JP2004117058A - Testpiece heating system, its temperature calibration method, and constant-temperature system used for calibration - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a testpiece heating system whose wiring and structure are simple. <P>SOLUTION: This heating system is provided with a board; two or more electric heaters arranged into a planar shape on the board; a constant-temperature block which has an upper surface and a lower surface and is heated by the heaters; two or more temperature sensors which are mounted on the board and detect temperatures of the constant-temperature block; and a heater control circuit which is mounted on the board, receives the outputs of the temperature sensors, and controls the outputs of the heaters. The constant-temperature block has in its upper surface, two or more sample tube insertion holes for inserting sample tubes, and its lower surface has recessions in which the heaters and the temperature sensors can be put. The constant-temperature block is put on the board with the heaters and the temperature sensors in the containable recessions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sample heating device, a temperature calibration method thereof, and a constant temperature device used for calibration.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As related art related to the present invention, a block member provided with a plurality of insertion portions into which a body to be heated is inserted, and a heating unit for heating the block member are provided, and the block member is made of ceramic. A heater block in which a heating element made of a conductive material is embedded as a heating means inside a block member is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-210189 ([0007], FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional sample heating device, a sample housed in a plurality of sample tubes is heated to a predetermined temperature by a plurality of electric heaters, and then the temperature is maintained. However, this requires an electric circuit and a temperature sensor for driving and controlling a plurality of electric heaters, so that there is a problem that wiring for electrically connecting them and a structure for installing them are complicated. .
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. By mounting a constant-temperature block, an electric heater, a temperature sensor, and a control circuit on a printed wiring board, the wiring is easy and the sample mounting structure is simple. A heating device is provided.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a substrate, a plurality of heaters arranged in a plane on the substrate, a constant temperature block having an upper surface and a lower surface, and heated by the heater, and a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on the substrate and detecting the temperature of the constant temperature block. Temperature sensor, and a heater control circuit mounted on the substrate and receiving the output of the temperature sensor to control the output of the heater, the constant temperature block has a plurality of sample tube insertion holes on the upper surface capable of inserting sample tubes And a concave portion capable of accommodating the plurality of heaters and the temperature sensor on a lower surface thereof, and a constant-temperature block provided on the substrate with the heater and the temperature sensor accommodated in the concave portion. Is what you do.
[0007]
According to this configuration, the heater, the temperature sensor, and the control circuit are mounted on the substrate, and the constant-temperature block is also installed on the substrate, so that the wiring is easy and the device configuration is simple.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the sample heating apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of heaters are virtually divided into a plurality of groups, and the temperature sensors are provided in respective regions of a constant temperature block corresponding to the heaters of each group. A heater driving unit for supplying electric power, a reference value storing unit for storing a reference value, and an electric power supplied to the heater so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes equal to the reference value, thereby driving the heater driving unit. A heater output calculation unit and a reference value writing unit that writes a reference value to the reference value storage unit can be provided.
In this case, the heater drive unit can be configured by a transistor circuit that supplies power to the heater, and the reference value storage unit and the heater output calculation unit can be integrally configured by a microcomputer or an FPGA.
[0009]
The present invention includes a constant temperature block for accommodating a sample tube, a heater for heating the constant temperature block, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the constant temperature block, and a substrate on which the heater and the temperature sensor are mounted. And a concave portion for accommodating a heater and a temperature sensor, and a constant temperature block mounted on a substrate with the heater and the temperature sensor accommodated at the bottom.
In this case, a heater control circuit for controlling the heater in response to the output of the temperature sensor may be further provided.
[0010]
Further, the present invention is a constant temperature device for calibrating the temperature sensor of the sample heating device, a constant temperature bath containing the sample heating device, a heating block that contacts the constant temperature block and applies heat, A heater for the heating block for heating the heating block, a heater driving unit for the heating block for driving the heater for the heating block, a temperature sensor for the heating block for detecting the temperature of the heating block, and an output of the temperature sensor for the heating block And a controller for controlling the heater drive unit for the heating block to maintain the temperature of the heating block at a predetermined value.
In this thermostatic apparatus, the heating block may have a protruding portion that is inserted so as to be able to contact each sample tube insertion hole of the thermostatic block.
[0011]
Further, according to the present invention, the power supply to all the heaters of the sample heating device is stopped, the sample heating device is housed in the constant temperature device, and the constant temperature block is heated to a predetermined value. It is an object of the present invention to provide a temperature calibration method including a step of making each reference value coincide with a detected temperature of each temperature sensor by a value writing unit.
In the sample heating apparatus, the heater may be an electric heater formed of a metal oxide film resistor, or the constant temperature block may be formed of aluminum.
Further, in the constant temperature block, the concave portion may be a groove having a U-shaped cross section. Further, the temperature sensor may include a thermistor. Further, the substrate may be a printed wiring board.
[0012]
Embodiments The present invention will be described below in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. This does not limit the present invention.
Automatic analyzer FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an automatic analyzer to which the sample warming apparatus of the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, in the automatic analyzer 80, a sample container containing blood as a sample is placed on the sample setting section 51.
[0013]
The reaction plate 62 as shown in FIG. The reaction plate 62 is provided with 25 sample tubes 64 capable of containing a liquid. Then, the reaction plate 62 is transferred to the sample mixing section 52 by the reaction plate transfer section 57.
[0014]
The reagent rack 40 is arranged as shown in FIG. The pipette driving unit 100 performs the movement of the pipette 56 in the directions of arrows A, B, and C and the suction / discharge operation.
The user inputs information for measurement from the input unit 58. When the measurement information is input, the pipette 56 moves, aspirates blood from the sample container set in the sample setting unit 51, and discharges it to one of the sample tubes 64 of the reaction plate 62 transferred to the sample mixing unit 52. I do. The 25 sample tubes 64 of the reaction plate 62 are preliminarily heated to a constant temperature (here, 45 ° C.) by a later-described sample heating device provided in the sample mixing section 52.
[0015]
The pipette 56 moves to the washing tank 42 and after washing, aspirates a necessary reagent from a reagent container installed in the reagent rack 40 and discharges it to the sample tube 64 from which blood has been discharged. Thus, a measurement sample is prepared in which blood and a reagent are mixed and reacted.
[0016]
After performing the washing again in the washing tank 42, the pipette 56 sucks the measurement sample prepared previously from the sample tube 64 and discharges it to the sample measuring unit 41. Then, the measurement of the amount of absorbed light, the amount of scattered light, and the like are performed by the sample measurement unit 41, and a predetermined calculation is performed by the calculation control unit 101, and the measurement result is displayed on the display unit 102. When such measurement is repeated 25 times and all the sample tubes 64 have been used, the reaction plate 62 of the sample mixing section 52 is discarded by the reaction plate transfer section 57 to the discard section 54.
[0017]
Sample heating device FIG. 3 is a top view of the sample heating device provided in the sample mixing section 52, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken along arrows AA and BB in FIG. 3, respectively. is there. As shown in these figures, the sample heating apparatus includes a printed wiring board (hereinafter, referred to as a board) 1, an aluminum constant temperature block 2 installed on the board 1, and a heater control circuit module 3.
[0018]
FIG. 6 is a top view of the substrate 1. On the upper surface of the substrate 1, a total of 24 electric heaters (metal oxide film resistors) 4 arranged in a matrix of 4 rows × 6 columns are mounted. As shown in FIG. 6, the 24 heaters 4 are divided into four heater groups G1 to G4 each including six heaters, and a temperature sensor (thermistor) S1 is provided substantially at the center of each of the heater groups G1 to G4. To S4 are implemented. The six heaters 4 in each of the heater groups G1 to G4 are connected to the heater control circuit module 3 by being connected in series or in parallel, respectively, by printed wiring. The temperature sensors S1 to S4 are also connected to the heater control circuit module 3 by printed wiring.
[0019]
7 is a top view of the constant temperature block 2, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the constant temperature block 2.
As shown in these figures, the constant temperature block 2 has 25 concave portions 5 for receiving 25 sample tubes 64 when the reaction plate 62 (FIG. 2) is placed on the upper surface thereof.
Further, the thermostatic block 2 includes six grooves 6 having a U-shaped cross section on the bottom surface and four cylindrical concave portions H1 to H4.
[0020]
Therefore, when the constant temperature block 2 is fixed to the surface of the substrate 1 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the six grooves 6 and the recesses H1 to H4 shown in FIG. And temperature sensors S1 to S4 are accommodated respectively. Then, the temperatures of four portions (regions) of the constant temperature block 2 corresponding to the heater groups G1 to G4 are detected by the temperature sensors S1 to S4, respectively.
[0021]
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the heater control circuit module 3. As shown in the drawing, the module 3 includes a control unit 7 and first to fourth heater driving units D1 to D4. The control unit 7 receives the outputs from the temperature sensors S1 to S4 and the input unit 8, and outputs control signals to the first to fourth heater driving units D1 to D4. The first to fourth driving units D1 to D4 supply necessary driving power to the heater groups G1 to G4 by receiving a DC voltage supplied from the outside.
[0022]
In the control unit 7, the temperature calculation unit 7a converts each output from the temperature sensors S1 to S4 into actual temperatures T1 to T4 by a predetermined conversion function. The reference value writing unit 7b can write the reference values R1 to R4 into the reference value storage unit 7c according to a command from the input unit 8.
[0023]
The comparing unit 7d compares the converted temperatures T1 to T4 with reference values R1 to R4, respectively. The heater output calculation unit 7e calculates the power to be supplied to the heater groups G1 to G4 so that the temperatures T1 to T4 become equal to the reference values R1 to R4, respectively, and, based on the calculation result, the first to fourth driving units D1 to D4. Control. Thus, so-called negative feedback control is performed.
Here, the control unit 7 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and the first to fourth heater driving units D1 to D4 are configured by transistor circuits. The input unit 8 includes a keyboard detachably connected to the control unit 7.
[0024]
In such a configuration, when the module 3 starts, power is supplied to the heater groups G1 to G4 so that the temperatures T1 to T4 detected by the temperature sensors S1 to S4 respectively match the reference values R1 to R4. The power supplied to the heater groups G1 to G4 is controlled.
Therefore, if the reference values R1 to R4 are all set to the same predetermined value, for example, 45 ° C., the temperatures T1 to T4 are all maintained at 45 ° C. That is, the sample tube 64 accommodated in the constant temperature block 2 is maintained at 45 ° C., and the measurement sample is prepared at that temperature.
[0025]
However, since the temperature sensors S1 to S4 generally vary in sensitivity (the relationship between the temperature and the detection output), calibration is required to accurately control the temperature of the constant temperature block 2. Therefore, in the present invention, the calibration is performed as follows.
[0026]
Constant temperature device FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a constant temperature device used for temperature calibration of the above-described sample heating device.
As shown in the figure, the thermostat includes a case 12, a lid 13, and a heating block 11 made of aluminum, and the sample heating device shown in FIGS. The case 12 and the lid 13 surround the heating block 11 and the sample heating device. The case 12 and the lid 13 are manufactured using a heat insulating material, for example, styrene foam.
A temperature sensor S5 is provided at the center of the heating block 11, and a plate-shaped electric heater 14 is provided below the heating block 11.
[0027]
FIG. 12 is a top view of the heating block 11, and FIG. 13 is a side view of the heating block 11. As shown in these figures, the heating block 11 has 25 protrusions 15 on the upper surface, and is inserted into the 25 recesses 5 of the sample heating device so as to come into contact with each inner wall. Further, the heating block 11 has an insertion hole 16 for the temperature sensor S5 which is formed from the side to the center.
[0028]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a temperature control circuit of the constant temperature apparatus shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 17 receives the output from the input unit 18 and the temperature sensor S5 and outputs the output to the output unit 19 and the heater driving unit D5. The driving power is supplied to the electric heater 14.
In the control unit 17, the temperature calculation unit 17a converts the output of the temperature sensor S5 into an actual temperature T5 using a predetermined conversion function. The reference value R5 is written in the reference value storage unit 17c.
[0029]
The comparing unit 17d compares the converted temperature T5 with the reference value R5. The heater output calculation unit 17e calculates the power to be supplied to the electric heater 14 so that the temperature T5 becomes equal to the reference value R5, and controls the heater driving unit D5. Thus, so-called negative feedback control is performed. Here, the control unit 17 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and the heater driving unit D5 is configured by a transistor circuit. The input unit 18 and the output unit 19 are each composed of a keyboard and a CRT.
[0030]
The temperature calibration procedure in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 11, the user accommodates the sample heating device in the constant temperature device (step S1), and receives first to fourth heater driving units D1 to D4 according to a command from the input unit 8 (FIG. 10). Are all stopped (step S2). When the control unit 17 (FIG. 14) is activated, electric power is supplied to the electric heater 14, and electric power supplied to the electric heater 14 is controlled such that the temperature T5 detected by the temperature sensor S5 matches the reference value R5. .
[0031]
Here, the conversion function is sufficiently calibrated in advance so that the output from the temperature sensor S5 is converted into a correct temperature T5 without error in the temperature calculation unit 17a. Therefore, if, for example, 45 ° C. is written as the reference value R5, the constant temperature block 2 is heated by the electric heater 14 via the heating block 11 and when the temperature of the constant temperature block 2 reaches 45 ° C. Is maintained at 45 ° C. as a whole (step S3). At this time, the temperatures T1 to T4 of the constant temperature block 2 are detected by the temperature sensors S1 to S4.
[0032]
Then, it is assumed that the values of T1 = 43 ° C., T2 = 44 ° C., T3 = 46 ° C., and T4 = 47 ° C. are calculated based on variations in the sensitivity of the temperature sensors S1 to S4. When the user instructs the control unit 7 to perform “temperature calibration” from the input unit 8, the reference value writing unit 7b sets the reference values R1 to R4 of the reference value storage unit 7c to 43 ° C., 44 ° C., 46 ° C., and 47 ° C., respectively. Rewrite (step S4).
[0033]
Thus, the calibration operation of the sample heating device is completed. Therefore, the user removes the sample heating device from the constant temperature device, and operates the input unit 8 to release the output stop of the first to fourth heater driving units D1 to D4 (step S5).
When the constant-temperature block 2 is heated by the heater groups G1 to G4 during use of the sample heating device, the temperatures T1 to T4 obtained by the temperature sensors S1 to S4 are changed to reference values 43 ° C., 44 ° C., 46 ° C., and 47 ° C., respectively. Therefore, the power supply to the heater groups G1 to G4 is controlled so that the constant-temperature block 2 is correctly maintained at a temperature of 45 ° C.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the electric heater, the temperature sensor, the heater control circuit, and the constant temperature block are all mounted on the printed wiring board, the wiring and the configuration are simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic analyzer using a sample heating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reaction plate according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the sample heating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the printed wiring board according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the thermostatic block according to the present invention.
8 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the constant temperature block shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the sample heating apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a thermostat of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a top view of a heating block of the thermostat of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the heating block shown in FIG.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the constant temperature apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure of temperature calibration according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printed wiring board 2 constant temperature block 3 heater control circuit module 4 heater 5 recess

Claims (11)

A substrate, a plurality of heaters arranged in a plane on the substrate, a constant temperature block having an upper surface and a lower surface, and heated by the heater, and a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on the substrate and detecting the temperature of the constant temperature block. A heater control circuit mounted on the board to control the output of the heater in response to the output of the temperature sensor, wherein the constant temperature block has a plurality of sample tube insertion holes into which sample tubes can be inserted on the upper surface, and the lower surface A sample heating device, comprising: a recess capable of accommodating the plurality of heaters and the temperature sensor; and a constant-temperature block disposed on the substrate with the heater and the temperature sensor accommodated in the recess. A plurality of heaters are virtually divided into a plurality of groups, the temperature sensor is provided in each area of the constant temperature block corresponding to each group of heaters, a heater control circuit, a heater driving unit that supplies power to the heaters, A reference value storage unit for storing a reference value, a heater output calculation unit for calculating electric power supplied to the electric heater to drive the heater driving unit so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes equal to the reference value, and a reference value The sample heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reference value writing unit that writes a reference value to the storage unit. A constant temperature block for accommodating the sample tube, a heater for heating the constant temperature block, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the constant temperature block, and a substrate on which the heater and the temperature sensor are mounted. A sample heating device having a concave portion for housing a sensor, and a thermostat block mounted on a substrate with a heater and a temperature sensor housed in a bottom portion. The sample heating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a heater control circuit that controls a heater in response to an output of the temperature sensor. A constant temperature device for calibrating a temperature sensor of the sample heating device according to claim 2, wherein the constant temperature bath accommodates the sample heating device, a heating block that contacts the constant temperature block to apply heat, and a heating block. A heater for heating the heating block, a heater driving unit for driving the heater for the heating block, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heating block, and a heater driving unit that receives the output of the temperature sensor to control the temperature of the heating block. A constant-temperature device comprising: a control unit for maintaining the temperature at a predetermined value. The constant temperature apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heating block has a protruding portion that is inserted so as to be able to contact each sample tube insertion hole of the constant temperature block. The power supply to all the heaters of the sample heating device according to claim 2 is stopped, the sample heating device is housed in the constant temperature device according to claim 5, and the constant temperature block is heated to a predetermined value. A temperature calibration method comprising the steps of: making each reference value coincide with the detected temperature of each temperature sensor by using the reference value writing unit. The sample heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heater comprises a metal oxide film resistor. The sample heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature sensor includes a thermistor. An analyzer comprising: the sample heating device according to claim 1; and an analyzer configured to analyze the sample heated by the sample heating device. The sample heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the substrate is a printed wiring board.

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