Converter-Computer System

Elllpsometry. The automated ellipsometer is essentially equivalent to that described by Hauge and Dill ( 9). Data acquisition and analysis was made through the use of a Digital Equipment Corporation MINC 11/23 computing system. The detailed description of the system was reported previously ( 8). The measured ellipsometric angles and 4 are converted into the... 

The IR intensity of IR flares is measured by using a radiometer which consists of both optical and electronics systems. The radiometer uses the optical system consisting of mirrors and lenses to collect the radiation emitted by the object and focuses this radiation upon an IR detector which converts it into an electrical signal. This signal after amplification is processed by the computer system where it is stored. This stored data can be displayed on the monitor and printed. 

The state-of-the-art laboratories are equipped with the latest models of analytical instruments and computer systems, while others may have older, less sophisticated equipment or a mix of modern and outdated instruments. The goal of production laboratories is to analyze samples in the fastest possible manner. To be competitive, laboratories must have fully automated analytical systems allowing unattended sequential analysis of samples and computerized output of analytical results. Data acquisition computers, programmed with specialty software, control analytical instruments, collect the raw data, and convert them into analytical results. These computers are typically interfaced with the LIMS, which networks different laboratory sections into a single computer system and transforms analytical results into laboratory reports. 

When in doubt about particular data values, it is always advisable to refer to the original literature values. Unfortunately, this does not always solve the problem since these values can have mistakes as well. One common problem can be the incorrect electronic file translation from one computer system to another. For example, certain software products (even by the same manufacturer) incorrectly convert micro from one system to milli in another. Another potential pitfall is the erroneous association of milliliter with milligram. At a density of 1.0, 1 ml of liquid weighs 1000 mg, or 1 g,... 

If a case report form must be used, the form can be scanned or faxed into a computer system. This form is then read using optical character recognition (OCR) and converted to raw data. The accuracy of OCR applications is high, but the data must be checked to ensure quality. The OCR software can have problems with ambiguous data. For example, the letter 1 and number 1 can look the same on paper. The elimination of the data entry step saves both time and money. Careful design of the case report form and good instructions to the end user will minimize entry errors. 

GEOTOX originally was designed for a main-frame computer system, but since has also been up-dated and converted into a personal computer (PC) system (8). 

The elements needed for an electrochemical computer system are common to other scientific areas, where a suitable transducer is available to convert the experimental data into electrical signals. Electrochemical measurements have a big advantage in that the electrical signals are directly available. A list of the software and hardware components might be... 

Fig. 10.12 Computer system for measuring fast-scan, low-resolution mass spectra, (a) Organization of measuring spectra. The MASDAT satellite controls the instrument and samples the signals from the spectrometer. The host computer interacts with the operator (MESS), writes final spectra (MACO) or unreduced spectra (TRADAT) to external storage or performs a calibration (MASCAL). (b) Hardware configuration of the MASDAT satellite. The spectrum signal is sampled through a logarithmic A/D converter controlled by a microprocessor. Another microprocessor is used to convert the logarithmic A/D result. (Reproduced from [36] with permission of Elsevier).

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