Interfacing methods for use in inputting operator-selectable control parameters to a centrifuge instrument

• US 5,287,265 A
• Filed: 02/07/1992
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products LP (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Richard A., Mello, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US07/832,539
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 494/10, 494/11, 494/14, 364/188, 364/189, 364/745, 364/502, 364/709.01, 364/709.12, 364/709.15, 364/709.16, 364/710.01, 364/710.1, 364/710.08, 340/791, 340/792, 340/825.19, 210/85, 210/138, 210/141, 210/143
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: B04B 13/00 Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Programme control of centrifuges control arrangements for feed, charge, or discharge B04B11/00

Abstract

An interface method for inputting operator-selectable values for speed, temperature and time control parameter are disclosed.

Claims

1. In a method for inputting an operator-selectable value for an operational parameter of a centrifuge instrument, the value of the operational parameter being an N-significant digit number having a first subset of n significant digits and a second subset of significant digits, with n<

N, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) for the entry by an operator of the first subset of significant digits, causing the value of the first subset of significant digits to be displayed as the product of a first multiplier; and

(b) starting with the entry by an operator of one of the digits in the second subset of significant digits, causing each digit of the first subset along with the digits of the second subset as each digit in the second subset is being entered to be displayed as a product of a second, different, multiplier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second subset comprises (N-n) significant digits with n<

N.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first multiplier is greater than second multiplier.

4. In a method for inputting an operator-selectable value for an operational parameter of a centrifuge instrument that includes the steps of:

(a) upon the entry of the first significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that first significant digit in memory,

(b) causing the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(c) upon the entry of the second significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that second significant digit in memory,

(d) causing the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system while the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on the visual display corresponding to the ten-thousands place in a base ten notational system,

the improvement comprising the further steps of;

(e) upon the entry of the third significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that third significant digit in memory, and

(f) causing

(1) the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a place on the display corresponding to the hundreds place in a base ten notational system,

(2) the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the tens place in a base ten notational system, and

(3) the value of the third significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the units place in a base ten notational system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the improvement further comprises, after step (f), the steps of:

(g) upon the entry of an additional significant digit of the value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that additional significant digit in memory,

(h) causing the last-stored value to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the units place in a base ten notational system, and

(i) shifting the location on the display at which the previously-stored values are to be displayed by one place for the additional significant digit of the operational value stored that is in memory, and

(j) causing the previously-stored values to be displayed at their corresponding shifted place on the display.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the improvement further comprises, after step (f), the steps of:

(k) repeating steps (g) through (j) for each additional significant digit of the value of the operational parameter.

7. In a method for inputting an operator-selectable value for an operational parameter of a centrifuge instrument that includes the steps of:

(a) upon the entry of the first significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that first significant digit in memory,

(b) causing the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(c) upon the entry of the second significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that second significant digit in memory,

(d) causing the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system while the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on the visual display corresponding to the ten-thousands place in a base ten notational system,

the improvement comprising, after step (d), the further steps of;

(e) upon the entry of a third significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that third significant digit in memory, and

(f) causing

(1) the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a place on the display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(2) the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the hundreds place in a base ten notational system,

(3) the value of the third significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the tens place in a base ten notational system.

8. In a method for inputting an operator-selected value for an operational parameter of a centrifuge instrument that includes the steps of:

(a) upon the entry of the first significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that first significant digit in memory,

(b) causing the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(c) upon the entry of the second significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that second significant digit in memory,

(d) causing the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system and the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a position on a visual display corresponding to the ten thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(e) upon the entry of the third significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that third significant digit in memory, and

(f) causing

(1) the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a place on the display corresponding to the hundred-thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(2) the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the ten thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(3) the value of the third significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system,

wherein the improvement comprising the further steps of;

(g) upon the entry of the fourth significant digit of the selected value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that fourth significant digit in memory, and

(h) causing

(1) the value of the first significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in a place on the display corresponding to the thousands place in a base ten notational system,

(2) the value of the second significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the hundreds place in a base ten notational system,

(3) the value of the third significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the tens place in a base ten notational system, and

(4) the value of the fourth significant digit stored in memory to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the units place in a base ten notational system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the improvement further comprises, after step (h), the steps of:

(i) upon the entry of an additional significant digit of the value of the operational parameter, storing the value of that additional significant digit in memory,

(j) causing the last-stored value to be displayed in the place on the display corresponding to the units place in a base ten notational system, and

(k) shifting the location on the display at which the previously-stored values are to be displayed by one place, and

(1) causing the previously-stored values to be displayed at their corresponding shifted place on the display.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the improvement further comprises, after step (l), the steps of:

(m) repeating steps (i) through (l) for each additional significant digit of the value of the operational parameter.

11. A method for inputting an operator-selectable value for a operational parameter of a centrifuge instrument, the instrument including a parameter function control key and a memory

the memory storing a last-used operating value of the parameter, a first default parameter value, and a second default parameter value,

the method comprising the steps of:

(a) in response to the first assertion of the parameter function control key, selecting a first default parameter value in accordance with the following first schedule;

(i) if the stored last-used operating value of the parameter is other than the first or the second default values, selecting the first default value, or

(ii) if the stored last-used operating value of the parameter is the first default value, selecting the second default value, or

(iii) if the last-used operating value of the parameter is the second default value, selecting the first default value.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

(b) in response to the second assertion of the parameter function control key, changing the previously selected default parameter value in accordance with the following second schedule;

(iv) if the first default value of the parameter has been previously chosen in accordance with the first schedule, changing the selected value of the parameter to the second default value, or

(v) if the second default value of the parameter has been previously chosen in accordance with the first schedule, changing the selected value of the parameter to the first default value.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

(b) in response to the second assertion of the parameter function control key, toggling the previously selected default parameter value between the first or the second default values in accordance with the default value selected by the first schedule.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the parameter is temperature.

15. A method for inputting an operator-selectable mode for controlling the time duration of an operating run of a centrifuge instrument, the instrument being controllable to run in either an elapsed time mode or an indefinite time mode, the instrument including a time function control key and a memory for storing a representation of the last-used time mode,

the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a time change command upon the actuation of the time function control key,

(b) in response to the occurrence of a time change command, selecting a time control mode in accordance with the following schedule;

(i) if the stored representation of the last-used time mode is the elapsed time mode, selecting the indefinite time mode, or

(ii) if the stored representation of the last-used time mode is the indefinite time mode, selecting the elapsed time mode, and

(c) inputting an operator-selected time value.