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US 12,025,473 B2Granted
Method and device for determining an observable property of an object
AssigneeMettler-Toledo AG
InventorsUrs Jörimann, Urs Wüst, Andreas Dängeli, Moosa Abrahams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, as applied to a program-controlled measuring instrument, determines an observable property of an object. The program-controlled measuring instrument has a diagnostic measurement program that is executed by a user. The diagnostic measurement program stores data related to the execution of the diagnostic measurement program and maintains the data for remote transmission to a remote service entity.
Claims14
A method for determining an observable property of an object with a program-controlled measuring instrument, said measuring instrument being a laboratory equipment item for taking scientific measurements, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating an executable measuring program at the measuring instrument, wherein the measuring instrument comprises:
- a measuring device for detecting measured values of an object;
- a control device for controlling operation of the measuring device;
- and
- an evaluation device for determining an observable property of the object as a function of the measured values;
- wherein execution of the executable measuring program includes determining, at the measuring instrument, the observable property of the object by evaluating measured values of the object detected by the measuring instrument during the execution of the measuring program;
- and
- initiating a diagnostic measuring program at the measuring instrument, including:
- requesting a user of the diagnostic measuring program to establish at least one operating condition of the measuring instrument for measuring a fictitious object, wherein the at least one operating condition of the measuring instrument establishes, at least in part, a proper condition of the measuring instrument or establishes, at least in part, a state of a device component of the measuring instrument during execution of the diagnostic measurement program;
- after confirming fulfillment of the request by the user, executing the diagnostic measuring program completely, including executing the executable measuring program for the fictitious object, thereby obtaining data;
- and
- storing the obtained data at the measuring instrument for subsequent transmission to a remote service entity, whereby the stored data comprises the measured values of the fictitious object detected during the implementation of the diagnostic measurement program.
9 more elements
A laboratory measuring instrument for taking scientific measurements, said measuring instrument comprising:
- a measuring device for detecting measured values of an object;
- a control device for controlling operation of the measuring device, the control device having a measuring program and a diagnostic measuring program provided at the control device, the control device configured to cause selective execution of the measuring program and the diagnostic measuring program;
- and
- an evaluation device for determining an observable property of the object as a function of the measured values detected when the measuring program is executed;
- wherein the diagnostic measuring program provided at the control device, when executed:
- requests that at least one operating condition of the measuring instrument be established for measuring a fictitious object, wherein the at least one operating condition of the measuring instrument, when implemented, establishes, at least in part, a proper condition of the measuring instrument or establishes, at least in part, a state of a device component of the measuring instrument during execution of the diagnostic measurement program;
- responds to the request being fulfilled by carrying out a remainder of the diagnostic measuring program including executing the executable measuring program for the fictitious object;
- causes data associated with the execution of the diagnostic measuring program to be electronically stored at the measuring instrument, where the stored data comprises the measured values of the fictitious object detected during the implementation of the diagnostic measurement program;
- and
- maintains the stored data for subsequent transmission to a remote service entity.
7 more elements
A method for facilitating remote diagnosis of a measuring instrument, said measuring instrument being a laboratory equipment item for taking scientific measurements, said method comprising:
- initiating a measuring program electronically stored at the measuring instrument, wherein the measuring instrument comprises:
- a measuring device for detecting measured values of an object;
- a control device for controlling operation of the measuring device;
- and
- an evaluation device for determining an observable property of the object as a function of the measured values;
- initiating a diagnostic measuring program electronically stored at the measuring instrument, comprising:
- requesting a user of the diagnostic measuring program to establish at least one operating condition for the measuring instrument for execution of the diagnostic measuring program for measuring a fictitious object, wherein the at least one operating condition of the measuring instrument, when implemented, establishes, at least in part, a proper condition of the measuring instrument or establishes, at least in part, a state of a device component of the measuring instrument during execution of the diagnostic measurement program;
- only after confirming fulfillment of the request by the user, executing the diagnostic measuring program completely, including executing the executable measuring program for the fictitious object, thereby obtaining data;
- storing the obtained data at the measuring instrument, where the stored data comprises the measured values of the fictitious object detected during the implementation of the diagnostic measurement program;
- and
- subsequently, transmitting the obtained data to a remote service entity.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.