Laboratory Automation: The Design Philosophy of the NIST Frequency Measurement Service

摘要

The microprocessor has changed the way that many devices are built and used. Microprocessors have made these devices work better by automating tasks that were formerly done manually. It has also made these devices easier to use. Since the device now does more, the user has to do less. Microprocessors are now commonly found in consumer products like cameras, stereo systems, televisions, and automobiles. They do things automatically that you used to have to do yourself, and make these products easier to use. This concept now extends to the calibration laboratory, with the advent of the automated calibration system. These systems have many benefits. They are easier to use and learn, and increase the lab's productivity. In keeping with this trend, NIST has offered an automatic frequency measurement system to the public since 1984. Since that time, NIST has redesigned and improved the system, in a continuing effort to make frequency calibrations easier to perform and understand. This paper discusses the design philosophy behind the system, what it does, how it works, and some ways the system can be enhanced in the future.