Specimen Production Control for Timely Inspection Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to ensure timely inspection of specimens after production, leading to potential deterioration of specimen quality due to prolonged waiting for inspection devices, especially when the inspection device is at capacity or lacks available space.

Innovation Solution

Implement a system where specimen production and inspection devices communicate to manage specimen flow, calculating and controlling production/inspection based on available inspection slots and specimen carry-in status to ensure timely inspection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the inspection device operates at upper limit capacity, then device utilization is maximized, but new specimens cannot be inspected timely leading to quality deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice utilizationVSAvoidspecimen quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of available inspection slots and specimen carry-in status before allowing new specimen production. The control unit prohibits production when the timeline would exceed the prescribed inspection window, preventing the quality deterioration issue before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the relationship between production completion time, inspection slot availability, and prescribed inspection time limits. The control unit provides feedback by enabling or disabling specimen production based on real-time calculation of whether specimens can be inspected within the required timeframe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system prohibits specimen production when inspection slots are full, then specimen quality is maintained, but device productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecimen qualityVSAvoidproduction throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial prohibition of specimen production only when necessary - specifically when the calculated timeline would exceed the prescribed inspection time. When inspection slots become available or timelines are adequate, production is permitted to resume, thus applying the restriction only to the extent needed to maintain quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of time

If real-time monitoring of inspection slot availability is implemented, then timely inspection is ensured, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection delayVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data processing unit performs multiple functions: it calculates the number of specimens that can be carried in, determines available inspection slots, monitors prescribed time limits, and provides feedback to the control unit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated monitoring components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4306631B1Analysis device, specimen production device, inspection device, operation method for specimen production device, and operation method for inspection device
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP4306631B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4306631B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4306631B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An analysis device according to the present invention comprises: at least one inspection device that inspects a specimen; and at least one specimen production device that produces a specimen. The analysis device is provided with a data processing unit that processes data. The inspection device and the specimen production device are each provided with a communication unit for communicating with each other. The specimen production device is provided with a control unit that controls the specimen production device and a production unit that produces a specimen. The inspection device is provided with a control unit that controls the inspection device and an inspection unit that inspects a specimen. The data processing unit calculates a value [number of specimens A] representing the number of specimens which have not been delivered to the inspection device and a value [number of specimens B] representing the sum of the number of specimens for which inspection can be additionally started in the inspection device and the number of specimens which are being inspected and the inspection of which will be completed in a prescribed time. The control unit of the specimen production device prohibits production of a new specimen in the specimen production device when the [number of specimens A] and the [number of specimens B] satisfy a first relationship.