Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for setting energy saver sleep modes for use in a centrifuge systems. The centrifuge system contains an energy saver touch screen control which can be either manually set or automatically set to turn the centrifuge on or off at predetermined times. This allows the centrifuge system to be readily available to a user, resulting in lower wear and tear being placed on the major systems of the centrifuge and waste less energy.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to the provisional U.S. patent application entitled, Centrifuge Sleep Mode to Save Energy with Timed Start-Up, filed Apr. 19, 2002, having a serial No. 60/373,620, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to centrifuge energy consumption. More particularly, the present invention relates to a centrifuge sleep mode control system and method.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A centrifuge instrument is a device by which contained materials of different specific quantities are subjected to centrifugal forces in order to separate colloidal particles suspended in a liquid. A typical centrifuge set-up may include a centrifuge tube which holds a sample for separation. A plurality of centrifuge tubes may be located and retained on a rotor of the centrifuge. The rotor of the centrifuge is commonly configured to be contained in a compartment and spun about a central axis in order to achieve separation of the sample. A rotatable drive shaft may be connected to the centrifuge rotor in order to facilitate spinning of the rotor assembly. The rotatable drive shaft may be further connected to a source of motive energy in order to receive power.  
           [0004]    Centrifuges are currently employed in many industrial and research situations, such as, for example, laboratories. Laboratory ecntrifuges are generally operated by manual controls using various settings and procedures. The calibration of the centrifuge is important in order to achieve proper separation of particles within test samples during testing under controlled operating conditions. An operator may want to pre-set various aspects of the testing condition or indicated specific components coupled to the system of the centrifuge. This information could be further conveyed to a processor located within the centrifuge and be utilized for preparing the centrifuge to operate under a prescribed testing condition.  
           [0005]    An example of relayed information that can set up a condition of the centrifuge may include a rotor control used to set the specific size or type of rotor used within the centrifuge. This would allow the centrifuge to operate a given rotor assembly at preferred power levels. Different rotors are capable of operating at different speeds and are further capable of generating different centripetal forces. Such control would be preferable in order to operate a given rotor at a peak efficiency and prescribed rotational forces and/or speeds.  
           [0006]    Additionally, a temperature control and a timer control may also be set in accordance with a type of sample being tested. It may be important to maintain a certain operating temperature for the test sample over a given period of time. This may also include requirements for a sample to sit at an operation temperature for a prescribed time before and/or after testing within the centrifuge. This temperature would be regulated by the temperature control of the centrifuge. The length of time that the sample would be subjected to specific temperal conditions would be regulated by the time control.  
           [0007]    An operator may also want to apply the centripetal force generated by the rotor over a regulated time period. This, of course, would depend on the goals for testing a product and the test sample itself. Additional controls may also include conventional power switches provided on the centrifuge device to manually turn the unit on or off as needed.  
           [0008]    Thus, it is clear that the ability to control functions of the centrifuge can be advantageous to a user and the samples being tested. Having a greater flexibility to control the testing environment would yield a greater variety of functions in the testing capabilities provided by the centrifuge. While technological advances have made it easier to calibrate and control operations of the centrifuge, there remain some functions which still require extensive set-up or waste resources during “down-times”. For example, if a user desired to have a centrifuge readily available for testing samples at a pre-set temperature, the user would have to leave the centrifuge on during “down-time” in order to avoid any “warm-up” delays. This method of operating the centrifuge can cause undesirable wear and tear on its systems such as the refrigerator compresser or the refrigerator condenser. Additionally, an amount of energy is lost while simply maintaining a condition of the centrifuge without actually using it.  
           [0009]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a system and method that would allow a centrifuge to be readily available to a user without the delays involved with “warm-up” times and avoid excessive wear and tear placed upon the internal hardware components of the centrifuge. It would also be desirable to conserve energy during down times.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention. The present invention overcomes the prior art problems, at least to a great extent, by utilizing an energy saver touch screen control, which can be either manually set or automatically set to turn the centrifuge on or off at predetermined times.  
           [0011]    It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a separation device that includes a centrifuge having system components and a controller that activates and/or deactivates a sleep mode of the system components. The sleep mode activation and/or deactivation is enabled manually or automatically. The sleep mode may be enabled and/or disabled based upon a specific time and/or date. Additionally, the system components of the centrifuge operate at low power when the sleep mode is enabled. The system components may include at least one of a drive motor, a refrigerator compressor, and a refrigeration condenser. The controller may include a computer system operated by a software protocol. A computer touch screen may be coupled to the computer system in order to implement the software protocol to enable and/or disabled the sleep mode.  
           [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, a method of regulating power consumption in a separation device having system components includes regulating the power consumption of the system components by coupling a controller to the system components. The method further includes activating the controller to enable and/or disable a sleep mode of the centrifuge in order to regulate the power consumption of the system components. Activating the controller may include operating a user interface of the controller. The user interface may comprise a computer touch screen. The method may include programming the computer touch screen to permit a software protocol to enable and/or disable the sleep mode of the centrifuge. Such enablement of the sleep mode may be based upon a specific time and/or date.  
           [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, a separation system includes providing a centrifuge having system components and a means for controlling activation and/or deactivation of a sleep mode of the system components. The system may further include a means for manually or automatically activating and/or deactivating the sleep mode. The activation and/or deactivation of the sleep mode may be based upon a specific time and/or date. The system also provides a means for interfacing with the means for controlling.  
           [0014]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
           [0015]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
           [0016]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a centrifuge in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is an internal layout view of the centrifuge shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the console of the centrifuge in shown FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a screen interface of one preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the energy saver protocols.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a screen interface of one preferred embodiment of the present invention showing that the centrifuge system is asleep.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    The present invention provides a system and method including an energy saver touch screen control which can be coupled to a centrifuge device. Embodiments of the invention can allow the centrifuge to be readily accessible to a user without delays associated with “warm-up” times and avoid excessive wear and tear upon internal components of the centrifuge. Some embodiments also preserve energy during down times.  
         [0023]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout. Referring to FIG. 1, a centrifuge  10  includes a centrifuge housing  12  which encapsulates various hardware systems of the centrifuge  10 . Connected to the centrifuge housing  12  is a control console  16 . The control console  16  may be tiltably adjustable with respect to the centrifuge housing  12  in order to accommodate various operators in different positions relative to an interface  17  of the control console  16 .  
         [0024]    Access to the centrifuge chamber may be gained through the door  12 . This can be achieved by simply sliding the handle  14  back towards the control console  16 . The internal components of the centrifuge  10  may include a variety of hardware components. A major purpose of such components would allow the centrifuge  10  to subject test samples to centrifugal forces. An additional purpose of the centrifuge components may include regulating the operating temperature of test samples. In a drive motor  20  is controlled by drive motor power electronics  18 . Additional system components may include a refrigeration compressor  22 , a refrigeration condenser  24  and cooling fans  26 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 illustrates additional hardware components of the centrifuge  10 . A centrifuge chamber  28  contains a centrifuge rotor  30  which is further connected to a drive motor  20 . The centrifuge rotor  30  is capable of retaining centrifuge tubes  32 . The centrifuge tubes  32  hold test samples to be subjugated to the separation process. In operation, the centrifuge rotor  30  is configured to be contained in the centrifuge chamber  28 . The centrifuge tubes  32  (containing test samples) may be spun about a central axis, via centrifuge rotor  30 , to achieve separation of the sample.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 provides a closer view of the control console  16  used to calibrate the centrifuge  10 . The control console interface  17  of the control console  16  includes various control knobs, switches, and warning indicators. The control knobs and switches can be set to predetermined test parameters by an operator. The predetermined test parameters control how test samples, located within the centrifuge tubes  32 , are tested by the centrifuge  10 . Examples of test information, which may be set by an operator, include setting the run time of the centrifuge  10 . It may also be important to indicate which model rotor is installed in the centrifuge  10 . Furthermore, operator may want to set the revolutions per minute (RPM) that the centrifuge rotor  30  achieves during testing of the test sample.  
         [0027]    The control console interface  16  of the control console  17  often is also be configured to allow an operator to regulate the temperature of the centrifuge chamber  28  during testing. The control console interface  16  often is also configured to allow an operator to regulate the acceleration and/or deceleration of the rotor during testing.  
         [0028]    A touch screen interface  34  often may also be integrated into the control console interface  17 . As depicted in FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a touch screen interface  34  which may be integrated directly on the control console interface  17 . The touch screen interface  34  is preferably configured to allow a user the option to disable the power of the centrifuge  10 . At the next usage, the user can reapply power by enabling the centrifuge, and wait for the centrifuge to reach an operating temperature.  
         [0029]    The present invention allows the centrifuge operator to program a time of day when the centrifuge will enter a sleep mode. The centrifuge sleep mode enables or disables various components of the centrifuge system. This may include, for example, the drive motor  20 , the drive motor power electronics  18 , the refrigerator compressor  22 , the refrigerator condenser  24  and cooling fans  26 . The sleep mode reduces power consumption while allowing the system components of the centrifuge to remain energized at a lower energy state. The operator is in control of when the centrifuge will exit sleep mode thereby making all centrifuge systems such as the motor, refrigeration and, compressor re-energize and fully operational again.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 4, the energy saver mode function of the touch screen  36  allows the centrifuge to be placed in a dormant “sleep” condition and operates in one of three ways. First, if “Sleep Now” is selected with “Scheduled Sleep” disabled, the centrifuge will immediately go into sleep mode and will remain sleeping until it is manually awakened. Second, if “Sleep Now” is selected with “Scheduled Sleep” enabled, the centrifuge will immediately go to sleep and will remain sleeping until it either automatically awakens at a specified time of day or until it is manually awakened before the wake time is reached.  
         [0031]    Third, if “Scheduled Sleep” is enabled and “Sleep Now” has not been selected, the centrifuge will automatically go to sleep at a specified time of day and will remain sleeping until it either automatically awakens at a different specified time of day or until it is manually awakened before the wake time is reached.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 5, during sleep mode, the touch screen  38  indicates that the centrifuge is in a powered-down state. In a powered-down state, various components of the centrifuge system operate under low power. This may include, for example, the drive motor  20 , the drive motor power electronics  18 , the refrigerator compressor  22  and the refrigerator condenser  24 . In sleep mode, power consumption is reduced while allowing the system components to remain energized at a lower energy state. However, the touch screen interface  34  will remain lit and the cooling fans  26  for the drive module and motor will continue to run. Operation of the cooling fans  26  is important in order to maintain an operating temperature of the test samples. Once in the sleep energy mode, the sleeping centrifuge may be awakened at any time by touching the “Wake” button on the touch screen  38 . This operation will restore full power to any system components that were in a reduced or power state in sleep mode.  
         [0033]    By utilizing the sleep mode of the centrifuge, the excessive wear and tear on the major systems of the centrifuge are often greatly reduced. In addition, delays and wasted energy associated with “warm-up” times are also typically greatly reduced.  
         [0034]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirits and cope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.