ENCODING SCHEME EMBEDDED INTO AN AUTOMATION TRACK SURFACE
First Claim
1. An automation system for use with an automated clinical analyzer comprising:
- a track comprising at least a first and a second track segment, the first and second track segments comprising a first and second set of optically encoded marks, respectively;
a plurality of independently movable carriers configured to observe the first and second sets of optically encoded marks,wherein the first set of optically encoded marks comprises a first pitch, and the second set of optically encoded marks comprises a second, finer pitch.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automation system for an in vitro diagnostics environment includes a plurality of intelligent carriers that include onboard processing and navigation capabilities. A central scheduler can communicate wirelessly with the carriers to direct the carriers to carry a fluid sample to testing stations along a track within the automation system. The carriers can utilize landmarks and distance encoding to reach destinations accurately and quickly, including, for example within less than the time for a single operation cycle of an automated clinical analyzer. The distance encoding can include optical marks repeated at regular intervals (pitch), where the intervals are conveyed to the carriers wirelessly or via optical encoding. The pitch of the encoding can differ for different sections of track depending on the position precision desired.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An automation system for use with an automated clinical analyzer comprising:
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a track comprising at least a first and a second track segment, the first and second track segments comprising a first and second set of optically encoded marks, respectively; a plurality of independently movable carriers configured to observe the first and second sets of optically encoded marks, wherein the first set of optically encoded marks comprises a first pitch, and the second set of optically encoded marks comprises a second, finer pitch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automation system for use with an automated clinical analyzer comprising:
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a track comprising at least one track segment comprising at least a first set of optically encoded marks, at least a subset of which are regularly spaced with a first pitch; at least one movable carrier for transporting a fluid sample and configured to navigate the track using at least the first set of optically encoded marks, including counting the number of optically encoded marks to determine the current location of the movable carrier within the track segment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A carrier configurable for use in an automation system in an IVD system, comprising:
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a body configured to interface with an automation track and further configured to facilitate carrying a payload; one or more optical sensors configured to sense optically encoded marks on the automation track; and a processor configured to decode the optically encoded marks and determine at least one of position and velocity of the carrier within the automation system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification