Analysis System

Abstract

To cause a system configuration to be correctly recognized by a control apparatus even when there exists a type of device which is unknown to the control apparatus.SOLUTION: An analysis system 1 comprises: at least one device (6, 8, 10, 12, 14); and a control apparatus communicably connected to the at least one device, having control information prepared for controlling the device, and controlling the operation of the device using the control information. The devices respectively include a unique ID holding part (6a, 8a, 10a, 12a, 14a) which holds a unique ID indicating the type name of the device, and a control ID holding part (6b, 8b, 10b, 12b, 14b) which holds a control ID indicating the type name which the control information of the control apparatus corresponds to and which corresponds to the device. The control apparatus is constituted so as to read the unique ID and control ID of the device and control the operation of the device using the control information that corresponds to the control ID.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an analysis system including an analyzer composed of a combination of multiple types of devices, such as a liquid chromatography analysis system (hereinafter, LC analysis system).

Background Art

[0002] For example, an LC analysis system includes an analyzer including a liquid delivery pump, an autosampler, a column oven, and a detector, and a control device (e.g., a PC: personal computer) in which control software for controlling the operation of the analyzer is incorporated. Each device such as the liquid delivery pump, autosampler, column oven, and detector of the analyzer is generally configured as an individual module (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In an LC analysis system, the control device recognizes the type names of the devices constituting the analyzer and controls the operation of each device using control information corresponding to the recognized type names. At that time, if there is a device unknown to the control device among the devices constituting the analyzer, the control device cannot control the operation of that device. For example, if only the detector of the analyzer is changed to a new model, but the version of the control software incorporated in the control device does not support the new model detector, the detector changed to the new model becomes an unknown device to the control device.

[0004] In the above case, by simulating a known device with a device that is originally unknown to the control device and making the control device recognize the unknown device as a known device, even if there is a device with an unknown type name to the control device in the analyzer, the control device can control the operation of the analyzer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 183632 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] As described above, if the control device is made to recognize an unknown device as a known device, the device information and analysis result reports that the user refers to will reflect a different model name for the device that makes up the analysis equipment. In that case, it becomes difficult to say that the analysis work was performed in accordance with the operational specifications defined in the work standards, and the reliability of the analysis results will decrease.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to enable the control device to correctly recognize the system configuration even when there are devices with unknown model names for the control device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The analysis system according to the present invention comprises at least one device for analysis, and a control device that is communicably connected to the at least one device and has control information prepared for controlling the at least one device, and controls the operation of the at least one device using the control information, wherein each of the at least one device comprises a unique ID holding unit that holds a unique ID indicating the model name of the device, and a control ID holding unit that holds a control ID indicating the model name corresponding to the device, which corresponds to the control information of the control device, and the control device is configured to read the unique ID and the control ID of the at least one device, and to control the operation of the at least one device using the control information corresponding to the control ID.

[0009] Here, "model name corresponding to the device" means the model name of the device in question or the model name of a device compatible with that device. In other words, if the device's model name is compatible with the control information of the control unit, the control ID will be the same as the unique ID. If the device's model name is not compatible with the control information of the control unit, the control ID will be different from the unique ID. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the analysis system according to the present invention, each of at least one device holds a unique ID indicating the model name of the device, and a control ID indicating the model name to which the control device corresponds. The control device reads the unique ID and control ID of each of the at least one device and controls the operation of at least one device using control information corresponding to the control ID. Therefore, even if there is a device with an unknown model name to the control device, the control device can recognize the original model name of the unknown device and control the operation of the unknown device using control information for a device with a known model name. In other words, even if there is a device with an unknown model name to the control device, the control device can be made to correctly recognize the system configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows one example of an analysis system. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows an example of the operation after the system startup in the same embodiment. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows the operation during device detection in the same embodiment. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of how information about a device whose control mode is compatibility mode is displayed. [Figure 5] This is an example of the detector settings screen when the unique ID display function is enabled. [Figure 6] This is an example of the detector settings screen when the unique ID display function is disabled. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the analysis system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the analysis system 1 comprises an analysis device 2 and a control device 4. The analysis device 2 is composed of a combination of multiple types of devices. The control device 4 is for controlling the operation of the analysis device 2. The control device 4 is implemented, for example, by a PC into which control software (control information) for setting and controlling the operation of each device in the analysis device 2 is incorporated. A display 16 is communicably connected to the control device 4, and various information such as information about the devices constituting the analysis device 2 and analysis result reports are displayed on the display 16.

[0014] In this embodiment, the analyzer 2 is a liquid chromatograph, and the various types of devices constituting the analyzer 2 include a liquid delivery pump 6, an autosampler 8, a column oven 10, a detector 12, and a system controller 14. The liquid delivery pump 6 is for delivering the mobile phase. The autosampler 8 is for injecting the sample into the mobile phase. The column oven 10 is for regulating the temperature of the separation column that separates the components in the sample. The detector 12 is for detecting the components separated in the separation column. In Figure 1, each type of device is depicted as being provided one of each, but multiple units of the same type of device (for example, two liquid delivery pumps 6) may be included.

[0015] The devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 that constitute the analyzer 2 are each equipped with a unique ID holding unit 6a, 8a, 10a, 12a, and 14a, and a control ID holding unit 6b, 8b, 10b, 12b, and 14b. The unique ID holding units 6a, 8a, 10a, 12a, and 14a of each device 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 hold a unique ID that indicates the original model name of each device 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. The control ID holding units 6b, 8b, 10b, 12b, and 14b of each device 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 hold a control ID used to allow the control device 4 to control them.

[0016] The control software incorporated into the control device 4 corresponds to at least one device model among the various devices that make up the analyzer 2. However, it is possible that some devices that make up the analyzer 2 are not supported by the control software incorporated into the control device 4, such as new models of devices developed after the control software, i.e., devices with unknown model names to the control device 4. If some of the devices that make up the analyzer 2 are unknown to the control device 4, the control device 4 does not have the information to set up and control those devices. However, since similar devices (for example, an old model detector and a new model detector) share some major functions, the control device 4 can set up and control the unknown devices by using the control information for known devices for those common functions.

[0017] The control IDs held in the control ID holding units 6b, 8b, 10b, 12b, and 14b of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 are IDs indicating the model names of devices of the same type as themselves and corresponding to the control software incorporated in the control device 4. In devices corresponding to the control software of the control device 4, the control ID may be the same as the unique ID. On the other hand, for devices not corresponding to the control software of the control device 4, the control ID is an ID different from the unique ID. The control IDs of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 can be set by the user, for example, based on the specifications of the control software incorporated in the control device 4. That is, the user can confirm whether the control software of the control device 4 corresponds to the model names of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. For devices corresponding, the control ID of the device can be set to the same ID as the unique ID, and for devices not corresponding, the ID of the model name to which the control software corresponds (≠unique ID) can be set as the control ID.

[0018] The unique ID and the control ID of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 are transmitted to the control device 4 through the system controller 14. The control device 4 controls the operations of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 by using the control information corresponding to the control ID of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 transmitted from the system controller 14. At the same time, the control device 4 reads the unique ID of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 transmitted from the system controller 14, recognizes the original model name of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, and thereby recognizes the exact device configuration of the analyzer 2.

[0019] For example, when the original model name of the detector 12 is SPD-40 and the control software of the control device 4 does not support the detector with the model name SPD-40 but is compatible with SPD-20A which is compatible with SPD-40, by setting the control ID of the detector 12 to SPD-20A, the control device 4 can set and control the detector 12 using the control information for SPD-20A.

[0020] An example of the operation when the analysis system 1 is started will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1.

[0021] When the analysis system 1 is started and the communication between the system controller 14 and each of the other devices 6, 8, 10, and 12 and the communication between the control device 4 and the system controller 14 are established, the control device 4 requests the system controller 14 to provide information regarding the device configuration of the analysis device 2. In response, the system controller 14 acquires the unique IDs and control IDs of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 of the analysis system 1 and transmits them to the control device 4 (step 101).

[0022] The control device 4 receives the unique IDs and control IDs of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 from the system controller 14 (step 102) and executes device determination (step 103). Device determination is determination for determining the control mode of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. Details of the device determination will be described later. The control device 4 reflects the result of the device determination in the control modes and display functions of each of the devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 (step 104).

[0023] The device determination will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 3.

[0024] In device detection, the control unit 4 first identifies the device to be detected (step 201), and then compares the unique ID of the identified device with its control ID (step 202). If the unique ID and the control ID match (step 203: Yes), the control mode of the device is set to native mode (step 204). Native mode is the normal control mode set for devices whose model name is known to the control unit 4. In this native mode, all functions of the target device can be used.

[0025] On the other hand, if the unique ID and the control ID are different (Step 203: No), the control mode of the device is set to compatibility mode (Step 205). Compatibility mode is a control mode set for devices whose model name is unknown to the control device 4, and it is a mode in which the target device is configured and controlled using control information for a device with a known model name (control ID). In this compatibility mode, only some of the main functions of the target device are available.

[0026] The control device 4 performs steps 201 to 205 above for all devices constituting the analyzer 2 (step 206). In this way, by setting the control mode for all devices constituting the analyzer 2, the control device 4 becomes capable of controlling the operation of all devices.

[0027] The display function for information regarding devices whose control mode is set to compatibility mode (compatibility mode devices) will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 4 and the display screens exemplified in Figures 5 and 6.

[0028] The control software for the control device 4 allows you to switch the unique ID display function on or off. The unique ID display function displays the unique ID of a compatible mode device when displaying information about that device.

[0029] When displaying information about a compatibility mode device, the control device 4 checks whether the unique ID display function is enabled (step 301). If the unique ID display function is enabled (step 301: Yes), the unique ID of the device is displayed in the field for displaying the device name, and the control ID is displayed in the field for displaying the operating mode so that the user can recognize that the control mode of the device is compatibility mode (step 302). The function for performing such "compatibility mode display" can also be switched on or off as desired. Furthermore, the form of "compatibility mode display" is not limited to this, and any form that allows the user to recognize that the control mode of the device is compatibility mode is acceptable.

[0030] Figure 5 shows an example of the detector settings screen when the unique ID display function is enabled. In this settings screen, the unique ID SPD-40 is displayed as the device name, and SPD-20A is displayed as the operating mode.

[0031] On the other hand, if the unique ID display function is disabled (Step 301: No), the control ID of the device will be displayed in the field for displaying the device name, as illustrated in Figure 6, and nothing will be displayed in the field for displaying the operating mode (Step 303).

[0032] As described above, even if the analyzer 2 contains a device with an unknown model name, the control device 4 can control the device with an unknown model name using control information for a device with a known model name, recognize the original model name of the unknown device, and, if necessary, present the original model name of the unknown device to the user.

[0033] In the above description, an embodiment is described in which the analyzer 2 is composed of a combination of multiple types of devices 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can also be applied when the analyzer 2 is configured as a single device. In that case, the analyzer 2 itself is made to hold a unique ID and a control ID, and the control device 4 is made to recognize the unique ID of the analyzer 2 and control the operation of the analyzer 2 using control information corresponding to the control ID of the analyzer 2.

[0034] The embodiments described above are merely examples of the analytical system according to the present invention. Embodiments of the analytical system according to the present invention are as follows.

[0035] In one embodiment of the analysis system according to the present invention, At least one device for analysis, A control device is provided which is communicatively connected to the at least one device and has control information prepared for controlling the at least one device, and which uses the control information to control the operation of the at least one device. Each of the at least one of the above devices is A unique ID holding unit that holds a unique ID indicating the model name of the device, The control device comprises a control ID holding unit that holds a control ID indicating a model name corresponding to the device, which is the model name to which the control information of the control device corresponds, The control device is configured to read the unique ID and control ID of the at least one device and to control the operation of the at least one device using the control information corresponding to the control ID.

[0036] In the first aspect of the above embodiment, the analysis system includes a display that is communicatively connected to the control device, and the control device has a unique ID display function that displays the unique ID as the respective device ID when displaying information of at least one device on the display. In this aspect, even if the system includes a device with a model name unknown to the control device, the original model name of that device is presented to the user, and the user can recognize the correct system configuration.

[0037] In the first embodiment described above, the control device may be configured such that, when the unique ID display function is enabled, it compares the unique ID with the control ID for each of the at least one device, and displays information on the display for devices whose unique ID and control ID do not match, it displays a compatibility mode indicator to show that the control mode of the device is compatibility mode.

[0038] In the above case, the compatibility mode display may include the display of the control ID.

[0039] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the control device may be configured to display the control ID as the respective device ID when displaying information for each of the at least one device on the display when the unique ID display function is disabled.

[0040] In the above case, the control device may be configured to switch the unique ID display function on and off in response to instructions input by the user.

[0041] In a second aspect of the above embodiment, the at least one device includes a plurality of types of devices constituting an analytical apparatus, each of the plurality of types of devices includes the unique ID holding unit and the control ID holding unit, and the control device is configured to read the unique ID and the control ID of each of the plurality of types of devices and to control the operation of each of the plurality of types of devices using the control information corresponding to the control ID.

[0042] In the second embodiment described above, The aforementioned multiple types of devices include: A liquid transfer pump for transporting the mobile phase, An autosampler for injecting a sample into the mobile phase, A column oven that houses a separation column for separating the components in the sample from each other and controls the temperature of the separation column, The present invention may include a detector for detecting components separated from each other by the separation column. This allows the present invention to be applied to an LC system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Analysis System 2 Analyzer 4. Control device 6. Liquid transfer pump 8 Autosampler 10-column oven 12 detectors 14 System Controller 16 displays 6a,8a,10a,12a,14a Unique ID holding part 6b,8b,10b,12b,14b Control ID holding section

Claims

1. An analytical device comprising a combination of multiple types of devices, each configured as an individual module, The system comprises a control device which is communicatively connected to the analytical apparatus and has control information prepared for controlling the operation of each of the multiple types of devices of the analytical apparatus, and which uses the control information to control the operation of each of the multiple types of devices, Each of the aforementioned multiple types of devices is: A unique ID holding unit that holds a unique ID indicating the model name of the device, The control device includes a control ID holding unit that holds a control ID indicating the model name of a device of the same type as the device in question, which is compatible with the device in question, and whose operation can be controlled using the control information. The control device is configured to read the unique ID and the control ID from each of the multiple types of devices, and to control the operation of each of the multiple types of devices using the control information corresponding to the control ID.

2. The analysis system includes a display that is communicatively connected to the control device. The analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a unique ID display function that displays the unique ID as the respective device ID when displaying information of the plurality of types of devices on the display.

3. The analysis system according to claim 2, wherein the control device is configured such that, when the unique ID display function is enabled, it compares the unique ID with the control ID for the plurality of types of devices, and when displaying information on a device whose unique ID and control ID do not match on the display, it displays a compatibility mode indication that the control mode of the device is compatibility mode.

4. The analysis system according to claim 3, wherein the compatibility mode display includes the display of the control ID.

5. The analysis system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the control device is configured to display the control ID as the respective device ID when displaying information of the multiple types of devices on the display when the unique ID display function is disabled.

6. The analysis system according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to switch the unique ID display function on and off in response to instructions input by the user.

7. The aforementioned multiple types of devices include: A liquid transfer pump for transporting the mobile phase, An autosampler for injecting a sample into the mobile phase, A column oven that houses a separation column for separating the components in the sample from each other and controls the temperature of the separation column, The analytical system according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting components separated from each other in the separation column.

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