JP3235514B2 - Analyzer system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analyzer such as a liquid chromatograph, which comprises an analyzer, an automatic sample introduction device for automatically introducing a sample into the analyzer, and analytical data including detection data of a detector of the analyzer. The present invention relates to an analyzer provided with an analyzer having a monitor buffer memory for outputting the data to the outside, and an external computer for receiving and processing data output from the analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as personal computers have become inexpensive and the number of application programs running on personal computers has increased, so-called personal computer systems using personal computers as data processing devices in analyzers have been developed. It is increasing.

In a personal computer system, analysis data including detection data from a detector of an analyzer is sent to a personal computer through some communication means, and the data is displayed on the personal computer and analyzed. In order to send the analysis data from the analyzer to the personal computer, the analyzer has a buffer memory with a capacity large enough to store the analysis data including the detection data generated by the analysis for several minutes. In general, the analysis data is not damaged even if the communication is temporarily interrupted.

[0004]

In an analyzer of a personal computer system, an automatic sample introduction device sequentially introduces a sample into an analyzer, regardless of the state of a personal computer, and the analysis device sends the analysis result data to the personal computer. Is sent. Then, even when a long-time communication stop such as a runaway of the personal computer occurs, the analyzer continues analysis according to its own program. The monitoring buffer memory usually does not have the capacity to store the analysis data necessary for one analysis. Therefore, when a communication stop occurs for a long time, such as when the personal computer goes out of control, the analysis data relating to the analysis performed during that time is lost.

Therefore, the present invention prevents loss of analysis data even when communication from the analyzer to the external computer is stopped for a long time, such as when an external computer such as a personal computer goes out of control. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to realize this analyzer system at low cost by not increasing the memory capacity of the analyzer.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows the present invention. The analyzer system of the present invention includes an analyzer 2 and an external computer 12. The analyzer 2 includes an analyzer 4 such as a liquid chromatograph, an automatic sample introduction device 6 for automatically introducing a sample into the analyzer 4, and a detector 8 of the analyzer 4.
In addition to the monitoring buffer memory 10 for outputting the analysis data including the detection data to the outside, the monitoring buffer memory 10 has a memory capacity for at least one analysis of the detection data, and stores the data included in the analysis data sent to the monitoring buffer memory 10. A storage buffer memory 14 for storing is provided. Then, the analyzer 2 instructs the automatic sample introduction device 6 to introduce the next sample after confirming that the accumulation buffer memory 14 has an empty memory larger than the memory capacity for detection data for one analysis. .

[0007] The external computer 12 is, for example, a personal computer, and receives and processes data output from the analyzer 2. When the external computer 12 recognizes that one analysis has been completed from the analysis data sent via the monitor buffer memory 10, it generates a clear signal for clearing the analysis data of the analysis stored in the storage buffer memory 14. After the restart, after acquiring the analysis data stored in the storage buffer memory 14, a clear signal for clearing the storage buffer memory 14 is generated.

[0008]

FIG. 2 schematically shows one analysis. A section A until the sample is injected is an analysis preparation waiting time until a predetermined condition suitable for the analysis to be performed by the analyzer is reached. The analysis starts when the sample is injected. During both the waiting time A and the analysis time B, data is sent to the monitor buffer memory 10, and data is sent from the buffer memory 10 to the external computer 12. A
The data of the section may be displayed on the external computer side, and need not be stored. The storage buffer memory 14 sends and stores the analysis data of the time B during the analysis. In the case of continuous analysis, when one analysis is completed, the system automatically proceeds to the next analysis.

The external computer is a monitor buffer 10
Keep data from. If the analysis has been started and completed normally, a flag is added to the data sent from the analyzer 2 to the external computer 12 so that the external computer 12 can recognize that the analysis has been completed normally. be able to. In this case, when the external computer 12 receives the flag indicating that the analysis has been completed, it is not necessary to newly obtain the data relating to the analysis in the storage buffer memory 14, and the external computer 12 stores the data stored in the storage buffer memory 14 at the end of the analysis. A signal for clearing data relating to analysis is sent to the analyzer 2.

The operation will now be described assuming that the storage buffer memory 14 has a memory capacity for storing analysis data for one analysis. When the external computer 12 recognizes, by a flag or the like, that the analysis has been normally completed and one analysis has been completed, the data stored in the storage buffer memory 14 is cleared, and the data is not stored in the storage buffer memory 14. Becomes In the case of continuous analysis, the operation is repeated every time one analysis is completed.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the analyzer. When the analyzer 2 confirms that no data is stored in the accumulation buffer memory 14, the sample is automatically injected by the sample automatic introduction device 6, and the analysis is started. The analysis data for section A in FIG. 2 is sent only to the monitor buffer memory 10, but when it enters section B, the monitor buffer memory 1
Data is sent to both the storage buffer memory 14 and the storage buffer memory 14 and stored in the storage buffer memory 14. The data stored in the storage buffer memory 14 is cleared by a clear signal from the external computer 12 indicating that the analysis has been completed.

If the external computer 12 goes out of control in the section A or the section B in FIG. 2, the external computer 12 does not output a clear signal indicating the end of analysis, so that the data is stored in the buffer memory 14 for accumulation. It remains in the state that was done. Therefore, the next sample cannot be injected into the analysis unit 4 by the sample automatic introduction device 6. That is, the data for the analysis remains stored in the storage buffer memory 14, and the analyzer 2 is stopped immediately before the sample injection for the analysis of the next sample.

When the external computer 12 is restarted and the analyzer system is restarted, the external computer 12 acquires the analysis data stored in the storage buffer memory 14, generates a clear signal, and stores the data. Clear the data in the buffer memory 14. By doing so,
On the analyzer side, the sample injection by the automatic sample introduction device 6 is restarted, and the analysis operation is started again.

Here, as an example of the operation, the storage buffer memory 14 has a capacity capable of storing data for one analysis. However, if there is room in the memory capacity of the analyzer, analysis data for several analyzes is stored. It can also be stored. In this case, the analysis can be performed as many times as possible after the external computer 2 runs away, so that it is useful for a sample that cannot be left for a long time, such as a biological sample.

In addition to the data from the detector, information during the analysis, such as the temperature of the oven and the pressure fluctuation of the pump, can be stored in the storage buffer memory 14 so that more reliable data can be stored. It becomes possible.

[0016]

According to the specific memory capacity of the liquid chromatograph, when the sample rate is 500 milliseconds and the analysis time is one hour as general analysis conditions, the memory capacity of the storage buffer memory 14 is Has a capacity of about 30 Kbytes and 1 K as the monitor buffer memory 10.
It is sufficient if there is a capacity of about a byte. As a result, it is very inexpensive and can stop the progress of analysis that can not retain data during the runaway of an external computer,
A highly reliable analyzer system without losing analysis data can be constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart schematically showing one analysis.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the analyzer according to one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 analyzer 4 analyzer 6 automatic sample introduction device 8 detector 10 monitor buffer memory 12 external computer 14 storage buffer memory

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An analyzer having an analyzer, an automatic sample introduction device for automatically introducing a sample into the analyzer, and a monitor buffer memory for outputting analysis data including detection data of a detector of the analyzer to the outside. And an external computer that receives and processes data output from the analyzer, wherein the analyzer has a memory capacity for at least one analysis of detection data in addition to the monitor buffer memory. Mochi,
A monitor buffer memory for storing data included in the analysis data sent to the monitor buffer memory; and the external computer recognizes that one analysis is completed from the analysis data sent via the monitor buffer memory. Sometimes, a clear signal is generated to clear the analysis data of the analysis stored in the storage buffer memory, and after the restart, after obtaining the analysis data stored in the storage buffer memory, The analyzer automatically generates a clear signal for clearing the accumulation buffer memory. The analyzer automatically confirms that the accumulation buffer memory has a free memory equal to or larger than the detection data memory capacity for one analysis. An analyzer system characterized by instructing the introduction of the next sample by the device.