Mutex-mediated control of spatial access by appliances moveable over a common physical space
AssigneePerkinElmer LAS, Inc.
InventorsJames Sim, Todd Stephan, Bruce Tyley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A configurable mutual exclusion function oversees movement of appliances mobile over a common physical space in an automated laboratory workstation. A configurable mutex is allotted for each moveable appliance and is configurable to protect a task site when obtained for the respective appliance.
Claims19
A method of managing multiple moveable appliances mobile over a common physical space, comprising:
- a. defining, for a moveable appliance, a target spatial zone;
- b. determining whether any location in the target spatial zone is protected by a mutex held by another appliance;
- and
- c. allowing the moveable appliance to occupy the target spatial zone if the target spatial zone is not protected by any mutex held by another appliance.
A method of managing multiple moveable appliances mobile over a common physical space, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a first routine prescribing a task, for a first appliance, including a first target zone;
- b. providing a second routine prescribing a task, for a second appliance, including a second target zone;
- c. obtaining for the first appliance a first mutex protecting the first target zone;
- d. after obtaining the first mutex for the first appliance and before moving the second appliance to a second target zone, checking whether any mutex protects the second target zone;
- if no mutex protects the second target zone, obtaining for the second appliance a second mutex protecting the second target zone;
- and
- e. moving the respective appliances to the target zones for which mutexes are held.
A computer-implemented system managing moveable tools mobile over a common physical space, comprising:
- a. a mutex control system configured to
- i. designate a first mutex configurable to protect a variable first target spatial zone for a first appliance;
- ii. designate a second mutex configurable to protect a variable second target spatial zone for a second appliance;
- b. a first controller, controlling the first appliance, configured to
- iii. confer with the mutex control system before controlling the first appliance to move into or operate in the first target spatial zone;
- iv. control the first appliance to move into or operate in the first target spatial zone if the first mutex is configured to protect the first target spatial zone;
- and
- c. a second controller, controlling the second appliance, configured to
- v. confer with the mutex control system before controlling the second appliance to move into or operate in the second target spatial zone;
- vi. control the second appliance to move into or operate in the second target spatial zone if the second mutex is configured to protect the second target spatial zone.
A laboratory workstation system managing tools moveable over a common physical space, comprising:
- a. a plurality of laboratory appliances moveable over a workspace;
- b. a mutex control system designating respective mutexes for the laboratory appliances to protect variable respective target spatial zones in the workspace;
- c. respective controllers, controlling the laboratory appliances, configured to
- i. confer with the mutex control system before controlling the appliances to move into or operate in the respective target spatial zones, and
- ii. control the appliances to move into or operate in the respective target spatial zones that are protected by the respective mutexes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.