Control device for automated pipetting systems

A control device for controlling an automated pipetting system, wherein:

• the control device is computer-implemented,
• the control device is configured to control at least one actuator for moving a pipetting apparatus between receptacle devices for liquids that are to be pipetted,
• the control device is configured to control the pipetting apparatus in such a way that a specific transfer volume of liquid can be taken up from at least one of the receptacle devices, and at least a portion of the transfer volume of liquid can be dispensed into at least one other of the receptacle devices by means of the pipetting apparatus in a transfer step,
• the control device has an input device, and
• the control device has a display device with which at least one configuration interface is displayable, the configuration interface representing the receptacle devices as graphically depicted wells,
• the receptacle devices from which liquid to be pipetted is to be taken up by the pipetting apparatus being represented as source wells, and the receptacle devices to which liquid to be pipetted is to be dispensed by the pipetting apparatus is depicted as destination wells,
• multiple source wells and multiple destination wells are selectable in the configuration interface by means of the input device,
• multiple transfer steps and an order of execution thereof by the pipetting apparatus and the actuator are specifiable with the configuration interface,
• before the execution of the multiple specified transfer steps by the pipetting apparatus and the actuator, the control device is configured to analyze the specified order of execution of the transfer steps and the liquid to be pipetted in the transfer steps, and to automatically act to reduce material consumption and/or time required for the execution of the specified transfer steps by at least one of altering the order of execution of the transfer steps or combining multiple instances of the transfer steps based on results of said analysis,
• wherein the control device is adapted to determine transfer steps with compatible liquids during the analysis of the transfer steps, and wherein the display device is adapted to display at least one of the source or destination wells having compatible liquids in the configuration interface in a visually distinguishable manner and
• wherein the control device is adapted to be able to alter the order of execution of the transfer steps automatically such that transfer steps in accordance with which liquid is supposed to be taken up from the same source receptacle device or dispensed into the same destination receptacle device are to be performed immediately successively or the control device is adapted to be able to alter the order of execution of the transfer steps automatically such that transfer steps in accordance with which liquid is supposed to be dispensed into the same destination receptacle device and liquid supposed to be taken up from that receptacle device and dispensed into a different destination receptacle device are performed immediately successively.