Job Guidance Interface for Automatic Analysis Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

In analysis devices with complex screen configurations and increasing functions, operators face difficulties in efficiently navigating and setting up operations across multiple screens, particularly for beginners or when skill levels change, leading to prolonged setup times and potential navigation failures.

Innovation Solution

An automatic analysis device stores a correspondence list between screen IDs and procedure IDs, allowing for seamless navigation between screens without modifying the operational screen configuration, by searching for corresponding screen IDs when procedure IDs are selected in a job guidance file, enabling efficient guidance to the objective job screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hierarchical screen configuration is used to display the overall makeup of operational screens, then the operator can view the overall structure, but a beginner or temporary user is often embarrassed at starting from which one of the operational screens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime for setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A job guidance file is introduced as an intermediary between the operator and the complex operational screens. This guidance file contains procedure IDs that correspond to specific operational screens, allowing operators to be guided through the system without needing to navigate the hierarchical structure themselves. The correspondence list acts as a mediator that maps procedure IDs to screen IDs, enabling automatic navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service functionality by automatically navigating to the appropriate operational screen based on the selected procedure ID. When an operator selects a procedure from the job guidance file, the system automatically searches the correspondence list and shifts to the corresponding screen without requiring manual navigation or expertise from the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If condition setting parameters and information necessary for performing analysis are inputted over a plurality of operational screens, then the analysis function is comprehensive, but there is a problem of requiring a longer time for setting until start of the intended operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis functionVSAvoidtime for setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The correspondence list is prepared in advance, mapping procedure IDs to screen IDs before the operator needs to perform the analysis. This preliminary organization of information allows the system to quickly navigate to the correct operational screens without requiring the operator to manually search through multiple screens or configure settings from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the control program software is modified to improve operability, then the screen configuration can be optimized, but a lot of time is taken to modify and verify software

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveoperabilityVSAvoidtime to modify and verify software
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the original control program software, a separate job guidance file is created that contains the optimized navigation paths and procedure mappings. This copy approach allows the system to provide improved operability through the guidance file without requiring changes to the core software, thereby avoiding time-consuming modification and verification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Ease of operation

If a paper manual is used for job guidance, then the operator can search for the objective job while looking over the entirety in a table of contents and an index, but the operator has to progress work while alternately looking at operational screens displayed based on application software and the paper manual

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch capabilityVSAvoideye movement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The physical paper manual is replaced with a digital job guidance file that can be displayed on the same screen as the operational software. This substitution eliminates the need for the operator to physically move their eyes between different media, as all information is available on the display screen. The digital format allows for seamless integration with the operational software interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP1755035B1User interface for automatic analysis device
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP1755035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1755035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1755035B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An analysis device allowing any person to utilize job guidance for setting and assignment operations with high efficiency regardless of a level of skill in an automatic analysis device which has a complicated screen configuration with an increase of functions. A storage unit stores a job guidance file and a correspondence list file indicating correspondences between procedure IDs, codes, buttons, etc. in the job guidance file and screen IDs for device control program software. When an operator selects the procedure ID or the like in a displayed job guidance window, control is performed such that the screen ID corresponding to the selected procedure ID or the like is searched for in the correspondence list file, and the displayed screen is shifted to one corresponding to the searched screen ID for the device control program software.