IP Library › Granted Patent US 12663949
Granted Patent B2
US 12663949 · App. 17/456,003 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Laboratory analyzer

Inventor: Natalie Kunert (Ludwigsburg, DE)
Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
G06F3/14B01L3/50B01L9/00G06F3/017G06F3/041B01L2300/023B01L2300/027B01L2300/168
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663949
App. No.
17/456,003
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A laboratory analyzer is disclosed. The laboratory analyzer comprises a housing at least partially enclosing at least one analyzing instrument and at least one display device, wherein the display device comprises at least one screen, wherein the screen is partially transparent and reflective, wherein the screen is integrated into the housing, wherein the display device is configured for displaying screen information on the screen such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing.

Claims (48)

1 . A laboratory analyzer comprising:

at least one analyzing instrument selected from the group consisting of a pre-analytical sample work-cell, an analytical sample work-cell, and a post-analytical sample work-cell, the at least one analyzing instrument executing at least one processing step on one or more biological samples and/or reagents, the at least one processing step being selected from the group consisting of centrifugation, aliquotation, and sample analysis;

a housing at least partially enclosing the at least one analyzing instrument;

at least one camera configured for controlling the executing of the at least one processing step on a sample and/or reagent by the laboratory analyzer, wherein said at least one camera is usable for detecting gesture control in addition to controlling the executing of the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent, and wherein in use of the laboratory analyzer, the at least one camera provides input indicative of a detected gesture that is used to control the executing of the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent; and

at least one display device, wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one screen,

wherein the at least one screen is partially transparent and partially reflective,

wherein the at least one screen is integrated into the housing,

wherein the at least one display device is configured for displaying screen information on the at least one screen such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing, and

wherein the display of screen information allows the screen information to be seen through from outside of the housing to inside of the housing.

2 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one head-up display device and/or at least one organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

3 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one screen is a projection screen of the at least one head-up display device, wherein the at least one head-up display device comprises at least one imaging unit configured for generating and providing the screen information to the projection screen.

4 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one imaging unit comprises at least one projector configured for projecting the screen information on the projection screen.

5 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one projector is arranged inside the housing, wherein the at least one projector is configured for projecting the screen information on the projection screen such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing.

6 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a front door, wherein the at least one screen is at least partially integrated into the front door.

7 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the screen information comprises an operating panel and/or a controller menu of the laboratory analyzer.

8 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one screen comprises at least one interactive surface configured for providing a human-machine interface.

9 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one interactive surface comprises at least one touch screen.

10 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one interactive surface is configured for gesture recognition.

11 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one processing unit configured for providing the screen information and/or configured for processing user input obtained via the at least one screen.

12 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one communication interface, wherein the at least one communication interface is configured for displaying the screen information on at least one portable device associated with the laboratory analyzer.

13 . A method for displaying screen information onto the housing of the laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , the method comprising

displaying the screen information on the at least one display device of the laboratory analyzer such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the method is computer-implemented.

15 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the sample analysis comprises a chemical analysis.

16 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera has a view including the inside of the housing.

17 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 wherein the at least one camera is located inside of the housing.

18 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is configured for monitoring the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent.

19 . A laboratory analyzer comprising:

at least one analyzing instrument selected from the group consisting of a pre-analytical sample work-cell, an analytical sample work-cell, and a post-analytical sample work-cell, the at least one analyzing instrument executing at least one processing step on one or more biological samples and/or reagents, the at least one processing step being selected from the group consisting of centrifugation, aliquotation, and sample analysis;

a housing at least partially enclosing the at least one analyzing instrument;

at least one camera configured for controlling the executing of the at least one processing step on a sample and/or reagent by the laboratory analyzer, wherein said at least one camera is usable for detecting gesture control in addition to controlling the executing of the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent, and wherein in use of the laboratory analyzer, the at least one camera provides input indicative of a detected gesture to a processing unit that transforms the input into a command for executing the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent; and

at least one display device, wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one screen, wherein the at least one screen is partially transparent and partially reflective, wherein the at least one screen is integrated into the housing,

wherein the at least one display device displays screen information on the at least one screen such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing, and

wherein the display of screen information allows the screen information to be seen through from outside of the housing to inside of the housing.

20 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one head-up display device and/or at least one organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

21 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 20 , wherein the at least one screen is a projection screen of the at least one head-up display device, wherein the at least one head-up display device comprises at least one imaging unit configured for generating and providing the screen information to the projection screen.

22 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one imaging unit comprises at least one projector configured for projecting the screen information on the projection screen.

23 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one projector projects the screen information from behind the at least one screen.

24 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 23 , wherein a person is able to see the laboratory analyzer through the at least one screen due to the degree of transparency of the at least one screen.

25 . The laboratory analyzer according to claim 23 , wherein a person is able to see the laboratory analyzer through the at least one screen, and read the information on the at least one screen.

26 . A laboratory analyzer comprising:

at least one analyzing instrument executing at least one processing step on one or more biological samples and/or reagents,

a housing at least partially enclosing the at least one analyzing instrument;

at least one camera configured for controlling the executing of the at least one processing step on a sample and/or reagent by the laboratory analyzer, wherein said at least one camera is usable for detecting gesture control in addition to controlling the executing of the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent, and wherein in use of the laboratory analyzer, the at least one camera provides input indicative of a detected gesture to a processing unit that transforms the input into a command for executing the at least one processing step on the sample and/or reagent; and

at least one display device, wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one screen, wherein the at least one screen is partially transparent and partially reflective, wherein the at least one screen is integrated into the housing, and wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one head-up display device and/or at least one organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

27 . The laboratory analyzer of claim 26 , wherein the at least one processing step is selected from the group consisting of centrifugation, aliquotation, and sample analysis.

28 . The laboratory analyzer of claim 26 , wherein the at least one analyzing instrument is selected from the group consisting of a pre-analytical sample work-cell, an analytical sample work-cell, and a post-analytical sample work-cell.

29 . The laboratory analyzer of claim 26 , wherein the at least one display device displays screen information on the at least one screen such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing.