JP2007024560A - Analysis system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem in changing a type name in keeping with a change, etc. in a portion not related to the function of an analysis unit that it takes time and a cost since it becomes necessary to drastically change F/W for a controller. <P>SOLUTION: Respective analysis units 2 send type name IDs corresponding to type names and device IDs used for the controller 6 to identify respective units in control as different information while the controller 6 severally extracts the respective IDs. A control function part 62 selects a program, based on a device ID and a function expansion ID to send out a control signal. Meanwhile, independently of this control, a display function part 63 determines a type name from a type name ID to display it on a screen of a display part 64. Since a program for realizing the function part 63 is separated from that for realizing the function part 62, all that is needed to do is to change the program for display if only the type name of an analysis unit is changed for example, making it possible to reduce time and a cost. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, an apparatus for performing various analyzes such as a liquid chromatograph, a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and the like and a control apparatus for controlling the operation of the apparatus and collecting acquired analysis data are used as communication channels. It is related with the analysis system connected mutually.

  A recent liquid chromatographic analysis system, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, includes a liquid feeding unit that supplies a mobile phase to a separation column, and an auto including an injector that injects a liquid sample into the mobile phase before the column. Sampler, column oven with built-in column and temperature control, detector to detect each component in the sample liquid eluted from the column, system controller to control these parts centrally, etc. Yes. One of the advantages of unitizing in this way is the flexibility to replace only the necessary analysis unit with a different type (model) according to the analysis purpose or the like.

  In such an analysis system, each analysis unit such as a liquid feeding unit, autosampler, column oven, and detector has a microcomputer and a communication function, and performs various controls by communicating with a system controller. A command is received, and a predetermined function / operation is achieved according to a predetermined control program. These control programs (firmware (F / W)) need to be rewritten, for example, when bugs are corrected, new control sequences are introduced to improve performance, new functions are added, etc. In the past, there has been proposed a technique that can easily rewrite such a control program (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  If the control program of the analysis unit is changed for some reason, it can be handled by the conventional technology as described above. However, even if the control program is easily rewritten, the program is modified or changed. Because of this, the amount of work for engineers becomes quite large. For example, an analysis system often updates or replaces only certain analysis units in the system. At that time, if a new function is added to the newly introduced analysis unit side, the system control side must also support that function. This is because if the functions of the analysis unit and the system controller do not match, that is, if the F / W versions supported by the analysis unit and the system controller are mixed, the added function is used. This is because not only cannot be performed, but if a new parameter corresponding to the added function is set, appropriate control cannot be performed, and the analysis unit may malfunction or run away. Therefore, when a function addition or the like is performed in the analysis unit, the system controller side is forced to change the F / W accordingly.

  On the other hand, when a manufacturer introduces a new analysis unit to the market, functions may be added or performance may be improved, but the functions and operations are the same as the old model, for example, improving the appearance. In some cases, the model name is changed by a so-called minor change such as changing a part not directly related to the function such as a power supply circuit. In such a case, it is not necessary to change the F / W for control in the sequence controller, but if the F / W is not updated, the model name displayed by the F / W will remain the same. Therefore, in the conventional analysis system, even when only the model name is changed in the analysis unit, a large F / W change is required on the system controller side in order to perform an accurate display accordingly. Be strong.

JP-A-7-143355 JP-A-9-133667

  As described above, in the conventional analysis system, when a function is added or a model is changed in the analysis unit, it takes a lot of time to change the F / W on the system control side, and this is one of the major cost increase factors. There was a problem. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and its main purpose is to change various types of models such as update of various models and addition of functions for each analysis unit constituting the analysis apparatus. Even if it is performed, analysis that can perform appropriate control corresponding to the change of each analysis unit while minimizing the change of the control program on the control unit side such as the system controller that comprehensively controls such analysis unit To provide a system.

The present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, communicates with one or a plurality of analysis units operating in conjunction with each other for performing chemical or physical analysis and to control the one or more analysis units. In an analysis system comprising a control unit connected via a line,
Each analysis unit is
Display information for displaying the model name of the analysis unit or information corresponding thereto, control identification information for identifying the unit when the control unit controls the analysis unit, and the analysis unit In addition to the basic function, in the case of having an additional / extended function, provided with information transmission means for transmitting function expansion identification information for identifying the additional / extended function to the control unit via the communication line,
The controller is
Information extracting means for receiving the various information sent from each analysis unit and extracting display information, control identification information, and function expansion identification information, respectively;
Display control means for judging the model name of each analysis unit based on the display information obtained by the information extraction means and displaying it on the display screen;
Based on the control identification information obtained by the information extraction means, the analysis unit as a control target is specified, and when function expansion identification information is obtained by the information extraction means, also refer to the information An analysis control means for controlling the analysis unit according to a control program according to the control program;
It is characterized by having.

  In the analysis system according to the present invention, the information transmission means in each analysis unit transmits display information corresponding to the model name of the analysis unit as information different from the control identification information. Accordingly, there may be two similar analysis units having the same control identification information but different display information. Also, the extended function information that is transmitted when the additional / extended function is provided is also transmitted as information different from the control identification information.

  On the other hand, in the control unit, the information extracting means identifies and extracts the information received via the communication line. The display control means determines the model name of each analysis unit based on the display information and displays it on a display screen such as a monitor. In addition, the analysis control means identifies the analysis unit based on the control identification information independently of the display, and if function expansion identification information is obtained, also refers to that information and responds accordingly. A control signal is sent to control the analysis unit according to the control program. Conversely, the display control by the display control means is not affected by the analysis control.

  Therefore, according to the analysis system according to the present invention, in a certain type of analysis unit, there is no change in the function or operation that affects the analysis control program as described above, and the part that is not related to such function / operation. When the model name is changed due to the change of the above, it is sufficient to change only the program for achieving the display control means without changing the program for achieving the analysis control means of the control unit at all. In addition, when an additional / extended function is added to the basic function on the analysis unit side, a program corresponding to the additional / extended function is added in the program for achieving the analysis control means of the control unit. You can change it. As a result, it is not necessary to change the entire program in the control unit as in the prior art, and the labor of the engineer can be greatly reduced, and the cost required for this can be suppressed.

  In addition, when an addition / extension function is added to the basic function on the analysis unit side, and a program corresponding to the addition / extension function is not added or changed in the program for achieving the analysis control means of the control unit Or, conversely, the addition or change of a program corresponding to the addition / extension function is included in the program for achieving the analysis control means of the control unit even though the addition / extension function is not added on the analysis unit side. Even if it is done, the operation corresponding to the minimum basic function can be performed, and the occurrence of malfunction or runaway can be avoided.

  As one aspect of the analysis system according to the present invention, the information transmission unit transmits display information, control identification information, and function expansion identification information as a set, and the analysis control unit includes the information extraction unit. If there is no function expansion identification information in the information received by the means, it is determined that there is no additional / extended function and the analysis unit is controlled according to the control program according to the information specified based on the control identification information It can be set as the structure to do.

  According to this configuration, it is determined that there is no additional / extended function by not sending the function expansion identification information, so it is possible to deal with analysis units that were not originally supposed to add the extended function. It is.

  Hereinafter, a liquid chromatograph (LC) analysis system will be described as an example of an analysis system according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of the entire LC analysis system according to the present embodiment. In this LC analysis system, an analyzer 1 is sent to a column from a liquid feeding unit 2 including a pump for sending an eluent to the column, a column oven 4 including a column for separating sample components, and the liquid feeding unit 2. An autosampler 3 for injecting the sample solution into the eluent, a detector 5 for sequentially detecting the sample components eluted from the column, and a system controller for comprehensively controlling the operation of each part according to the set analysis conditions 6 are included. In this example, the liquid feeding unit 2, the autosampler 3, the column oven 4 and the detector 5 correspond to the analysis unit in the present invention, and the system controller 6 corresponds to the control unit in the present invention.

  In the analysis apparatus 1, the system controller 6 and the analysis unit are individually connected to each other via a communication line. The system controller 6 is connected to a computer 8 for control / data collection via a network line 7 such as a LAN. Connected with. The computer 8 is installed with dedicated control / processing software for controlling the analyzer 1 and processing data obtained by the analyzer 1. The basic operation of the analyzer 1 can be performed only by the system controller 6 without using the computer 8, but by using the control / processing software installed in the computer 8, more sophisticated automatic analysis and the like. Simple analysis can be performed by a simple operation.

  FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the main part for the operation characteristic of the present invention for the liquid feeding unit 2 and the system controller 6 which are one of the analysis units. That is, in the liquid feeding unit 2 (and other units as well), information such as firmware (F / W) version information (ver.No.), device ID, model name ID, and function expansion ID is provided. The information is held in the holding unit 21 and is transmitted in a predetermined format following a predetermined header through a communication control unit 20 (corresponding to an information transmission unit in the present invention) that performs bidirectional communication with the system controller 6. Thus, the data is sent to the system controller 6. On the other hand, the system controller 6 receives the above information via a communication control unit 60 (corresponding to the information extracting means in the present invention) 60 that performs bidirectional communication with the liquid feeding unit 2, Extracted and stored in a predetermined area in the variable area of the memory 61. Information stored in the variable area of the memory 61 is appropriately read and sent to the control function section (corresponding to the analysis control means in the present invention) 62 or the display function section (corresponding to the display control means in the present invention) 63. It is done. Actually, the control function unit 62 and the display function unit 63 are functions achieved by executing firmware (F / W) preinstalled in the system controller 6 by the CPU.

  Here, F / W version information, device ID, model name ID, function expansion ID, and the like will be described with specific examples. FIG. 1-No. 4 shows some of the specifications of four different liquid feeding units. The most basic model is No. 1, the model name is “Pump-1A”, and the F / W version information is 1.00. The device ID is a code for specifying the type of the unit in order to control the unit. If the device ID is different, the basic control program is completely different. Here, no. 1-No. The same device ID “10” is assigned to all four. On the other hand, the model name ID is a code assigned corresponding to the model name, but there is no model name ID for the basic model. The function extension ID is a code given according to the type of the extension function only when there is an extension function. In 1, there is no extended function, so there is no extended function ID.

  No. The model name of No. 2 is No. No. 1 is the same as “Pump-1A”, and there is no model name ID or function extension ID. Same as 1. However, a part of the F / W is changed, and the version number is also changed to 2.00. No. 3 is No. functionally. Although it is not different from 1, the part that does not directly affect the analysis is changed, for example, the external shape has been changed, for example, the power supply part has been changed, and the model name is “Pump-1B” accordingly. has been edited. In this case, the model name ID “01” is assigned, and the function extension ID “00” indicating that there is no extended function is assigned. On the other hand, no. 4 is model No. Although not different from 1, an extended function is added, and a function expansion ID “02” corresponding to the extended function is assigned. The extended function referred to here is, for example, that the settable range of the flow rate of the liquid feeding pump is 0.10 to 10.00 [mL] by default, but is 0.01 to 10.00 [mL] by the extended function. Something that has been expanded. Since it is necessary to change the F / W as the function is expanded, the version of the F / W is also changed to 3.00.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the actual F / W change and the version number change in the above example. A part of the F / W whose version number is 1.00 is changed (rewritten) with respect to the basic F / W when the version number is 1.00. Further, the F / W having a part added corresponding to the extended function as described above is the version number 3.00.

  Next, characteristic operations achieved by the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is a flowchart of a reception process performed by the communication control unit 60 of the system controller 6 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a control operation performed by the control function unit 62 of the system controller 6, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a display operation performed by the display function unit 63 of FIG.

  When power is turned on by the system controller 6 and the liquid feeding unit 2 or when a cable (communication line) connecting the system controller 6 and the liquid feeding unit 2 is connected, for example, the communication control unit 60 of the system controller 6 Sends a communication request command to the liquid feeding unit 2 side, and establishes communication by confirming that the communication control unit 20 on the liquid feeding unit 2 side has accepted the communication request. Thereafter, in response to a request from the system controller 6, the communication control unit 20 of the liquid feeding unit 2 sends out data based on the information stored in the information holding unit 21, that is, the F / W version number and the device ID. Further, if there is a model name ID or a function extension ID, these are also transmitted subsequently. Needless to say, the communication establishment method and communication procedure (sequence) between the two are not limited to those described above.

  The communication controller 60 of the system controller 6 receives the data, extracts the FW version number and the device ID from the received data, and extracts the FW version number region and the device ID region in the variable region of the memory 61. (Step S1). Next, it is determined whether or not the model name ID and the function extension ID have been received (step S2). If not received, it is determined that these IDs have not been transmitted, and the model in the variable area of the memory 61 is determined. All “0” s are stored in both the name ID area and the function extension ID area (step S4). On the other hand, if the model name ID and the function extension ID have been received, they are stored in the model name ID area and the function extension ID area of the variable area of the memory 61, respectively (step S3). This completes the reception process.

  It should be noted that all the variable areas in the memory 61 may first be cleared (set to “0”), and the process of step S4 may be omitted instead. Also by this, when the model name ID and the function extension ID are not transmitted, the model name ID area and the function extension ID area of the variable area of the memory 61 can all be set to zero.

  In the example of FIG. 1 and no. 2, “10” is stored in the device ID area, and the model name ID and the function extension ID are not transmitted. Therefore, “00” is stored in the model name ID area and the function extension ID area. No. 3, “10” is stored in the device ID area, “01” is stored in the model name ID area, and “00” is stored in the function extension ID area. No. 4, “10” is stored in the device ID area, “00” is stored in the model name ID area, and “02” is stored in the function extension ID area.

  Next, the processing operation by the control function unit 62 will be described. The control function unit 62 reads data from the device ID area of the variable area of the memory 61, and determines whether this is “10” (step S10). If it is not “10”, the process proceeds to another process. On the other hand, if “10”, data is read from the function expansion ID area of the variable area of the memory 61, and it is determined whether or not this is “00” (step S11). If “00”, the process proceeds to step S12 to execute control of a predetermined function [00]. On the other hand, if it is not “00”, the process proceeds to step S13 to execute control of a predetermined function [02].

  In the above example, no. Since the data read from the function expansion ID area when the four liquid feeding units are connected to the system controller is “02”, the control of the function [02] is executed. Other No. 1-No. When the three liquid-feeding units are connected to the system controller, the data read from the function expansion ID area is “00”, so the function [00] is controlled. For example, in the case of the function [00], the flow range of 0.10 to 10.00 [mL] is checked, and in the case of the function [02], the flow range of 0.01 to 10.00 [mL] is checked. The control content in the system controller 6 is changed so that a check is performed.

  Next, the processing operation by the display function unit 63 will be described. The display function unit 63 reads the data from the device ID area of the variable area of the memory 61, and determines whether this is “10” (step S20). If it is not “10”, the process proceeds to another process. On the other hand, if “10”, data is read from the model name ID area of the variable area of the memory 61, and it is determined whether or not this is “00” (step S21). If “00”, the process proceeds to step S22, where “Pump-1A” is selected as character information corresponding to “00” and displayed in the model name display field of the display unit 64. On the other hand, if it is not “00”, the process proceeds to step S 23, where “Pump-1B” is selected as character information corresponding to other than “00” and displayed in the model name display field of the display unit 64.

  In the above example, no. Since the data read from the model name ID area when the three liquid feeding units are connected to the system controller is “01” and other than “00”, “Pump-1B” is displayed. Other No. 1, no. 2, no. When the liquid supply unit 4 is connected to the system controller, the data read from the model name ID area is “00”, so “Pump-1A” is displayed.

  As described above, in the system controller 6 in the LC analysis system according to this embodiment, the control function unit 62 determines the control based on the device ID and the function expansion ID, and the display function unit 63 displays based on the model name ID. decide. That is, the functions of the control function unit 62 and the display function unit 63 are independent. When a liquid feeding unit in which only the model name ID is changed as shown in FIG. 3 is newly put on the market, the F / W on the system controller 6 side displays without changing the part related to the control function unit 62 at all. This can be handled by changing only the part related to the function part 63. Also, for example, No. When the liquid supply unit to which the extended function is added without changing the model name as shown in 4 is newly put on the market, the F / W on the system controller 6 side completely changes the part related to the display function unit 63. It is possible to cope with this by changing only the part related to the control function unit 62.

  On the other hand, as described above, the system controller 6 in which the F / W change for the display function unit 63 and the control function unit 62 is not performed and 3 or No. 4 is connected to at least No. 4 liquid feeding unit. Since the same display and control as when one liquid feeding unit is connected are guaranteed, the minimum function can be achieved without causing malfunction or runaway of the apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, the processing between the liquid feeding unit 2 and the system controller 6 has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained by adopting the same method for the system controller 6 and other analysis units. Of course. Further, for example, the same processing can be performed between each analysis unit and the computer 8 via the system controller 6 instead of between each analysis unit and the system controller 6.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an LC analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The functional block diagram of the principal part about the liquid feeding unit and system controller in LC analysis system of FIG. The figure which shows a part of specification about four different liquid feeding units. The conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between the change of the actual F / W in the example of FIG. 3, and the change of a version number. 3 is a flowchart of reception processing performed by a communication control unit of the system controller shown in FIG. The flowchart of the control operation similarly performed in the control function part of a system controller. The flowchart of the display operation similarly performed by the display function part of a system controller.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Analyzer 2 ... Liquid feeding unit 3 ... Autosampler 4 ... Column oven 5 ... Detector 6 ... System controller 7 ... Network line 8 ... Computer 20, 60 ... Communication control part 21 ... Information holding part 61 ... Memory 62 ... Control Function unit 63 ... Display function unit 64 ... Display unit

Claims (2)

Analysis comprising one or a plurality of analysis units operating in conjunction with each other for performing chemical or physical analysis, and a control unit connected via a communication line to control the one or more analysis units In the system,
Each analysis unit is
Display information for displaying the model name of the analysis unit or information corresponding thereto, control identification information for identifying the unit when the control unit controls the analysis unit, and the analysis unit In addition to the basic function, in the case of having an addition / extension function, provided with information transmission means for transmitting function extension identification information for identifying the addition / extension function to the control unit via the communication line
The controller is
Information extracting means for receiving the various information sent from each analysis unit and extracting display information, control identification information, and function expansion identification information, respectively;
Display control means for judging the model name of each analysis unit based on the display information obtained by the information extraction means and displaying it on the display screen;
Based on the control identification information obtained by the information extraction means, the analysis unit as a control target is specified, and when the function expansion identification information is obtained by the information extraction means, also refer to the information An analysis control means for controlling the analysis unit according to a control program according to the control program;
An analysis system comprising: The information transmission means transmits display information, control identification information, and function expansion identification information as a set, and the analysis control means has no function expansion identification information in the information received by the information extraction means. 2. The analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is controlled according to a control program corresponding to one specified based on the control identification information by determining that there is no additional / extended function. .

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