A microscope control unit includes at least one connection which is connectable to one or more electrically addressable microscope components or other electrically controllable components. At least one connection parameter of the at least one connection is programmatically configurable. At least one script with script commands is provided on the microscope control unit. At least one terminal is addressable by the script commands.

A power tool having a digital control unit is provided, an interface of the digital control unit being switchable between standard operation and communication operation. In communication operation, operating data of the power tool are able to be transmitted via the interface.

An image acceleration processing device including a field programmable gate array (FPGA) processing platform; and a personal computer (PC). The FPGA processing platform includes: a first fiber interface configured to receive configuration parameters and test commands, and to output test results; a second fiber interface configured to exchange data with the PC; a third fiber interface configured to receive image data and output the configuration parameters and the test commands; a fourth fiber interface configured to control the generation of a screen lighting signal; and a fifth fiber interface configured to control an input/output (IO) light source.

An automatic optical inspection device, including an image storage unit; an image computing unit; and an image acquisition unit. The image storage unit includes a first communication interface and a second communication interface. The image computing unit includes a first optical interface, a second optical interface, a third optical interface, and a fourth optical interface; the image acquisition unit includes a third communication interface and a camera interface. The image storage unit is configured to transmit configuration parameters and test commands to the image computing unit, receive a test result transmitted from the image computing unit via the first communication interface, and receive data from the image acquisition unit via the second communication interface. The image computing unit is configured to receive the configuration parameters and test commands from the image storage unit, and transmit the test result to the image storage unit via the first fiber interface.

A laboratory sample distribution system comprising sample container carriers, a central controller having a network interface, and transport modules is presented. Each transport module comprises a transport surface, wherein the transport surfaces form a transport plane, a controllable driver arranged below the transport surface and configured to move sample container carriers on the transport surface, and a control unit for controlling the driver. The control unit comprises a network interface. The central controller and the control units of the transport modules are connected by their corresponding network interfaces. Each control unit comprises first and second addressing terminals. The addressing terminals are connected sequentially in a daisy chain topology. The first addressing terminal is the first control unit in the sequence and is connected to a first reference potential and the second addressing terminal is the last control unit in the sequence and is connected to a second reference potential.

A microscope control unit includes at least one connection which is connectable to one or more electrically addressable microscope components or other electrically controllable components. At least one connection parameter of the at least one connection is programmatically configurable. At least one script with script commands is provided on the microscope control unit. At least one terminal is addressable by the script commands.

An image acceleration processing device including a field programmable gate array (FPGA) processing platform; and a personal computer (PC). The FPGA processing platform includes: a first fiber interface configured to receive configuration parameters and test commands, and to output test results; a second fiber interface configured to exchange data with the PC; a third fiber interface configured to receive image data and output the configuration parameters and the test commands; a fourth fiber interface configured to control the generation of a screen lighting signal; and a fifth fiber interface configured to control an input/output (IO) light source.

An automatic optical inspection device, including an image storage unit; an image computing unit; and an image acquisition unit. The image storage unit includes a first communication interface and a second communication interface. The image computing unit includes a first optical interface, a second optical interface, a third optical interface, and a fourth optical interface; the image acquisition unit includes a third communication interface and a camera interface. The image storage unit is configured to transmit configuration parameters and test commands to the image computing unit, receive a test result transmitted from the image computing unit via the first communication interface, and receive data from the image acquisition unit via the second communication interface. The image computing unit is configured to receive the configuration parameters and test commands from the image storage unit, and transmit the test result to the image storage unit via the first fiber interface.

A laboratory sample distribution system comprising sample container carriers, a central controller having a network interface, and transport modules is presented. Each transport module comprises a transport surface, wherein the transport surfaces form a transport plane, a controllable driver arranged below the transport surface and configured to move sample container carriers on the transport surface, and a control unit for controlling the driver. The control unit comprises a network interface. The central controller and the control units of the transport modules are connected by their corresponding network interfaces. Each control unit comprises first and second addressing terminals. The addressing terminals are connected sequentially in a daisy chain topology. The first addressing terminal is the first control unit in the sequence and is connected to a first reference potential and the second addressing terminal is the last control unit in the sequence and is connected to a second reference potential.

Methods, systems, and devices for monitoring and controlling tools are provided. In general, the methods, systems, and devices can electronically receive data regarding one or more tools being used to perform a process, e.g., a scientific process, can analyze the received data, and can electronically provide the received and/or analyzed data to one or more users via one or more external devices. Electronically providing the data to the user(s) can include providing the data over a network. In at least some embodiments, a control box is provided that can be configured to electronically couple to one or more external tools. The control box can be configured to communicate over a network with at least one external device. The control box, the tool(s), and the at least one external device can define a network of physical objects so as to be an application of the Internet of Things.