Digital Pathology Power-Off Delay for Known Slide Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pathology sample processing devices experience an unknown state upon power loss, requiring manual intervention to reposition samples and slides, and may suffer from delayed catastrophic failures due to uninterruptible power supply exhaustion.
Innovation Solution
A power off delay system that controls the pathology sample processing device to position all systems and samples into a known state before power termination, using a processor to manage power switches, uninterruptible power supplies, and sensors to ensure safe shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If power is immediately terminated when power switch is pressed or power failure occurs, then the device shuts down quickly, but the system enters an unknown state requiring manual intervention and samples may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by initiating a controlled shutdown sequence that positions all samples and slides into predetermined safe locations before power is actually terminated. The processor activates motors to move samples to known positions, ensuring the system reaches a reliable state before power cutoff occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by implementing a delay mechanism that prevents immediate power termination. During this delay period, the system cushions against potential damage by completing positioning operations and ensuring all components are in safe states before power is actually cut off.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If UPS is added to continue operation during power failure, then operation continuity is improved, but delayed catastrophic failure occurs when UPS exhausts power
Solution Approach 1:
When UPS indicates power failure, the system immediately initiates preliminary positioning actions to move all samples and slides to known safe positions before the UPS exhausts its power supply. This ensures that when the delayed catastrophic failure eventually occurs, the system is already in a reliable state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the UPS power remaining as an intermediary time resource to complete positioning operations. The processor monitors UPS power levels and uses the available power window to execute the positioning sequence, treating the UPS duration as a mediator between power failure detection and actual power cutoff.
3Device complexity
If manual intervention is required to reposition samples after power restoration, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically positioning all samples and slides into known states during the controlled shutdown sequence, eliminating the need for manual intervention after power restoration. The processor autonomously manages the positioning operations without user input.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If power termination is delayed to position samples, then sample safety is improved, but shutdown time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs sample positioning as a preliminary action during the delay period before power termination. By initiating positioning operations immediately upon detecting power shutdown initiation, the system completes sample protection tasks within the available time window, minimizing overall shutdown time while ensuring sample safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A power off delay system and method is configured to delay termination of electrical power to a digital pathology device in a power off condition. If the apparatus includes a UPS, the power off delay system and method delays termination of electrical power when a power switch is turned off and when a catastrophic power failure occurs. During the delay of the termination of electrical power, the digital pathology device is configured to control the scanning stage system and the glass slide conveyor system and the slide rack conveyor system to place each of these systems into a known state and position all glass slides into a known position prior to the termination of electrical power to the digital pathology device. This allows the digital pathology device to resume normal operation upon power up.