Optical Encoding for Autonomous Carrier Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 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, with friction track systems requiring multiple mechanical gates for singulation and causing latency and queuing issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an automation system with optically encoded marks on tracks that allow independently movable carriers to determine their location and navigate autonomously, using wireless communication and onboard processors to manage routing and position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If friction track systems with mechanical gates are used for sample transport, then routing control is achieved, but latency and queuing issues occur due to multiple gates required for singulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical gate-based routing with an optical encoding system. Carriers read optically encoded position information from the track and autonomously determine routing decisions, eliminating the need for mechanical gates to physically redirect carriers. This substitution of mechanical control with optical information processing resolves the latency caused by multiple mechanical gating operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables carriers to autonomously determine their own routing by reading optically encoded position marks and processing this information through onboard logic. Each carrier independently makes routing decisions without requiring external mechanical intervention, allowing simultaneous multi-branch routing without queuing or latency penalties.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical gates are used to redirect individual pucks at decision points, then direction control is achieved, but multiple stopping points are required causing bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical redirection gates with an optical information system. Carriers autonomously navigate decision points by reading optically encoded position information and independently determining their routing path. This eliminates the need for carriers to stop at mechanical gates, removing bottlenecks and maintaining continuous throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent encodes position and routing information in advance on the track surface. Carriers read this pre-encoded information continuously, allowing them to make routing decisions at decision points without stopping. The routing path is predetermined and communicated through the optical encoding system, enabling seamless direction changes.
3Loss of information
If barcode readers are used to identify samples at gates, then sample identification is achieved, but scanning speed is slow relative to puck switching speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow barcode reading with high-speed optical mark recognition. The optically encoded position marks provide continuous position information that carriers can read at high speeds using simple optical sensors. This eliminates the bottleneck of slow barcode scanning while maintaining accurate sample identification through the optical encoding system.
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 approach enables faster and more reliable sample transport, reduces latency, and increases throughput by allowing samples to be processed within a single operation cycle, eliminating the need for physical queues and improving scheduling flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
optically encoded marks on tracks that allow independently movable carriers to determine their location and navigate autonomously
Data Source
AI summary
An automation system for an in vitro diagnostics environment includes a plurality of intelligent carriers that include onboard processing and navigation capabilities. A central scheduler 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 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. The distance encoding can include optical marks repeated at regular intervals (pitch), where the intervals are conveyed to the carriers wirelessly or via optical encoding. The pitch of the encoding can differ for different sections of track depending on the position precision desired.