Greetings,

Many of you have expressed an interest in the improvements that have been made with the new model BWB-XP over the old model BWB-1. Besides giving the Keypad a new look there are several internal changes and operational functions that have been added or are in the process of being added. We hope you appreciate these improvements and recognize their value to your customers.

Electronics: The main circuit board is redesigned and some items added for future expansion. Better shielding and addition of ferrite cores and filters give a much improved internal noise suppression.

Microprocessor: The BWB-1 microprocessor was reaching its' limit. We went to a larger capacity and function to accommodate some of the future expansion and software ideas we have in mind that are not available for the BWB-1. The software updates in the future will be upgrade-able through the web site, free of charge.

Decimal Point Option: Both models have a maximum of four digits. With the BWB-1 the decimal point floats and it automatically displays all the digits with the decimal point assigned accordingly. For example, if measuring lower than 10 it would display x.xxx. We all know that flame photometers really cannot measure to the third decimal and the display appears to not be stable. It also gives the user the impression that they should be able to read three decimals when they really cannot. The BWB-XP has a user settable option to determine the maximum number of decimals that will be displayed. In the previous example, it can be set to read one decimal (x.x) or two (x.xx) or three (x.xxx). The user can decide what they can live with as to precision and fluctuating digits based on their particular circumstances. Regardless of the setting, at higher readings the decimals are truncated as needed to maintain the four digit maximum. It is set at one decimal at the factory.

Calibration Correction: One of the new features on the BWB-XP is the ability to adjust an existing calibration by running just one of the calibration standards. This is of little value for a Single Point calibration but is of great import for a Multi Point calibration. For example, with a calibration of five points (plus the Blank!), rather than needing to run all five Standards, one only needs to run the highest Standard and all five points will be corrected at once. The Curve is moved as a unit. This allows for correcting as things change through out the day, like the lab heats up, and allows for corrections across multiple days, even weeks or months. Once it is calibrated it allows one to do a Single Point calibration for a Multi Point curve. A real time saver.

The following are two of the planned improvements. They should be ready by May or June and will be upgrade-able by the user.

Auto Take Reading: Currently the user looks at the display and when he "sees" stability he takes that as the "reading". This is a subjective determination. With this option the BWB-XP will determine when the reading has achieved "stablity" and will indicate the reading has stabilised. This will take out the human and the resulting subjective determination.

Multi Mode: Really Multi Mode Calibration, will allow multiple ions to be calibrated at the same time. Currently each ion needs to be calibrated one at a time by entering each point desired and aspirating that standard for each point. It is repeated for all the points and the whole process done again for all the ions. With Multi Mode standards are made with all the ions desired present for each calibration point. Enter which ions are wanted and their concentrations and aspirate that standard and it will calibrate all ions for that point.

This needs an example. Say I want to calibrate Na at 80, 100, and 120; K at 40, 50, and 60; Ca at 15, 20, and 25. My first standard will be for the "high" concentrations and is made with Na @ 120, K @ 60, and Ca @ 25. (The other standards are done similarly with the "middle" and "low" concentrations.) I tell the instrument I'm doing a three point calibration of Na, K, and Ca. It then prompts for the concentrations of each ion and I enter all the values. Asipirate the "high" standard and all three ions are calibrated for that point. Repeat the entering of values and aspirating for the other points. All done! (Yes the Blank needs to be done but that is done only once for all ions.)

All this and more to come for a few more Pounds. What a deal!!!

Best Regards, Harry Libengood Technical Director BWB Technologies UK, Ltd.