AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING ERROR PROCESSING LOOP

Automatic control system for controlling the switching point of a device which operates in at least two modes of operation, provides for automatic modification of the error signal which controls the switching action of the device by processing in real time the error signal to generate a resultant signal representative of the variation of the error signal over a time period, and then employing the resultant signal to modify the effect of the reference signal from which the error signal is derived. The control system can be employed in a chemical analysis instrument to control the on-off operation of a heater which supplies heated air to incubate samples.