Programmable device with a gravimetric measuring instrument, method of programming such a device, and software for executing this method

• US 20030136590A1
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Inventors: Gluvakov, Siegfried
• Application Number:
  US10/342,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136590A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/00 Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system with a gravimetric weighing instrument, a network interface, a network, and a computer, wherein the gravimetric weighing instrument can be connected via the network interface to the network. Executable on the computer is a browser application, and the network interface makes available a command application which, via the browser application, causes the representation on the computer of an input mask. Via the input mask on the computer, a program for automatic use of the gravimetric weighing instrument can be defined, the program being executable by the gravimetric weighing instrument.

Claims

1. System comprising:

at least one gravimetric measuring instrument, at least one data interface, and a computer, wherein

a. the measuring instrument is connected via the data interface to the computer, for establishing communication between the measuring instrument and the computer;

b. the computer includes an executable browser application;

c. the computer includes a command application for representation of an input mask;

d. a program defined via the input mask on the computer for automatic use of the measuring instrument is provided;

e. the program is made available by the computer; and

f. the program is executable by the measuring instrument.

2. System according to claim 1 with a network, the data interface being a network interface, wherein:

a. the measuring instrument is connected via the network interface and the network to the computer, to make available the communication connection between the measuring instrument and the computer;

b. the command application is made available by the network or via the network interface; and

c. the program is made available by the computer via the network and the network interface.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein for communication with the computer a standard IP-based communication protocol is used.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the command application is realized as an application or as an applet.

5. System according to claim 2, wherein the network interface contains an application similar to a web server, to make the command application available on request from the computer.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the program defines a measurement procedure which can be executed on the measuring instrument.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein the program is described in a programming language, in a form of script which is readable for users.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein a user-friendly definition of the program is made possible by the input mask.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein in the measuring instrument there is a control application, by means of which execution of the program by the measuring instrument can be controlled.

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the control application makes it possible to:

record measurement values which have been determined by the measuring instrument; and

/or

transmit measurement values to the computer; and

/or

control a peripheral device.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein the command application makes starting and/or stopping of the program via the network possible.

12. System according to claim 1, wherein the measuring instrument is a weighing cell.

13. System according to claim 12, wherein the weighing cell is a component of a balance or scale, a dryer, a comparator, or another instrument.

14. Method of specifying and executing step-by-step a program for automated use of at least one gravimetric measuring instrument, which is in communication connection with a computer via a data interface, the method comprising:

a. transmitting a command application to the computer, the command application being specific to the measuring instrument;

b. representing, with the aid of the command application, an input mask on the computer;

c. creating the program by means of the computer, depending on inputs which are made through the input mask;

d. making the created program available via the data interface;

e. automatically executing the program step-by-step in the measuring instrument.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the communication connection is via a network, and wherein the command application is transmitted to the computer, and the created program made available, via the network.

16. Method according to claim 15 wherein, before execution of the transmitting, the computer addresses the measuring instrument through the network using an identification, which includes an IP address, a domain name, or an ID code.

17. Method according to claim 15, wherein a network interface is present, and the created program, before being automatically executed step-by-step, is written to an internal database of the network interface.

18. Method according to one of claim 14, wherein measurement values which were determined during the executing of the program are made available for further use.

19. Method according to claim 14, wherein during the executing of the program, a reporting or monitoring function runs on the measuring instrument to transmit information to the computer.

20. Method according to claim 14, wherein the measuring instrument is a weighing cell.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the weighing cell is a component of a balance or scale, a dryer, a comparator, or another instrument

22. Software for use in a system with at least one gravimetric measuring instrument, at least one data interface, and a computer, wherein the measuring instrument is in communication connection with the computer via the interface, and the software executes a process on the computer, the process comprising:

supporting a representation of an input mask on a monitor which is connected to the computer;

supporting creation of a program in the form of a script; and

editing and/or saving and/or loading programs.

23. Software according to claim 22, wherein the data interface is a network interface, and wherein the system includes a network, and the communication connection between the computer and the measuring instrument is via the network interface and the network.

24. Software according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the following steps is executed:

starting and/or stopping a programmed procedure; and

storing and/or outputting captured data on the computer.

25. Software according to claim 22, wherein the process is an application or an applet.

26. Software according to claim 22, wherein the measuring instrument is a weighing cell.

27. Software according to claim 26, wherein the weighing cell is a component of a balance or scale, a dryer, a comparator, or another instrument.

28. Software according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the following steps is executed:

transmitting determined measurement values from the measuring instrument to a computer or a peripheral device; and

controlling peripheral devices of the measuring instrument.

29. A data interface configured with software according to claim 22.

30. A programmable gravimetric measuring instrument with software according to claim 22.

31. A programmable gravimetric measuring instrument with a data interface according to claim 29.