Element storage device, installation and associated communication method

The present invention relates to an element storage device. The invention also relates to an element storage installation comprising such a storage device. The invention also relates to a communication method.

In the field of element logistics, many special systems have been developed due to the specificity of the elements or their content in terms of transport or storage condition.

This is particularly the case when the elements are bags containing biological products, such as blood products (bags of primary blood, plasma, platelets, red blood cells, etc.) or cellular engineering products (cells , strains, etc.), or else pockets of drugs, such as pockets of chemotherapy.

It is known to store such pouches in refrigerating structures comprising shelves for receiving the pouches. The pockets stored in such structures generally include an identifying tag, such as an RFID tag (from the English “radio frequency identification” translated into French by “radio identification”), affixed to one face of the pocket. Each tag stores information relating to the corresponding pocket. Furthermore, such structures include a reader, such as an RFID reader, in order to read and update the information contained in the tags of said pockets.

However, when the pockets are arranged vertically on the shelves, the distance between the reader and the tags increases.

Also, in this case, the RFID tags and the antenna of the RFID reader are arranged perpendicular to each other.

As a result, the RFID reader cannot read all RFID tags.

There is therefore a need for a space-saving storage device that can reliably read each tag.

To this end, the subject of the present description is a device for storing elements, each element comprising a first wireless communication unit, the storage device comprising a reception medium intended to receive the elements, a second wireless communication unit wire able to generate waves, the second wireless communication unit being able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit according to a communication protocol, a communication zone also being defined as being a three-dimensional zone in which the second

wireless communication unit is able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit when each first wireless communication unit is located in the communication area, the second wireless communication unit not being able to communicate with at least a first wireless communication unit when the first wireless communication unit is located outside the communication area, a waveguide able to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit so that a dimension of the communication area measured from the second wireless communication unit along a predetermined direction is strictly greater than a reference dimension, the reference dimension being equal to the dimension of the communication area measured from the second unit wireless communication along the predetermined direction when the storage device has no waveguide.

According to particular embodiments, the device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

- the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit are electromagnetic waves comprising a magnetic field, the waveguide being a magnetic field concentrator adapted to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the second wireless communication unit.

- the waveguide is capable of guiding the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit in the predetermined direction.

- the dimension of the communication area verifies one of the following properties: the dimension of the communication area is greater than or equal to 105% of the reference value, the dimension of the communication area is greater than or equal to 120% of the reference value, and the dimension of the communication zone is less than or equal to 130% of the reference value.

- the waveguide comprises guiding elements configured to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit according to the predetermined direction.

- the guide elements comprise two plates of the same dimensions, parallel to each other, the two plates defining between them a channel for guiding the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit according to the predetermined direction.

- the waveguide is made of metal, the metal being in particular aluminium.

- the reference value is equal to 86 millimeters and the first wireless communication unit is preferably a radio tag reader -

identification and comprises at least one antenna, preferably planar and in the shape of a figure eight, the radio-identification tag reader optionally comprising a plurality of antennas having overlapping zones between them.

- the elements of the plurality of elements are containers for biological products, drugs or therapeutic preparations and each first wireless communication unit is a radio identification tag comprising a memory suitable for memorizing data relating to the container carrying this first wireless communication unit.

The present description also relates to an installation for storing elements comprising an enclosure comprising an internal compartment, the enclosure preferably being a refrigerating enclosure, and comprising a storage device as described previously comprising a plurality of elements each carrying a first unit wireless communication unit, the second wireless communication unit being intended to communicate with each first wireless communication unit according to a communication protocol, the storage device being arranged in the internal compartment.

The present description also relates to a method of communication between at least a first wireless communication unit and a second wireless communication unit implemented in an element storage device, each element comprising a first communication unit wireless, the element storage device comprising a reception support intended to receive the elements, a second wireless communication unit able to generate waves, the second wireless communication unit being able to communicate with each first unit of wireless communication according to a communication protocol, a communication zone also being defined as being a three-dimensional zone in which the second wireless communication unit is able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit when each first wireless communication unit is located in the communication area, the second communication unit wireless communication not being able to communicate with at least a first wireless communication unit when the first wireless communication unit is located outside the communication zone, a waveguide able to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit so that a dimension of the communication area measured from the second wireless communication unit along a predetermined direction is strictly greater than a reference dimension, the reference dimension being equal to the dimension of the communication area measured from the

second wireless communication unit along the predetermined direction when the storage device has no waveguide, the method comprising a step of transmitting waves by the second wireless communication unit, during the step transmission, the dimension of the communication area measured from the second wireless communication unit along the predetermined direction is greater than or equal to the reference dimension.

According to a particular embodiment of the method, the waveguide comprises guide elements configured to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit along the predetermined direction, the guide elements comprising two plates of the same dimensions, parallel relative to each other delimiting a channel between them, during the step of emission of waves by the second wireless communication unit, the second wireless communication unit emits electromagnetic waves comprising a magnetic field and the two plates concentrate, in the channel, the magnetic field emitted by the second wireless communication unit.

The present description also relates to a wireless communication device comprising at least three elementary antennas each comprising at least two loops, two adjacent loops being configured to be traversed by currents having opposite directions of circulation, each loop of each antenna delimiting a surface interior called loop surface, in which the elementary antennae are offset two by two along a rectilinear direction and, in which, for each loop of each antenna, part of the surface of this loop is superimposed with a portion of a surface of loop of each other elementary antenna, the part of said loop surface presenting a area less than the area of ​​the loop surface of said loop.

According to particular embodiments, the wireless communication device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

- a part of each loop of each antenna, called coincidence part, coincides with a loop portion of each other antenna and, for each loop, the coincidence part is at least greater than 5% of the perimeter of this loop.

- the loops of each antenna have the same shape.

- each antenna is flat and the at least three elementary antennas extend in the same plane.

- each elementary antenna comprises at least three loops.

- each loop of each antenna is partitioned into loop partitions presenting an area, each loop partition being delimited by at least one loop part of a loop of another antenna, each surface of a loop partition presenting an area less than or equal to one third of the area of ​​the surface of this loop, and the elementary antennae extend in the same plane and are configured to emit an electromagnetic field in a three-dimensional zone of space, the electromagnetic field emitted in the three-dimensional area being continuous along a direction parallel to the rectilinear direction.

- the wireless communication device is a radio identification tag reader.

The present description further relates to an installation for storing elements, each element carrying a first wireless communication unit, the installation comprising an enclosure comprising an internal compartment, the enclosure preferably being a refrigerant enclosure, and comprising a wireless communication device as described above, forming a second wireless communication unit able to communicate with at least a first wireless communication unit, in which the wireless communication device is placed in the internal compartment.

According to a particular embodiment of the element storage installation, the elements are containers for biological products, medicines or therapeutic preparations and each second wireless communication unit is a radio identification tag comprising a memory specific to storing data relating to the container carrying this second wireless communication unit.

The present description also relates to a communication method implemented in an element storage installation as described previously between at least a first wireless communication unit and a second wireless communication unit, the second wireless communication unit comprising at least three elementary antennas each comprising at least two loops, two adjacent loops being configured to be traversed by currents having opposite directions of circulation, each loop of each antenna delimiting an inner surface called the loop surface, in which the elementary antennas are offset two by two along a rectilinear direction and, in which, for each loop of each antenna, a part of the surface of this loop is superimposed with a portion of a loop surface of each other elementary antenna, the part of the said loop surface having an area less than the surface area of ​​b loop of said loop, in which the communication method comprises a step of emission of waves by the wireless communication device.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings which are:

- Figure 1, a schematic representation in perspective of an installation comprising an element storage device,

- Figure 2, a schematic representation of an element,

- Figure 3, a view of part of the element storage device of Figure 1,

- Figure 4, a schematic sectional view enlarged in section of a part of Figure 3, identified by the arrow IV in Figure 1, comprising a receiving tray,

- Figure 5, a view of Figure 4 also showing communication areas,

- Figure 6, a schematic representation of a second wireless communication unit, and

- Figure 7, an exploded schematic representation of part of the second wireless communication unit of Figure 6.

A facility 10 for storing elements 12 is shown in Figure 1.

The installation 10 has, for example, the role of maintaining each element 12 at a predefined temperature and/or of agitating each element 12.

In the present description, a transverse direction is defined. The transverse direction is represented by the X axis and named in the suite of the description “cross direction X”.

A longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction X is also defined. The longitudinal direction is represented by an axis Y and called “longitudinal direction Y” in the remainder of the description.

A vertical direction perpendicular to the transverse direction X and to the longitudinal direction Y is also defined. The vertical direction is represented by an axis Z and called “vertical direction Z” in the remainder of the description.

Furthermore, the dimension of an object of the installation 10 along the transverse direction X is referred to below as “width”. The dimension of an object of the installation 10 along the longitudinal direction Y is called “length”. The dimension of an object of the installation 10 along the vertical direction Z is called “height”.

Furthermore, in the present description, a value V between a first value V1 and a second value V2 means that the value V is greater than or equal to the first value V1 and that the value V is less than or equal to the value V2.

Referring to Figure 2, the elements 12 are, according to the example described, containers. In general, a container designates any type of pocket intended for

contain products whose use is subject to strict storage constraints.

More particularly, the elements 12 are, for example, bags containing biological products such as blood products (bags of primary blood, plasma, platelets, red blood cells, etc.) or cellular engineering products (human or animal cells, in particular human or animal stem cells, products derived from human or animal cells).

Alternatively, the elements 12 are drug bags or therapeutic preparations containing one or more active principles or drugs, such as chemotherapy bags generally containing a solute and one or more active chemotherapy principles.

CLAIMS

1. Storage device (20) of elements (12), each element (12) comprising a first wireless communication unit (15), the storage device (20) comprising:

- a receiving support (24, 26) intended to receive the elements (12),

- a second wireless communication unit (30) able to generate waves, the second wireless communication unit (30) being able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit (15) according to a communication protocol, an area communication unit (32) also being defined as being a three-dimensional zone in which the second wireless communication unit (30) is able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit (15) when each first wireless communication unit (15 ) is located in the communication area (32), the second wireless communication unit (30) not being able to communicate with at least one first wireless communication unit (15) when the first wireless communication unit (15) is located outside the communication zone (32),

- a waveguide (31) able to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) so that a dimension (H) of the communication zone (32) measured from the second wireless communication unit wire (30) along a predetermined direction (Z) is strictly greater than a reference dimension (HR), the reference dimension (HR) being equal to the dimension of the communication zone (32') measured from the second wireless communication unit (30) along the predetermined direction (Z) when the storage device (20) has no waveguide (31).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) are electromagnetic waves comprising a magnetic field, the waveguide (31) being a magnetic field concentrator adapted to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the second wireless communication unit (30).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the waveguide (31) is able to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) in the predetermined direction (Z).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the dimension of the communication zone (32) verifies one of the following properties:

- the dimension (H) of the communication zone (32) is greater than or equal to 105% of the reference value (HR),

- the dimension (H) of the communication zone is greater than or equal to 120% of the reference value (HR), and

- the dimension (H) of the communication zone (32) is less than or equal to 130% of the reference value (HR).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the waveguide (31) comprises guiding elements (50) configured to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) according to the predetermined direction (Z).

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guide elements (50) comprise two plates (52, 54) of the same dimensions, parallel to each other, the two plates ( 52, 54) delimiting therebetween a guide channel (56) of the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) in the predetermined direction (Z).

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the waveguide (31) is made of metal, the metal being in particular aluminum.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the reference value (HR) is equal to 86 millimeters and in which the first wireless communication unit (30) is preferably a reader of radio-identification tags and comprises at least one antenna (40), preferably planar and in the shape of a figure eight, the radio-identification tag reader optionally comprising a plurality of antennas having overlapping zones between them.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the elements (12) of the plurality of elements are containers for biological products, drugs or therapeutic preparations and in which each first wireless communication unit (15) is a radio identification tag comprising a memory suitable for memorizing data relating to the container carrying this first wireless communication unit (15).

10. Installation (10) for storing elements (12) comprising:

- an enclosure (16) comprising an internal compartment (22), the enclosure (16) preferably being a refrigerating enclosure, and

- a storage device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a plurality of elements (12) each carrying a first wireless communication unit (15), the second communication unit wireless communication (30) being intended to communicate with each first wireless communication unit (15) according to a communication protocol,

the storage device (20) being arranged in the internal compartment (22).

11. Method of communication between at least a first wireless communication unit (15) and a second wireless communication unit (30) implemented in a storage device (20) of elements (12), each element ( 12) comprising a first wireless communication unit (15), the storage device (20) of elements (12) comprising:

- a receiving support (24, 26) intended to receive the elements (12),

- a second wireless communication unit (30) able to generate waves, the second wireless communication unit (30) being able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit (15) according to a communication protocol, an area communication unit (32) also being defined as being a three-dimensional zone in which the second wireless communication unit (30) is able to communicate with each first wireless communication unit (15) when each first wireless communication unit (15 ) is located in the communication area (32), the second wireless communication unit (30) not being able to communicate with at least one first wireless communication unit (15) when the first wireless communication unit (15) is located outside the communication zone (32),

- a waveguide (31) capable of guiding the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) so that a dimension (H) of the communication zone (32) measured from the second wireless communication unit wire (30) along a predetermined direction (Z) is strictly greater than a reference dimension (HR), the reference dimension (HR) being equal to the dimension of the communication zone (32') measured from the second wireless communication unit (30) along the predetermined direction (Z) when the storage device (20) has no waveguide (31),

the method comprising a step of emission of waves by the second wireless communication unit (30),

during the transmission step, the dimension (H) of the communication area (32) measured from the second wireless communication unit (30) along the predetermined direction (Z) is greater than or equal to the dimension reference (HR).

12. Communication method according to claim 11, in which the waveguide (31) comprises guiding elements (50) configured to guide the waves generated by the second wireless communication unit (30) along the predetermined direction ( Z), the guide elements (50) comprising two plates (52, 54) of the same dimensions, parallel to each other defining between them a channel (56),

during the wave emission step by the second wireless communication unit (30), the second wireless communication unit (30) emits electromagnetic waves comprising a magnetic field and the two plates (52, 54) concentrate, in the channel (56), the magnetic field emitted by the second wireless communication unit (30).