Automatic Analyzer Integrated Operating Window

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic analyzers require operators to perform numerous steps and frequent window changes to confirm detailed measurement results and alarm causes, leading to operational burdens, especially in limited display areas and when operated by inexperienced users.

Innovation Solution

An automatic analyzer with an operating window that utilizes a definition table to prioritize display items, allowing all specified categories to be displayed in one window without overwriting, enabling increased list widths for detailed information confirmation and reducing the need for subwindow navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple independent windows are used to display detailed measurement information, then information completeness is improved, but operator burden and number of operating steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement result informationVSAvoidoperator burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent windows (sample information window, measurement result window, detailed information window) into a single integrated operating window. This integration allows operators to access all necessary information - sample details, measurement results, and comprehensive data - within one unified interface, eliminating the need to switch between multiple windows and reducing operational burden while maintaining information completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If display area is expanded to show more information, then information visibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidwindow composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated operating window is segmented into multiple functional regions: a sample information display region, a measurement result display region, and a detailed information display region. Each region is organized with clearly defined areas for different types of data. This segmentation allows the system to present comprehensive information in a structured, systematic manner without creating window composition complexity, as all segments coexist within a single unified window framework

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If touchpanel buttons are sized for ease of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but information display capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouchpanel operationVSAvoidinformation display capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The touchpanel interface implements local quality by providing appropriately sized operational buttons and control elements in specific regions where user interaction is needed, while simultaneously maximizing the display areas for information presentation in other regions. The interface is designed with suitably sized buttons for easy touch operation alongside expanded information display regions, allowing both ease of operation and comprehensive information display to coexist within the integrated window

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2333556B1Automatic analyzer
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP2333556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2333556B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2333556B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Even when an operator wishes to confirm multiple kinds of measurement result information related to a sample, if not all of the desired information can be simultaneously displayed in a limited display area, the operator will be heavily burdened since he or she needs to execute a large number of operating steps to confirm multiple kinds of detailed measurement result information while repeating the opening/closing of subwindows and/or window-switching operations. In particular, if a measurement result alarm occurs, the operator will be unable to respond rapidly, even when he or she wishes to confirm the detailed information in an attempt to investigate the probable causes of the alarm. According to this invention, if display width of window display parts and the amount of information to be displayed at the display parts are changed according to a level of detail of the information which the operator wants to confirm, sample information, measurement results, and detailed information related to the measurement results will be simultaneously displayed without a subwindow being displayed in overlapped form in the limited display area.