Debugging method and monitoring method for analysis instruments

• US 6,189,084 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Horiba Limited
• Original Assignee: Horiba Limited
• Inventors: Kurisu, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dzung C.
• Application Number:
  US09/111,356
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 712/1, 712/27, 712/227, 712/32, 712/11, 395/704, 364/104.9, 427/1, 427/2.11
• US Class Current: 712/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/362 Software debugging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program

Abstract

A method of debugging and a method of monitoring an analysis instrument are provided. A microcomputer of the analysis instrument is provided with a debugging personal computer connected thereto via remote communication means. The analysis instrument has detecting means for checking operation status installed therein. An operator debugs contents stored in the analysis instrument via the communication means after checking as to whether trouble exists in each device according to testing information provided by the detecting means.

Claims

1. A method for debugging an analysis instrument, the analysis instrument including:

a detector;

a feeder for supplying a sample to be analyzed to the detector, the detector for detecting the sample and providing an output of a detected value; and

a microcomputer with a storage device, the microcomputer for processing and calculating an analysis value according to the detected value from the detector and contents of the storage device;

said method comprising the steps of;

connecting a debugging computer to the microcomputer of the analysis instrument via remote communication means;

checking the detector and the feeder as to whether trouble exists therein by means of the debugging computer via the communication means; and

debugging the contents of the storage device with the debugging computer via the communication means.

2. A debugging method for removing bugs from an analysis instrument, the analysis instrument including:

an analyzing detector for detecting a sample and providing an output of detected value;

a microcomputer for processing and calculating an analysis value according to the detected value from the analyzing detector and on the basis of an arithmetic operation program for calculation of the analysis value stored in a storage device;

a feeder for supplying the sample to be analyzed to the analyzing detector; and

a plurality of detecting means for respectively checking the operation status of each device of the analyzing detector and the feeder;

said debugging method comprising the steps of;

connecting a debugging computer to the microcomputer via remote communication means;

sending testing information from the detecting means for checking operation status via the communication means to an output device of the debugging computer to determine whether trouble exists in each device of the detector and the feeder; and

debugging the contents of the storage device with the debugging computer via the communication means.

3. The debugging method for the analysis instrument according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

sending intermediate variables after the detected value is obtained and before the analysis value is obtained to the output device of the debugging computer via the communication means, so that the debugging can be done according to the intermediate variables.

4. The debugging method for the analysis instrument according to claim 2, wherein:

the storage device of the microcomputer of the analysis instrument and the storage device of the debugging computer are provided with program areas for storing arithmetic operation program files, condition setting areas for storing data and function files used when executing the arithmetic operation program, measured data areas for storing files of results of analysis;

the files stored in each area with area-identifying information for specifying an area to store the file;

said debugging method further comprising the steps of;

transferring files via the remote communication means;

reading the area-identifying information assigned to the files after the file transfer; and

storing files in the area corresponding to the area identifying information and transferring the file.

5. The debugging method for the analysis instrument according to claim 2, wherein said debugging step comprises the step of:

debugging the contents of the storage device when installing the analysis instrument.

6. A monitoring method for checking the operation status of a metal analysis instrument, the metal analysis instrument including:

a furnace for generating gas from a metal including impurities;

a gas concentration detector for detecting the impurities in the gas and giving an output of detected value;

a feeder for supplying the gas generated in the furnace to the gas concentration detector;

a microcomputer for processing, according to the detected value from the gas concentration detector, an arithmetic operation program stored in a storage device for calculating analysis value, thereby calculating concentrations of the impurity elements in the metal and giving an output of element concentration; and

multiple types of detecting means for checking the operation status of each device of the gas concentration detector and the feeder;

said monitoring method comprising the steps of;

connecting a monitoring computer to the microcomputer via remote communication means;

sending testing information from the detecting means for checking operation status to the monitoring computer via the communication means; and

sending the testing information to an output device of the monitoring computer.

7. The monitoring method for the analysis instrument according to claim 6, wherein:

the feeder has a flue for introducing the gas into the gas concentration detector and a valve for opening and closing the flue; and

one of the detecting means for checking operation status is a detecting means for detecting open or closed status of the valve;

said monitoring method further comprising the step of;

determining whether the valve is opened or closed.

8. The monitoring method for the analysis instrument according to claim 6, wherein:

the furnace consists of a combustion furnace for burning metals; and

one of the detecting means for checking operation status is a detecting means for detecting whether the metal is burning in the combustion furnace or not;

said monitoring method further comprising the step of;

determining whether metal is burning in the combustion furnace.

9. The monitoring method for the analysis instrument according to claim 6, wherein:

the analysis instrument has a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature in the furnace; and

one of the detecting means for checking operation status measures the resistance of a heater of the temperature regulator;

said monitoring method further comprising the step of;

measuring the resistance of the heater of the temperature regulator.

10. The monitoring method for the analysis instrument according to claim 6, wherein:

the analysis instrument has a transfer device for transferring a crucible containing the metal placed therein to the furnace; and

one of the detecting means for checking operation status is a detecting means for detecting the transfer of the crucible by the transfer device;

said monitoring method further comprising the step of;

determining whether the crucible has been transferred to the furnace.