Sample Inspection Server Priority Simulation Monitor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sample inspection systems face delays in processing samples with lower priority levels when many high-priority samples are processed, leading to increased delays for lower-priority samples, and there is a need to manage priorities effectively while considering the processing conditions of multiple samples.

Innovation Solution

A sample inspection system that displays processing conditions and delays using a bar graph on a monitor window, allowing operators to prioritize samples based on urgency and simulate the impact of priority changes on other samples, enabling efficient processing by preferentially handling higher-priority samples while minimizing delays for lower-priority ones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If many high-priority samples are processed preferentially, then the processing speed of high-priority samples is improved, but the delay of low-priority samples increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speed of high-priority samplesVSAvoiddelay of low-priority samples
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements simulation feedback that predicts the impact of priority changes on all samples before the operator finalizes the decision. The simulation results are displayed to show how increasing a sample's priority will affect both the target sample and other samples in the queue, enabling operators to make informed decisions that balance speed improvement with time loss minimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the operator can easily change priority without simulation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the operator cannot grasp the influences on other samples

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of priority changeVSAvoidinformation about impact on other samples
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs simulation calculations in advance before the operator commits to a priority change. The simulation results showing the impact on all samples are prepared and displayed beforehand, allowing the operator to make an informed decision without experiencing information loss after the fact. This preliminary action ensures both ease of operation and complete information availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If simulation is performed to show impact on all samples, then the measurement precision of delay impact is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of delay impact measurementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy or simulation model of the sample processing system to predict the impact of priority changes. Instead of modifying the actual complex system, a simplified simulation model replicates the essential behavior and calculates delay impacts. This copying approach enables precise measurement of delay effects without adding physical complexity to the real system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2237044B1Sample inspection system and operating method for management server thereof
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP2237044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2237044B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2237044B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A management server (30) of a sample inspection system (1a) includes sample processing information (70) generated on the basis of inspection request data (60) accepted from a sample access system (50), facility data (80) having a processing time of the sample inspection line (20), a simulation execution portion (35) for executing simulation on the basis of the sample processing information (70) and the facility data (80) and a window generation portion (32) for generating a monitor window (100) to be outputted to a monitor device (40). The inspection request data (60) contains a priority (63), an order time (64), a required time (65) and inspection items (66) and the sample processing information (70) contains an inspection start time (P2) and an inspection estimate finish time (P3). The monitor window (100) has a work area (101) in which the samples represented by sample bars (Z) parallel to the abscissa are arranged in a vertical direction and a past record and a future schedule are allocated to this abscissa with the present time (P1) as the base. The sample bars (Z) display a simulation execution portion (35) for executing simulation on the basis of the inspection start time (P2), the inspection estimate finish time (P3) and a delay time (Z1). The management server (30) displays the simulation result of the simulation execution portion (85) on the monitor window (100).