Cell Observation Apparatus Schedule Overlap Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell observation apparatuses face difficulties in scheduling time lapse photography due to overlapping schedules, requiring users to perform preliminary tests to adjust settings, making it cumbersome to set schedules without determining if photographic conditions are adequate.
Innovation Solution
A cell observation apparatus and method that includes photographic means, observation schedule acquisition, overlapping determination, change means, and registration means to adjust and register schedules, allowing for the shifting of photographing times within an allowed range to avoid overlaps, facilitating easier schedule setting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user manually adjusts photographic conditions through preliminary tests to avoid schedule overlaps, then the reliability of schedule execution is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the cumbersome setting process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of schedule overlaps and automatically adjusts photographic conditions before the user finalizes the schedule setting. The control unit detects whether photographing times overlap with existing schedules and proactively modifies magnification, Z stack number, or photographing points to eliminate conflicts, rather than requiring the user to manually test and adjust settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by automatically detecting schedule conflicts and adjusting photographic parameters without user intervention. When a schedule overlap is detected, the control unit autonomously modifies the photographic conditions (magnification, Z stack, or photographing points) to resolve the conflict, making the system self-correcting and eliminating the need for user preliminary tests.
2Manufacturing precision
If the user performs preliminary tests to determine adequate photographic conditions, then the manufacturing precision of the schedule plan is improved, but the loss of time increases due to repeated adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and automatic adjustment of photographic conditions before the user completes schedule registration. By detecting overlaps and adjusting parameters in advance, the system ensures precise schedule planning is achieved without requiring the user to spend time on repeated manual tests and adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit provides immediate feedback to the user about schedule conflicts and automatically adjusts photographic conditions based on detected overlaps. This feedback mechanism allows the system to iteratively refine the schedule plan in real-time during the setting process, achieving precision without requiring separate preliminary test phases that would consume additional time.
3Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed overlap detection and automatic adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control functions
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it manages schedule registration, detects photographing time overlaps, automatically adjusts photographic conditions, and provides feedback to the user. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control unit, the system achieves user-friendly automatic overlap resolution without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as the control unit serves multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit autonomously detects schedule conflicts and adjusts photographic parameters without requiring complex user interfaces or additional dedicated hardware components. The system uses its existing control capabilities to perform overlap detection and parameter adjustment, leveraging self-service functionality to simplify operation while minimizing the need for additional complex subsystems.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cell observation apparatus that facilitates the setting of schedules. An observation schedule that has already been registered is presented to a user by a time schedule display unit of a schedule setting screen, and a new observation schedule is acquired in response to an input of set values of photographic conditions by the user. Then determination is made whether the photographing time of this observation schedule and the photographing time of the already registered observation schedule overlap, and when the photographing times are determined to overlap, the photographic conditions including the photographing time of one or both of the observation schedules are changed and the observation schedule is registered. The invention can be applied, for example, to incubators for culturing cells.