Liquid handling system with electronic information storage

• US 20030004608A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entegris Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc. (Entegris Incorporated)
• Inventors: Andrews, Robert E., OʼDougherty, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0283 specially adapted for transferring liquids of high purity
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for handling liquid and a method for the same. The system includes a container capable of holding a liquid. An electronic storage device is coupled with the container for electronically storing information relating to the liquid stored in the container. The system can be configured with an antenna, for storing information to and reading information from the electronic storage device. A microprocessor-based controller, coupled with the antenna, may be employed for controlling processing of the liquid based on information read from the electronic storage device by the antenna.

Claims

1. A liquid handling system comprising:

a container capable of holding a liquid;

storage and sensing means, coupled with the container, for electronically sensing and storing information relating to the liquid;

communication means for storing information to and reading information from the storage and sensing means; and

controller means, coupled with the communication means, for controlling processing of the liquid based on information read from the storage and sensing means by the communication means.

2. The liquid handling system of claim 1, wherein the controller means comprises a user-interface capable of receiving input from a user.

3. The liquid handling system of claim 2, wherein the controller means further controls processing the liquid based on input received by the user-interface from the user.

4. The liquid handling system of claim 3, wherein the controller means further controls processing the liquid by comparing the input received by the user-interface from the user to information read from the storage and sensing means to determine whether the liquid in the container should be dispensed to a process.

5. The liquid handling system of claim 2, wherein the user-interface comprises a touch screen capable of receiving input from the user and displaying information about the liquid contained in the container.

6. The liquid handling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cap for coupling with the container such that the liquid is sealed in the container; and

a connector for coupling with the cap such that the liquid can be dispensed from the container through the connector.

7. The liquid handling system of claim 6, wherein the storage and sensing means is mounted on the cap and the communication means is mounted on the connector.

8. The liquid handling system of claim 6, wherein the storage and sensing means is mounted on the connector and the communication means is mounted on the cap.

9. The liquid handling system of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprises a radio frequency (RF) antenna and the storage and sensing means comprises a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

10. The liquid handling system of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RF transponder and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

11. A liquid handling system comprising:

a container having an opening and capable of holding a liquid;

a cap for coupling with the opening such that the liquid is sealed in the container;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag mounted on the cap;

a connector for coupling with the cap such that the liquid can be dispensed from the container through the connector;

a radio frequency (RF) antenna mounted on the connector which is capable of storing information to and reading information from the RFID tag; and

a controller coupled with the RF antenna such that the controller is capable of processing the liquid from the container based on information read from the RFID tag by the RF antenna.

12. The liquid handling system of claim 11, wherein the connector further comprises:

a connector head; and

a probe extending from the connector head and insertable through a center of the cap and into the opening, the probe having a flow passage therein.

13. The liquid handling system of claim 12, wherein a pump is coupled with the probe and with the flow passage for pumping liquid through the probe and the flow passage.

14. The liquid handling system of claim 11, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RF transponder and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

15. The liquid handling system of claim 14, wherein the EEPROM stores information about the liquid contained in the container.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling a cap to the container such that the liquid is sealed in the container;

coupling a connector to the cap such that the liquid can be dispensed from the container through the connector; and

mounting an antenna to the connector.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic storage and sensing device is a RFID tag comprising a passive RF transponder and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the EEPROM stores information relating to the liquid contained in the container.

16. A method of handling liquids, the method comprising:

providing a container capable of holding a liquid;

coupling an electronic storage and sensing device to the container;

electronically storing information about the liquid in the electronic storage and sensing device;

reading information from the electronic storage and sensing device; and

controlling processing of the liquid from the container based on information read from the electronic storage and sensing device.

20. A material handling system comprising:

a container capable of holding a material;

storage and sensing means, coupled with the container, for electronically sensing and storing information relating to the material;

communication means for storing information to and reading information from the storage and sensing means;

controller means, coupled with the communication means, for controlling processing of the material based on information read from the storage and sensing means by the communication means; and

an inventory management system coupled to said communication means, wherein inventory management decisions are based on information received from said storage and sensing means.

21. The material handling system of claim 20, wherein the controller means comprises a user-interface capable of receiving input from a user.

22. The material handling system of claim 21, wherein the controller means further controls processing the material based on input received by the user-interface from the user.

23. The material handling system of claim 22, wherein the controller means further controls processing the liquid by comparing the input received by the user-interface from the user to information read from the storage and sensing means to determine whether the liquid in the container should be dispensed to a process.

24. The material handling system of claim 21, wherein the user-interface comprises a touch screen capable of receiving input from the user and displaying information about the material contained in the container.

25. The material handling system of claim 20, further comprising:

a cap for coupling with the container such that the material is sealed in the container; and

a connector for coupling with the cap such that the material can be dispensed from the container through the connector.

26. The material handling system of claim 25, wherein the storage and sensing means is mounted on the cap and the communication means is mounted on the connector.

27. The material handling system of claim 25, wherein the storage and sensing means is mounted on the connector and the communication means is mounted on the cap.

28. The material handling system of claim 20, wherein the communication means comprises a radio frequency (RF) antenna and the storage and sensing means comprises a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

29. The material handling system of claim 28, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RF transponder and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).