A modular laboratory automation system for monitoring and controlling laboratory experiments, the modular laboratory automation system including a controller, an interface board, and a portable power supply. Power levels of standard laboratory equipment can be automatically controlled, and condition
A modular laboratory automation system for monitoring and controlling laboratory experiments, the modular laboratory automation system including a controller, an interface board, and a portable power supply. Power levels of standard laboratory equipment can be automatically controlled, and conditions and parameters of experiments can be automatically monitored and recorded. The laboratory automation system is modular and can be configured to operate with laboratory experiments having varying setups and equipment.
대표청구항▼
1. A modular laboratory automation system for use with laboratory devices configured in an experimental setup, the system comprising: a controller that is programmed to output initial control signals for controlling the laboratory devices;an interface board that receives the initial control signals
1. A modular laboratory automation system for use with laboratory devices configured in an experimental setup, the system comprising: a controller that is programmed to output initial control signals for controlling the laboratory devices;an interface board that receives the initial control signals and outputs voltage control signals based on the initial control signals, the voltage control signals being indicative of operational voltages and/or amperages of the laboratory devices in the experimental setup, the interface board also receiving monitoring signals from sensors in the experimental setup, the monitoring signals being indicative of experimental variables of the experimental setup, and outputting the monitoring signals to the controller; anda portable power supply that includes a plurality of power terminals, each of the power terminals being electrically connectable to at least one of the laboratory devices in the experimental setup, the portable power supply receiving the voltage control signals and outputting power to the laboratory devices through the power terminals, the outputted power being based on the voltage control signals,wherein the controller is programmed to receive the monitoring signals and output the initial control signals based on the monitoring signals such that the controller controls the voltage control signals and the power outputted to the laboratory devices based on the monitoring signals, andwherein the system is configured to be usable with a plurality of experimental setups such that (a) at least one of the power terminals of the portable power supply is electrically connectable to a first kind of laboratory device in a first experimental setup and is electrically connectable to a second kind of laboratory device in a second experimental setup, (b) the interface board is configured to receive a plurality of different kinds of monitoring signals from a plurality of different kinds of sensors, including receiving monitoring signals from a first kind of sensor in the first experimental setup and receiving monitoring signals from a second kind of sensor in the second experimental setup; and (c) the controller controls power outputted to the first kind of laboratory device in the first experimental setup based on the monitoring signals of the first experimental setup, and controls power outputted to the second kind of laboratory device in the second experimental setup based on the monitoring signals of the second experimental setup. 2. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a laptop computer configured to run software that processes and records the monitoring signals. 3. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 2, wherein the software enables an operator to input setpoints of the experimental variables of the experimental setup, and wherein the controller is programmed to output the initial control signals based on one or more of the setpoints. 4. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the voltage control signals from the interface board include analog and digital signals. 5. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the interface board includes a plurality of analog or digital input terminals and a plurality of analog or digital output terminals. 6. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the interface board includes a plurality of thermocouple input terminals. 7. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the interface board includes input terminals that are configured to receive monitoring signals from thermocouples, pressure transducers, and load cells. 8. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the portable power supply is electrically connectable to a power source of 120V or 240V line voltage. 9. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the power terminals are selected from a 120V or 240V power receptacle, a DC power terminal, a DC variable power terminal incorporating operational amplifiers, and a potentiometer terminal configured to incorporate a circuit that replaces a laboratory device potentiometer. 10. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the portable power supply includes a 120V or 240 V power receptacle and a DC power terminal. 11. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 10, wherein the DC power terminal outputs 0-16V power. 12. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 10, wherein the DC power terminal is electrically connectable to at least one laboratory device requiring an excitation voltage. 13. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the portable power supply includes a DC variable power terminal incorporating operational amplifiers. 14. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 13, wherein the DC variable power terminal is electrically connectable to at least one laboratory device requiring 0-15V and up to 1 Amp power. 15. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the portable power supply includes a potentiometer terminal configured to incorporate a circuit that replaces a laboratory device potentiometer. 16. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured for use with laboratory devices including laboratory pumps, laboratory heaters, chillers, coolers, valves, and stirrers, and sensors including thermocouples, pressure transducers, load cells, and flow meters. 17. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the first experimental setup is selected from one of a distillation experimental setup, a pressure reaction experimental setup and a solubility experiment, and the second experimental setup is selected from another one of the distillation experimental setup, the pressure reaction experimental setup and the solubility experiment. 18. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls power to the laboratory devices by using a plurality of different kinds of control mechanisms. 19. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of different kinds of control mechanisms include PID control, on/off control, setpoint control, percent power control, and timed control. 20. The modular laboratory automation system according to claim 1, wherein the controller, interface board and power supply are sized to have a total volume of less than about one cubic foot. 21. A modular laboratory automation system for use with laboratory devices configured in an experimental setup, the system comprising: a controller that is programmed to output initial control signals for controlling the laboratory devices;an interface board that receives the initial control signals and outputs voltage control signals based on the initial control signals, the voltage control signals being indicative of operational voltages and/or amperages of the laboratory devices in the experimental setup, the interface board also receiving monitoring signals from sensors in the experimental setup, the monitoring signals being indicative of experimental variables of the experimental setup and outputting the monitoring signals to the controller; anda portable power supply that has a plurality of power terminals including at least one 120V or 240V power receptacle, and at least one of a DC power terminal, a DC variable power terminal incorporating operational amplifiers, and a potentiometer terminal configured to incorporate a circuit that replaces a laboratory device potentiometer, each power terminal being electrically connectable to at least one of the laboratory devices in the experimental setup, the power supply receiving the voltage control signals and outputting power to the laboratory devices through the power terminals, the outputted power being based on the voltage control signals,wherein the controller is programmed to receive the monitoring signals and output the initial control signals based on the monitoring signals such that the controller controls the voltage control signals and the power outputted to the laboratory devices based on the monitoring signals, andwherein the system is configured to be usable with a plurality of experimental setups such that (a) at least one of the power terminals of the portable power supply is electrically connectable to a first kind of laboratory device in a first experimental setup and is electrically connectable to a second kind of laboratory device in a second experimental setup, (b) the interface board is configured to receive a plurality of different kinds of monitoring signals from a plurality of different kinds of sensors, including receiving monitoring signals from a first kind of sensor in the first experimental setup and receiving monitoring signals from a second kind of sensor in the second experimental setup; and (c) the controller controls power outputted to the first kind of laboratory device in the first experimental setup based on the monitoring signals of the first experimental setup, and controls power outputted to the second kind of laboratory device in the second experimental setup based on the monitoring signals of the second experimental setup.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Jaffe Herbert R. (Plainview NY) Mitzelman Irwin (Wantagh NY), Automated chemical milling process.
Pellegrino Anthony J. (New Fairfield CT) Mayes Earl C. (Brookfield CT) Sharpe Donald E. (Woodbury CT) Bantz George H. (New Canaan CT), Power supply for producing excitation voltage for an x-ray tube filament.
Ochranek, Brian L.; Arnquist, David C.; Oonuma, Takehiko; Tahara, Hirotoshi; Sato, Naoto; Smith, Bradley P., Automated diagnostic analyzers having rear accessible track systems and related methods.
Ochranek, Brian L.; Arnquist, David C.; Oonuma, Takehiko; Tahara, Hirotoshi; Sato, Naoto, Automated diagnostic analyzers having vertically arranged carousels and related methods.
Ochranek, Brian L.; Arnquist, David C.; Oonuma, Takehiko; Tahara, Hirotoshi; Sato, Naoto, Automated diagnostic analyzers having vertically arranged carousels and related methods.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.