Analytical Instrument Support System

Abstract

This analysis device can transmit or move measurement data to a target place. A movement instruction means issues a user movement instruction. A data designation means designates a specific measurement data item to be moved, among a plurality of types of measurement data items stored in a storage means, on the basis of the instruction from the movement instruction means. A format conversion means converts the measurement data item designated by the data designation means into a data format suited for a relay medium from the analysis device. The measurement data item, the data format of which has been converted, is outputted by an output means. For the relay medium, a two-dimensional code or a non-contact IC chip can be used.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an analyzer, and more particularly to an analyzer that facilitates the transfer of measurement data and error repair.

Background Art

[0002] Water quality measurement and measurement of harmful substances in exhaust gas are targeted at rivers, factory wastewater, and factory exhaust gas. There are cases where the location where the data obtained by these measurements is analyzed is different from the measurement site, such as a laboratory. Also, the person who performs the measurement work and the person who needs the measurement data obtained there may be different. Furthermore, there may be a need to share a certain specific measurement data with many people.

[0003] In the above cases, the user of the measuring device needs to send the measurement data stored in the storage means of the measuring device to a place where the measurement data is required, such as a laboratory, during or after the measurement work.

[0004] When using an analyzer without communication means and transmitting the obtained measurement data to a place different from the place where the user is currently located, the analyzer is connected to a notebook computer or tablet terminal having a communication function with a USB cable, and the measurement data desired by the user is temporarily moved or copied to the storage means of the notebook computer or tablet terminal, and the moved or copied measurement data is transmitted to the desired place (electronic device) using the communication function. This is a common method.

[0005] On the other hand, when an error occurs in the analyzer, an inquiry is made to the manufacturer side and the user side repairs according to the instructions, or the manufacturer side repairs. At this time, the manufacturer side uses data for identifying the device (for example, the manufacturing number), the version of the software installed in the analyzer, the type of error (for example, displayed by an error number), the operating status of the software at the time of error occurrence (log), and further identifies the cause of the error from the measurement data before and after the error occurrence, and instructs the user on the necessary measures or takes the necessary measures by itself.

[0006] The above data will be collected by the user on-site and transmitted to the manufacturer via email or phone. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] none [Non-patent literature]

[0008] none [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] When transmitting the aforementioned measurement data to other electronic devices that require it (hereinafter referred to as "the recipient's electronic device"), it is necessary to first move or copy the measurement data to be transmitted to a laptop or tablet device equipped with communication capabilities, which is extremely cumbersome. Furthermore, since raw data is being handled, there is a risk that confidential data may be leaked to a third party.

[0010] Furthermore, when an error occurs in the analytical instrument, the user collects the necessary data and sends it to the manufacturer via email or telephone, including the product number of the analytical instrument. However, this requires both the user and the manufacturer to write or type the information, which is cumbersome and prone to errors. Moreover, if the manufacturer requires some or all of the measurement data, there is a risk of confidential information being leaked during this exchange.

[0011] This invention was proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide an analysis device and analysis device support system that can easily and confidentially transmit or move measurement data to a target location, and furthermore, allow error correction without requiring either the user or the manufacturer to perform writing or keyboard input work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The analytical apparatus of the present invention was proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and comprises the following conversion instruction means, data specification means, movement instruction means, and output means.

[0013] The analytical apparatus of the present invention has a movement instruction means that issues a movement instruction from the user stating, "Move the measurement data to the recipient's electronic device." Based on the instruction from the movement instruction means, the data specification means specifies a particular measurement data to be moved from among a plurality of types of measurement data stored in the storage means. The format conversion means converts the measurement data specified by the data specification means into a data format compatible with the relay medium used to transfer the data from the analytical apparatus to the recipient's electronic device. The measurement data converted in this format is output by the output means.

[0014] The relay medium used to transmit to the aforementioned electronic device is a two-dimensional code, as described below. Yes, it exists. Therefore, the output means of the analytical device is a display means for displaying the two-dimensional code.

[0015] Furthermore, the analytical device support system of the present invention further comprises a relay device and a remote electronic device.

[0016] The aforementioned relay device is The camera uses the two-dimensional code displayed by the display means to Converted Measurement data Incorporate and communication means And with the aforementioned camera absorbed It is a two-dimensional code. The measurement data is sent via communication to a specific recipient's electronic device.

[0017] Furthermore, the receiving electronic device receives the transmission from the relay device using the receiving means and restores the original measurement data using the restoration means.

[0018] Here, as mentioned above, if the relay medium used to transmit to the recipient's electronic device is a two-dimensional code, then the receiving means of the relay device is a camera. ru. Furthermore, the means for restoring the other party's electronic device is the two-dimensional code Corresponding A decoder is used.

[0019] Although the above is the movement of data via communication, it is not necessarily required to use communication. In this case, the output means of the relay device is utilized.

[0020] That is, the measurement data that has been format-converted and captured by the capture means of the relay device is output from the output means of the relay device. The destination electronic device has a capture means, and restores the format-converted measurement data output from the output means of the relay device to the measurement data in the original format. The destination electronic device here may be another analysis device.

[0021] Here, the output means of the relay device is a two-dimensional code used to pass to the destination electronic device Display by the display means be.

[0022] The configuration regarding the movement of the measurement data can be used for error repair of the analysis device.

[0023] That is, the analysis device is equipped with error detection means. When the error detection means detects an error, the data extraction means is activated to extract the data necessary for error analysis. Based on the error data extracted by the data extraction means, the format conversion means converts the error data into a data format suitable for passing to the destination electronic device responsible for error management QR code and performs the above QR code converted error data Display by means of display .

[0024] As described above, the Displayed by a two-dimensional code on the display means error data of the analysis device, similar to the transmission of the measurement data, is captured by the camera relay device and sent to the destination electronic device responsible for error management of the analysis device via communication means. The destination electronic device responsible for error management restores the received 2D code format error data to the error data in the original data format. Furthermore, the error analysis means analyzes the cause of the error manually or by program based on the error data read as described above, and returns it to the user's relay device.

[0025] The data necessary for the error analysis includes data identifying the device, data identifying the version of the software used, data identifying the type of error, log data showing the operating status of the software before and after the error occurred, and all or part of the measurement data obtained from measurements before and after the error occurred. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] As a result, measurement data can be sent to the recipient without having to move (copy) it to a laptop or tablet. Furthermore, in the event of an error, the error data required by the manufacturer can be sent to the manufacturer without the need for writing instruments or a keyboard. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0027] [Figure 1] A block diagram showing an embodiment of the data transfer method 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing an embodiment of the data transfer method 2 of the present invention. [Figure 3] A block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the error detection method of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] <Movement of measurement data 1> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The storage means 60 of the analytical device 100 stores multiple types of measurement data, either during or after the measurement process. While various storage configurations are possible, it is common for the data to be stored in separate files corresponding to each measurement process, with each file further containing numerous more detailed data sets with different conditions.

[0030] The user of the analytical device 100 may want to transmit all or part of the measurement data to another person's personal computer, tablet terminal, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the recipient's electronic device 400) that requires the measurement data.

[0031] Therefore, the user first needs to issue a movement instruction using a movement instruction means 50 consisting of a soft key or a hard key, indicating that they want to "move the measurement data to the other party's electronic device."

[0032] As described above, when a user issues a move command, the data specification means 21 receives the command, reads a list of files stored in the storage means 60, and displays it on the display device 40. The user then selects the file to be moved from the displayed group of files. If the data specification means 21 has editing capabilities, it may also be used to specify specific measurement data within a specific file.

[0033] As described above, once the file to be moved is identified, the data specification means 21 passes the specified file (measurement data) to the encoder 30a, which acts as the format conversion means 30.

[0034] The encoder 30a converts the measurement data set of the specified file into a data format compatible with a two-dimensional code, which is a relay medium used to transmit data to the other electronic device, and passes it to the display means 40a, which is the output means 40, where the two-dimensional code is displayed.

[0035] On the other hand, the repeater 200 described below is equipped with communication and camera functions, and can be exemplified by smartphones and tablet devices.

[0036] The relay unit 200 is used as an acquisition means 201 for capturing the two-dimensional code in the camera 201a, and captures the image of the displayed two-dimensional code. Furthermore, the transmission means 202 of the relay unit 200 is used to transmit the measurement data converted into the two-dimensional code to the electronic device 400 at the other party.

[0037] The receiving means 401 of the other party's electronic device 400 passes the received two-dimensional code image to the decoder 402a, which acts as a restoration means 402. The decoder 402a then restores the two-dimensional code image to measurement data in its original data format.

[0038] As a result of the above, data can be easily transferred using a QR code and a relay device such as a smartphone, even without equipping the analysis device with communication capabilities. <Movement of measurement data 2> Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] If the other party's electronic device 400 is located near the user and the other party's electronic device 400 has a camera 411a as an acquisition means 411, data can be transferred without using the communication function.

[0040] In other words, the two-dimensional code captured as an image by the user of the analysis device from the camera 201a, which acts as the acquisition means 201 of the relay device 200, can be stored directly in the storage means 211 of the relay device 200. In this state, the two-dimensional code can be displayed on the display means 204, which acts as the output means of the relay device 200. The two-dimensional code displayed on the display means 204a can then be captured by the camera 411a, which acts as the acquisition means 411 of the other electronic device 400, and passed to the decoder 402b, which acts as the restoration means 402, thereby transferring the measurement data to the electronic device 400.

[0041] The electronic device 400 can be an analytical device different from the analytical device that holds the measurement data. That is, when a measurement operation that was being carried out by one analytical device is taken over by another analytical device, it is necessary to move (copy) the measurement data up to that point to the analytical device that is taking over the operation. This device can quickly respond to such a requirement.

[0042] In the above, we have only described the transfer of data from an analytical device equipped with a format conversion means to another analytical device equipped with a restoration means for restoring the format-converted measurement data to its original format. However, as a product, it is more practical to equip one analytical device with both a format conversion means and a restoration means, enabling both data transfer to and from other analytical devices. <Error detection> By replacing the movement instruction signal from the movement instruction means 50 with an error signal when an error occurs in the analyzer, the occurrence of an error can be notified to the electronic device responsible for error management of the analyzer. The electronic device responsible for error management is an electronic device installed by the manufacturer.

[0043] Figure 3 is a system diagram showing the status of inquiries to the manufacturer regarding repairs when an error occurs in the analytical instrument.

[0044] When the analytical instrument 100 experiences an error, it is necessary to repair the error, but first, the cause of the error must be identified. Data used to identify the cause of the error includes information that identifies the analytical instrument, such as its serial number, model, and the version of the software installed on it. Furthermore, since the quality of measurement data changes before and after a malfunction in the analytical instrument, it may be possible to correlate the changes in measurement data before and after the malfunction with the error. In addition, by monitoring the program's operation status (log), it becomes possible to correlate the program's processing content with the error.

[0045] Taking the above into consideration, the analysis device is first equipped with an error detection means 10 that recognizes when an error has occurred. This error detection means 10 is activated by capturing a signal that notifies the occurrence of an error, which has been provided by the analysis device from the beginning. The signal that notifies the occurrence of an error is information that roughly indicates the nature of the error, such as "E-01: Communication error" or "E-02: Connection error," and is a signal from a sensor installed in the necessary location.

[0046] Upon receiving notification from the error detection means 10 that an error has occurred, the data extraction means 22 collects the data necessary to analyze the error. Here, "data necessary to analyze the error" refers to the information that identifies the device, the version of the installed software, logs showing the software's operating status over time, and measurement data before and after the error occurred, as described above.

[0047] In order for the data extraction means 22 to obtain the information necessary for error analysis as described above, it needs to know the address of the non-volatile memory that stores the serial number and software version information of the analyzer. In addition, the data extraction means 22 also needs to know in advance the address of the memory that records the logs. Furthermore, in order to obtain the measurement data, it needs to access the corresponding file in the storage means 60 where the measurement data is stored. Here, the measurement data may be all the measurement data in the file, or it may be a predetermined number of measurement data before and after the occurrence of an error.

[0048] Furthermore, the error data required by the manufacturer may differ depending on the type of error. In response to this, the data extraction means 22 may read the type of error included in the error notification from the error detection means 10 and extract the necessary data, or it may extract all of the above data related to the error, regardless of the type of error.

[0049] As described above, the error data extracted by the data extraction means 22 is passed to the encoder 30a, which acts as the format conversion means 30, where it is converted into a data format compatible with a two-dimensional code, which is a relay medium used to transmit the data to the electronic device that manages the error.

[0050] Alternatively, the error data extracted by the data extraction means 22 may be temporarily displayed on the display means 40a, which acts as the output means 40, and the user may select only the data specified by the manufacturer from this data and pass it to the encoder 30a. In particular, when it is necessary to send measurement data to the manufacturer, it is effective to temporarily display all the data in the measurement data file and have the user select the necessary data from it, as this can reduce the amount of data or maintain confidentiality.

[0051] The two-dimensional code obtained in this manner is displayed on the display means 40a. Measurement data and other information may contain confidential information for the user, and displaying it as a two-dimensional code is useful in preventing the leakage of confidential information.

[0052] The user captures the displayed QR code as an image using the camera 201a, which acts as the acquisition means 201 of the relay device 200 (such as a smartphone), and transmits the image to the receiving electronic device 300, which is responsible for error management, using the transmission means 202 of the relay device 200. The receiving electronic device 300 is equipped with a receiving means 310, which uses a decoder 320a, which acts as a restoration means 320, to restore the image of the QR code received by the receiving means 310 back to the original error data. Based on this restored result, the manufacturer analyzes the current status of the analysis device and returns a solution to the user's relay device 200, etc. During the analysis stage described above, an analysis means 330 consisting of a program including AI can be used, and the results are sent to the receiving means 203 of the user's relay device 200 via the transmission means 340. This allows the user to take the necessary measures to correct the error.

[0053] As described above, by using the relay unit 200 or similar as a means of communication, it becomes unnecessary to equip the analysis device itself with a communication device.

[0054] In addition, although the data extraction means 22 is configured to operate upon receiving an error notification from the error detection means 10, the error detection means 10 may also activate the data extraction means 22 by displaying (or audibly) an error on the display device 40 and having the user press the "Collect Error Data Button".

[0055] Furthermore, while the manufacturer's error analysis is performed using an analysis means 330 that includes a program such as AI, it may also be performed manually. If performed manually, the reporting of the analysis results will also be done manually.

[0056] <When using a contactless IC chip> In each of the embodiments described above, the data from the analytical device (measurement data, error data) was converted to a format corresponding to a two-dimensional code at the relay stage and sent to the other party's electronic device, including the electronic device responsible for error management. However, a contactless IC chip can also be used instead of the two-dimensional code.

[0057] In this case, the format conversion means 30 of the analysis device 100 is an encoder 30b that converts measurement data (error data) into a format compatible with the IC chip, and the output means 40 is a writer 40b equipped with a function to write to the IC chip.

[0058] Furthermore, the input means 201 of the relay device 200 is a reader 201b that reads the format-converted measurement data (error data) written to the IC chip. The restoration means 402 of the other electronic device 400 is a decoder 402b that restores the measurement data (error data) written in a format compatible with the IC chip to the original data format. In addition, the restoration means 320 of the other electronic device 300 that is in charge of error management is a decoder 320b that restores the error data in a format compatible with the IC chip to the original error data format.

[0059] Furthermore, while the above describes data transfer via a relay device, in <Measurement Data Transfer 2>, by equipping the receiving electronic device with a camera, the two-dimensional image of the measurement data displayed on the output means (display means) of the analyzer can be directly read. Also, by equipping the receiving electronic device with a writer, the measurement data output from the output means (writer) of the analyzer in a format corresponding to the IC chip can be directly read (see dashed line in Figure 2). [Industrial applicability]

[0060] As explained above, in this invention, when transmitting measurement data to the recipient, the analysis device first converts it into a two-dimensional code, and then transmits it via a relay device such as the user's smartphone or tablet terminal. Therefore, the analysis device itself does not need to have a communication function, and confidentiality can be maintained. Furthermore, when an error occurs in the analytical instrument, the user can send error data to the manufacturer without using writing instruments or a keyboard, allowing for a quick response to the error. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10 Error detection means 21. Data specification means 22 Data extraction means 30 Format conversion means 40 Output means 50 Movement instruction means 60 Memory means 100 Analyzer 200 repeaters 201 Intake means 202 Transmission method 203 Receiving means 204 Display means 211 Memory means 300 Error management of the other party's electronic equipment 310 Receiving means 320 Restoration means 330 Analysis Means 340 Transmission method 400 Recipient's electronic equipment 401 Receiving means 402 Restoration means 411 Intake means

Claims

1. An analytical device support system comprising an analytical device, a relay device, and the electronic equipment of the other party, The aforementioned analytical device is A movement instruction means that issues a movement instruction from the user stating "move measurement data to the recipient's electronic device", A data specifying means that, based on an instruction from the movement instruction means, specifies a particular measurement data to be moved from among multiple types of measurement data stored in the storage means, A format conversion means for converting the measurement data specified by the data specification means into a two-dimensional code used to transmit it to the other party's electronic device, Display means for displaying the obtained two-dimensional code and Equipped with, The aforementioned relay device is A camera that captures a two-dimensional code displayed on the display means of the analysis device, A communication means for sending the two-dimensional code captured by the camera to the recipient's electronic device via communication, Equipped with, The aforementioned electronic device of the other party is Receiving means for receiving transmissions from the aforementioned relay device, A restoration means for restoring the received two-dimensional code to measurement data in its original format. An analytical device support system characterized by having the following features.

2. An analytical device support system comprising an analytical device, a relay device, and a receiving electronic device, The aforementioned analytical device is A movement instruction means that issues a movement instruction from the user stating "move measurement data to the recipient's electronic device", A data specifying means that, based on an instruction from the movement instruction means, specifies a particular measurement data to be moved from among multiple types of measurement data stored in the storage means, A format conversion means for converting measurement data specified by the data specification means into a two-dimensional code to be used for transmission to the recipient's electronic device, Display means for displaying the obtained two-dimensional code and Equipped with, The aforementioned relay device is A camera that captures a two-dimensional code displayed on the display means of the analysis device, A display means for displaying the two-dimensional code captured by the camera, Equipped with, The aforementioned electronic device of the other party is A camera that captures a two-dimensional code displayed by the display means of the relay device, A restoration means for restoring the two-dimensional code captured by the camera back into measurement data in its original format. An analytical device support system characterized by having the following features.

3. The analytical device support system according to claim 2, wherein the electronic device of the other party is an analytical device.

4. An analytical device support system comprising an analytical device, a relay device, and a partner electronic device that manages error management, The aforementioned analytical device is An error detection means for detecting errors during operation, The error detection means is activated when it detects an error, and the data extraction means is activated to extract data necessary for error analysis. A format conversion means for converting the error data extracted by the data extraction means into a two-dimensional code to be used for transmission to a third-party electronic device responsible for error management, Display means for displaying the two-dimensional code and Equipped with, The aforementioned relay device is A camera that captures the two-dimensional code displayed on the aforementioned display means, A communication means that sends the two-dimensional code captured from the camera to a remote electronic device responsible for error management via communication, Equipped with, The electronic device at the other party responsible for error management is: Receiving means for receiving transmissions from the aforementioned relay device, A restoration means for restoring the two-dimensional code received by the receiving means back to error data in its original format. An analytical device support system characterized by having the following features.

5. Furthermore, the analysis device support system according to claim 4 is further provided with an error analysis means for analyzing the cause of an error based on the restored error data in the electronic device of the other party responsible for error management, and a transmission means for sending the analysis results of the error analysis means to the user's relay device.

6. The analytical device support system according to claim 4, wherein the data necessary for the error analysis includes data identifying the analytical device, data identifying the version of the software used, data identifying the type of error, log data showing the operating status of the software before and after the error occurred, and all or part of the measurement data obtained by measurements before and after the error occurred.

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