Status Lights on Laboratory Devices for Scheduling Conflict Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated laboratory systems face challenges in visualizing instrument operations and identifying scheduling conflicts or errors, as existing scheduling software lacks dynamic resource allocation and instrument-specific status indicators, leading to inefficiencies and potential equipment failures.
Innovation Solution
A system with status lights on laboratory devices that use a shared indicator scheme to display different statuses, allowing users to configure and visualize device operations, enabling easier identification of conflicts and errors, and allowing for proactive handling of issues through a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If scheduling software is used to orchestrate automated sample processing, then automation extent is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring scheduling conflicts worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded visual indicators (lights) on instruments to represent different operational states and scheduling statuses. Each instrument displays colors corresponding to its current state (e.g., green for ready, yellow for busy, red for conflict/error), enabling operators to quickly detect scheduling conflicts and operational issues without complex software interfaces or detailed scheduling knowledge.
2Productivity
If multiple instruments are coordinated through centralized scheduling software, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to configuration complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized scheduling information into distributed visual indicators on each individual instrument. Instead of requiring operators to navigate complex centralized scheduling software to understand system status, each instrument independently displays its own operational state through simple visual lights, making the system easier to operate and monitor while maintaining high productivity.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If instrument-specific status indicators are added to visualize operations, then difficulty of detecting and measuring conflicts is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal color-coded indicator system that can represent multiple different states and meanings across different instrument types. The same color codes (green, yellow, red) are used consistently across all instruments to indicate similar operational states, allowing the system to provide detailed status information without requiring instrument-specific complex indicator systems, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for quick detection of scheduling conflicts and errors, enabling proactive intervention to manage bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of automated sample processing by visualizing device statuses and harmonizing error messaging, thus enhancing the recognition of specific messages and improving laboratory workflow.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more status lights of at least one device are provided by one or more recessed light-emitting strips
Data Source
AI summary
System, including methods and apparatus, for sample processing. In exemplary embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of devices to perform a protocol on sample holders supporting samples, and also comprises a control system that coordinates operation of the plurality of devices, such that the protocol is performed automatically. Each device of at least two of the plurality of devices may have one or more status lights configured to display a plurality of different visual indicators each indicating a different status of the device. The at least two devices may utilize a same indicator scheme as one another for each different status indicated by the visual indicators. In some embodiments, the indicator scheme is user-configurable. In some embodiments, the one or more status lights of at least one device are provided by one or more recessed light-emitting strips.