Orientation identification label, reagent container carrier structure, analyzer device and reader module
First Claim
1. An analyzer device for analyzing chemical, biological or pharmaceutical work probes, comprising:
- a conveyor system for conveying at least one reagent container carrier structure holding at least one reagent container;
an RFID communication device for communicating with an RFID assembly attached to the at least one reagent container carrier structure;
an optical detection device for optically detecting an optically detectable definition pattern on the reagent container carrier structure, the pattern defining an orientation of the reagent container carrier structure; and
a computing device for evaluating optical detection data received from the optical detection device and determining whether the orientation of the at least one carrier structure in the conveyor system is correct.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reagent container carrier structure for holding at least one reagent container, wherein the carrier structure has thereon an RFID assembly and an optically detectable definition pattern defining an orientation of the carrier structure, is disclosed. The reagent container carrier structure may have an orientation identification label that has a front surface and a back surface, and further include an RFID assembly positioned on the back surface, and an optically detectable definition pattern defining an orientation of the label on the front surface. A reader module for reading RFID data in combination with optically detectable data defining an orientation of a respective label is also disclosed.
25 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An analyzer device for analyzing chemical, biological or pharmaceutical work probes, comprising:
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a conveyor system for conveying at least one reagent container carrier structure holding at least one reagent container; an RFID communication device for communicating with an RFID assembly attached to the at least one reagent container carrier structure; an optical detection device for optically detecting an optically detectable definition pattern on the reagent container carrier structure, the pattern defining an orientation of the reagent container carrier structure; and a computing device for evaluating optical detection data received from the optical detection device and determining whether the orientation of the at least one carrier structure in the conveyor system is correct.
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- 2. A reader module for reading RFID data in combination with optically detectable data defining a presence and an orientation of a respective label, both data being integrated in an orientation identification label which is to be attached to a reagent container carrier structure, the reader module comprising at least one RFID reader which is configured to detect the RFID data, and at least one appropriately arranged optical element which is configured to detect the optically detectable data.
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12. A method to operate an analyzer device for analyzing chemical, biological or pharmaceutical work probes in which at least one reagent container carrier structure is inserted into a conveyor system of the analyzer device, each reagent container carrier structure comprising thereon an RFID assembly and an optically detectable definition pattern defining an orientation of the carrier structure, the method comprising:
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scanning at least one of the at least one inserted reagent container carrier structure, wherein scanning comprises optically detecting the optically detectable pattern on the at least one scanned reagent container carrier structure; evaluating, on the basis of the retrieved optical detection data, whether the orientation of the at least one reagent container carrier structure in the conveyor system is correct; and repeating the scanning and evaluating as often as necessary. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An orientation identification label attachable to a reagent container carrier structure for holding at least two reagent containers and readable by both an optical detection device and a human operator, said label comprising:
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a material with a front surface and a back surface with an adhesive for attaching the label to the reagent container carrier structure; an RFID assembly positioned on the back surface of the material; and an optically detectable definition pattern defining an orientation of the label on the front surface and providing information which indicates a corresponding orientation of the reagent container carrier structure to which the label is attached and which is both properly identifiable by the human operator and readable by the optical detection device.
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Specification