Temperature-reminder smart coaster

Abstract

A temperature-reminder smart coaster includes a coaster body comprising a connected base and a column. A temperature sensor is integrated into the column, which uses infrared light to sense temperature in the direction of the base. The coaster body is equipped with a controller and several electrically connected components, including a power switch, a temperature setting button, a display, and an alarm. A set temperature is set using the temperature setting button. When a user places a hot beverage on the base and triggers the power switch, the controller continuously receives infrared temperature measurements of the hot beverage and compares them with the set temperature. When the real-time temperature drops from high to the set temperature, the controller activates the alarm to issue a warning signal, reminding the user that the beverage is safe to drink, thus preventing the user from drinking beverages that are too hot or too cold.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the structure of coasters; in particular, it refers to a smart coaster with temperature reminder. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Because hot drinks are very hot, users often place coasters between the table and the container of the drink before drinking them. The coasters prevent the high temperature of the drink from spreading to the table and causing the plastic mat or tablecloth on the table to deteriorate.

[0003] Although the existing coasters can prevent the heat of the beverage in the container from spreading to the table, they do not have a temperature sensing function. In addition, the temperature of freshly brewed tea or coffee is generally not a temperature that the human body can drink. When cups and hot tea, hot coffee or other beverages are placed on coasters, there are often problems such as drinking the beverage before the temperature has dropped to a suitable level, which is too hot, or losing the flavor of the beverage due to the temperature dropping too low after being left for too long. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a smart coaster that can sense the temperature of the beverage in the container above the coaster. By combining the temperature sensing structure with the system design that can remind the user that the beverage temperature has dropped to the set temperature, the system can remind the user to drink the beverage at the appropriate time.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a temperature-reminder smart coaster, comprising a coaster body, a temperature sensing head, and a temperature reminder system. The coaster body includes a base and a column; the base has a peripheral portion, and the column is a vertical column connected to one side of the peripheral portion at its bottom. The temperature sensing head includes a sensing element housing and an infrared temperature sensing element; the sensing element housing is attached to the top of the column, and the infrared temperature sensing element is attached to the sensing element housing, the infrared temperature sensing element sensing an instantaneous temperature in the direction facing the base.

[0006] The temperature reminder system is provided with a power switch, a temperature setting button, a display, an alarm, a power supply module and a controller on the coaster body; the power switch, the temperature setting button, the display, the alarm, the power supply module and the infrared temperature sensing element are respectively electrically connected to the controller; the power switch is used to activate the controller, the temperature setting button is used to set a set temperature on the controller, and the display is used to display the real-time temperature and / or the set temperature; the controller continuously receives the real-time temperature and compares it with the set temperature from the infrared temperature sensing element, and when the real-time temperature drops from above the set temperature to equal to the set temperature, the controller controls the alarm to issue an alarm signal.

[0007] The advantage of this invention is that when a user places a hot beverage on the base and activates the controller by triggering the start switch, the controller continuously receives infrared temperature sensing elements to measure the real-time temperature of the hot beverage and continuously compares the real-time temperature of the hot beverage with the set temperature. When the real-time temperature drops from above the set temperature to equal to the set temperature, the controller controls the alarm to issue a warning signal, reminding the user to drink the hot beverage at the appropriate time, thus preventing the user from drinking beverages that are too hot or too cold.

Implementation Method

[0008] To more clearly illustrate the present invention, preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Please refer to Figures 1 and 2, which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention: a temperature-reminder smart coaster 100, comprising a coaster body 10, a temperature sensing head 20, and a temperature reminder system 30, wherein:

[0009] The coaster body 10 includes a base 12, a display housing 14, and a pillar 16. The base 12 is a disc-shaped housing, specifically a circular housing, and the middle and peripheral portions of the base 12 are defined as a middle portion 121 and a peripheral portion 122, respectively. The peripheral portion 122 is connected to the periphery of the middle portion 121. The middle portion 121 has an upward-opening groove 123, which is a circular groove. A weight sensor 32A is fixed on the bottom surface of the groove 123. A pad 18 is disposed in the groove 123, and the pad 18 is attached to and supported by the weight sensor 32A. A heating coil module 181 is disposed in the pad 18. The bottom of the display housing 14 is connected to one side of the peripheral portion 122 of the base 12, and the side of the display housing 14 facing the base 12 has a display window 141.

[0010] The column 16 is a vertical column and is connected at its bottom to one side of the peripheral portion 122 of the base 12. Specifically, the column 16 includes a lower section 161, an upper section 162, a rotary actuator 163, and a pitch actuator 164. The lower section 161 is a vertical column and is connected at its bottom to one side of the peripheral portion 122 of the base 12. The top surface of the lower section 161 has a pivot hole 1611 at its center. The upper rod 162 has a pivot 1621 at the center of its bottom surface. A gear 1622 is attached to the circumference of the upper rod 162. The pivot 1621 is inserted into the pivot hole 1611 in a rotatable manner, thereby enabling the bottom of the upper rod 162 to be coaxially and rotatably connected to the top of the lower rod 161. The top of the upper rod 162 has a pivot seat 1623.

[0011] The rotary actuator 163 is attached to the top periphery of the lower rod 161 to drive the upper rod 162 to swing left and right. Specifically, the rotary actuator 163 includes a rotary motor 1631 and a rotary gear 1632. The rotary motor 1631 is attached to the lower rod 161, and the rotary gear 1632 is attached to the shaft of the rotary motor 1631 and meshes with the gear 1622. The pitch actuator 164 is attached to the upper rod 162. Specifically, the pitch actuator 164 includes a pitch motor 1641 and a worm gear 1642. The pitch motor 1641 is attached to the upper rod 162, and the worm gear 1642 is attached to the shaft of the pitch motor 1641.

[0012] The temperature sensing head 20 includes a sensing element housing 22 and an infrared temperature sensing element 24. The sensing element housing 22 is pivotally connected to the pivot seat 1623 of the column 16 in a pitch-swinging configuration. Specifically, the sensing element housing 22 is connected to a pitch shaft 221, which laterally pivots through the pivot seat 1623. A turbine 222 is fitted and fixed at the outer end of the pitch shaft 221, and the turbine 222 engages with the worm gear 1642 of the pitch actuator 164.

[0013] Thus, the sensing element housing 22 is connected to the top of the column 16 by means of pivoting to the pivot seat 1623, and the sensing element housing 22 is able to pitch and swing under the drive of the pitch driver 164. The infrared temperature sensing element 24 is connected inside the sensing element housing 22 on the side facing the base 12. The infrared temperature sensing element 24 senses an instantaneous temperature in the direction of the base 12. In this preferred embodiment, the instantaneous temperature to be sensed by the infrared temperature sensing element 24 is the instantaneous temperature of the beverage in the cup placed on the pad 18.

[0014] The temperature reminder system 30 is provided on the coaster body 10 with a start switch 32, a temperature setting button 34, a display 36, an alarm 38, a power supply module 31, and a controller 33. The start switch 32, the temperature setting button 34, the display 36, the alarm 38, the power supply module 31, the heating coil module 181, the rotary motor 1631, the pitch motor 1641, and the infrared temperature sensing element 24 are respectively electrically connected to the controller 33. In this preferred embodiment, the display 36 is a liquid crystal display used to display a two-digit or three-digit temperature. The display 36 is integrated into the display housing 14 and protrudes outward through the display window 141.

[0015] The start switch 32 is a button, the temperature setting button 34 is a button, and the alarm 38 is a buzzer. The start switch 32, the temperature setting button 34, and the alarm 38 are respectively attached to the side of the display housing 14 facing the base 12. The power supply module 31 and the controller 33 are respectively installed and fixed inside the base 12. The power supply module 31 includes a power socket 311 and a battery 312 that are electrically connected to the controller 33. The power socket 311 is a USB socket and protrudes outward from the side of the peripheral part 122 of the base 12. The battery 312 supplies the power required for the operation of the controller 33 and the temperature reminder system 30.

[0016] In other preferred embodiments, the display 36 may be a three-digit or at least two-digit seven-segment display. The start switch 32 and the temperature setting button 34 may also be knobs and may be respectively located on other parts of the coaster body 10, such as the periphery of the base 12 or around the lower rod 161. The power supply module 31 may also only have the power socket 311, through which an external power input is connected to supply the energy needs for the operation of the temperature reminder system 30.

[0017] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, in this preferred embodiment, the start switch 32 is triggered by being pressed to activate the controller 33. Furthermore, the weight sensor 32A can also function as a start switch. When the surface of the pad 18 is subjected to force, for example, when a cup of hot coffee in mug A1 is placed on the pad 18, causing force on the surface of the pad 18, the weight sensor 32A is triggered by the force, thus activating the controller 33. In other preferred embodiments, only the pressed start switch 32 may be triggered to activate the controller 33, or only the weight sensor 32A may be triggered to activate the controller 33.

[0018] The temperature setting button 34 is used to set a set temperature for the controller 33, for example, to match the appropriate drinking temperature of the coffee in the mug A1. The temperature setting button 34 is used to set the set temperature to 45°C. The display 36 is used to display the real-time temperature and / or the set temperature. The temperature number displayed by the display 36 is one color when the temperature is higher than the set temperature, such as red; when the temperature number drops to meet the set temperature, the display 36 displays another color, such as green, to indicate that the temperature of the coffee in the mug A1 has met the set temperature.

[0019] The center of the infrared temperature sensing element 24 faces the middle portion 121 of the base 12. Specifically, the state in which the center of the infrared temperature sensing element 24 faces the center of the middle portion 121 is defined as a starting position. When the controller 33 is activated, the controller 33 controls the rotary driver 163 to drive the upper rod 162 to swing left and right once from the starting position. The amplitude of the left and right swing is limited to a certain angle, such as 30 degrees or 45 degrees. The controller 33 also controls the pitch driver 164 to drive the sensing element housing 22 to pitch once from the starting position. The amplitude of the pitch swing is limited to a certain angle, such as 30 degrees or 45 degrees.

[0020] The controller 33 controls the rotary driver 163 to stop the position of the upper rod 162 during the left-right swing of the upper rod 162, at the position where the infrared temperature sensing element 24 senses the highest temperature; the controller 33 controls the pitch driver 164 to stop the position of the sensing element housing 22 of the temperature sensing head 20 during the pitch swing of the sensing element housing 22, at the position where the infrared temperature sensing element 24 senses the highest temperature. In this way, after the user activates the controller 33 with the start switch 32 or the weight sensor 32A, the direction in which the infrared temperature sensing element 24 is facing can be moved to the most appropriate position facing the coffee in the mug A1, so that the infrared temperature sensing element 24 can sense the temperature of the coffee and other beverages in a more accurate way. As shown in Figure 5, when a cup of hot tea in teacup A2 is placed on the pad 18, the infrared temperature sensing element 24 can be moved toward the hot tea in teacup A2 by controlling the position of the temperature sensing head 20 by the controller 33, so as to accurately measure the temperature of the hot tea.

[0021] In other preferred embodiments, the column 16 may also be a fixed structure, with the temperature sensing head 20 attached to the top of the column 16, so that the infrared temperature sensing element 24 is generally facing the base 12, thereby the infrared temperature sensing element 24 can also measure the temperature of the beverage in the cup placed on the base 12 and its temperature change.

[0022] Referring to Figure 2, when the infrared temperature sensing element 24 is moved toward the coffee in the mug A1 (or, in other preferred embodiments, the infrared temperature sensing element 24 is originally fixed in a direction roughly toward the coffee in the mug A1), and the infrared temperature sensing element 24 of the temperature sensing head 20 senses the temperature of the coffee in the mug A1, the controller 33 continuously receives the instantaneous temperature from the infrared temperature sensing element 24 and compares it with the set temperature. When the instantaneous temperature decreases from above the set temperature to equal to the set temperature, the controller 33 controls the alarm 38 to issue an alarm signal. In this preferred embodiment, the alarm signal is a beeping sound, thereby reminding the user that the coffee in the mug A1 has cooled down to the set drinking temperature, allowing the user to drink the beverage at the appropriate time, avoiding the user being burned by the coffee being too hot or losing the flavor of the coffee because it is too cold.

[0023] In addition, the controller 33 can also use the real-time temperature as a reference for comparison. After the temperature of the coffee in the mug A1 drops, the controller controls the heating coil module 181 to heat the mug A1, thereby raising the temperature of the mug A1 and the coffee therein. This allows the coffee in the mug A1 to be kept at the set temperature, so that the user can drink delicious coffee at any time.

[0024] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any equivalent changes made by applying the present invention specification and the claims should be included within the patent scope of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0025] Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of placing a mug on a mat according to the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the temperature sensing head in Figure 2 being driven upward by a pitch driver. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the temperature sensing head in Figure 2 being driven downward by a pitch driver. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of placing a teacup on a mat according to the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A temperature-reminder smart coaster, comprising: A coaster body includes a base and a post; the base has a perimeter, and the post is a vertical column connected to one side of the perimeter at its bottom. A temperature sensing head includes a sensing element housing and an infrared temperature sensing element; the sensing element housing is attached to the top of the column, and the infrared temperature sensing element is attached to the sensing element housing, the infrared temperature sensing element sensing an instantaneous temperature in the direction of the base; and a temperature reminder system, which is provided on the coaster body with a power switch, a temperature setting button, a display, an alarm, a power supply module, and a controller; the power switch, the temperature setting button, the display, the alarm, the power supply module, and the infrared temperature sensing element are respectively electrically connected to the controller; the power switch is used to activate the controller, the temperature setting button is used to set a set temperature on the controller, and the display is used to display the instantaneous temperature and / or the set temperature; the controller continuously receives the instantaneous temperature and compares it with the set temperature from the infrared temperature sensing element, and when the instantaneous temperature drops from above the set temperature to equal to the set temperature, the controller controls the alarm to issue an alarm signal.

2. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 1, wherein the base has a central portion in the middle, and the surrounding portion is connected to the periphery of the central portion; the central portion has an upward-opening groove, the start switch includes a weight sensor, the weight sensor is fixed to the bottom surface of the groove, a pad is disposed in the groove, the pad is supported by the weight sensor, and when the surface of the pad is subjected to force, the weight sensor is triggered to start the controller.

3. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 2, wherein a heating coil module is provided in the coaster body, and the heating coil module is electrically connected to the controller.

4. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 1, wherein the base is a disc-shaped housing; the power supply module and the controller are respectively installed and fixed inside the base, the power supply module includes a power socket, the power socket is electrically connected to the controller, and the power socket is exposed outward from the side of the surrounding part.

5. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 4, wherein the power supply module further includes a battery electrically connected to the controller.

6. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 4, wherein the coaster body further includes a display housing, the bottom of which is connected to one side of the surrounding area, and the display housing has a display window on the side facing the base; the display is attached to the display housing and protrudes outward from the display window, and the power switch, the temperature setting button, and the alarm are respectively attached to the display housing.

7. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 6, wherein the display is a seven-segment display or an LCD display with at least two digits; the power switch and the temperature setting button are respectively buttons; and the alarm is a buzzer.

8. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 1, wherein the column comprises a lower section, an upper section, a rotation actuator, and a pitch actuator; the lower section is a vertical rod connected at its bottom to one side of the surrounding portion; the bottom of the upper section is coaxially and rotatably connected to the top of the lower section, and the top of the upper section has a pivot seat; the housing of the sensing element is pivotally connected to the pivot seat in a pitch-swinging manner; the rotation actuator is connected to the top of the lower section for driving the upper section to swing left and right, and the rotation actuator is electrically connected to the controller; the pitch actuator is connected to the upper section for driving the housing of the sensing element to swing pitch, and the pitch actuator is electrically connected to the controller.

9. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 8, wherein the lower section of the rod has a pivot hole at the center of its top surface; the upper section of the rod has a pivot at the center of its bottom surface, the pivot being rotatable and passing through the pivot hole; a gear is attached to the circumference of the upper section of the rod; the rotary actuator includes a rotary motor and a rotary gear, the rotary motor being attached to the lower section of the rod and electrically connected to the controller, the rotary gear being attached to the rotary motor and meshing with the gear; a pitch axis is connected to the housing of the sensing element, the pitch axis laterally pivotally passing through the pivot seat, and a turbine is fitted and fixed to the pitch axis; the pitch actuator includes a pitch motor and a worm gear, the pitch motor being attached to the upper section of the rod and electrically connected to the controller, the worm gear being attached to the pitch motor and meshing with the turbine.

10. The temperature-reminder smart coaster as described in claim 8, wherein the base has a central portion in the middle, and the surrounding portion is connected to the periphery of the central portion; the state in which the center of the infrared temperature sensing element faces the central portion is defined as a starting position; when the start switch activates the controller, the controller controls the rotary driver to drive the upper rod to swing left and right once from the starting position, and the controller controls the pitch driver to drive the sensing element housing to pitch once from the starting position; the controller controls the rotary driver to stop the position of the upper rod at the position where the infrared temperature sensing element senses the highest temperature during the left and right swing of the upper rod; the controller controls the pitch driver to stop the position of the sensing element housing at the position where the infrared temperature sensing element senses the highest temperature during the pitch swing of the sensing element housing.

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