Patent · US Active

Mount device utilizing patterned features for rack orientation detection

US9870494B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 14, 2014
Grant dateJan 16, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2035/0491
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention relates to systems and methods for detecting the orientation of sample carriers using two or more RFID tags. One or two dimensional matrix of equally spaced RFID reader antennas may be positioned beneath or within an area on which racks are placed. The first RFID tag defines the origin of the sample carrier and its geometry. The second and additional RFID tags define the orientations of the sample carrier relative to the matrix of the RFID reader antennas. At least two of the tag antennas on the rack align uniquely with two antennas on the reader matrix. The system energizes each reader antenna and associates the RFID tags aligned with them to the RFID reader antenna's physical position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.