Method and system for determining the topology of a modular analysis system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for determining the topology of modules in a modular analytical system comprising:
- a) contacting several modules with a central unit, wherein each module stores module identification information in a memory, and at least two modules are connected in series,b) transmitting the stored module identification information of the modules that are directly or indirectly contacted with the central unit to the central unit,c) interrupting a contact of a module to the central unit upon receiving a command from the central unit,d) transmitting the stored module identification information of the modules to the central unit,e) restoring the interrupted contact, andf) comparing the module identification information that were transmitted before the contact was interrupted with the module identification information that were transmitted after interruption of the contact and determining the topology of the modular analytical system on the basis of the comparison, wherein the method steps c to e are repeated with at least one other module until sufficient information is available from the comparison to calculate the topology.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to the field of modular analytical systems. The invention enables the topology of a modular analytical system to be determined without requiring additional complicated measures such as a system reset. The method/system is also adapted to industry standards such that CAN-busses can be used.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for determining the topology of modules in a modular analytical system comprising:
-
a) contacting several modules with a central unit, wherein each module stores module identification information in a memory, and at least two modules are connected in series, b) transmitting the stored module identification information of the modules that are directly or indirectly contacted with the central unit to the central unit, c) interrupting a contact of a module to the central unit upon receiving a command from the central unit, d) transmitting the stored module identification information of the modules to the central unit, e) restoring the interrupted contact, and f) comparing the module identification information that were transmitted before the contact was interrupted with the module identification information that were transmitted after interruption of the contact and determining the topology of the modular analytical system on the basis of the comparison, wherein the method steps c to e are repeated with at least one other module until sufficient information is available from the comparison to calculate the topology. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A modular analytical system comprising:
-
a central unit which is contacted with several modules, wherein at least two of the modules are connected in series and the modules each comprise a memory to store module identification information, a switch which can be controlled by a computer unit in such a manner that the contact of a module to the central unit is interrupted and restored again, wherein the computer unit comprises a control unit to control the switch, a memory to register the module identification information of the modules, and a computing unit to calculate a topology of the analytical system as defined by the several modules after the contact has been interrupted and restored again on the basis of a comparison of module identification information that was registered before interrupting the contact with module identification information that was registered while the contact was interrupted; wherein a contact is interrupted, module identification information is transmitted to the central unit, and the contact is restored for at least one other module until sufficient information is available from the comparison to calculate the topology. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification