Device and Method for Identifying, Locating and Tracking Objects on Laboratory Equipment

• US 20080042839A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tecan Trading AG (Tecan Group AG)
• Inventors: Grater, Matthias, Ingenhoven, Nikolaes
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00772 mechanical or optical code other than bar code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0491 Position sensing, encoding; closed-loop control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

The invention concerns a system (1) to locate or track objects (2) that can be positioned on the work table (3) of a laboratory apparatus (4). To do this, the system (1) comprises at least:

a) a central transmitter (5) with the capability to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals, convert RF signals received and transfer the converted signals to a computer (7);

b) a local unit (6) mounted on a surface (8) of the work table (3) with the capability to receive and transmit RF signals;

c) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags (10) to be affixed to the local unit (6) and to articles of laboratory ware (15) that are to be identified and/or located or tracked;

d) a work table (3) of a laboratory apparatus (4) and a computer (7) that can be connected to the laboratory apparatus (4) and is linked to the central transmitter (5) via an interface, the computer (7) having the capability to communicate with the central transmitter (5), to process signals received from the latter and to address selected RFID tags (10) through the central transmitter (5).

The system (1) according to the invention can be integrated in a higher-ranking logistical system (31) for the processing and analysis of samples of any desired kind.

Claims

1. System (1) to locate or track objects (2) that can be positioned on the laboratory work table (3) of a laboratory apparatus (4), this laboratory system (1) comprising:

a) a central transmitter (5) with the capability to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals, convert RF signals received and transfer the converted signals to a computer (7);

b) a local unit (6) mounted on a surface (8) of the laboratory work table (3) with the capability to receive and transmit RF signals, the local unit (6) comprising at least one optical transmission element for the emission of light energy or switching pulses to the RFID tags (10) of articles of laboratory ware (15);

c) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags (10) to be affixed to the local unit (6) and to articles of laboratory ware (15) that are to be located or tracked;

d) a laboratory work table (3), and a computer (7) that can be connected to the laboratory apparatus (4) and is linked to the central transmitter (5) via an interface, the computer (7) having the capability to communicate with the central transmitter (5), to process signals received from the latter and to address selected RFID tags (10) through the central transmitter (5).

4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the local units (6) are also designed to receive RF signals, convert these signals and transmit RF signals.

5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the local units (6) comprise at least one optical transmission element for the emission of light energy or of switching pulses to the RFID tags (10) of articles of laboratory ware (15).

6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the laboratory apparatus (4) is a robotic sample processor (RSP).

7. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the local units (6) are incorporated in carriers (13) with racks (14) for the reception of articles of laboratory ware (15), each of the racks (14) comprising at least one antenna (16) for the targeted excitation and identification of an individual article of laboratory ware (15).

8. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the local units (6) are incorporated in carriers (13) with racks (14) for the reception of articles of laboratory ware (15), each of the racks (14) comprising at least one light source for the targeted excitation and identification of an individual article of laboratory ware (15).

9. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the carriers (13) also comprise positioning devices (17) for the controlled positioning of the carriers (13) on the surface (8) of the work table (3).

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the positioning devices (17) comprise a receiver element (19) to activate the local unit (6) and magnetic devices (20) to hold the carrier (13) in place.

11. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the positioning devices (17) comprise a receiver element (19) to recognize and activate the local unit (6) and magnetic devices (20) to hold the carrier (13) in place.

12. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the positioning devices (17) comprise a receiver element (19) adapted to enabling activation, recognising the local unit (6) and communicating with the latter and comprise magnetic devices (20) to hold the carrier (13) in place.

13. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the positioning devices (17) comprise a micro-positioning element (21) to acquire the exact position of the carrier (13).

14. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the central transmitter (5) is designed to transmit RF signals, using a first communication channel (c1) and to receive RF signals, using a second communication channel (c2).

15. System according to claim 14, characterized in that the local units (6) take the form of local transmitter/receivers (6′

) which have the capability to receive the RF signals of the first communication channel (c1), convert them into corresponding RF signals of the second communication channel (c2) and transmit these RF signals of the second communication channel (c2) to the central transmitter (5).

16. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer (7) is designed to use a third communication channel (c3), this third communication channel (c3) comprising a first part that links the computer (7) to the activation unit (9), comprising a second part (c3a) that links the activation unit (9) to at least one transmitter element (22), and comprising a third part (c3b) that links a local unit (6) to at least one article of laboratory ware (15).

17. System according to claim 16, characterized in that the local unit (6) is designed for activation with the transmitter element (22) and for the transmission of (c2) RF signals with an RFID tag (10) affixed to this local unit (6).

18. System according to claim 16, characterized in that the local unit (6) is designed for activation with the transmitter element (22) and is equipped for the transmission of (c3b) RF signals to RFID tags (10) with at least one antenna (16), these RFID tags (10) being affixed to articles of laboratory ware (15) received in the carrier (13) and being designed to transmit (c2) RF signals to the central transmitter (5).

19. System according to claim 16, characterized in that the local unit (6) is equipped with at least one optical transmission element and one light source for activation with the transmitter element (22) and for transmission of (c3b) light signals to RFID tags (10), these RFID tags (10) comprising a photocell to receive light, being affixed to articles of laboratory ware (15) received by the carrier (13) and being designed to transmit (c2) RF signals to the central transmitter (5).

20. System according to claim 16, characterized in that the transmitter element (22) is designed to be recognized by the computer (7) if the third communication channel (c3) is used in reverse direction between the transmitter element (22), the activation unit (9) and the computer (7).

21. System according to claim 1, characterized in that each RFID tag (10) is designed as a passive RFID tag to receive RF signals when a first communication channel (c1) or third communication channel (c3) is used and to send RF signals using a second communication channel (c2).

22. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the receiver elements (19) of each of the local units (6) are designed to be individually addressable through transmitter elements (22) arranged under the work table (3) in register with the grid units (12), the transmitter elements (22) being themselves individually addressable and activatable by the activation unit (9) and designed to emit electromagnetic waves.

23. System according to claim 22, characterized in that the work table (3) displays a steel cover (23) with through-holes (24) that are arranged in an array corresponding to the grid (11), and that each of the transmitter elements (22) is arranged under a through-hole (24) and in register with a plug (25), each plug (25) closing a through-hole (24) and displaying a plug surface (26) which is flush with the surface (8) of the steel cover (23).

24. System according to claim 22, characterized in that the work table (3) displays a plastic surface layer (27) on its surface (8), the transmitter elements (22) being arranged underneath this plastic layer.

25. System according to claim 22, characterized in that the work table (3) displays an aluminium cover (23), with all the transmitter elements (22) being arranged as inductive transmitters under this aluminium cover, which is permeable to the magnetic field of these inductive transmitter elements (22).

2. System (1) to identify and locate or track objects (2) that can be positioned on a work table (3) of a laboratory apparatus (4), this system (1) comprising:

a) a central transmitter (5) with the capability to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals, convert RF signals received and transfer the converted signals to a computer (7);

b) at least one local unit (6) that can be mounted on a surface (8) of the work table (3) and has the capability to receive energy from an activation unit (9) and to address and activate a number of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags (10);

c) a work table (3) of a laboratory apparatus (4) with at least one selectable activation unit (9) to activate local units (6) and with a grid (11) designed to divide up the surface (8) into grid units (12);

d) RFID tags (10) to be affixed to the objects (2) that are to be identified and located or tracked;

e) a computer (7) connected to the laboratory apparatus (4) and connected via an interface to the central transmitter (5) and to activation units (9), the computer (7) having the capability to communicate with the central transmitter (5), to process signals received from the latter and to address selected activation units (9).

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that local units (6) are designed for individual selection via the central transmitter (5) or an activation unit (9).

26. Procedure to identify objects (2) on a work table (3) of a laboratory apparatus (4), comprising the following steps:

a) preparation of the objects (2) for identification with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags (10);

b) positioning of carriers (13) comprising a local unit (6) and racks (14), with or without articles of laboratory ware (15) received in the racks (14), on the surface (8) of the work table (3);

c) transmission of an order for the emission of a general radio frequency (RF) signal by a computer (7) to a central transmitter (5) connected to the computer (7) via an interface;

d) transmission of the general RF signal with the central transmitter (5) using a first communication channel (c1);

e) reception of the general RF signal from step d) by the RFID tags (10) on the objects (2);

f) conversion of the RF signal received in step e) and transmission of the converted RF signal to the central transmitter (5) using a second communication channel (c2);

g) reception by the central transmitter (5) of the RF signals sent by the RFID tags (10) in step f);

h) conversion into digital data by the central transmitter (5) of the RF signals received in step g);

i) transmission of the digital data converted in step h) from the central transmitter (5) to the computer (7); and

j) reception of the digital data sent by the central transmitter (5) in step i) and processing of these data in the computer (7).

27. Procedure according to claim 26, characterized in that the processing of the digital data in step j) comprises the classification and counting of the objects (2) present on the work table (3), so that a list of these objects (2) can be compiled.

28. Procedure according to claim 26, characterized in that the procedure comprises the following additional steps:

k) transmission of an order from the computer (7) to the activation unit (9) for the transmission of energy to a selected local unit (6), the activation unit (9) being connected to the computer (7) via an interface and a third communication channel (c3a) being employed;

l) activation of the selected local unit (6) by a transmitter element (22) arranged under the work table (3) of the laboratory apparatus (4);

m) transmission of (c3b) RF signals by at least one antenna (16) or of (c3b) light signals by the local unit (6) activated in step 1) to at least one RFID tag (10) affixed to an article of laboratory ware (15) received in a carrier (13);

n) reception of the (c3b) RF or light signals transmitted in step m) and conversion of these signals into RF signals of a second communication channel (c2) with at least one RFID tag (10) fixed to an article of laboratory ware and transmission of these (c2) signals to the central transmitter (5);

o) reception by the central transmitter (5) of the (c2) RF signals transmitted by an RFID tag (10) in step n), conversion of these RF signals into digital data and transmission of these digital data to the computer (7); and

p) analysis of the digital data obtained in step o) and drawing up of an X/Y or X/Y/Z distribution map of the articles of laboratory ware (15) by the computer (7).

29. Procedure according to claim 28, characterized in that the local units (6) are equipped with an RFID tag (10).

30. Procedure according to claim 28, characterized in that the reception of the RF or light signals of the third communication channel (c3b) received in step m) and their conversion into RF signals of the second communication channel (c2) are performed by all the RFID tags (10) of the articles of laboratory ware (15) and the activated local units (6).

31. Procedure according to claim 28, characterized in that some or all of the procedural steps for the tracking of objects (2) bearing RFID tags (10) are repeated.

32. Procedure according to claim 28, characterized in that the activation of the selected local units (6) is performed by a transmitter element (22) arranged under the work table (3) of the laboratory apparatus (4), electrical induction or optical excitation being employed.

33. Procedure according to claim 26, characterized in that magnetic devices (20) are used to hold the carriers (13) with their included racks (14) in position on the work table surface (8).

34. Procedure according to claim 33, characterized in that transmitter elements (22) and receiver elements (19) are used, or magnetic devices (20) or separate optical devices are used, to establish the exact position of the carriers (13) on the work table surface (8).

35. Procedure according to claim 26, characterized in that the digital data corresponding to the positions of the objects (2) on the work table surface (8) are made available to higher-ranking logistical systems.