Mobile Control of Laboratory Measuring Instruments Without Onboard Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic measuring instruments in laboratory environments face challenges with user-friendliness due to small touchscreens and the complexity of controlling multiple similar instruments, which increases operational effort.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a mobile device to control multiple measuring instruments wirelessly, eliminating the need for onboard displays and buttons, and employing unique identification methods via wireless communication to ensure efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If measuring instruments are equipped with their own control units with displays and buttons, then they can be operated independently, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit functions (display, buttons, control interface) are extracted from the measuring instrument itself and relocated to an external mobile device. The measuring instrument retains only the measurement functionality, while the mobile device handles all control and display operations through wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
A single mobile device serves as the universal control interface for multiple different measuring instruments. The mobile device runs an application that can communicate with various instrument types, eliminating the need for each instrument to have its own dedicated control unit.
2Productivity
If multiple identical or similar measuring instruments are controlled individually, then each instrument can be operated independently, but the operational effort and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple measuring instruments are merged into a single controllable system through the mobile device. The application on the mobile device can select and control different instruments sequentially or simultaneously, allowing the user to switch between instruments without physical movement or separate control actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple measuring instruments. It manages the communication protocols, selects the target instrument, and coordinates control commands, simplifying the user's interaction to a single device interface.
3Area of stationary object
If small touchscreens are used in measuring instruments, then the device size can be kept compact, but the user-friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The touchscreen display function is extracted from the compact measuring instrument and transferred to the mobile device's larger screen. This allows the measuring instrument to remain small while the user benefits from the larger, more comfortable interface of the mobile device.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (10) comprises a plurality of measuring instruments (2) in a laboratory environment and a mobile terminal (1) for controlling the measuring instruments (2). The mobile terminal (1) is configured to establish a wireless connection with one of the plurality of measuring instruments (2), to uniquely identify the connected measuring instrument (2), to transmit data for controlling and/or managing the identified measuring instrument (2) to the measuring instrument (2), and/or to receive data from the identified measuring instrument (2).