 Version 1.0.1:
o Build version 1.0.1.1.
 Software changes:
 Start version new AP3900.
o Build version 1.0.1.2.
 Software changes:
 Bug solved decapper gripper closed before cuvette was placed into
the decapping unit.
 During calibration of sampledispenser the cover of reagent tray 1
position 1 will be opened to make it possible to place a reagent cup
when this cup is needed for the calibration.
 Time-out time DR3900 Photometer is increased to 30 seconds in
case of barcode delay timing in the Photometer.
 DONT USE VERSION BECAUSE OF BUG IN ROUTINE
WHEN PICKING UP SAMPLETRAY COVER.
o Build version 1.0.1.3.
 Software changes:
 Bug solved the robot sometimes crashes when placing a cover from
a sampletray to the park position for sampletray covers.
o Build version 1.0.1.4.
 Software changes:
 Bug solved cover not placed back correctly on trayholder 2 all the
times.
o Build version 1.0.1.5.
 Software changes:
 Drop on tip bug solved: When adding Acid(s) to the cuvette directly
after adding sample to the cuvette is could be possible a drop falls
down into the tip and this could affect the results. This problem is
solved now.
 Time-out time for reading data of DR3900 changed. This time now
can be set in the application setting on the tabpage “General” in the
box “DR3900”. This time is default set to 45 seconds.
 Calibration Results report modified: Actual correction is changed to
“Previous correction”. Now this field shows the previous used
calibration formula and not the actual used formula. If the previous
used formula is the same as the actual the text “Previous correction”
will be changed to “Actual correction”.
 Calibration Results report modified: In Calibration report window
now is shown if the calculated correction is in use or has been used
(Use correction button has been pressed). Behind the formula of the
“calculated correction” now the text “Used” is added if the
calculated correction has been used otherwise the text will be “Not
used”.
 Solved issue in “calculation run” to calculate total runtime for
normal run. During this simulation run the errormessage for the
tubesensoring or grippersensoring could appear on the screen and
this stops the calculations. These message are ignored now.
o Build version 1.0.1.6:
 Software changes:
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Excentric shaker unit implemented. Database needs to be
modified. Columns “ShakerPosition”, “ShakerStarted” and
“ShakerFinished” needs to be added to the database.
 Revision parameters moved from application settings to AP3900
configuration window on the tabpage “Revision”. The page is only
visible from accesslevel 4 (technical engineer).
 15 steps instead of 13 are available at test settings in application
settings window.
 Extra parameter “dZ placing cuvette in tray/pos” added to the
AP3900 hardware settings. This parameter can be used to stop the
set value earlier with the Z-gripper movement when moving a
cuvette into a fixed position or position in tray. This value was
fixed programmed in the past and set at 30 (is 3 millimeters).
Needed Firmware version 2 or 3.
o Build version 1.0.1.7:
 Software changes:
 Bug solved could not always add new samples to already loaded
sampletray. Message could appear not enough cuvettes are
available for requested methods/tests.
 Version 1.0.2:
o Build version 1.0.2.1:
 Software changes:
 Semi-Automated re-alignement function. With this function
available at the menu-item Tools – Technical Maintenance –
AP3900 – “Automatic” positioning realignement. In the opened
window you can select which items (trays / positions) needs to be
checked or realigned. After pressing the startbutton the software
shows an information panel with items like cuvettes tips and
reagents cups needs to be placed into the system at what location.
After confirming the alinement routine will start. The robot will
move safely to the requested positions and a popup appears which
can be used to correct the XY and/or Z position of the requested
position. After changing the new positions will be stored
automatically and the robot will move to the next position. These
steps will repeat till all requested positions are checked.
In this routine also an automatically realignment for the level
detection sensor in the reagents trays is implemented. If
realignment for the reagent trays is activated a message will appear
if automatically searching for the center in the reagents tray is
requested. If confirmed the robot will automatically search for the
center position in the reagent cups in both reagent trays and store
these searching results. This will make positioning in the reagent
cups easier.
Needed Firmware version 4.3.
 Automatically upgrading software. Starting from this version older
software version settings and templates will be upgraded
automatically if needed. Operator will see the software is upgrading
and will be informed after the upgrade if upgrade was succeeded.
 Import function implemented. Importing data from LIMS (with a
acsii based file) can be imported into a table and no further loading
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samples manually with loading samples window is not needed.
Documents with info to setup the import are separately created and
downloadable.
LCI blank errors. Automatically calculation if blank is out of range
according to set ranges at test parameters in application settings. If
out of range operator will be informed or if selected in test settings
robot will use nominal blank absorbance parameters to calculate
blank value and sample results.
Reprocess cuvette routine. Besides remeasure function the repeat
the measurement step of a test it is also possible now to reprocess
the whole cyclus of the cuvette. Software will show a message to
replace the cuvette with a new one and the whole process of the
cuvette is prepared and restarted.
New logging implemented. All logging information is changed and
is stored based onto the device which is be used and the type of
logging. Seperately a new application is created called logreported
to open the new logfiles. In this application logging data can be
selected/hides based on the requested info like the devices and or
type of logging data. The logreporter program can be downloaded
separately.
Lock position for dummy tube: In case of a reset of the photometer
is needed when a blank cuvette will be measured and the
photometer is into the wrong status and blanks will not be
recognized the AP will put in a cuvette into the photometer an will
get it out immediately. This results the photometer will switch back
to mainmenu and after this the blank cuvette is recognized correctly
by the photometer.
The message after loading a sample in the loading samples window
is removed.
Automatic cleaning routine with APA Acidic surfactant is
implemented into software. Software will clean the tubing with this
solution the set times in the application settings from the second
cleaning vessel and afterwards the tubing is cleaned with dilution
liquid above the first cleaning vessel the outside of the
stirrer/needle is cleaned into the first cleaning vessel. This option
can be selected in the flushing window and the preparation routines.
Also the option in the application settings can be enabled to do this
cleaning automatically at the end of each run.
Correction factor for dispenser calculations is changed to
“Correction factor Z” and calculations are changed on this
parameter value.
Tolerances for samples: Proposals page in application settings is
changed. At the proposal page you can set now besides the method
and the test also the multiples number and an overrange underrange
value. These tolerances can be used for sample validation. The
values will overrule the set ranges at the method settings.
Operational hours counter: Software is not counting the time the
system is running. This information is shown in the information
window of the software which can be opened with the menu item
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Help – About. Technical Engineers does have to possibility to reset
this counter in the information window.
In the information window also if defined in the application settings
some documents can be connected and opened. These documents
are called the Quick Guide, the Parts document and the
Maintenance document. If defined in the application settings and
available on the computer at the defined location operator can open
the document by clicking on the link.
Automatically starts (QC) run after running a preparation routine:
When a table is set ready for a run and the operator starts a
preparation routine an option is available in the setup for the
preparation routine to start the prepared run automatically when the
preparation routine is finished.
In the application settings at the profiles (proposals) page it is now
possible to define sample id proposals. When adding a sample id
proposal select first the method proposal you want to connect in the
list above and then add a new proposal id. When using this id in the
samples loading window you can select the identification in the
drop-down list with identification for Blanks and QC’s. When
selected the proposal connected to this identification will be set up
in the loading samples window.
In the toolbar of the mainmenu a new button (R) is added. With this
button operators can open/close all reagent covers for reloading
and/or refilling reagents cups.
Message in case of stop of the robot is changed. The text on the
button “Ignore” is changed to “Ignore and Continue”. The button
“Retry” is changed to “Retry and Continue”. The button “Stop” is
changed to “Solve and Continue”.
Correct cuvette information is shown when clicking on a cuvette
tray. Sometimes the wrong process status was shown for some
cuvettes in this window.
All text in the system used for cuvette trays is changed from “tray”
to “row”.
Routine move cuvettes into heater is changed. Robot will now
move down slowly the last few mm in the heater with a cuvette
with a very low power to avoid broken cuvettes when placing in
heaters.
Needed Firmware version 4.3.
When changing settings of the robot positioning all settings will be
stored in the logfile.
Solving issue expiry date information of reagent cups get lost.
Issue solved operators could not write into added columns by
operator. Add samples window was opened in the past. All
customer added columns needs to be recreated to make this option
works correctly.
Correct transferring of extinction, Turbidity and absorbance results
from photometer to AP3900 software and to the tables.
Inverted action in sample cleaning routine is corrected. AP did not
clean after processing sample when this option was selected in the
method settings in the application settings and this should work the
other way around.
 Bug solved wrong reagent cover was opened when two reagent
cups of one reagent type were loaded and first one was empty and
the AP needs to use the second one.
 Write/Copy/Export mode for added columns implemented. When
creating a new column and enabling the menu item Table – Edit
data. The copy mode can be selected when do a right mouse click
on these columns. A message will appear to enter the default value
in this column when creating new records. After the value is
entered a confirmation will appear if the value needs to be auto
filled in this column when new lines are created. In new added
columns the operator can change data without appearing the load
samples window. When setup the export save the new table a
template and use this template as export table in the export settings
and the these new columns can also be selected in the export
settings and the data of these columns can also be written in export
files.
o Build version 1.0.2.2:
 Software Changes:
 Solving issue the shown message the robot is busy with a
preparation routine and the cover of the AP was opened. In
previous version this message disappears when cover was closed
and preparation routine continues.
 Robot will stop a bit earlier when placing a cuvette into the vertical
shaker and the horizontal shaker. This avoid the bottom of the
cuvette will ticks onto the bottom of the shakers when moving with
a cuvette to the shakers.
Needed Firmware version 5.3.
 Activating a delayed sample into a already loaded sampletray when
sample was not available at start of run and operator will add
sample afterward when the run is started with the menu-item “set
sample active” in the popup menu of the table.
 Make “new tray” button available for trayholder if no sample filling
is needed for processing sample/cuvette by AP. Till now the button
was locked when processing cuvette connected to sample in
sampletray.
 Issue solved re-measure cuvette function was not working properly
anymore in software version 1.0.2.1.
 Correct reading of auto startup/shutdown heaters timing settings
when loading settings for first time after new installation or
upgrade. (Italian language settings using dot symbol for dates and
this occur unneeded error message).
 Correct movements to reagent cups with level detection if tray is
not straight positioned according to YZ bar. In the past the X
position of the first cup in the reagent tray was used during the
mainrun, the level detection calibration and the level detection
validation.
o Build version 1.0.2.3:
 Software changes:
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Issue solved level detection is not working in version 1.0.2.2.
At upgrade check for valid template/table names. Because there
could be several reason upgrade fails but the reason was already
stored in the logfile. Now also the errormessage shown this
information.
 Issue solved loading samples and appearing errormessage not
enough cuvettes available if for test a blank is needed like LCK414.
 Issue solved possibly appearing errormessagefor the reagents file
after upgrading the software.
 Predilution in Proposal list: Max number is changed to 999. Issue
solved the set predilution was not stored correctly and after
reopening the settings the value was set back to 1.
 Issue solved if you edit an prioritized sample the Priority Click will
be removed.
 Message to check photometer lid and tray cover prompts appears
before starting the prepearation routine and not afterwards.
 The language files will have some info to which window the
translation belong
 New separate program is created to upgrade selected database files.
With this program old tables can be converted to the last version.
 New feature to set/change the actual used temperatures of the
heaters by the operator itself. When enabling the heaters on the
toolbar with the “green led” button a window will appear. In the
window it is possible to change the actual set temperature to
temperatures the operator wants to have. This saves some time in
the morning. Operator could already start the heaters to go to
needed temperatures and in the mean time operator can create and
prepare a sampling table.
o Build version 1.0.2.4:
 Software changes:
 Issue loading samples and appearing errormessage not enough
cuvettes available if for test a blank is needed like LCK414 was
solved in V1.0.2.3. but after changing the software for this issue it
could happen loading sample trays is not possible If blanks are
needed for test and these blank only needs to measured. Issue
solved in this version.
o Build version 1.0.2.5:
 Software changes:
 Software modifications because of visibility of several windows in
software is wrong if Window 7 DPI screen settings are not set to
default. In this case the measurepanel the new samples window and
the printing settings window aren’t shown correctly.
o Build version 1.0.2.6:
 Software changes:
 Changing firmware for slow movement with cuvette into vertical
shaker to prevent for cuvette breakage. Needed firmware version
5.3.
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Implementation of the Excentrical heater: 2 positions heater which
can be enabled in the revision page of the AP3900 settings
window.Needed firmware version 6.3.
Changing firmware of shaking routine with vertical shaker. After
shaking the stop now exactly at the homeing sensor position to
prevent for cuvette breakage when moving cuvettes into or pickup
cuvettes from the vertical shaker unit. Needed firmware version
6.3.
Changing firmware of shaking routine with the vertical shaker.
After closing the clamp of the shaker when new cuvette is placed
for shaking a small delay of 1 second is implemented too prevent
the shaking is started with the clamp not (completely) closed.
Clamp is closed slower now because of mechanical implementation
of flow regulator for slower closing this clamp to prevent for
cuvette damage. Needed firmware version 7.3.
Modifications for the Excentrical shaker unit: 8 positions shaker
(old shaker config) can be changed to 4 positions shaker (new
shaker config) in AP3900 settings window by changing the nX and
nY in the tray definitions in the tray definitions page. Enabling the
usage of the shaker can be set on the revision page.
TnB routines changed: When aspirating sample from reaction
cuvette sample tubing can first be pre-flushed with the sample from
the cuvette. After moving the needle into the reaction cuvette the
defined flushing volume is aspirated with a defined aspiration
speed. Afterwards this volume is dispensed back into the cuvette
with a defined dispensing speed to mixup the sample in the reaction
cuvette. The parameters for flusing volume, aspirating speed and
dispensing speed can be set in the application settings at the page
“Methods/Tests”, subpage “Other parameters”in the groupbox
“Flusing parameters add solution to other cuvette”.
Solving issue the usage of tips is not loaded correctly after using
tips for calibration routines and software is closed afterwards.
Sometimes in these cases the correct tips info got lost and the
wrong info was shown.
 Version 1.0.3:
o Build version 1.0.3.1:
 Software changes:
 Issue solved when running measurements directly after heating a
cuvette and a blank cuvette needs to be measured first (only
measurement blank cuvette). This function failed because did not
pickup the sample cuvette from the heater unit but from the cuvette
tray and then an tube sensor error appeared. This movement is
needed for the 331 test which will be implemented in the future and
was tested by Ralf Kloos.
 The routine to read data from the DR3900 meter is modified.
Sometimes it happens all data was not read by the AP3900 software
and then wrong results could be stored in the table. This happens
for the LCI500 reading but could also appear for the LCK414
and/or the LCI400 readings. The software is modified to get correct
readings.
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Command window position control has been changed a bit.
Depending on the used revision settings (number of sampletray,
number of heaters, use exentrical shaker, use exentrical heater)
according trays and fixed positions cannot by selected anymore in
the command window position control because these trays and
fixed positions will not be used by the AP3900. When only one
sampletray is implemented only sampletray 1 needs to be
positioned. When saving changes the same positions will be used
for tray 2 in the configurations.
Issue solved shaking time for inverted or vertical shaker could not
be higher than 32 seconds. If a value above 32 seconds was used
the shaker start shaking but did never stop the shaking routine. This
issue is solved but firmware version 8.3 needs to be used.
Issue solved the unexpected overrange/underrange failures could be
calculated during the mainrun. I have found this issue comes from
an incomplete “Default” database in the settings folder (called
fields.abs) at this customer. This database needs to have the
columns “Underrange” and “Overrange” otherwise the software
thinks the columns are created by the customer itself as extra
columns in the table and then when the softwer creates a new line
after underrange/overrange failure and preparing a new test (by
example 238 for 138 which had an overrange) and then send the
ranges for underrange and overrange to the same values as for the
failed test (138 in this example). This will cause new underrange
overrange failures for the new cuvette of the new test (238 for
example) because after the reading the ranges for the 138 cuvette
will be used to validate the cuvette and not the ranges for 238. This
issue will be solved with this new version. After the first start of the
software the message will appear the software needs to be
upgraded and during this ugrade the default database will be filled
with possibly unavailable columns.