The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2021
Filed:
Nov. 10, 2017
Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US);
Mohammadreza Mahmudimanesh, Darmstadt, DE;
Sophia Bruntsch, Stuttgart, DE;
Soraya Garcia Bustos, Stuttgart, DE;
Walter Ebner, Kernen, DE;
Shubin Ren, Remseck, DE;
Mohsin Reza, Stuttgart, DE;
Daniel Diez Diaz-Calonge, Stuttgart, DE;
Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US);
Abstract
A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a number of sample container carriers. The sample container carriers are adapted to carry one or more sample containers. The sample containers comprise samples to be analyzed by a number of laboratory stations. The laboratory sample distribution system also comprises a transport plane. The transport plane is adapted to support the sample container carriers. The method comprises allocating an area of the transport plane as a buffer area. The buffer area is adapted to store a variable number of sample container carriers. The method also comprises controlling the buffer area using a puzzle-based control scheme or using an aisle-based control scheme as a function of a storage density of the buffer area.