Remote change of state for laboratory equipment
First Claim
1. A method for remotely controlling a fuel cell that is operated by a controller, comprising:
- transmitting a safe state command from a device that is not part of the fuel cell, wherein the safe state command is selected from a controller safe state command, a hardware safe state command, or a combination thereof;
receiving the safe state command at a receiver in electronic communication with the controller and the laboratory process;
communicating controller safe state commands from the receiver to the controller instructing the controller to execute one or more steps to improve the safe state of the laboratory process; and
communicating hardware safe state commands from the receiver directly to the laboratory process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a laboratory process operated by a controller. The remote control signal may originate from any one or more sensor that detects information that is relevant to the operation and control of a given laboratory process. Examples of sensors that could originate remote control signals include, but are not limited to, building smoke alarms, toxic gas monitors, and handheld remotes carried by laboratory technicians. A receiver communicates the change of state commands to the laboratory process, preferably to a programmable controller operating the laboratory process, directly to the laboratory process, or a combination thereof.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for remotely controlling a fuel cell that is operated by a controller, comprising:
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transmitting a safe state command from a device that is not part of the fuel cell, wherein the safe state command is selected from a controller safe state command, a hardware safe state command, or a combination thereof;
receiving the safe state command at a receiver in electronic communication with the controller and the laboratory process;
communicating controller safe state commands from the receiver to the controller instructing the controller to execute one or more steps to improve the safe state of the laboratory process; and
communicating hardware safe state commands from the receiver directly to the laboratory process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for remotely controlling operation of a fuel cell test station, comprising:
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a handheld remote transmitter capable of transmitting one or more change of state commands to the fuel cell test station, wherein the fuel cell test station has a controller and a plurality of process control devices;
a receiver in electronic communication with the controller and in electronic communication with the process control devices;
wherein the receiver directs the one or more change of state commands to the controller to execute a next step in a sequence of steps controlling the process control devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A method for remotely controlling a laboratory process operated by a controller, comprising:
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transmitting one or more change of state commands from a sensor that is not part of-the laboratory process, wherein the one or more change of state commands are selected from controller change of state commands, hardware change of state commands, or a combination thereof;
receiving the one or more change of state commands at a receiver in electronic communication with the controller and the laboratory process;
communicating controller change of state commands from the receiver to the controller instructing the controller to execute one or more steps to change the state of the laboratory process; and
communicating hardware change of state commands from the receiver directly to the laboratory process.
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22. A system for remotely controlling laboratory equipment operated by a controller, comprising:
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a handheld remote transmitter capable of transmitting one or more change of state commands;
a receiver in electronic communication with the controller and in electronic communication with the laboratory equipment;
wherein the receiver directs the one or more change of state commands to the controller to execute a next step in a sequence of steps controlling the laboratory equipment. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification