FreezFiler Eye

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) help researchers and lab personnel to keep an overview over the assets in their labs. FreezFiler Eye is a patent­ pending computer vision based solution for automating inventory in Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) freezers. It offers unique complement to ELNs and LIMS.

The FreezFiler Eye is the core part of kleinlabs offering for ULT freezer inven­tory management. It allows robust move­ment and adjacency detection of QR code marked objects in a wide spatial area under standard light conditions. Possible applications for the FreezFiler Eye include inventory management automation in many areas where ULT freezers are used. Even completely new application areas like management of parts for small production volumes or flexible storage inventory solutions are feasible due to the flexibility of the hardware design, App­li­ca­tion Pro­gram­ming Interface (API) and the user inter­face.

Functional description

FreezFiler Eye is mounted on the top of the ULT freezer and detects movements of QR Codes in front of the freezer. It detects actions, such as insertion and removal. It works with standard sample boxes in standard racks, both marked with ULT resistant QR code labels. The FreezFiler Eye sends detected actions via a RESTful API to an ELN or LIMS as a tuple of FreezFiler Eye ID, Rack ID, Box ID, action (insertion or removal) and rack column (for insertion only). Positive and errorneous conditions are signalled via LEDs on the FreezFiler Eye but also via audio output. An optional 1.6″ OLED display can be mounted on the frame of the freezer to be in sight of the operator.

Hardware description

To gain enough headroom for sufficient detection angle, the FreezFiler Eye is composed of three different parts: a stand with magnetic mounts, which is placed directly on the top of the freezer; an aluminum profile with 700mm length; and the FreezFiler Eye housing itself. The FreezFiler Eye housing is very compact and holds all components for optical acquisition, movement detection, and even an amplifier and speaker for audio output. If alternative applications need different housings, we are flexible to adapt to your requirements. For the integration into the lab network, the FreezFiler Eye is offering both WiFi and Ethernet con­nections.

Software description

For integration into ELN or LIMS solutions, the FreezFiler Eye provides an easy to use RESTful API. As this API is very compact and lightweight, the operation of the FreezFiler Eye is even possible via very low bandwidth connections, such as Ethernet over alarm wires, which are common in freezer rooms. The FreezFiler Eye also offers web-based interface for configuration, calibration and debugging. Feedback in form of audio feedback and LEDs can be triggered via the API or – for lower latency – directly connected to recognition or failure states.
As the FreezFiler Eye is using complex computer vision based detection algorithms, we provide regular software updates for improving detection quality, extend the API and improve per­formance. FreezFiler Eye offers secure and reliable mecha­nisms for Over-the-Air (OTA), web-based and API-based updates. The firmware image is digitally signed to ensure authorized updates.

Order Code

  • FFE-1902

Available Options

  • Remote OLED display (Order Code: RDISP)
  • Alternative mounts (on request):
    • Ceiling mount
    • Freezer Integration of stand

Technical Data

Hardware Features:

  • Dimensions:
    • 100x440x770mm3 (WxDxH)
    • 67x280x55mm3 FF Eye case only
  • Weight: 2.7kg (370g FF Eye case only)
  • Power Supply: 5V DC, 3A (PSU 100V-240VAC included)
  • Avg. power consumption 6W
  • Network connections:
    • Ethernet RJ45 1000BaseT
    • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
  • RDISP connector
  • Audio power: 3W
  • Signalling LED: blue, green, red
  • Recognition area: 1100x840x1300mm3 (min. with stand)

Software Features:

  • Linux OS
  • DualBoot firmware system
  • Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
  • RESTful API to LIMS or ELN
  • Web-based configuration, calibration and debugging
  • IPv4 configuration via DHCP or APIPA
  • IPv6 configuration via SLAAC
  • WiFi security: WPA / WPA2 PSK
  • Service discovery: mDNS