Surface Analyst (Device software) - Archer Release Notes

Archer Releases:

8.16.0.2

8.16.0.1

8.16.0

8.15.3

8.15.2

8.15.1

8.15

8.14.2

8.14.1

8.14

---

8.16.0.2

Improvement/Features

• Update limits used in 3 target Performance Check Routine

Fixes

None

8.16.0.1

Improvement/Features

None

Fixes

• Update water usage conversion when transitioning from drops to percentage during upgrade

---

8.16.0

Improvement/Features

• Supports New 3 Target Performance Check Surface and improved Performance Check Routine
  • FAQ article about New performance check cards and routine: Performance Check FAQ
• Water Usage has transitioned away from number of measurements taken, starting at 1000, to a fuel gauge style percentage denoting the amount of water remaining in the cartridge

---

8.15.3

Improvement/Features

• Ability to upload images
• Save an upload additional dispense information during purges
• Turn off lights during IOT Central barcode scan
• Add upload information and status in about screen
  
  

Fixes

• JSON upload stop after 24 hours

---

8.15.2

Improvement/Features

None

Fixes

• Pumps not turning on in response to "change cartridge" API
• 180 degree camera rotation with image averaging turning on result image flipped
• Duplicate entries in Image Processing menu after changing numerical values

 

---

8.15.1

Improvements/Features

none

Fixes

• Corrected how the profile merge feature handled the new "ProfileID" and "ProfileVersion" columns fields when merging profiles from older versions
• Diameter correction not pushing to all profiles when "change all profiles" was selected.

 

---

8.15

Improvements/Features

New Data Storage

Brighton Science added a new means of creating, storing, and sending instrument data. The instrument still stores, displays, and exports measurement data via the same options that have existed in previous versions.

Change BTG Labs Branding to Brighton Science

All references to BTG Labs were removed 8.15. Most of these references were replaced with Brighton Science. The exception to this is the first boot screen (the BTG Labs pulsing butterfly logo), which is not part of Archer, thus this must be updated separately from Archer 8.15 by service. EULA updated to reflect name change.

Performance Check Rollback

In 8.15 if a performance check is cancelled by the user or aborted by the system at any point before a passing result is achieved, the valve pressure and open time will be reverted back to the pressure and open time that was set before the Performance Check started. Previously if adjustments were made, they were saved immediately to the Default Profile and any linked profiles. Now the adjustments are only saved if the final card is completed successfully with a passing result.

New Rejection Reason Column Added to Results Database

The results database has a new column added that saves the reason if a drop was rejected. This data can be utilized to better understand if a user is having challenges with the drop detection. This column is not included in the CSV exports. The numbers in that column denote the following reject reasons:

Other items:

• Dynamic Detection can now use Image Averaging. This is an image analysis option that can help improve the drop contrast for challenging applications.
• Modified “robot mode” so that it no longer turns off the illumination between measurements. This increases the responsiveness of the SA7001 when integrated with automated systems.

Fixes

• Increased the allowable standard deviation within the pressure monitoring system. This eliminates the pressure unstable fault that can occur in some systems after sitting for extended periods of time. The initial set point was found to be unnecessarily restricting and the new limits showed no adverse effects to instrument performance and reliability.
• Corrected API communication errors associated with the implementation of non-modal modes in 8.14
• Decreased start-up timeout timer from 20 seconds to 10 seconds.
• Restricted user definable exposures to not exceed 984 as above this level is ignored by the camera driver, meaning there will be no changes to the acquired image.

---

8.14.2

Improvements/Features

None

Fixes

• Diameter correction not sticking when user updates values

 

---

8.14.1

Improvements/Features

None

Fixes

•  SA5001 Camera retry at boot causes exception 

• Portability option does not display mode in measurement mode when auto login is enabled

•  Crash in image alignment when images don't align 

---

8.14

Improvements/Features

Purchasable Option - Data API

A new set of connections have been created to allow the Surface Analyst to communicate more easily with external devices. These connections provide two methods of getting data out of the Surface Analyst.

Option 1 : Subscription (real time data)

• Users subscribe to specific message types which will then be sent out real time as the events happen. For example a user can subscribe to receive the CSV result line each time an inspection is completed. This API also provides status as well as image subscriptions.

Option 2: Result queries (historical data)

• Users query the results database to get individual records and images.
• Allows the user to receive any record which is stored on the Surface Analyst.
• Allows the user to do search queries to find particular sets of records which match their desired criteria.

These API connections are available using the same hardware and requirements as for the Control API (Used on the robotic and automated systems).

• USB to Ethernet Dongle.
• DHCP server to assign IP address.
• Text based commands using standard socket connection.

Performance Check Enhancement

This enhancement allows for an offset value to be defined and applied during a performance check. This value compensates for certain instruments slight variation of returned contact angle to the expected value encoded on the performance check card. This ensures consistent alignment to its calibrated performance.

New functionality from the user’s standpoint:

• The user will perform a performance check the same way as it has always worked and the see the same responses and display.
• Internally the Performance Check routine will use a stored offset to adjust the value read from the performance check surface barcode.

Physical Buttons Can be Used on More Prompt Screens

As part of a structural change to support the new Data API all of the dialog boxes were converted over to a style which allows background processing. This change allows many menus to now be run from the physical buttons on the body of the Surface Analyst (and buttons on the head of the 5001) allowing users to work with the system more easily.

NOTE: There are rules in place about which popups will have this new capability:

• Only Popups with 1 or 2 options. If there are three or more options then the touch screen must be used.
• Popups while in measurement mode
• Popups generated while entering measurement mode
• Popups while the user is in Menus 1-3

Settings Database Merge Functionality

This adds the ability to merge a partial settings database on the USB memory stick into the Surface Analyst settings database. This is similar to the existing profile merge functionality except it works on the settings database.

This can be used by service and support personnel to enable special features or change settings without needing the customer to enter MC commands.

Profile Merge Improvements

The profile merge functionality was improved to support the unique capabilities of the Gem Drop valve. The existing Profile Merge functionality remains for instruments which are not using the Gem Drop valve. Profile merge functionality allows BTG personnel to create a special database merge file which can be sent to a customer to update a device with new inspection capabilities. The customer only needs to put the database file on a memory stick and use the “DB Merge” function on Menu page 5.  There are two new types of merge options:

• Profile Merge Mass
  • File name “ProfileMergeMass-xxxxx.db” where xxxxx is the unit serial number (including the letter – exactly as it appears in the About Screen).
    • This is the typical use case for a standard SA5001 where BTG needs to send customers a new profile to adjust their detection settings and are not trying to alter the drop size.
• Profile Merge Drop
  • File name “ProfileMergeDrop-xxxxx.db” where xxxxx is the unit serial number (including the letter – exactly as it appears in the About Screen).
    • This is used when a new small or large drop profile needs to be added to a device and proportional drop calculations should be performed.

New Version of Surface Analyst Manager (SAM 3.6)

To support the changes in the CSV output format a new version of SAM has been released. This version of SAM should be used with data created by Archer 8.14.

Other Items

• Warn limits (Near Fail) has been added to CSV output lines (both USB upload of CSV reports and Data API CSV output)
• Inspections taken using the control API will always use SmartDrop regardless of the profile configuration.
• Purge screens have been harmonized to all use the fish logo and countdown.
• Pressure response errors which result in a purge now have a cancellable purge (helps when the device is not working properly and the purges are becoming a problem).
• Skipping the warmup with the service login now leaves the user already logged into service (so you don’t have to log in twice).
• Add kernel version to About screen. This allows engineering to tell if the new camera drivers are on the device.
• Added licensing information for the STM32 flash utility to the About screen. This was required by the ability to update the head firmware through USB.
• Countdowns have been added to purges to let users know how far through the purge they are.
• AnalysisOptions column in results.db now has contact angle and compactness values to 6 decimal places. This will show up in some of the columns in the full CSV output.
  
  

Fixes

• All items in the service menu are unlocked for all profiles (previously there were items you could not change on a locked profile).
• Change text of pressure fault in measurement screen to be more generic (over pressure faults were confusing as they indicated under pressure). Now reads “Pressure not in tolerance for dispense, please try again”
• Profile names with commas in them would cause the CSV output to have extra commas (which messed up the columns). Commas in profile names are now replaced with semi-colon for CSV output.
• Maximum and minimum pressures have been changed for the performance check for both regular valves (4 to 7.25) and VJ mode (Gem Drop valves) (2 to 5).
•  “Look at screen” lights and sounds have been added back in (removed from last release). This is supported by the change in dialog boxes. These lights and sounds happen when a dialog box pops on the screen and interrupts a user’s workflow in measurement mode. Only available on SA5001 devices. 
• Changes to the Performance Check for VJ mode (Gem Drop valves) to make it more aggressive in adjusting settings. This should make instruments which are out of adjustment get to the proper target faster (and require less measurements) which will use less PCS cards.