Modular multi-instrument control system

Abstract

The present invention includes a computer-implemented modular multi-instrument control system (MMICs) which can include methods and systems for the coordinated operation of a plurality of modules responsive to one or more scientific instruments.

Description

[0001] MODULAR MULTI-INSTRUMENT CONTROL SYSTEM

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0003] This International PCT Application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 561,176 filed, March 4, 2024, the specification, claims, and drawings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The present invention is directed to computer-implemented device control systems, and methods of use thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a computer- implemented modular multi-instrument control system configured for use with one or more life science scientific devices.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] The current life science instrumentation market only offers rigid solutions that are difficult and costly to expand, customize and repair. This is a significant problem in the research and development field, as it increases baseline R&D costs, decreases potential for innovation, and slows down the pace of research. As described herein, the present inventors present a solution to the aforementioned deficiencies in the market, specifically as a Modular Multi-Instrument Control System (“MMICs”), which can be further adapted to be compatible with a broad array of life science instrumentation. In one embodiment, a control system that provides communication and power to a broad array of potential modules. The MMICs of the invention can be operated via a user interface or human-machine interface. Compared to single purpose tower systems, modular systems have higher flexibility, lower limitations, enable customized experimental designs, and reduce both maintenance costs and downtime. For example, researchers could quickly change an instrument from a fermenter to a photobioreactor but also from a single-vessel reactor to a parallel culture system, or for basic fluid or gas control, environmental monitoring, pH measurement or simple liquid mixing, and so on.

[0008] Moreover, current modular instrument systems often use Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), the industry standard PCI extensions for Instrumentation (PXI), or integrating the two systems through software. The PXI systems contain a chassis that houses mountings for the individual modules and a central processor with cooling and additional hardware for timing and module synchronization. PXI modules are connected to the chassis through modified PLC, PXI or PXI hybrid board to board mounts, which require several to hundreds of board-to-board connections. While capable of powerful functionality, these PXI and related chassis systems are very hardware intensive and require significant knowledge of electronics and engineering, while also demanding skills to program the system as a whole. Moreover, such systems are expensive and difficult to expand and replace. As described in detail below, the MMICs is designed to greatly reduce costs as well as the hardware and software demands for modular instrumentation while also lowering the prior knowledge required to build and program a modular instrument.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In a preferred aspect, the present invention includes a MMICs configured to independently operate a plurality of instruments. As noted above, compared to existing modular instrumentation such as PXI, the present invention includes a simple modular rail, requiring only four contacts (power and CAN-Bus (or CAN-FD) communication contacts) for each module, providing DC power and communication, while also networking additional modules. Each section of modular rail of the invention is operably responsive to a hardware and software enabled MMIC through a simple 4 wire bundle and can, in one embodiment, accommodate up to 8 individual modules depending on the module power requirements. In another aspect, the present invention allows for the establishment of individual MMIC- responsive modules that are operably responsive to a pre-programmed microcontroller (MC), giving it specific functionality to control a specific module instrument, such as a pump, detector, temperature controller, spectrophotometer, light source, motor, or other device. This embodiment provides plug and play functionality to the MMICs and limits the amount of configuration required for user operations, while removing the need for individualized or on-going programming.

[0011] In another preferred aspect, primary communication of the MMICs can be through a controller area network-bus (CAN-Bus, or CAN-FD). CAN-FD communication is far more stable than wireless and many other wired communications. CAN is stable up to 500 meters unlike I2C that is used more for intra-board communication because of signal interference and dramatic loss of data transfer rates over distances. Also, unlike I2C communication, CAN based communication is two way, where each node has transmitter / receiver capabilities meaning each module can communicate and command modules. As noted above, the present invention is configured such that a user can determine how the individual modules (212) are configured to build a unique instrument and does not consider an integrated instrument as a separate and distinct “module”. In one embodiment, the MMIC system can be configured to basic fluid or gas movement / control, while in another embodiment it can be used for pH control via fluid or gas, or spectroscopy, or linear motion, or environmental monitoring, environmental control, chromatography, cell separation, or modules combined for basic plant or cellular cultivation. As such, the present invention provides a fully customizable process / reactor and control system.

[0012] In another aspect, the present invention includes a MMICs that operates as a programmable set of instrument modules. In certain embodiments, each module can contain one or more instruments, such as sensors, motors, valves for gas or fluid, mass controllers, pumps, lights, spectrophotometers, cameras and the like. In another preferred aspect, each module is under basal control of a dedicated microcontroller. In a preferred embodiment, each module / microcontroller combination can be controlled through a central computer device or microcomputer. In this aspect, the computer device, or microcomputer communicates with the modules of the invention using preferably a two- wire communication system, such as a Controller Area Network Bus (CAN-Bus). In alternative embodiments, the computer device, or microcomputer communicates with the modules of the invention using an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C).

[0013] In alternative embodiments, the MMICs of the invention is configured so as to be controlled via a web based user interface, which communicates through a software API to the modules via the two wire communication interface as previously described.

[0014] In another aspect, the computer-implemented MMICs can include methods and systems for the coordinated operation of a plurality of modules responsive to one or more instruments, wherein the modules each operate independently, in parallel or in series, such that interruption in one module does not affect the other modules of the system. Moreover, in alternative embodiments a plurality of modules can be operated in series such that the sequential action of one module can be coordinated with another downstream module wherein each module includes a corresponding instrument that may form a series of operations for a complex process.

[0015] Additional embodiments of the invention may become evident in light of the figures and disclosure provided below.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0017] Figure 1. shows a high level schematic for the power and communication distribution of an exemplary MMICs. Power and communication are distributed via rail ports and a rail bus to the specific modules in one embodiment thereof. Figure 2. shows the logical components for controlling of an exemplary MMICs in one embodiment thereof.

[0018] Figure 3. shows the high level software architecture and overall system and control management of an exemplary MMICs in one embodiment thereof.

[0019] Figure 4. shows an exemplary Modular Rail (also sometimes referred to herein as a ModRail™) which provides a physical anchor, power, and communication for modules in one embodiment thereof.

[0020] Figure 5. shows a rendition of the Modular Rail system as modules load onto the rail in one embodiment thereof. The orientation of the printed circuit board may be changed to accommodate heat dissipation.

[0021] Figure 6. shows the exemplary MMICs assembly in one embodiment thereof.

[0022] Figure 7. shows an alternative configuration of the MMIC system where a high resolution fermenter is configured in one embodiment thereof.

[0023] Figure 8. shows another alternative MMIC configuration having a plurality of modular photobioreactors in one embodiment thereof.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.

[0026] The present invention includes a computer-implemented modular multi-instrument control system (MMICs) which can include methods and systems for the coordinated operation of a plurality of modules responsive to one or more instruments, which in a preferred embodiment can include a digital computing device having one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions to execute the MMICs.

[0027] In one embodiment the MMIC control system (100) of the invention includes one or more logical components for controlling of an exemplary module instrument (122). Generally referring to Figure 2, the control system can include a processing module (110), which can include a digital device or system having one or more processors configured to run one or more computer executable programs of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the processing module (110) of the invention can include a Node.js (112) web-based application operating on a Raspberry Pi system.

[0028] One or more programmatic clients (106) can access the processing module (110) through an application program interface (API) (108), shown in Figure 2 as a Node.js API, which can further be responsive to a local storage (114) module.

[0029] In another embodiment, a user can access the processing module (110) through a webbased interface. For example, a user using a web browser (102) can interact, through a network with the processing module (110) of the invention and a graphical user interface (104). In this configuration a user can adjust one or more parameters of the system to control or modulate the operation of a downstream module instrument (122).

[0030] The MMIC control system (100) of the invention includes a CAN Bus Network Interface (1 16). In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, CAN Bus Network Interface (1 16) is responsive to the processing module (110) and / or local storage (114) module. In this configuration, the CAN Bus Network Interface (116) of the invention can be responsive with a CAN Bus (118) module configured to coordinate the communication of instructions with downstream module instruments (122) through one or more individually dedicated microprocessor firmware modules (120) generated by one or more computer executable programs operating within the processing module (110).

[0031] The present invention includes an MMIC having one or more modular rails (200). Generally referring to Figure 4, in a preferred embodiment the modular rail (200) of the invention can be configured to be responsive to a software enabled MMICs control system (300) described below, as well as a hardware and software enabled MMIC (100). Again, referring to Figure 4, the modular rail (200) of the invention includes one or more rail ports (202) configured to be coupled with a module (212) that is further configured to be operably responsive to one or more module instruments (224) as described herein. In this configuration, a plurality of modules instruments (224) can be coupled in-parallel to a modular rail (200) and be operably responsive to a hardware based MMIC (100) and software enable MMIC control system (300) through the systems’ module (212) architecture.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, each rail port (202) can accommodate a module (212) that is operably responsive to a distinct module instrument (224), such as a pump, heater, and / or a sensor. However, as shown in Figures 5-8, in certain embodiments, the module instrument (224) can be identical or have distinct or even complementary functions. In still further embodiments, a plurality of modular rails (200), each having a plurality of rail ports (202) that can each accommodate a module (212) that is operably responsive to a distinct module instrument (224). In this manner, the present invention allows for the interchangeable operation of a plurality of distinct module instruments (224), preferably in a coordinated manner.

[0033] A modular rail (200) of the invention can include or be responsive to a MMIC (100) which can be configured to communicate with and provide power to a module (212) and associated module instrument (224). In this configuration, the modular rail (200) of the invention can house, or be operably responsive with a software and hardware enabled MMICs (100). Generally referring to Figure 1, the MMICs (100) of the invention can be responsive to a system controller (206), which in a preferred embodiment includes a computing device or microcomputer. As used herein a system controller (206) can include any digital computer device or system configured to operate one or more computer executable programs of the invention, and further preferably be operably responsive to a localized, or remote network-based user interface (UI) (104) such as an interactive display screen and the like or web-based application. In this embodiment, the MMICs (100) of the invention can include an Application Programming Interface (API) that can be installed and executed by the digital computing device of the invention.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the local or remote user interface (104) of the invention can be responsive to a web browser application that can be accessed through the user interface (104) a digital computing device, such as smartphones, laptops, computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), tablets, smartwatches, and other mobile communications device allowing a user to login and access a prior created account authorization.

[0035] The system of the invention can be responsive to an account module (not shown) which can be accessible via a user to generate a unique account and passcode that can further allow access to the application and its features. This login information, including personal and biographical information can be communicated from the account module (not shown), or to a database (316) via a data management module (316), such as a physical or cloud-based server. In certain embodiments, the account module (108) can be responsive to a third-party login, such as Android, or Apple operating systems, or through one or more social media or other third party log in and authentication systems such as a Google account. In another embodiment of the invention, the system controller (206) can be responsive to one or more signal connections (204), which can include network or input / output interfaces such as a USB port, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, MicroSD, a serial port, a parallel connection, a FIREWIRE port, a THUNDERBOLT port, and any combinations thereof. In addition, or as an alternative, the various computer system shown in the Figures may provide functionality as a result of logic hardwired or otherwise embodied in a circuit, which may operate in place of or together with software to execute one or more processes or one or more steps of one or more processes described or illustrated herein. Reference to software in this disclosure may encompass logic, and reference to logic may encompass software. Moreover, reference to a non-transitory, tangible computer- readable medium may encompass a circuit (such as an IC) storing software for execution, a circuit embodying logic for execution, or both, where appropriate. The present disclosure encompasses any suitable combination of hardware, software, or both. Those of skill in the art will understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques.

[0036] Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0037] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, a software module implemented as digital logic devices, or in a combination of these. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non- transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium known in the art. An exemplary non- transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium. In the alternative, the non-transitory, tangible computer- readable storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal. In some embodiments, a software module may be implemented as digital logic components such as those in an FPGA once programmed with the software module.

[0038] It is further contemplated that one or more of the components or subcomponents described in relation to the computer system shown in the Figures such as, but not limited to, the network, processor, memory, etc., may comprise a cloud computing system. In one such system, front-end systems such as input devices may provide information to back-end platforms such as servers (e.g., computer systems) and storage (e.g., memory). Software (i.e., middleware) may enable interaction between the front-end and back-end systems, with the back-end system providing services and online network storage to multiple front-end clients. For example, a software-as-a-service (SAAS) model may implement such a cloud-computing system. In such a system, users may operate software located on back-end servers through the use of a front-end software application such as, but not limited to, a web browser.

[0039] Again, referring to Figure 1, on a preferred embodiment a modular rail (200) of the invention can include, or be operably linked to a power supply (208) which can be in communication with the system controller (206), and as described below operably responsive with a module (121) through a rail port (102). In a preferred embodiment, the power supply (208) of the invention can include a wire or wireless power supply, as a battery or other power storage device.

[0040] The present invention further includes a controller area network-bus (CAN-Bus) configured to coordinate transmission of the computer executable program steps processed by one or more controllers (206, 218) of the invention to direct the various actions and parameters of the module instruments (224). A module controller (218) can receive a signal from the system controller (206) including computer executable instructions from the MMICs (100) that can be transmitted to a first CAN Bus module (210). In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the power supply and computer able executable signal can be transmitted to one or more rail ports (202) to a module (212) (Figure 2), and preferably in a parallel distributed manner. In this configuration, the module (212) can include a rail BUS (214) module configured to receive the CAN-bus signal and power from the power supply (208). In the highlighted module (212) shown in Figure 1, the rail BUS (214) can include power port (224), and a CAN signal port (226) configured to transmit power and the CAN signal from the power supply (208), and CAN-FD transceiver (210) respectively.

[0041] Power transmitted from the power supply (208) can pass through the power port (224) and to a power module position within the module (212) and can in one embodiment be individually responsive to a module controller (218). The CAN signal can be transmitted from the CAN-FD transceiver (210) through the CAN signal port (202, 226) which can further be operably responsive to a CAN-FD bus (216). In this embodiment, the CAN-FD bus (216) of the invention can be operably linked with a module controller (218) that is further operably linked to a module instrument (224). In this configuration, computer executable instructions can be transmitted as a CAN signal from the MMICs (100) and to an individual module controller (218) that can direct the action or parameter of the linked module instrument (224).

[0042] Notably, as shown in Figure 1, in a preferred embodiment a plurality of computer executable instructions can be transmitted as a series of CAN-FD signals from the MMCIs (100) that can be directed to one of a plurality of an individual rail ports (202) where they can be received and translated by a corresponding CAN-FD bus (216) that is responsive individual module controller (218) that can further direct the action or parameter of the linked module instrument (224) in this manner, a plurality of individual modules can be simultaneously operated through the action of the MMICs (100) of the invention.

[0043] The present invention can further include a software-based MMIC control system (300). As generally described in Figures 2 and 3, the MMIC control system (300) can include a network (304) configured to communicate with, and be responsive to an operating system (314), which can preferably include a remotely managed operating system. Again, referring generally to Figure 3, as noted above a user can access the MMIC control system (300) through a network, for example through a web browser (302) responsive to a management utility, and preferably a web management UI (304) as shown in the figures. In this configuration, the web management UI (304) can be responsive to a CAN Master Service (306) module and specifically can receive responsive signals from the web management UI (304), shown in the figures as a local API call.

[0044] The operating system (300) and CAN Master Service (306) module can be responsive to a data management network (314), which in a preferred embodiment can include a cloud-based data management network. As shown in Figure 2, the management network (314) can include a plurality of data management and storage modules all responsive to a management server (318), which in a preferred embodiment can include a cloud-based management system. In one example, a database (316) can be responsive to an analytics UI and a cloud Data API which can communicate with the operating system of the invention, as well as the CAN Master Service (306) respectively. Communication between the CAN Master Service (306) element can be facilitated by an API, such as a cloud data API. In addition, as shown in Figure 3, the management network (314) can be managed remotely, for example through a remote web management module responsive to a proxy service module. The CAN Master Service (306) of the invention can further be responsive to a signal controller (308) configured to manage inputs and outputs with a corresponding Bus (310). As further shown in Figure 3, the Bus (310) can receive and communicate signals from the CAN Master Service (306) to one, or a plurality of CAN clients, which can include individual microprocessors-responsive modules and instruments as generally described herein.

[0045] As described above, any of the computing systems described in FIGS 1-4, whether controlled by end users directly or by a remote entity controlling one or more components of said system of the invention, can be implemented as software components executing on one or more general purpose processors or specially designed processors such as programmable logic devices (e g., Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)) and / or Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) designed to perform certain functions or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, code executed during operation of the systems of the invention (computational elements) can be embodied by a form of software elements which can be stored in a nonvolatile storage medium (such as optical disk, flash storage device, mobile hard disk, cloud-based systems etc. ), including a number of instructions for making a computer device (such as personal computers, servers, network equipment, etc.). Algorithms, machine learning models and / or other computational structures described herein may be implemented on a single device or distributed across multiple devices. The functions of the computational elements may be merged into one another or further split into multiple sub-modules.

[0046] The hardware device of the invention can be any kind of device that can be programmed including, for example, any kind of computer including smart mobile devices (watches, phones, tablets, and the like), personal computers, powerful servers or supercomputers, or the like. The device includes one or more processors such as an ASIC or any combination processors, for example, one general purpose processor and two FPGAs. The device may be implemented as a combination of hardware and software, such as an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. In various embodiments, the system includes at least one hardware component and / or at least one software component. The embodiments described herein could be implemented in pure hardware or partly in hardware and partly in software. In some cases, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented on different hardware devices, for example using a plurality of CPUs equipped with GPUs capable of accelerating and / or coordinating computation. Each computational element may be implemented as an organized collection of computer data and instructions. System software typically interfaces with computer hardware, typically implemented as one or more processors (e g., CPUs or ASICs as mentioned) and associated memory. In certain embodiments, the system software includes operating system software and / or firmware, as well as any middleware and drivers installed in the system. The system software provides basic non-task-specific functions of the computer. In contrast, the modules and other application software are used to accomplish specific tasks. Each native instruction for a module is stored in a memory device and is represented by a numeric value.

[0047] At one level a computational element is implemented as a set of commands prepared by the programmer / developer. However, the module software that can be executed by the computer hardware is executable code committed to memory using “machine codes” selected from the specific machine language instruction set, or “native instructions,” designed into the hardware processor. The machine language instruction set, or native instruction set, is known to, and essentially built into, the hardware processor(s). This is the “language” by which the system and application software communicates with the hardware processors. Each native instruction is a discrete code that is recognized by the processing architecture and that can specify particular registers for arithmetic, addressing, or control functions; particular memory locations or offsets; and particular addressing modes used to interpret operands. More complex operations are built up by combining these simple native instructions, which are executed sequentially, or as otherwise directed by control flow instructions.

[0048] The inter-relationship between the executable software instructions and the hardware processor may be structural. In other words, the instructions per se may include a series of symbols or numeric values. They do not intrinsically convey any information. It is the processor, which by design was preconfigured to interpret the symbols / numeric values, which imparts meaning to the instructions.

[0049] All of the methods described herein may include storing results of one or more steps of the method embodiments in memory. The results may include any of the results described herein and may be stored in any manner known in the art. The memory may include any memory described herein or any other suitable storage medium known in the art. After the results have been stored, the results can be accessed in the memory and used by any of the method or system embodiments described herein, formatted for display to a user, used by another software module, method, or system, etc. Furthermore, the results may be stored “permanently,” “semi-permanently,” temporarily, or for some period of time. For example, the memory may be random access memory (RAM), and the results may not necessarily persist indefinitely in the memory.

[0050] Notably, there are various vehicles by which processes and / or systems and / or other technologies described herein can be affected (e.g., hardware, software, and / or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and / or systems and / or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and / or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which the processes and / or devices and / or other technologies described herein may be affected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations will typically employ optically oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

[0051] In some embodiment described herein, logic and similar implementations may include software or other control structures. Electronic circuitry, for example, may have one or more paths of electrical current constructed and arranged to implement various functions as described herein. In some implementations, one or more media may be configured to bear a device-detectable implementation when such media hold or transmit device-detectable instructions operable to perform as described herein, and preferrable transmitted to a mobile device as an audio signal, and even more preferably an inaudible audio signal. In some variants, for example, implementations may include an update or modification of existing software or firmware, or of gate arrays or programmable hardware, such as by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or more instructions in relation to one or more operations described herein. Alternatively, or additionally, in some variants, an implementation may include special -purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and / or general -purpose components executing or otherwise invoking special-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations may be transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission media as described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by passing through distributed media at various times.

[0052] Alternatively, or additionally, implementations may include executing a special-purpose instruction sequence or invoking circuitry for enabling, triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or more occurrences of virtually any functional operations described herein. In some variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may be expressed as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as an executable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example, implementations may be provided, in whole or in part, by source code, such as C++, or other code sequences.

[0053] In other implementations, source or other code implementation, using commercially available and / or techniques in the art, may be compiled / implemented / translated / converted into a high-level descriptor language (e.g., initially implementing described technologies in C or C++ programming language and thereafter converting the programming language implementation into a logic-synthesizable language implementation, a hardware description language implementation, a hardware design simulation implementation, and / or other such similar mode(s) of expression). For example, some or all of a logical expression (e.g., computer programming language implementation) may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description (e.g., via Hardware Description Language (HDL) and / or Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Descriptor Language (VHDL)) or other circuitry model which may then be used to create a physical implementation having hardware (e.g., an Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Those skilled in the art will recognize how to obtain, configure, and optimize suitable transmission devices or computational elements, material supplies, actuators, or other structures in light of these teachings. The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and / or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples. In so far as block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples contain one or more functions and / or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and / or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and / or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and / or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and / or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter, receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

[0054] The various embodiments described herein can be implemented by various types of electromechanical systems having a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software, firmware, and / or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range of components that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigid bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magnetically actuated devices, and / or virtually any combination thereof. Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and / or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and / or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and / or any non-electrical analog thereto, such as optical or other analogs.

[0055] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include but are not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medical devices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems, factory automation systems, security systems, and / or communication / computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognize that electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to a system that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except as context may dictate otherwise. The various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually and / or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, and / or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and / or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and / or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and / or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination thereof.

[0056] It should be noted that at least a portion of the devices and / or processes described herein can be integrated into a data processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and / or control systems including feedback loops and control motors (e g., feedback for sensing position and / or velocity; control motors for moving and / or adjusting components and / or quantities). A data processing system may be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing / communication and / or network computing / communication systems.

[0057] Moreover, the herein described components (e g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken limiting.

[0058] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and / or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and / or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and / or application. The various singular / plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0059] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “responsive” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “responsive with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and / or physically interacting components, and / or wirelessly intractable, and / or wirelessly interacting components, and / or logically interacting, and / or logically intractable components.

[0060] In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,” “configurable to,” “responsive to,” “adapted / adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable / conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g., “configured to”) can generally encompass active-state components and / or inactive-state components and / or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.

[0061] While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc ). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and / or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc ). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc. ). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and / or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”. With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise.

[0062] Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is1. A modular multi-instrument system comprising:- at least one tail port.- at least one modular rail having one or more rail ports;- a controlled area network-bus (CAN-Bus) comprising a CAN-FD transceiver and at least one rail Bus module;- a system controller, having one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, to transmit a control signal to the CAN-FD transceiver which is then transmitted via the rail port to a corresponding rail Bus module;- a CAN-FD transceiver configured to transmit the control signal from a module controller having one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, to process the control signal according to a computer executable program; and- a module instrument responsive to the module controller.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power source positioned within the MMICs and configured to transmit power through the rail port to a module responsive to the module controller and module instrument.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a power port configured to transmit power through the rail port to a module.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a signal connection responsive to the system controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said modular rail port comprises a plurality of modular rail ports.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of rail ports is responsive to a corresponding module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the module instrument is selected from: a fermenter, a photobioreactor, a single-vessel reactor, a parallel culture system, a fluid control, a gas control, a fluid sensor, a gas sensor, an environmental monitor, a pH measurement device, a mixer, a heater, a pump, or a sensor.

8. A modular multi-instrument control system comprising:- a processing module responsive to a network, having one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, to transmit a control signal to a CAN-FD transceiver Network Interface;- a CAN-FD Bus responsive to the CAN-FD transceiver Network Interface configured to process and transmit the control signal to a microprocessor firmware module; and- a module instrument responsive to the microprocessor firmware module configured to execute the function of the control signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing module comprises a Node.js operating on a Raspberry Pi.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing module is responsive to an API.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing module is responsive to a web browser through Web GUI.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a local storage.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said local storage is responsive to the CAN-FD Bus Network Interface and / or an API.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the module instrument is selected from: a fermenter, a photobioreactor, a single-vessel reactor, a parallel culture system, a fluid control, a gas control, a fluid sensor, a gas sensor, an environmental monitor, a pH measurement device, a mixer, a heater, a pump, or a sensor.

15. A modular multi-instrument system comprising:- at least one modular rail having one or more rail ports configured to support a module;- a controlled area network-bus (CAN-FD Bus) comprising a CAN-FD transceiver and at least one Rail Bus module;- a system controller, having one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, to transmit a control signal to the CAN-FD transceiver which is then transmitted via the Rail Port to a corresponding Rail Bus module, wherein the Bus module is responsive to a plurality of module controllers having one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, to process the control signal according to a computer executable program; and- a plurality of module instruments each responsive to a corresponding module controller.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a power source positioned and configured to transmit power through a plurality of rail ports to a plurality of modular rails with individual module power supplies each responsive to a corresponding module controller and a corresponding module instrument.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of power ports configured to transmit power through the rail ports to each corresponding module power supply.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a signal connection responsive to the system controller.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of rail ports is responsive to a corresponding module having a module power supply, a module controller and an instrument, and wherein disruption of one module does not affect the operation of the other plurality of modules.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the module instrument is selected from: a fermenter, a photobioreactor, a single-vessel reactor, a parallel culture system, a fluid control, a gas control, a fluid sensor, a gas sensor, an environmental monitor, a pH measurement device, a mixer, a heater, a pump, or a sensor.

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