Patent ID: 7092843

Claim:
A method for suppressing statistically insignificant variations in data representing measured compositional information from a dynamically changing sample in an automated analysis system, comprising: measuring the compositional information using an analysis technique, including stimulating the sample, and detecting emissions emitted from the sample; receiving a stream of input values x[n], x[n−1], x[n−2] . . . related to the measured compositional information of the sample; determining a stream of output values y[n], y[n−1], y[n−2] . . . related to said compositional information, including: setting the output y[n] as a function of the received input value x[n] if the received input value x[n] differs from x[n−1] by more than an intensity-dependent deviation limit, and setting the output y[n] as a function of the previous output y[n−1] and the received input value x[n] if the received input value x[n] differs from x[n−1] by less than the intensity-dependent deviation limit, wherein the intensity-dependent deviation limit is maintained as a function of the input values; and presenting measurement results related to the output y[n] to a user via a controller.