Setting up channels for pass-through gates

About this topic

Some automation systems have an environmental-control option that creates fully contained environments within the system chamber. Automated pass-through gates can be used to permit labware to move between the system and external devices while maintaining the enclosed environment. External devices include an incubator or waste bin below the laboratory table.

For each separated device that sits just beyond a pass-through gate, make sure you:

•

Set up the signals for the gate in the I/O device. For each gate, two input signals and one output signal are required. One input signal is used to detect whether the gate is open. Another input signal is used to detect whether the gate is closed. The output signal is used to open or close the gate, depending on the control signal received.

•	Select the signals that will be used to automate the gate actions.

•	Associate the gate to a device.

•	Specify the signals to use to automatically open or close gates during a run.

This topic explains how to set up I/O signals for pass-through gates.

Before you begin

Pass-through gates require two 5 VDC digital input channels and one 24 VDC digital output channel. Make sure these channels are configured in the ACU Diagnostics I/O Setup tab before setting them up in the Manage IO dialog box. For instructions on configuring channels in the ACU Diagnostics I/O Setup tab, see the Automation Control Unit User Guide.

Procedure

To select signals to automate pass-through gate actions:

1	In the Manage IO dialog box, click the Pass-Through Gates tab.

2	Click New to add a gate.

3	Specify the following:

 

 

Parameter	Description
Gate Name	The name of the pass-through gate. Double-click in the field to type the name.
Input(open)	The I/O signal that detects whether the gate is open. Click the field to display the list of named signals, and then select one. If you do not see the signals in the list, initialize the Automation Control Unit.
Input(close)	The I/O signal that detects whether the gate is closed. Click the field to display the list of named signals, and then select one. If you do not see the signals in the list, initialize the Automation Control Unit.
Output	The I/O signal that changes to open or close the gate. Click the field to display the list of named signals, and then select one. If you do not see the signals in the list, initialize the Automation Control Unit.
Gate Close Delay (sec)	The length of time, in seconds, between when the robot moves labware through the gate and when the gate closes. Double-click in the field, and then type an integer.

4	When you are finished, click OK to save the changes and return to the VWorks window.

To associate the gate to a device:

1	In the VWorks device file (.dev), select the device.

2	In the device properties area, select the gate associated with the device from the Door list.

Note: You can open the IO Manager from the device properties area to edit or add gates. From the Door list, click <Edit...>.

In the following example, an automated gate was set up in ACU Diagnostics and the IO Manager for the Cytomat incubator device. The gate that was defined for the incubator in the IO Manager must be selected in the Cytomat device properties area.

 

 

 

 

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Automation Control Unit	Automation Control Unit User Guide
Interlock bypass mode description	Automation Control Unit User Guide
Writing protocols	Creating a protocol: basic procedure
Adding I/O-handling tasks	Setting parameters for I/O-handling tasks