Intelligent bidirectional multifunctional carrier and integrated automation system for material distribution and transportation
US9315334B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2013 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/0467
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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 management controller 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 control local motion and navigate decision points, such as forks in the track, to reach the appropriate testing station independently. 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.