DE20113153U1 - Microprocessor controlled, electrochemical analyzer - Google Patents

Description

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Microprocessor-controlled electrochemical analyzer

The invention relates to a microprocessor-controlled, electrochemical analysis device, such as in particular a pH or conductivity measuring device, which has an internal, processor-based control unit for the device functions, at least one measuring input for supplying a measuring signal, input elements for operating the device and a display unit for displaying measured values and/or device parameters.

Such analytical devices are known and available on the market in a wide variety of forms. As part of the integration of electronic data processing into the monitoring of electrochemical processes, it is known to equip such analytical devices with interfaces for the transmission of measurement data and device parameters via a corresponding communications network to a central data processing station, for example a process control center. The disadvantage here is that the data transfer can only be implemented with a great deal of effort, i.e. the aforementioned interface with an external computer.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving an analysis device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that an exchange of data with external components becomes possible in a simple manner.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Accordingly, a data read and write unit with a removable solid-state memory card is provided in the analysis device.

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Such removable solid-state memory cards, which preferably have rewritable, non-volatile flash memory modules, are known as so-called "SmartMedia" memory cards, which are generally used for digital cameras, MP3 players, etc. These data storage devices have the advantage that they can store large amounts of data at a high density without moving parts, such as floppy disks or hard disk drives, and without continuous power consumption. Furthermore, such memory cards are robust, insensitive to dirt and can be used over a wide temperature range, so that such memory cards can also be used in tough industrial applications and in rough factory environments and, in particular, are also replaceable. Another advantage is the fact that the "SmartMedia" memory cards are commercially available products that are inexpensive and practically unlimited in availability. Due to their compatibility with other read/write units, the memory cards used in the analysis device can be read and written on other commercially available devices such as PCs, which is not possible with so-called "proprietary solutions" - i.e. special memory cards from individual companies. Due to the openness of the data system created by the invention, it is also possible, for example, to store the operating instructions for the analysis device on the solid-state memory card and read them via the analysis device on the one hand or a PC on the other.

Due to the characteristics of the removable solid-state memory cards, functionalities can be implemented in analytical devices that were previously only possible with a complex connection of the device to an external computer via an interface:

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Measurement data and device parameters, such as calibration times, error messages and the like, can be recorded simultaneously over long periods of time.

- Intelligent control can extend the maximum recording time by adaptively adjusting the recording rate for the measurement data and/or device parameters to the rate of change of these measurement data or parameters.

- The recorded data can be easily evaluated on a PC after the card has been removed from the analyzer. The evaluation can therefore take place in a completely separate location from the analyzer.

- By changing the solid-state memory cards, the recording times can be extended as required.

Since the memory cards have read/write memory components, information can also be transferred from the memory card to the device. Conventional removable solid-state memory cards, for example, are able to store the entire operating program for a microprocessor-controlled analysis device due to their storage capacity of several to many MB. This means that the control program can be easily updated on site, including the transfer of device presets, calibration data and software options.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be found in the following description, in which an embodiment is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Fig. 1 is a partially broken away, schematic front view of an analysis device, and

Fig. 2 is a top view of a removable solid state memory card.

As is clear from Fig. 1, the analysis device 1 in the form of a pH and conductivity measuring device has an internal control unit 2 for controlling all device functions. A measuring probe suitable for the respective measured variable can be connected via a measuring input 3, from which a corresponding measuring signal is fed in the usual way. Furthermore, various push buttons 4 and rotary knobs 5 are provided for operating the analysis device 1.

A liquid crystal display 6 is provided to display measured values and/or device parameters.

The analysis device 1 has a data reading and writing unit 7, which is accessible via a loading slot 9 arranged in the front 8 of the analysis device 1. A solid-state memory card 10 (Fig. 2) with a rewritable, non-volatile flash memory module 12 can be inserted into this data reading and writing unit 7. Its contact connection strips 11 come into contact with corresponding device contacts in the data reading and writing unit 7. This allows data stored in the memory module 12 to be read into or written to the analysis device 1.

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Conversely, measured values and device parameters are written into the memory module 12.

Claims (5)

1. Microprocessor-controlled electrochemical analysis device, in particular pH or conductivity measuring device, comprising - an internal control unit ( 2 ) for the device functions, - at least one measuring input ( 3 ) for supplying a measuring signal, - input elements ( 4 , 5 ) for operating the device, and - a display unit ( 6 ) for displaying measured values and/or device parameters, marked by - a data read and write unit ( 7 ) with a removable solid-state memory card ( 10 ). 2. Electrochemical analysis device according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid-state memory card ( 10 ) has a rewritable, non-volatile flash memory module ( 12 ). 3. Electrochemical analysis device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that operating program data can be read into the control unit ( 2 ) via the solid-state memory card ( 10 ). 4. Electrochemical analysis device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that measurement data and/or device parameters can be stored on the solid-state memory card ( 10 ) and recorded over a protocol period. 5. Electrochemical analysis device according to claim 4, characterized in that the recording rate for the measurement data and/or device parameters can be adaptively adjusted to the rate of change of the measurement data and/or device parameters.