Embedded hardware and firmware for equipment such as laboratory equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control system for controlling a device, wherein the device comprises device components, the device components being a subset of potential components. The control system comprises a mainboard configured for connection to the potential components; a microcontroller electrically connected to the mainboard; a component detection circuit configured to enable the detection of the device components; and a memory component accessible to the microcontroller, which stores available firmware modules. Each of the available firmware modules is configured to be executed by the microcontroller to control a specific component of the potential components or a specific subset of components of the potential components.The microcontroller is configured to execute firmware for controlling the device, the firmware being configured to parameterize itself to include at least one selected firmware module by using the component detector circuit to select the at least one selected firmware module from the available firmware modules.