Laboratory sample distribution system and method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system
US10989726B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 27, 2018 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/2657
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laboratory sample distribution system comprising sample container carriers, a central controller having a network interface, and transport modules is presented. Each transport module comprises a transport surface, wherein the transport surfaces form a transport plane, a controllable driver arranged below the transport surface and configured to move sample container carriers on the transport surface, and a control unit for controlling the driver. The control unit comprises a network interface. The central controller and the control units of the transport modules are connected by their corresponding network interfaces. Each control unit comprises first and second addressing terminals. The addressing terminals are connected sequentially in a daisy chain topology. The first addressing terminal is the first control unit in the sequence and is connected to a first reference potential and the second addressing terminal is the last control unit in the sequence and is connected to a second reference potential.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.