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14 08, 2023

Enhancing User Experience in Liquid Duratec’s Partnership with 4D Systems

2023-09-29T22:45:04+10:00Categories: Appliances|Tags: |

Duratec, a leading manufacturer of liquid handling devices, services the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. They’re committed to delivering exceptional, accurate and user-friendly devices to their clients, spanning governmental institutions, research institutes, universities, hospitals and specialised service providers. The company was seeking a solution to simplify the control interface of their new devices. Here’s how 4D Systems helped Duratec launch a new product suite with an intelligent display module and user interface.

Outdated control panels and an opportunity to improve user-centricity

Liquid handling and automation offer significant advantages over manual processing in terms of accuracy, quality, and reliability. With the right components, single or multiple process steps can be partially or fully automated. This enhances precision and reduces the risk of errors and failures. It also frees up valuable time for end-users to focus on more valuable tasks. The user interface is a vital component of liquid handling and automation systems by ensuring the operator can interact with the equipment quickly and efficiently. However, Duratec’s existing devices relied on software or complex control panels, with outdated control methods hindering the user experience.

“Until now, our previous devices were controlled by software or older and more complicated control panels. However, customers demanded simpler and also more modern technology.”

Matthias Hönig, Duratec’s Head of Sales

Duratec’s goal was to enhance customer satisfaction by providing a user-friendly and modern interface for their liquid handling devices, while maintaining the capability to control them through the RS232 interface.

Solution: Choosing 4D Systems and the right display module

With a collaborative team approach to problem-solving, Duratec conducted their own market research to identify the most suitable solution and technology partner.

Duratec’s research led them to 4D Systems, who stood out as the ideal choice due to the comprehensive range of products.

After extensive research, Duratec selected 4D Systems’ gen4 range of intelligent display modules. Specifically, the SK-GEN4-35DCT-CLB touch display was chosen to address their customer pain points and deliver a better experience for their users.

After extensive research, Duratec selected 4D Systems’ GEN4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB touch display to address their customers’ pain points and deliver a better experience for their users.

The gen4 3.5″ Diablo16 Integrated Display Modules are part of 4D Systems’ latest gen4 series. They offer a 3.5″ colour TFT LCD display, easy Arduino integration, touch detection, storage, communication, and audio generation. Designed with ease of integration and use in mind, the gen4 series is built to prioritise space and functionality and minimise the impact of display related circuitry, providing an easy, intuitive platform for integration.

As Duratec were first-time users, they chose the starter kit (SK-GEN4-35DCT-CLB) which includes everything needed to begin development immediately:

  • gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB display module
  • gen4-IB interface board
  • 4D-UPA programmer
  • 4GB Industrial microSD Card
  • 150 mm FFC Cable
  • 5-way female-to-female ribbon cable with male-to-male adaptor

“4D had exactly the product we were looking for. SK-GEN4-35DCT-CLB has an integrated processor and is freely programmable. Furthermore, it has RS232 and I/O interfaces, which were needed early for the control.”

Matthias Hönig, Duratec’s Head of Sales

  • Powerful 3.5” Intelligent LCD-TFT display module powered by DIABLO16.
  • 320 x 480 Resolution, RGB 65K true to life colours, TFT Screen with integrated 4-wire
  • Choice of resistive, capacitive touch or non-touch interaction.
  • 6 banks of 32750 bytes of Flash memory for User Application Code and Data.
  • 16 General Purpose I/O pins for user interfacing, which include 4 configurable Analogue Inputs.
  • 30 pin FPC connection, for all signals, power, communications, GPIO and programming.
  • On-board latch type micro-SD memory card connector for multimedia storage and data logging purposes.
  • DOS compatible file access (FAT16 format) and low level access to card memory.
  • Full colour image display, including animations, icons and video clips.

Outcome: Projects powered by 4D displays

With the implementation of the gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB touch display, Duratec launched three new liquid handling devices: D-Drive Pump C30-X60, D-Drive Dispense C30, and D-Flow. These devices drastically improved the user experience with user-friendly touch displays, allowing customers to control, monitor and interact with the devices.

They showcased Duratec’s commitment to innovation and meeting customer demands, enabled by 4D System’s display technology.

Product 1: Flowmeter d.Flow

The Flowmeter d.Flow is designed for checking the accuracy and fluctuation of HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) or dosing pumps.

The Flowmeter d.Flow is designed for checking the accuracy and fluctuation of HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) or dosing pumps.

The measurement is volumetric by opto-electronic detection of the liquid level in a rising pipe. It determines actual liquid flow rate by measuring the time to fill a tube with constant volume. The time that passes between reaching a lower and an upper level is being measured and the flow is being calculated. When the upper level is reached, the rising pipe will be drained via a magnetic valve and the measurement starts again.

The integrated display (gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB) shows the measured value and the filling level. The measured values can be logged or transmitted directly via RS232.

Product 2: d.Drive DISPENSE C30

The d.Drive DISPENSE C30 SPS is a compact and high accuracy pump module designed for liquid handling applications in the range of 250 nl to 12.5 ml.

The dispenser is suitable for a variety of liquids, including aqueous, organic, aggressive, highly viscous, gaseous. The module can be controlled manually via the touch display (gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB), computer-aided via RS232 or using a PLC via the I/O interface.

Equipped with an active valve and a self-priming syringe, the module enables complete filling using the LOAD command. It offers 5 STEP functions that facilitate the execution of successive doses with adjustable parameters such as volume, dosing flow rate, start speed and end speed.

By modifying these dosing parameters, the flow and dosing characteristics of different mediums can be optimised to achieve precise and efficient dosing.

Product 3: d.Drive PUMP

The d.Drive PUMP is a high-precision, low-pulsation dosing pump for laboratory, process engi­neering and industrial applications for dosing from nl/min to ml/min.

The pump can be controlled via the touch display (gen4-uLCD-35DCT-CLB), computer-based via RS323 or by PLC via an I/O interface.

The pump consists of two individual syringe drives. While one syringe delivers the liquid, the other syringe prepares for the subsequent stroke, ensuring smooth and continuous operation.

The flow rates of the pump, depending on the assembled syringe, cover a wide range from 0.04 μl/min to 300 ml/min. The pump also allows for both finite dosing and continuous flow.

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31 07, 2023

Faster, Smarter, Stronger: Uncovering the gen4 intelligent displays

2023-09-29T19:59:18+10:00Categories: Display Technologies|Tags: |

gen4 intelligent display modules offer a modular design approach for simpler application development and faster time-to-market.

Embedded Displays: The Unseen Catalysts of Technological Interaction

Every day, we encounter embedded displays that blend effortlessly into our daily routines and activities. These displays, although often unnoticed, are discreetly incorporated into the complex devices we rely on, extending beyond just smartphones, televisions, and other large electronics. Whether it’s in our homes, workplaces, or public areas, these small but crucial displays play an important role in our interactions with innovative technology.

In our everyday coffee routine, we depend on the digital interface of our coffee machine to customize our brew. These tiny embedded displays, though often ignored, offer us a seamless and intuitive way to interface with the devices, effortlessly transforming a once complex process into a simple experience.

In addition to their domestic applications, these displays serve as the foundation for numerous industrial monitoring systems. Whether it’s ensuring machinery operates under optimal conditions, monitoring environmental factors, or managing production lines, these embedded displays offer essential real-time information.

In our ever more interconnected society, embedded displays are used by home automation systems to create intelligent and engaging living environments. From thermostats to security systems and automation interfaces, these displays not only offer crucial information but also enable us to configure and manage our devices. With their user-friendly design, they simplify the control and customization of our living environments in a straightforward manner.

However, it is crucial for manufacturers to carefully select the appropriate display that meets all the required specifications and interaction capabilities. Equally important is the inclusion of robust system-on-chips within the intelligent embedded display modules, as they are responsible for powering the entire system and delivering a smooth interactive experience to the user.

This article aims to examine whether the gen4 series of intelligent display modules, which are driven by processors from 4D Systems, are suitable for meeting your specific application needs.

The Family of gen4 Display Modules – What Are They?

After gaining valuable on-field experience across various industries, 4D Systems has successfully created the gen4 series of intelligent display modules. This versatile and highly regarded display platform has been developed based on widespread adoption of intelligent LCD display devices in different applications and the successful implementation of numerous customer projects in commercial settings.

The series comes with a diverse range of sizes and touch capabilities to cater to different needs. These modules are purposefully designed to integrate efficiently with a wide range of host microcontroller units and processors, including those with limited pin counts.

The gen4 series offers impressive features suitable for both industrial and home applications. They provide the convenience of choosing between resistive touch or capacitive touch options. Powering these gen4 display modules is the company’s own Diablo16, and Picaso, and Pixxi graphics processor, which delivers a multitude of functionalities and options for designers, system integrators, and end-users.

A compelling reason to opt for gen4 series intelligent embedded display modules is the availability of pre-developed and validated drivers, primitives, and GUI functions. This allows the host microcontroller to offload display-related tasks, freeing up system resources for primary applications. Consequently, users can concentrate their efforts on GUI design without getting bogged down in time-consuming low-level development tasks.

In terms of software, the modules are equipped with integrated development environments (IDEs) that simplify the GUI design process. These user-friendly IDEs offer intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, facilitating fast prototyping and application development without the need for extensive coding.

The gen4 series display modules adhere to a modular design approach. Utilizing this modular design, it becomes evident that application development becomes significantly simpler and more straightforward when compared to a discrete design. As a result, the time to market is reduced, enabling faster product deployment

Why Choose gen4 Human-Machine Embedded Displays?

In this section of the article, we will explore some of the noteworthy characteristics of gen4 intelligent display modules. These modules emerge as an ideal and go-to option for seamlessly integrating small displays into embedded applications on a large scale.

1. Powerful Embedded Processor

When considering a smart display module, the initial aspect to consider is the host microcontroller or processor, as it determines the module’s performance and efficiency. The graphics processor developed by 4D Systems offers exceptional functionality as both a standalone embedded graphics processor and as an interface to almost any host controller, functioning as a graphics co-processor. These gen4 HMI modules are equipped with 4D Labs Graphics Processors.

Designed for easy integration with a variety of OLED and LCD display panels, the custom-embedded 4DGL graphics controllers offer exceptional compatibility and functionality. Among these controllers, the Diablo16 stands out as a more powerful option compared to the Picaso and Pixxi variants. It boasts superior flash storage, random access memory, and graphic capabilities. This explains why 4D Systems offers a wide range of gen4 displays powered by the Diablo16 processor, as it enables impressive graphics, text rendering, image processing, and animation capabilities.

2. Range of Sizes and Touch Capabilities

4D Systems provides a diverse selection of display sizes, ranging from 2.4 inches to 7 inches, allowing users to choose the ideal display size based on their specific application needs. In terms of availability, the Picaso processors are limited and come in three sizes (2.4 inches, 2.8 inches, and 3.2 inches). On the other hand, the Diablo16 and Pixxi modules offer a wider range of sizes, starting from 2.4 inches and going up to the 9-inch format.

The next consideration is determining the most suitable interaction type for your desired application. These display modules present a variety of options, including non-touch, resistive touch, and capacitive touch variants. Capacitive displays are often preferred by manufacturers for their advanced and intuitive touchscreen experience.

When selecting the appropriate display type, it is crucial for users to assess the application parameters and the expected level of user interaction. This evaluation simplifies the process of choosing the right display module for their specific needs.

3. Support for Popular Hardware Interfaces

4D Systems acknowledges the widespread adoption of Arduino and Raspberry Pi hardware platforms across various industries due to their well-established ecosystems and extensive network of trusted design partners.

To cater to this demand, the gen4 series of intelligent display modules are fully compatible with both these popular and widely used hardware devices. This compatibility provides customers with increased flexibility and options to customize their displays, allowing them to maximize performance for their specific applications.

4D Systems has designed the gen4 HMI modules to efficiently integrate with almost any host processors or platforms. Recognizing the extensive utilization of Arduino and Ras