Claims: We claim:
1. An interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system, the user interface comprising:
a touchscreen display; and
a control unit coupled to the touchscreen display for regulating a plurality of output devices connected to the laminar flow system, wherein the control unit comprises of two processors, a first processor for reading a plurality of parameters associated with the laminar flow system and a second processor for enabling regulation of the parameters through touch;
wherein the user interface is configured to be used in Bio Safety Cabinet and Vertical Laminar Flow Hood.
2. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters associated with the laminar flow system is read through at least one input sensor.
3. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured for visual indication of the parameters in real time.
4. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input sensor is at least one selected from a list comprising of a magnetic switch, a limit switch, a air velocity sensor and a differential pressure transducer.
5. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter is selected from a group comprising of face velocity, remaining filter capacity, temperature and differential pressure across filter.
6. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output devices is selected from a group comprising of a fan, a LED, a UV source and a blower.
7. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first processor of the control unit is configured for controlling a plurality of the output devices.
8. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured for visual indication of airflow condition, UV timer and generating warnings when a parameter deflects from a standard value.
9. The user interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touchscreen display is provided with soft touch buttons to change the settings, mute the alarm, allow a user to read the parameters and provide input to regulate the output devices through a soft touch.
, Description:AN INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE FOR REGULATING A LAMINAR FLOW SYSTEM
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention generally relates to the field of laminar flow systems and particularly to an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow in Bio Safety Cabinet and Vertical Laminar Flow Hood.
BACKGROUND
Normally, Bio Safety Cabinet hereinafter referred to as ‘BSC’, and Vertical Laminar Flow Hood, hereinafter referred to as ‘VLF’, are used in laboratories to perform product analysis and studies. The primary purpose of the BSC is to serve as a means to protect the laboratory worker, product and the surrounding environment from pathogens. As all exhaust air exits the bio safety cabinet, HEPA filter filters the contaminated air and continues to circulate filtered air to cabinet as well as environment. The VLF is a carefully enclosed bench designed to prevent contamination of semiconductor wafers, biological samples, or any particle sensitive materials. Air is drawn through a HEPA filter and blown in a very smooth, laminar flow towards the work surface thus provides ISO Class 5 Air consistently over the work area. During experiments on products in work chambers of the BSC and VLF, it is important to monitor and control the respective operational parameters for obtaining steady and proper work flow without any harm. Usage of hard buttons to control fan, light, UV light, a magnehelic gauge to monitor the differential pressure across the filter and a potentiometer to adjust the fan speed, is already known in the art. In one prior art, a system for displaying information related to operational parameters of a biological safety cabinet is known. The system is capable of monitoring the degree of contamination, loading of an air filter, velocity of circulating air and status of fan and light. The said system comprises of a sensor, a display, and a processor associated with the sensor and the display. The display comprises of a pictorial graphic having a series of adjacent arcuate segments graphically representing a range of possible values for the operational parameter between a minimum value represented by a first segment, a maximum value represented by a last segment, and incremental intermediate values represented by a plurality of segments intervening between the first and last segments. The certain disadvantage associated with this system is that it is less ergonomic and possesses less features.
Hence, there is a need for an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system that is ergonomical and cost effective.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the recited features of the invention can be understood in detail, some of the embodiments are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG.1 show representative screenshots of an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG.2 shows another representative screenshot of the interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system, according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG.3 shows a block diagram of a controller, according to an embodiment of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention provides an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system. The user interface includes a touchscreen display and a control unit coupled to the touchscreen display for regulating a plurality of output devices connected to the laminar flow system. The control unit comprises of two processors, a first processor and a second processor. The first processor is configured for reading a plurality of parameters associated with the laminar flow system and controlling the plurality of the output devices. The second processor for enabling regulation of the parameters through touch. The controller is configured to be used in Bio Safety Cabinet and Vertical Laminar Flow Hood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Various embodiments of the invention provide an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system. In one embodiment of the invention, the user interface is programmed to be used in Biological Safety Cabinet or a Vertical Laminar Flow.
FIG.1 generally show representative screenshots of an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG.1a shows a representative screenshot of an interactive user interface for regulating a Biological Safety Cabinet, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG.1b shows a representative screenshot of an interactive user interface for regulating a Vertical Laminar Flow Hood, according to an embodiment of the invention. The user interface includes a touchscreen display and a control unit. In one example of the invention, a Thin Film Transistor HMI Touchscreen .5 display is used for the Biological Safety Cabinet. In another example of the invention, Thin Film Transistor HMI Touchscreen 3.5 display is used for the Vertical Laminar Flow Hood. The tochscreen display includes soft touch operational buttons 101, soft touch menu buttons 103 and parameters 105. The soft touch operational buttons 101 allows a user to control a light, a fan and an UV source. The soft touch menu buttons 103 allows the user to change the settings, mute the alarm, read the parameters and provide input to regulate the output devices through a soft touch. The user interface is configured for visual indication of the parameters 105 associated with the laminar flow system in real time. The parameters 105 described herein includes but are not limited to temperature 102 of the work chamber, facevelocity 104 of circulating air, differential pressure 106 across the filter and remaining filter capacity 108 in the laminar flow system. The user interface is further configured for visual indication of airflow condition 107 such as safe and nonsafe condition, UV timer 109 and generating warnings 111 when a parameter deflects from the standard value. In one example of the invention, interlock is made to Vertical Laminar Flow Hood in such a way that UV source touch button will not be enabled until the UV protection cover is in place and both the light and fan are switched off. In another example of the invention, interlock is made to Biological Safety Cabinet through a program in such a way that UV source touch button will not be enabled until the sash is closed and blower is switched off.
FIG.2shows another representative screenshot of the interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system, according to an embodiment of the invention. The user interface shows the fan speed and the options (201 and 203) for regulation of fan speed. The fan speed can be varied through settings in the touch screen display. The control unit detects the signal from the display and changes the PWM signal to fan accordingly.
FIG.3shows a block diagram of an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system, according to an embodiment of the invention. The user interface comprising a touchscreen display and a control unit coupled to the touchscreen display for regulating a plurality of output devices connected to the laminar flow system. The control unit comprises of two processors, a first processor for reading a plurality of parameters associated with the laminar flow system and a second processor for enabling regulation of the parameters through touch. The user interface is configured to be used in Bio Safety Cabinet hereinafter referred to as BSC and Vertical Laminar Flow Hood hereinafter referred to as VLF. The user interface, described herein above briefly shall be explained in detail.
The interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system includes a control unit 301 connected to a power supply 303, a touchscreen display 305, input sensors 307 for VLF, input sensors 309 for BSC, output devices 311 for VLF, and output devices 313 for BSC. The control unit 301 comprises of two processors, a first processor 302 and a second processor 304. The first processor 302 is configured for reading a plurality of parameters associated with the laminar flow system and controlling the plurality of the output devices 311. The second processor 304 for enabling regulation of the parameters through touch.The touchscreen display 305 allows a user to monitor and control the operational parameters associated with the VLF and BSC through easy touch. The input sensors 307 for VLF includes a magnetic switch 306 and a differential pressure transducer 308. The input sensors 309 for BSC includes limit switches (310, 312, and 314) and the differential pressure transducer 308. The control unit 301 reads sensor input using current and voltage signal from the sensor rather than only one signal for improved accuracy. The control unit 301 reads data from the Differential pressure transducer 308 which gives differential pressure across filter. The first processor 302 converts the differential pressure data into corresponding remaining filter capacity value and displays both differential pressure and remaining filter capacity parameter in the touch screen display 305. The output devices 311 for VLF include fans (316, 318), a LED 320, and a UV source 322.The output devices 313 for BSC include a blower 324, the LED 320 and the UV source 322. The control unit 301 reads the signal from the touchscreen display 305 and activates the respective relay to switch on/off the fans (316, 318), LED 320, UV source 322 and the blower 324. The magnetic switch 306 controls the fans (316, 318) and the UV source 322 depending on the sash position of the VLF. The limit switches (310, 312, and 314) detect the sash position and control the UV source 322 and the flow rate of blower 324 in the BSC. In one embodiment of the invention, visual alarm and audible alarm will be generated when the differential pressure across filter, face velocity, sash position and temperature deflects from the standard range. In another embodiment of the invention, the whole laminar flow system is encrypted using a password.
Thus, the invention provides an interactive user interface for regulating a laminar flow system. The system has advantages in terms of full touch screen, easy fan speed adjustment, easy calibration, easy user interface, UV timer monitoring, digital differential pressure display, filter health display, alarm control and password protection.
The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the scope and substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.