Method for driving an electronic metering system and a metering system for carrying out the method

• US 6,778,917 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Original Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: Jansen, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US09/431,457
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 702/60, 702/62, 702/65, 702/45, 702/46, 702/47, 702/64, 324/76.11, 324/76.77, 324/116, 324/115, 324/107, 324/137, 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.31, 340/10.1, 346/14.MR
• US Class Current: 702/45
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0227 Details of motor drive means B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence

Abstract

A method for operating an electronic metering system with an electronic hand metering device which includes an electrical drive, at least one displacement device such as a piston drivable by the drive, a program-controlled electronic control, at least one non-volatile write-read memory, an electrical voltage source and a data interface connected to the electronic control, with a computer and a data transfer device. The data transfer device includes a data interface for connecting the data interface of the metering device to the computer such that parameters specific to the apparatus type, apparatus, user parameters, routines for carrying out operating procedures, the program and at least one programming part may be written into and read from the write-read memory and read from the hand metering device can be remote controlled.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic metering system with an electronic hand metering device comprising, a drive means comprising an electrical drive, at least one displacement means drivable by the drive means for metering the fluid, at least one of a program-controlled electronic control and regulating means for the drive, at least one non-volatile write-read memory, a chargeable electrical voltage source for the electrical drive and the at least one of the electronic control and regulating means enabling the electronic hand metering device to operate independently of the mains electricity and, a data interface connected to at least one of the electronic control and regulating means with an external computer, and with a data transfer means comprising a data interface for connecting the data interface of the metering device to the external computer;

wherein by the external computer via the data interfaces at least one of the method comprising the steps of;

one of writing into and reading from the write-read memory at least one of parameters specific to at least one of the apparatus type and the apparatus, user parameters, routines for carrying out operating procedures, the program, and at least one programming part by way of the external computer via the data interfaces, wherein at least one of the program controlled electronic control and regulating means falls back on at least one of the parameters, routines, programs, and at least one programming part written into the write-read memory for carrying out the operating procedures.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a contact to connect the data interface of the metering device to the data interface of the data transfer means such that the interfaces communicate.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of using a wireless connection between the data interface of the metering device to the data interface of the data transfer means such that the interfaces communicate.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of using at least one of a radio, optical connection, inductive connection and capacitative connection between the data interface of the metering device to the data interface of the data transfer means such that the interfaces communicate.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of remotely controlling the hand metering device by the external computer.

5. An electronic metering system with an electronic metering device with an electronic hand metering device comprising:

a drive means comprising an electrical drive;

at least one displacement means drivable by the drive means for metering fluid;

at least one of a program-controlled electronic control and regulating means for the drive;

at least one non-volatile write-read memory;

a chargeable electrical voltage source for the electrical drive and at least one of the electronic control and regulating means enabling the electronic hand metering device to operate independently of the mains electricity and, a data interface connected to at least one of the electronic control and regulating means with an external computer and with a data transfer means;

wherein the data transfer means comprises a data interface for connecting the data interface of the metering device to the external computer;

wherein by way of the external computer via the data interfaces at least one of parameters specific to at least one of the apparatus type and the apparatus, user parameters, routines for carrying out operating procedures, the program, and at least one programming part are one of written into and read from the write-read memory, wherein at least one of the program controlled electronic control and regulating means falls back on at least one of the parameters, routines, programs, and at least one programming part written into the write-read memory for carrying out the operating procedures.

6. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the data interfaces of the metering device and the data transfer means each have at least one of radio transmitters and receivers communicating with one another and IR transmitters and receivers communicating with one another.

7. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the data interfaces of the metering device and the data transfer means are serial data interfaces.

8. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the at least one of the program controlled electronic control and regulating means comprises one of a microcomputer and a micro-controller.

9. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the non-volatile read-write memory is a flash memory of one of the microcomputer and the micro-controller.

10. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the external computer connected to the data interface of the data transfer means comprises a PC connected to the data transfer means.

11. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the data interface of the data transfer means is connected to a an external computer integrated into the data transfer means.

12. The metering system of claim 11, wherein the external computer comprises one of a microcomputer and a micro-controller.

13. The metering system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the at least one of the program controlled electronic control and regulating means and the external computer comprises at least one of a non-volatile memory, a keyboard, a display, a serial interface and an exchangeable memory medium.

14. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the hand metering system has a charging interface connected to a chargeable voltage source and the data transfer means has a charging part for charging the voltage source and a charging interface connected to the charging part for connecting to the charging interface of the hand metering device.

15. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the metering device and the data transfer means each have common charging and data interfaces.

16. The metering system of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the program controlled electronic control and regulating means cooperates with the charging current control of the metering device for controlling the charging current corresponding to the charging condition of the voltage source.

17. The metering system of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the program controlled electronic control and regulating means evaluates the charged condition by monitoring the electrical feed voltage of the voltage source.

18. The metering system of claim 14, wherein the data transfer means comprises several charging interfaces for the simultaneous charging of the voltage sources of one of several metering devices and several data interfaces for the simultaneous communication with the data interfaces of several metering devices.

19. The metering system of claim 14, wherein the data transfer means comprises at least one charging interface for a chargeable electrical voltage source that can be removed from the metering device.

20. The metering system of claim 14, wherein the charging interfaces of the metering device and of the data transfer means and of the removable voltage source comprise electrical charging contacts connectable to one another.

21. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the hand metering device is independent of the mains supply.

22. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the data transfer means is a stationary apparatus.

24. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the hand metering device is remotely controlled by the external computer.

25. The metering system of claim 5, wherein the data interfaces of the metering device and the data transfer means have electrical contacts that are electrically connectable to one another.