Dynamic Optical Marks for Intelligent Carrier Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lab automation systems for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) face bottlenecks due to lack of intelligence and autonomy, leading to inefficiencies in sample transport between stations, particularly with friction track systems that require singulation and barcode scanning, resulting in high latency and reduced throughput.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of intelligent carriers with onboard optical sensors and processors that use dynamically displayed optical marks on the track surface to navigate and control their motion, allowing for independent routing and positioning, eliminating the need for traditional singulation and barcode scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction track systems with singulation and barcode scanning are used, then sample transport control is achieved, but latency increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical friction track system with singulation gates and barcode scanners with an optical guidance system. Carriers use onboard optical sensors to read dynamically displayed optical marks on the track surface, enabling autonomous navigation without mechanical intervention. This substitution eliminates the need for physical singulation gates and barcode scanning stops, thereby increasing throughput while maintaining reliable transport control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamically displayed optical marks on the track surface that change in real-time to guide carriers. The optical marks are updated based on carrier position and routing requirements, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to different transport scenarios. This dynamic optical guidance enables carriers to change direction and speed autonomously, improving throughput compared to static mechanical gate systems.
2Ease of operation
If singulation is used to control individual carriers at gates, then routing control is achieved, but transport speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables carriers to self-navigate using onboard optical sensors that continuously read optical marks on the track surface. Each carrier independently determines its own routing based on the optical guidance information, eliminating the need for external singulation control at gates. This self-service navigation maintains routing control while allowing carriers to move continuously at high speed without stopping at decision points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical marks as an intermediary communication medium between the control system and carriers. The optical marks encode routing information that carriers interpret through their onboard sensors, enabling indirect control without mechanical gates. This intermediary optical signaling system allows carriers to receive routing instructions continuously while maintaining high transport speed.
3Productivity
If carriers move independently with optical navigation, then throughput increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal optical guidance system where a single type of optical mark structure serves multiple functions: position indication, routing direction, and speed control. The same optical sensing hardware on carriers reads all types of information from the optical marks, eliminating the need for separate mechanical sensors for each function. This multi-functionality increases throughput while managing system complexity through component consolidation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic optical marks are displayed on track surface, then routing flexibility increases, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical marks with distinct visual characteristics (such as contrasting colors or patterns) that are easily distinguishable by carrier sensors. The dynamic nature of the optical marks is achieved through controlled illumination or display elements that maintain consistent visual properties for detection. This approach provides routing flexibility through dynamic patterns while keeping detection simple through consistent visual contrast.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables faster and more efficient sample transport, reduces latency, and increases throughput by allowing samples to be reliably and accurately moved between stations with reduced queuing and increased flexibility in scheduling, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the automation system.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of independently movable carriers configured to move along surfaces and to observe them to determine navigational information from the plurality of optical marks
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for use with an automation system in an automated clinical chemistry analyzer can include one or more surfaces configured to dynamically display a plurality of optical marks, a plurality of independently movable carriers configured to move along surfaces and to observe them to determine navigational information from the plurality of optical marks, and a processor configured to update the plurality of optical marks to convey information that pertains to each respective independently movable carrier. The plurality of marks can include two-dimensional optically encoded marks, barcodes oriented in a direction of travel of the carriers, marks that dynamically convey data, dynamic lines configured to be followed by the carriers, marks indicating a collision zone, or dynamic marks displayed at a location coincident with the location of a pipette.