Sample Processing Interface With Auxiliary Screen Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sample-processing systems require users to interrupt their main work to transition between main and sub-screens for additional information, leading to inefficiencies and potential alarms due to missed information checks.

Innovation Solution

A sample-processing system and program that enables simultaneous display of a main screen and an auxiliary screen, allowing users to access various support items without screen transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the system displays only a main screen during main work, then the main work operation is simple and focused, but the user cannot access auxiliary information without interrupting the main work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemain work operation simplicityVSAvoidtime for screen transition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The display interface is segmented into a main screen area and an auxiliary screen area that can be independently accessed. The auxiliary screen is divided into multiple tabs (alarm history, maintenance history, reagent information, etc.) that can be viewed without leaving the main screen, allowing users to access supporting information while maintaining the main work context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The main screen and auxiliary screen are merged into a single integrated display interface. The auxiliary screen is overlaid or adjacent to the main screen, allowing simultaneous access to both main work information and auxiliary support information without requiring screen transitions or interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of information

If the user transitions to a sub-screen to check auxiliary information, then the user can access necessary support information, but the main work operation is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to auxiliary informationVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The display interface transitions from a single-screen dimension to a multi-dimensional interface where the auxiliary screen exists in an additional display dimension alongside the main screen. Users can access auxiliary information through tabs or panels that occupy a different spatial dimension on the display, eliminating the need to leave the main work context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the help dialog is displayed only when an error occurs, then the system maintains a clean interface during normal operation, but the user may miss important information checks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidinformation checking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary screen with various information tabs (alarm history, maintenance history, reagent information, etc.) is prepared and accessible in advance before any errors occur. Users can proactively check these auxiliary information areas during normal operation without waiting for error conditions, ensuring no important information is missed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4682543A1Sample-processing system and program
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP4682543A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682543A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4682543A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sample-processing system and a program with which the need for a screen transition from a main screen to a sub-screen is eliminated in order to avoid interruption to an operation relating to main work. This sample-processing system comprises a sample-processing unit for processing a sample, and a display unit for performing a display relating to the sample. The display unit displays a main screen and an auxiliary screen on which a plurality of user support items are displayed in a switchable manner (see fig. 2).