Agilent Technologies R Series, User Manual, Page: 172 / 220

Appendix A: BenchCel ActiveX control
BenchCel Microplate Handling Workstation R-Series User Guide
138
About ActiveX controls
What is the
BenchCel ActiveX
control
The BenchCel ActiveX control is the software component that allows the
BenchCel device to interact with any Velocity11 or a third-party lab
automation system.
How the BenchCel
ActiveX control is
used
In a Velocity11 lab automation system, lab automation system software
such as VWorks or BenchWorks is already configured to interface with
the BenchCel device. The operator can control the device using the
software.
In a third-party lab automation system, you need to use ActiveX to
enable the third-party software to interface with the BenchCel device.
Each ActiveX control consists of a collection of the following:
❑
Methods . Functions that can be called to invoke individual
operations
❑
Properties . Variables that are used in methods (for example,
speed = fast)
❑
Events . Notifications that methods have completed or resulted in
errors
When integrating the BenchCel device in a lab automation system, you
need to know the available methods and properties for the ActiveX
control.
The following diagram illustrates the use of the BenchCel ActiveX
control in a lab automation system environment. Actions you perform
are conducted through ActiveX methods. System responses are relayed
back through ActiveX events.
ActiveX,
i
n cludi n g
diag n ostics
Co m pute r
Ethe rn et
po r t
Ethe rn et
switch
TCP/IP
co mm a n ds
TCP/IP
co mm a n ds
TCP/IP
co mm a n ds
Se r ial
Po r t
Se r ial co mm a n ds
Velocity11
lab auto
m atio n
softwa r e
Methods
Events
Thi r d-pa r ty
lab auto m atio n
softwa r e
Methods
Events
Velocity11
device
Velocity11
device
Velocity11
device