Tracking biological and other samples using RFID tags

• US 9,431,692 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioTillion, LLC
• Original Assignee: BioTillion, LLC
• Inventors: Davidowitz, Hananel, Coradetti, Thomas, Altman, Theodore, Or, Roni
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US13/437,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/866, 343/767, 340/572.7, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/147 Employing temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5453 for test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/50 Cryostats
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A box mapper has (i) a frame configured to receive a sample box of RFID-tagged sample vials and (ii) a set of antennae configured to read the vial RFID tags of the sample vials to determine the identity and position of each sample vial in the sample box. In one embodiment, the set of antennae include two mutually orthogonal subsets of biphase digit antennae.

Claims

1. Apparatus having a box mapper, the box mapper comprising:

a frame configured to receive a sample box of RFID-tagged sample vials; and

a set of antennas configured to read the vial RFID tags of the sample vials to determine identity and position of each sample vial in the sample box, wherein the sample box does not have antennas configured to read the vial RFID tags of the sample vials stored in the sample box.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the box mapper further comprises means for conveying information regarding the sample vials to an external computer.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein a first antenna of the box mapper is configured to read a box RFID tag of the sample box to determine orientation of the sample box within the frame.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the first antenna of the box mapper is configured to read both the box RFID tag of the sample box and a vial RFID tag of a sample vial in the sample box.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the box mapper comprises circuitry for receiving temperature information corresponding to one or more sample vials in the sample box.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the temperature information is based on signals generated by one or more temperature sensors located near the one or more sample vials.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein at least one temperature sensor is mounted on the sample box.

8. The invention of claim 6, wherein at least one sample vial is placed within a socket having at least one temperature sensor.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the socket has one or more metallic springs configured to be deformed when the sample vial is received by the socket, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on a metallic spring to provide a thermal conductive path between the sample vial and the temperature sensor.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the set of antennas are mounted on a substrate having apertures that allow optical viewing of the sample vials through the apertures.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein the box mapper further comprises a scanner configured to move relative to the substrate to generate electronic images of the sample vials through the apertures.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the box mapper is configured to map sample boxes having a first box configuration; and

the apparatus comprises at least one other box mapper configured to map sample boxes having a second box configuration different from the first box configuration.

13. The invention of claim 12, wherein the apparatus has two box mappers on opposing sides of the apparatus, such that the apparatus can be positioned (i) with a first orientation to map sample boxes having the first box configuration and (ii) with a second orientation, rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first orientation, to map sample boxes having the second box configuration.

14. The invention of claim 12, wherein the apparatus has a solid rectangular shape with up to six different box mappers, one on each side of the solid rectangular shape, to map sample boxes having up to six different box configurations.

15. The invention of claim 1, wherein at least one vial RFID tag comprises:

an RFID tag antenna formed of a split metal ring having a gap between two ends of the split metal ring; and

an RFID tag die electrically connected to both ends of the split metal ring of the RFID tag antenna via wires.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the RFID die is mounted over the split metal ring.

17. The invention of claim 15, wherein the RFID die is mounted within the gap of the split metal ring.

18. The invention of claim 1, wherein at least one of the antennas is a digit antenna having an elongated shape with its length greater than its width.

19. The invention of claim 18, wherein the digit antenna is a biphase digit antenna comprising:

a first antenna conductor corresponding to a first half of the elongated shape of the biphase digit antenna;

a second antenna conductor corresponding to a second half of the elongated shape of the biphase digit antenna; and

a biphase converter configured to convert an applied signal into a first signal component and a second signal component, out of phase with the first signal component, wherein;

the first signal component is applied to the first antenna conductor; and

the second signal component is applied to the second antenna conductor.

20. The invention of claim 19, wherein the net electromagnetic field generated by the first and second signal components enables the box mapper to read a vial RFID tag located at any position along a central length of the biphase digit antenna.

21. The invention of claim 19, wherein the biphase digit antenna further comprises a termination impedance at an end of each of the first and second antenna conductors distal from the biphase converter.

22. The invention of claim 19, wherein the biphase converter comprises:

a splitter configured to split the applied signal into two split components; and

a delay element connected to delay one of the split components to produce the second signal component out of phase with the first signal component.

23. The invention of claim 22, wherein the delay element is a microstrip delay line having a nested spiral shape.

24. The invention of claim 19, wherein the biphase converter comprises a balun.

25. The invention of claim 18, wherein the digit antenna comprises a conductor configured in a sequence of connected coils, each coil corresponding to a different possible vial position along a row or column of the sample box.

26. The invention of claim 25, wherein at least one coil corresponds to a loop having an almost complete turn.

27. The invention of claim 25, wherein at least one coil corresponds to a single- or multi-turn coil.

28. The invention of claim 18, wherein a first plurality of the antennas are co-planar digit antennas configured side by side with their lengths parallel to one another, such that each digit antenna corresponds to a different row or column of sample vials in the sample box.

29. The invention of claim 28, wherein a second plurality of the antennas are co-planar, side-by-side digit antennas, mutually orthogonal to the first plurality.

30. The invention of claim 29, wherein:

the first plurality are configured to transmit signals to the vial RFID tags; and

the second plurality are configured to receive signals from the vial RFID tags.

31. Apparatus comprising a biphase digit antenna having an elongated shape with its length greater than its width, the biphase digit antenna comprising:

a first antenna conductor corresponding to a first half of the elongated shape of the biphase digit antenna;

a second antenna conductor corresponding to a second half of the elongated shape of the biphase digit antenna; and

a biphase converter configured to convert an applied signal into a first signal component and a second signal component, out of phase with the first signal component, wherein;

the first signal component is applied to the first antenna conductor; and

the second signal component is applied to the second antenna conductor.

32. The invention of claim 31, wherein the biphase converter is configured to generate the second signal component about 180 degrees out of phase with the first signal component.

33. The invention of claim 31, wherein the net electromagnetic field generated by the first and second signal components enables the box mapper to read a vial RFID tag located at any position along a central length of the biphase digit antenna.

34. The invention of claim 31, wherein the biphase digit antenna further comprises a termination impedance at an end of each of the first and second antenna conductors distal from the biphase converter.

35. The invention of claim 31, wherein the biphase converter comprises:

a splitter configured to split the applied signal into two split components; and

a delay element connected to delay one of the split components to produce the second signal component out of phase with the first signal component.

36. The invention of claim 35, wherein the delay element is a microstrip delay line having a nested spiral shape.

37. The invention of claim 31, wherein the biphase converter comprises a balun.

38. A vial reader comprising:

a frame configured to receive a sample vial having a vial RFID tag;

an antenna configured to read the vial RFID tag, with the sample vial received by the frame; and

a camera configured to image the sample vial, with the sample vial received by the frame.

39. The invention of claim 38, wherein the vial reader enables the RFID tag to be read and the sample vial to be imaged simultaneously with the sample vial received by the frame.

40. The invention of claim 38, wherein the frame has a socket for receiving a single sample vial at a time.

41. The invention of claim 38, wherein the antenna is mounted on a circuit board having an opening through which the camera views an end of the sample vial with the sample vial received by the frame.

42. An RFID tag comprising:

an RFID tag antenna formed of a split metal ring having a gap between two ends of the split metal ring; and

an RFID tag die electrically connected to both ends of the split metal ring of the RFID tag antenna via wires.

43. The invention of claim 42, wherein the RFID die is mounted over the split metal ring.

44. The invention of claim 42, wherein the RFID die is mounted within the gap of the split metal ring.

45. A socket for receiving a sample vial, the socket comprising:

a tube configured to receive the sample vial;

one or more metallic springs configured to be deformed when the sample vial is received by the tube; and

at least one temperature sensor mounted on a corresponding metallic spring, wherein;

the metallic spring provides a thermal conductive path between the sample vial and the temperature sensor; and

the temperature sensor enables a temperature history for the sample vial to be generated.

46. Apparatus having a box mapper, the box mapper comprising:

a frame configured to receive a sample box of RFID-tagged sample vials; and

a set of antennas configured to read the vial RFID tags of the sample vials to determine identity and position of each sample vial in the sample box, wherein;

the box mapper comprises circuitry for receiving temperature information corresponding to one or more sample vials in the sample box;

the temperature information is based on signals generated by one or more temperature sensors located near the one or more sample vials; and

at least one sample vial is placed within a socket having at least one temperature sensor.

47. The invention of claim 46, wherein at least one temperature sensor is mounted on the sample box.

48. The invention of claim 46, wherein the socket has one or more metallic springs configured to be deformed when the sample vial is received by the socket, wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on a metallic spring to provide a thermal conductive path between the sample vial and the temperature sensor.

49. Apparatus having a box mapper, the box mapper comprising:

a frame configured to receive a sample box of RFID-tagged sample vials; and

a set of antennas configured to read the vial RFID tags of the sample vials to determine identity and position of each sample vial in the sample box, wherein the set of antennas are mounted on a substrate having apertures that allow optical viewing of the sample vials through the apertures.

50. The invention of claim 49, wherein the box mapper further comprises a scanner configured to move relative to the substrate to generate electronic images of the sample vials through the apertures.

51. Apparatus having a box mapper, the box mapper comprising:

a frame configured to receive a sample box of RFID-tagged sample vials; and

a set of antennas configured to read the vial RFID tags of the sample vials to determine identity and position of each sample vial in the sample box, wherein;

the box mapper is configured to map sample boxes having a first box configuration; and

the apparatus comprises at least one other box mapper configured to map sample boxes having a second box configuration different from the first box configuration.

52. The invention of claim 51, wherein the apparatus has two box mappers on opposing sides of the apparatus, such that the apparatus can be positioned (i) with a first orientation to map sample boxes having the first box configuration and (ii) with a second orientation, rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first orientation, to map sample boxes having the second box configuration.

53. The invention of claim 51, wherein the apparatus has a solid rectangular shape with up to six different box mappers, one on each side of the solid rectangular shape, to map sample boxes having up to six different box configurations.