls the length of time to which masks are exposed to UV-C light and alerts the user when sanitization is complete. An interlock mechanism prevents bulb activation unless the rack/bulb are covered.

Abstract: An X-ray spectrometer for providing imaging and energy resolution of an X-ray source comprised of a thick silicon wafer (10) having an embedded matrix or grid of aluminum completely through the wafer fabricated, for example, by thermal migration. The aluminum matrix defines the walls (16, 18) of a rectangular array of silicon X-ray detector cells (14) or "pixels". A thermally diffused aluminum electrode (20) is also formed centrally through each of the silicon cells (14) with biasing means (22, 26, 28) being connected to the aluminum cell walls (16, 18) and the centralized aluminum electrode (20) for causing lateral charge carrier depletion between the cell walls so that incident X-ray energy causes a photo-electric reaction within the silicon producing collectible charge carriers in the form of electrons which are collected and used for imaging.