Control Method of Measuring Device and Measuring Device

Abstract

To provide a method of controlling a measurement device, and a measurement device.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a measurement device 100, the method comprising causing a controller 110 to receive a request to perform a specific measurement, causing the controller 110 to establish a measurement schedule of steps to be performed for the specific measurement, and causing the controller 110 to output the established measurement schedule to a user of the measurement device 100. The present invention also relates to the measurement device 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a measuring device and a measuring device.

Background Art

[0002] Clarifying the properties of various materials is very important for many applications in research and industry. For this purpose, various measuring devices are used that provide sometimes very complex measurement processes depending on the application.

[0003] In order to ensure the success of the target measurement, since it is necessary to consider the technical and scientific background of individual measurement processes, a certain degree of expertise is required for the user to perform these measurements.

[0004] For this reason, performing measurements requires not only pure measurement time but sometimes also long preparation times, during which the user of the measuring device performing the measurement himself / herself has to plan and prepare the measurement procedure.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] Against this background, an object of the present invention is to facilitate and make more efficient the use of a measuring device.

[0006] This problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a measuring device having the features of claim 10.

[0007] Accordingly, a method for controlling a measuring device is provided. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a request to perform a specific measurement; establishing, by the controller, a measurement schedule of steps to be performed for the specific measurement; and outputting, by the controller, the established measurement schedule to a user of the measuring device.

[0008] Furthermore, a measuring device configured to execute the method according to the present invention is provided.

[0009] It is a basic idea of the present invention that the user of the measuring device is assisted by a controller designed for this purpose. Since the controller undertakes the task of establishing the measurement schedule, this step of measurement preparation is considerably shortened. Also, the output of the measurement schedule to the user can be executed during the measurement process, and furthermore, the burden on the user during the measurement execution is reduced.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the method, the controller accesses a database when establishing the measurement schedule. The establishment of an appropriate measurement schedule is advantageously assisted by an appropriate design of the database.

[0011] As a further development of the method, the database includes a plurality of off-the-shelf measurement schedules, and the controller selects one from the plurality of off-the-shelf measurement schedules. This is an advantageously simple database design that provides fast and reliable results.

[0012] According to a further development of the method, the database includes a plurality of information on material properties and measurement methods, and the controller autonomously establishes a measurement schedule based on this plurality of information. As a result, the controller can advantageously assist a plurality of measurements that are virtually possible.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the method, the controller updates the database after the measurement has been executed. As a result, the knowledge obtained during the measurement can be utilized for future measurements.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the method, the established measurement schedule includes a plurality of measurement steps, and they are output to the user individually. As a result, since a large amount of information is not output at once, the user is assisted in the execution of the measurement.

[0015] According to a further developed form of the method, the user is required to confirm that the measurement step has been executed before the subsequent measurement step is output. As a result, the controller can ensure that each measurement step is executed correctly, and thus can provide more advantageous assistance during the measurement execution.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the method, outputting the established measurement schedule is performed by an output device of the measurement device. By concentrating the output in a specific area, it becomes easier for the user to receive the output information.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the method, outputting the established measurement schedule includes highlighting at least one component of the measurement device, specifically, an input device or a sample receiving device. As a result, the user's attention is particularly directed by the controller, and thus the user is more advantageously assisted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

[0019] In the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or functionally identical components unless otherwise indicated.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a control method M of a measurement device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the first method step M1, the controller receives a request to perform a specific measurement. In a further method step M2, the controller establishes a measurement schedule for the steps to be performed for the specific measurement. In a further method step M3, the controller outputs the established measurement schedule to the user of the measuring device.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the method M shown below will be described in detail.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a measuring device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The measuring device 100 includes a controller 110, a database 120, an output device 130, an input device 140, and a sample receiving device 150.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the controller 110 is incorporated in the measuring device 100 and is configured to receive a request to perform a specific measurement. This request can be sent to the controller 110 by the user of the measuring device 100, for example via the input device 140 of the measuring device 100. The input device 140 may include, for example, a keyboard, a touch screen, etc. Alternatively, the request may be sent to the controller 110 via an external interface.

[0026] The controller 110 is further configured to establish a measurement schedule in response to a received request regarding which steps to execute for a particular measurement. For this purpose, the controller 110 can access the database 120, and in this exemplary embodiment, the database 120 is configured in the form of the internal memory of the measuring device 100. In this regard, the database 120 may comprise a plurality of predetermined measurement schedules. In this case, the controller 110 establishes a measurement schedule for a particular measurement by selecting one of the predetermined measurement schedules in the database. Alternatively or additionally, the database 120 may contain a plurality of information regarding material properties and measurement methods. In this case, the controller autonomously establishes a measurement schedule based on this plurality of information.

[0027] The controller 110 is further configured to output the established measurement schedule to the user of the measuring device 100. For example, the output device 130 of the measuring device 100 can be used for this purpose. The output device 130 may comprise, for example, a screen and / or a speaker for this purpose. For example, the output device 130 and the input device 140 may be combined in a touch screen. Alternatively or additionally, individual components of the measuring device 100, such as the input device 140 and the sample receiving device 150, may be highlighted, for example, by illuminating buttons to be actuated.

[0028] In particular, the controller 110 may be configured to update the database 120 after a specific measurement is performed. The measurement results regarding the material properties of the sample used in the measurement are then recorded in, for example, the database 120 and made available for future measurements and measurement schedules. Also, a predetermined measurement schedule may be modified in consideration of the measurements performed. The information necessary for this purpose regarding the measurements performed may be transferred to the controller 110 by the user of the measuring device 100. Alternatively or additionally, the controller 110 may directly receive relevant information from the measuring device 100 or from sensors incorporated in the measuring device 100.

[0029] As one option for outputting an established measurement schedule, the measurement schedule may be divided into a plurality of individually executed measurement steps, and these measurement steps may be output to the user one after another, whereby the measurement steps are output only if the preceding steps have been executed. Alternatively or additionally, the controller 110 may be configured such that no further steps are executed until the user confirms that the current measurement step has been executed. The controller 110 can directly monitor the performance of the individually executed measurement steps, for example, by sensors incorporated in the measuring device 100.

[0030] The measuring device 100 may in particular be configured as a device for thermal analysis of materials. Specifically, the measuring device 100 may be configured to perform differential thermal analysis, dynamic differential calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermomechanical analysis, etc. In such a measurement process, user assistance by the controller 110 is particularly advantageous.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system 10 including a plurality of measuring devices 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the system 10 includes a total of two measuring devices 100, a controller 200, and a database 300.

[0033] The individual components of system 10 can, in principle, be configured in exactly the same way as the corresponding components described with reference to FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, only the controller 200 and the database 300 are configured as independent devices external to the two measuring devices 100. However, in principle, the database 300 can also be configured as a sub-component of the controller 200.

[0034] Since the controller 200 is configured as a stand-alone device, it can be configured to be used with either of the two measuring devices 100. In this configuration, the measurement schedule established by the controller 200 can include which of the two measuring devices 100 to use.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows two measuring devices 100. However, any number of measuring devices 100 may be provided. In particular, it is also conceivable to use individual measuring devices 100 equipped with an external controller 200 and / or an external database 300.

[0036] The measuring devices 100 can be configured to have the same function, or can be configured to perform different measurements in each case. Depending on the application, the respective measurement processes can be executed simultaneously or sequentially.

[0037] The database 300 is shown here as a specific component of system 10. However, it is also conceivable that the controller 200 and / or the database 300 are connected to an extended network, specifically the Internet, and directly obtain relevant information via this network instead of storing it locally.

Description of the reference numerals

[0038] 10 System 100 Measuring device 110 Controller 120 Database 130 Output device 140 Input device 150 Sample receiving device 200 Controller 300 Database M Method M1 Method step M2 Method step M3 Method step

Claims

1. Receiving, by a controller, a request to perform a specific measurement; Establishing, by the controller, a measurement plan for steps to be performed by a user for the specific measurement; Outputting, by the controller, the established measurement plan to the user of the measuring device; A method for controlling a measuring device, comprising the above.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller accesses a database when establishing the measurement plan.

3. The database includes a plurality of off-the-shelf measurement plans, The method according to claim 2, wherein the controller selects one from the plurality of off-the-shelf measurement schedules.

4. The database includes a plurality of information on material properties and measurement methods, The method according to claim 2, wherein the controller autonomously establishes the measurement plan based on the plurality of information.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the controller updates the database after the measurement is performed.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the established measurement plan includes a plurality of measurement steps output individually to the user.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the user is required to confirm that a measurement step has been performed before a subsequent measurement step is output.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein outputting the established measurement plan is performed by an output device of the measuring device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein outputting the established measurement plan includes highlighting at least one component of the measuring device, specifically, an input device or a sample receiving device.

10. A measuring device configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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