Analyzing Device Visual Interface for Sample Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic analyzing devices lack a user-friendly interface for displaying processing menus and facilitating operations following the selection of a sample, particularly in visualizing the actual physical arrangements of sample and reagent containers.

Innovation Solution

The automatic analyzing device incorporates a display system with a control unit that displays an entire process area showing the states of multiple sample trackings, a sample tracking enlarged display area, and a pretreatment disk display area, along with a scroll bar for sequential display and a menu button for processing options, allowing operators to smoothly select and manage sample operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a display system showing actual physical arrangements of sample containers is provided, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a visual copy of the physical sample container arrangement on the display screen. The display unit shows a graphical representation that mirrors the actual physical layout of sample containers in the analysis device, allowing operators to view and interact with a digital replica without altering the physical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The display unit serves as an intermediary between the operator and the physical sample containers. It provides a mediating interface that translates physical arrangements into visual information, enabling operators to navigate and select samples more easily without directly manipulating physical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If multiple display areas and scroll bars are added for comprehensive sample tracking, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into multiple functional areas: a first display area showing overall sample tracking information, a second display area providing detailed views, and a third display area showing analysis results. This segmentation allows comprehensive information presentation while organizing content into manageable sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single flat display to a multi-dimensional information presentation by adding scrollable areas and multiple display zones. The scroll bar enables navigation through additional dimensions of information (time, detail level) without expanding the physical display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2485054B1Automatic analyzing device, information display method thereof, and information display system
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP2485054B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2485054B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2485054B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an automatic analyzing device having a structure including an easy-to-use user interface. Specifically disclosed is an automatic analyzing device for analyzing samples, which comprises a reaction disk to which samples on sample trackings charged from a charging portion and conveyed through a conveying path are dispensed; a control unit that controls, for example, movement of the reaction disk; a display unit that is controlled by the control unit and displays various screens; and a storage unit that stores data of the samples. The control unit performs control such that a sample list including sample IDs and states of analysis of the samples is displayed on a display screen of the display unit so that the sample IDs and the states of analysis can be selected, such that a menu displaying button for displaying processing menus for the sample selected in the sample list is displayed at the sample, and such that options of the menus for the sample are displayed as menu buttons when the menu displaying button is indicated.