Dispenser indication system

Abstract

The indicator (10) may include a body (14) including a sensor (16) and a recess (14a) configured to receive a pump head (22) of a corresponding container (20). The indicator (10) includes a lamp (12) coupled to the body (14), where the lamp (12) is configured to light to indicate when an ingredient in a corresponding container (20) is part of a beverage order, and the sensor (16) is configured to determine when a user dispenses an amount of the ingredient into the beverage container. One or more indicators (10) may communicate with the base device (40) to coordinate dispensing of beverage orders.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 476,278, filed on December 20, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for indicating ingredients in a beverage order. For example, in some embodiments, systems and methods for receiving a beverage order and indicating to a user, via one or more indicators, the ingredients in the beverage order and / or the amounts of the ingredients in the beverage order. Background Art

[0004] Customized beverages can be created by adding different amounts of sauces, syrups, and spices to a base beverage such as coffee or tea. Currently, disposable mechanical pumps or reusable mechanical pumps are used to dispense sauces, syrups, and spices. The sauces, syrups, or spices are filled in pump containers. A barista manually pushes down on a pump lever to pump the sauce, syrup, or spice to dispense a fixed volume of sauce, syrup, and spice through a pump nozzle. Summary of the Invention

[0005] For purposes of this summary, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention are described herein. It is to be understood that not all such advantages are necessarily achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one or a group of advantages as taught herein, without necessarily achieving other advantages as taught or suggested herein.

[0006] In some embodiments, a beverage ingredient indicator can include: a body including a sensor and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container; and a light coupled to the body, wherein the light is configured to illuminate to indicate when an ingredient in the corresponding container is part of a beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses an amount of the ingredient into a beverage container.

[0007] In some embodiments, the light can be configured to turn off when the sensor determines that the amount of the ingredient dispensed by the user is the amount of the ingredient in the beverage order.

[0008] In some embodiments, the light can be configured to indicate when the ingredient is dispensed into the beverage container.

[0009] In some embodiments, the light can be configured to indicate the amount of the ingredient in the beverage order.

[0010] In some embodiments, the beverage ingredient indicator may include a controller configured to send information to the sensor and the light, and the controller is configured to receive information from the sensor and the light.

[0011] In some embodiments, the sensor may be a capacitance sensor.

[0012] In some embodiments, the body may include a power source, and the light is configured to indicate whether the power level of the power source is below a threshold.

[0013] In some embodiments, a system for indicating the ingredients of a beverage order may include: a plurality of indicators, each of the plurality of indicators including: a body including a communication module, a sensor, and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container; and a light coupled to the body, wherein the light is configured to be lit to indicate when the ingredient in the corresponding container is part of the beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses a quantity of the ingredient into a beverage container; a base device including: a body including a control system; and a base configured to receive the plurality of indicators; wherein the control system is configured to send information to the communication module of each of the plurality of indicators, and each of the plurality of indicators is configured to light the light of each indicator based on the information.

[0014] In some embodiments, the indicator may include a power source, and the base of the base device may include an indicator connector configured to supply power to the power source of each indicator.

[0015] In some embodiments, the base device may include a communication module configured to communicate with a point-of-sale system.

[0016] In some embodiments, the communication module may be configured to receive a beverage order from the point-of-sale system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the base device may include an input device configured to receive a beverage order.

[0018] In some embodiments, the information may be based on a beverage order.

[0019] In some embodiments, a method of dispensing a beverage may include: receiving, by a base device, a beverage order that includes one or more ingredients; transmitting, by the base device, information regarding the beverage order to one or more indicators; receiving, by each of the one or more indicators, the information; based on the received information, if the ingredient of the container paired with each of the one or more indicators is part of the beverage order, each of the one or more indicators turns on a light of each of the one or more indicators; dispensing, by a user, an amount of a first ingredient of the beverage order; determining, by a sensor of a first indicator, the amount of the first ingredient dispensed by the user, wherein the first indicator is the indicator paired with the container of the first ingredient; and when the user dispenses the amount of the first ingredient, turning off, by the first indicator, the light of the first indicator paired with the container of the first ingredient.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method may include: dispensing, by the user, an amount of a second ingredient of the beverage order; determining, by a sensor of a second indicator, the amount of the second ingredient dispensed by the user, wherein the second indicator is the indicator paired with the container of the second ingredient; and when the user dispenses the amount of the first ingredient, turning off, by the first indicator, the light of the first indicator paired with the container of the first ingredient.

[0021] In some embodiments, the lights of the one or more indicators may be configured to indicate an order of dispensing the one or more ingredients of the beverage order.

[0022] In some embodiments, each container may be paired with each indicator by scanning the identifiable information of each container and the identifiable information of each indicator.

[0023] In some embodiments, the sensor of the first indicator may detect pressure applied to a pump head of the container to determine the amount of the first ingredient dispensed by the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The various embodiments depicted in the drawings are for illustrative purposes and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments. The various features of the different disclosed embodiments may be combined to form additional embodiments that are part of this disclosure.

[0025] Figure 1A An embodiment of an indicator of an indication system is shown.

[0026] Figure 1B An embodiment of an indicator coupled to a container is shown. Figure 1A of the indicator is shown.

[0027] Figure 1CA control system is schematically shown that indicates an embodiment of an indicator of an indication system.

[0028] Figure 2 An embodiment of a base device of an indication system is shown.

[0029] Figure 3 An embodiment of an indication system is shown.

[0030] Figure 4 A method of using an indication system is schematically shown. Detailed Description

[0031] Coffee or tea beverages typically have a base of coffee or tea extract mixed with dairy products, which are enhanced by a variety of mouthfeels, flavors, spices, colors, and / or aromas. Different mouthfeels, flavors, spices, colors, and aromas can be produced by adding different amounts of ingredients or modifiers (e.g., sauces, syrups, and spices) or by adding the same ingredients or modifiers in a different order. For example, to produce a menu offering 70 artisanal coffee beverages, there can be 10 spices, 2 syrups, and 7 sauces. Spices are typically alcohol-based. Some examples of spices are vanilla, toffee nut, and hazelnut. Sauces are typically a mixture of various ingredients blended together in an aqueous solution. Some examples of sauces are white chocolate mocha, chai, and mocha. Syrups are typically liquid forms of sugar or sugar-free alternatives.

[0032] A recipe for a creamy coffee beverage can be to dispense hot espresso extract into a cup, followed by two pumps of vanilla syrup, followed by one pump of white chocolate mocha sauce, followed by a fixed volume of steamed almond milk, and finished with two pumps of toffee nut spice. A recipe for a non-creamy beverage can be the same ingredients and amounts, but dispensed in a different order (e.g., dispense one pump of white chocolate mocha sauce, followed by two pumps of vanilla syrup, followed by a fixed volume of steamed almond milk, followed by two pumps of toffee nut spice, and finished by dispensing hot espresso extract on top). Different beverages are prepared not only by changing the ingredients or the type and amount of modifiers (e.g., sauces, syrups, and spices), but also by changing the order in which they are added to the beverage.

[0033] A coffee shop can offer a menu with 80 to 100 artisanal beverages. This means that each barista must remember the recipe for each of the 80 to 100 beverages (including the ingredients or modifiers (e.g., sauces, syrups, and spices) in each beverage), the number of pumps, the quantity of servings or doses, and the order in which the ingredients or modifiers are added. This creates many complexities and memory efforts, which pose challenges to the expansion of the menu size and variety (e.g., beverage types).

[0034] Consumers like to adjust the amounts of ingredients, adjuncts, or enhancers (e.g., sauces, syrups, and spices) in their beverages to suit their personal taste and health needs. For example, a consumer may want half the amount of sugar and twice the amount of vanilla spice of the normal recipe for a particular beverage. A barista may want to simplify the mental effort required during beverage preparation to increase the production rate of beverages or the preparation rate of beverages (especially complex beverages), while maintaining the barista's hand service.

[0035] According to several embodiments, the systems described herein advantageously indicate to a barista ingredients, adjuncts, or enhancers (e.g., sauces, syrups, spices, flavors, colors, reduced amounts) in a beverage order. The system includes an indicator that can be paired with a container that includes an ingredient, adjunct, or enhancer. The indicator can indicate to the barista which ingredients, adjuncts, or enhancers are in the beverage order, the order in which ingredients, adjuncts, or enhancers are dispensed or added to the beverage, and / or the amount of each of the ingredients, adjuncts, or enhancers dispensed or added to the beverage. In some embodiments, the system includes a dock device configured to receive an order, power the indicator, and / or coordinate or control each indicator.

[0036] Figure 1A and Figure 1B FIG. 10 shows an indicator 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The indicator 10 may include a light 12 and a body or base 14. The light 12 may be an LED, an LCD display, an OLED display, and / or any other form of electronic light or display. The base 14 may include a recess 14A. As Figure 1B shown, the recess 14A may be shaped or configured to receive and / or removably secure the indicator 10 to the pump head 22 of the container 20. In some embodiments, the recess 14A may be shaped or configured to receive and / or removably secure the indicator 10 to the base of the container 20. The container 20 may be a syrup bottle, a powder container, and / or any other container configured to hold and / or dispense ingredients (i.e., ingredients, adjuncts, or enhancers) of a beverage.

[0037] In some embodiments, the light 12 may be illuminated to indicate to a user or barista that the ingredient in the container 20 is included in the beverage order. In some embodiments, the light 12 may be illuminated in one or more colors to indicate multiple pumpings of the ingredient in the container 20 included in the beverage order. In some embodiments, the light 12 may blink, pulse, or change color to indicate multiple pumpings of the ingredient in the container 20 included in the beverage order and / or to indicate the number of pumpings or amount of the ingredient in the container 20 included in the beverage order. In some embodiments, the light 12 may produce a visual display of numbers, letters, and / or symbols to indicate the amount or number of pumpings of the ingredient in the container 20 included in the beverage order.

[0038] In some embodiments, the light 12 can be illuminated to indicate to the user or barista the order in which the ingredients or components in the container 20 should be added to the beverage. In some embodiments, the light 12 can blink, pulse, or change color to indicate the order in which the components in the container 20 should be added to the beverage. In some embodiments, the light 12 can be illuminated in one or more colors to indicate the order in which the components in the container 20 should be added to the beverage or the beverage container.

[0039] In some embodiments, the indicator 10 can include one or more sensors 16 (schematically shown in Figure 1C . The one or more sensors 16 can be capacitance sensors or any other sensors configured to detect or determine the amount of the component dispensed by the user or barista. In some embodiments, the one or more sensors 16 can determine or detect when the user or barista applies pressure to the pump head 22 and / or the indicator 10 to dispense the component. The indicator 10 can be located on the pump head 22 and / or the container 20 such that when the user or barista applies pressure to the pump head 22 to dispense the component, the one or more sensors 16 can detect the pressure and the amount of the pressure. In some embodiments, the one or more sensors 16 can transmit a signal to the light fixture 12, the communication module 30 (schematically shown in Figure 1C ), and / or the controller 32 (schematically shown in Figure 1C ). In some embodiments, once the one or more sensors 16 determine that the amount of the component dispensed by the user or barista is the amount of the component in the beverage order, the light 12 can be turned off or powered down to indicate to the user or barista to stop dispensing the component. In some embodiments, once the one or more sensors 16 determine that the amount of the component dispensed by the user or barista is the amount of the component in the beverage order, the light 12 can blink, pulse, and / or change color to indicate to the user or barista to stop dispensing the component.

[0040] Figure 1C A schematic diagram of a system 1 for beverage component indication of beverage components dispensed from a container 20 is shown. The system 1 can include an indicator 10. In some embodiments, the indicator 10 can include a communication module 30, a controller 32, one or more sensors 16, and / or a light 12. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the control system 1 can be housed or contained within the base 14 of the indicator 10. The communication module 30 can communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection with other indicators 10, a point-of-sale system, and / or a base device 40, as described below with reference to Figure 2 . In some embodiments, the light 12 can be illuminated, blink, or otherwise indicate whether the communication module 30 has lost connection with other indicators 10, a point-of-sale system, and / or a base device 40. The controller 32 can control the light 12, one or more sensors 16, and / or any function of the indicator 10, as referencedFigures 1A to 4 As described above. The controller 32 can receive information from one or more sensors 16 and / or the communication module 30. The controller 32 can use the information to turn the light 12 on / off, change the color of the light 12, and / or otherwise control any function of the light 12, as referenced Figures 1A to 4 As described above. In some embodiments, the indicator can include a power supply 34, and the power supply 34 can be a battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery or a replaceable battery). The power supply 34 can supply power to the communication module 30, the controller 32, one or more sensors, and / or the light 12. In some embodiments, the light 12 can light up a specific color and / or pulse according to the power level of the power supply 34 to indicate to the user or the barista that the power level of the power supply 34 is full or low. In some embodiments, the light 12 can light up a specific color and / or pulse according to the power level of the power supply 34 to indicate to the user or the barista that the power level of the power supply 34 is above or below a threshold. In some embodiments, the light 12 can display the power level of the power supply 34 graphically or numerically.

[0041] Figure 2 An embodiment of the base device 40 is shown. The base device 40 can include a main body 42 and a dock 44. In some embodiments, the main body 42 can include a control system (not shown). The control system can perform any function of the base device 40 or the components of the base device 40 as described herein. The control system can send information or data to / from the components of the base device 40 and / or the indicator 10. In some embodiments, the dock 44 can be an opening or recess in the main body 42 that is configured to receive one or more indicators 10. The dock 44 can include one or more indicator connectors. In some embodiments, the one or more indicator connectors can be connected to the one or more indicators 10 wirelessly or via a wired connection. The one or more indicator connectors can supply power to the power supply 34 wirelessly or via a wired connection and / or transmit data signals or information to the one or more indicators 10 via the communication module 30. In some embodiments, the base device 40 can include a memory that is configured to store one or more beverage orders, the recipe for each of the one or more beverage orders, and / or any other beverage order information.

[0042] In some embodiments, the base device 40 may include an input device 46. In some embodiments, the input device 46 may be located on the outer surface of the main body 42 and / or the surface of the base 44. In some embodiments, the input device 46 may be a wireless or wired communication device configured to send and / or receive information from a point-of-sale system. In some embodiments, the input device 46 may be a scanner configured to scan a beverage order. The input device 46 may scan barcodes, QR codes, and / or any other computer-readable codes on the beverage order. In some embodiments, the input device 46 may be configured to scan or read RFID tags of the beverage order. When the input device 46 scans the beverage order, the input device may receive information or data. The information or data received by the input device 46 may include one or more ingredients of the beverage order, the amounts of one or more ingredients of the beverage order, the order in which one or more ingredients of the beverage order are dispensed, and / or any other information or data about the beverage order. The base device 40 may determine that one or more indicators 10 are lit via a controller. The base device may transmit information to one or more indicators 10 via one or more indicator connectors. The information may include instructions for a controller 32 of one or more indicators 10. The instructions may convey a color or information to be displayed by the lamp 12, whether to cause the lamp 12 to blink or pulse, the amount of the corresponding ingredient, the order in which one or more ingredients of the beverage order are dispensed, and / or any other instructions or data regarding the beverage order.

[0043] Figure 3 An embodiment of a beverage ingredient indication system 50 is shown. The beverage ingredient indication system 50 may include one or more indicators 10 and a base device 40. The one or more indicators may be paired or connected to the base device 40 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the indicator 10 may include a barcode, an RFID tag, an NFC tag, a QR code, or any other recognizable information on the indicator 10. The input device 46 of the base device 40 may scan the recognizable information of each of the one or more indicators 10 to pair or connect the one or more indicators 10 to the base device 40.

[0044] In some embodiments, each of the one or more indicators 10 may be paired with a container 20. The one or more indicators 10 may be paired with the container 20 before or after the one or more indicators 10 are coupled to the container 20. In some embodiments, the communication module 30 may be configured to scan a barcode, RFID tag, NFC tag, QR code, or any other recognizable information on the container 20 to pair the indicator 10 with the container 20. In some embodiments, the input device 46 may be a barcode, RFID tag, NFC tag, QR code, or any other recognizable information on the container 20 to pair the indicator 10 with the container 20. In some embodiments, the base device 40 may select to pair the indicator 10 with the container 20, or a user or barista may scan the indicator 10 before or after scanning the container 20 to pair the indicator 10 with the container 20. In some embodiments, the light 12 of the indicator 10 may blink, pulse, change color, and / or otherwise indicate when the indicator 10 is successfully paired with the container 20.

[0045] In some embodiments, the indication system 50 may include one or more paired indicators 10A and / or one or more unpaired indicators 10B. When one or more paired indicators 10A are in use and coupled to a container, the base device 40 may charge the power supply 34 of the unpaired indicator 10B. Thus, if the power supply 34 of the paired indicator 10A has low power or runs out of power, the paired indicator 10A may be replaced with the unpaired indicator 10B.

[0046] Figure 4 A flowchart of a method 60 of dispensing a beverage using the indication system 50 is shown. In step 62 of the method 60, the indication system 50 may receive a beverage order including one or more ingredients. The base device 40 may receive the beverage order by scanning the beverage order, or the base device 40 and / or one or more indicators 10 may receive the beverage order wirelessly or via a wired connection from a point-of-sale system.

[0047] After the indication system 50 receives the beverage order in step 62, in step 64, the indication system 50 may illuminate the lights 12 of one or more paired indicators 10A corresponding to the containers 20 of each ingredient of the beverage order. The lights 12 may be illuminated as referenced Figure 1A and Figure 1BAs described above, the lamp 12 can indicate the order in which each ingredient of a beverage order should be dispensed by the user or barista, and / or the amount or number of pumps of each ingredient of the beverage order. In some embodiments, if a beverage order contains all of the ingredients corresponding to all one or more paired indicators 10A, the indication system 50 can illuminate the lamps 12 on all one or more paired indicators 10A. In some embodiments, if a beverage order does not contain all of the ingredients corresponding to one or more paired indicators 10A, the indication system 50 can illuminate a portion of one or more paired indicators 10A.

[0048] After the indication system 50 illuminates the lamps 12 of one or more paired indicators 10A at step 64, at step 66, the user or barista can dispense the ingredients of the beverage order.

[0049] After the user or barista dispenses the ingredients of the beverage order at step 66, the indication system 50 can determine or detect the amount of the dispensed ingredients, or whether the user has dispensed the appropriate amount of ingredients. In some embodiments, each time the user or barista dispenses a certain amount of ingredients of the beverage order, the indication system 50 can change the color of the lamp 12 of the paired indicator 10A, cause the lamp 12 of the paired indicator 10A to blink or pulse, and / or otherwise indicate to the user or barista, via the lamp 12 of the paired indicator 10A, the amount of ingredients dispensed by the user or barista, or the remaining amount of ingredients that the user or barista still has to dispense.

[0050] If the indication system 50 determines that the user or barista has not dispensed the appropriate amount of ingredients, the user can repeat step 64, and the indication system 50 can repeat step 66 until the indication system determines that the user or barista has dispensed the appropriate amount of ingredients.

[0051] Once the indication system 50 determines at step 68 that the user or barista has dispensed the appropriate amount of ingredients, the indication system 50 can turn off the lamp 12 of the paired indicator 10A at step 69.

[0052] The user or barista and / or the indication system 50 can repeat steps 64 to 68 until all of the ingredients of the beverage order have been dispensed by the user or barista. In some embodiments, the indication system 50 can illuminate the lamp 12 of one or more paired indicators 10A to indicate to the user or barista that the beverage order is complete (i.e., all of the ingredients of the beverage order have been dispensed).

[0053] Certain terms

[0054] As used herein, the term "beverage" has its ordinary and customary meaning and includes any edible liquid or substantially liquid substance or product having a flowing quality (such as fruit juice, coffee beverage, tea, milk, beer, wine, cocktail, liqueur, spirit, cider, soft drink, flavored water, energy drink, soup, broth, combinations thereof, etc.).

[0055] Unless otherwise specifically stated, or otherwise understood within the context in which it is used, conditional language such as "can, could, might, or may" is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps while other embodiments do not include these features, elements, and / or steps. Thus, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that the features, elements, and / or steps are required in any way for one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments must include logic to determine whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included in any particular embodiment or will be performed in any particular embodiment, with or without user input or prompting.

[0056] Unless otherwise specifically stated, in contexts generally used to convey that an item, term, etc. can be X, Y, or Z, conjunctive language such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z" is understood. Thus, such conjunctive language is generally not intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one X, at least one Y, and at least one Z.

[0057] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as "a" or "an" are generally to be construed as including one or more of the items described. Thus, a phrase such as "a device configured to..." is intended to include one or more of the described devices. Such one or more of the described devices may also be configured jointly to perform a specified recitation. For example, "a processor configured to perform recitations A, B, and C" may include a first processor configured to perform recitation A, which works in cooperation with a second processor configured to perform recitations B and C.

[0058] The terms "comprising," "including," "having," etc. are synonyms and are used inclusively in an open-ended manner and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, etc. Similarly, the terms "some," "certain," etc. are synonymous and are used in an open-ended manner. In addition, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (rather than its exclusive sense) such that when, for example, connecting a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.

[0059] As used herein, the terms "about," "approximately," and "substantially" mean an amount that is close to a specified amount that still performs the desired function or achieves the desired result. For example, in some embodiments, as the context may dictate, the terms "about," "approximately," and "substantially" may refer to an amount within 10% of the specified amount. For example, a number preceded by a term such as "about" or "approximately" includes the defined number and should be interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as precisely as possible in different situations). For example, "about 1 gram" includes "1 gram." In the embodiments described in this application, the terms such as "about" or "approximately" before a value or range in the specification or claims may be omitted, such that this application specifically includes embodiments of the said value or range, where the terms "about" or "approximately" are omitted from such values and ranges, such that they may also be claimed without the terms "about" or "approximately" before the disclosed range. The term "substantially" as used herein means a value, amount, or characteristic that mainly includes or tends towards a particular value, amount, or characteristic. As an example, in some embodiments, as the context may dictate, the term "substantially parallel" may refer to a situation where the deviation from being perfectly parallel is less than or equal to 20 degrees, and / or the term "substantially perpendicular" may refer to a situation where the deviation from being perfectly perpendicular is less than or equal to 20 degrees.

[0060] Generally, the language of the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims. The language of the claims should not be limited to the non-exclusive embodiments and examples shown and described in this disclosure or discussed during the examination of this application.

[0061] The following exemplary embodiments identify some possible permutations of combinations of the features disclosed herein, but other permutations of combinations of features are also possible.

[0062] Summary

[0063] Although certain aspects, advantages, and features are described herein, any particular embodiment need not include or achieve any one or all of these aspects, advantages, and features. For example, some embodiments may not achieve the advantages described herein, but may achieve other advantages. Any structure, feature, or step in any embodiment may be used in place of or in addition to any structure, feature, or step in any other embodiment, or may be omitted. This disclosure contemplates all combinations of features from various disclosed embodiments. No feature, structure, or step is necessary or indispensable. Additionally, although this disclosure describes certain embodiments and examples of beverage systems and methods, many aspects of the above systems and methods may be combined and / or modified differently to form further embodiments or acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0064] In addition, although there may be some embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure that are not explicitly recited above or elsewhere herein, the present disclosure contemplates and includes all embodiments within the scope shown and described in the present disclosure. Further, the present disclosure contemplates and includes embodiments that incorporate any combination of any structure, material, step, or other feature disclosed anywhere herein with any other structure, material, step, or other feature disclosed anywhere herein.

[0065] In addition, certain features described in the context of separate embodiments in the present disclosure may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments. Further, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be removed from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination.

[0066] For purposes of the present disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not all of these advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be embodied or practiced in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein, without necessarily achieving other advantages as taught or suggested herein.

[0067] Some embodiments have been described in connection with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are drawn to scale, but this scale should not be construed as limiting. Distances, angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do not necessarily have an exact relationship to the actual dimensions and layout of the devices shown. Components may be added, removed, and / or rearranged. Further, any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, etc. disclosed herein in connection with various embodiments may be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, any method described herein may be practiced using any apparatus suitable for performing the recited steps.

[0068] In addition, although components and operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular arrangement or order, such components and operations need not be arranged and executed in the particular arrangement and order shown, need not be arranged and executed in sequential order, and need not include all components and operations to achieve the desired result. Other components and operations not depicted or described may be incorporated into the embodiments and examples. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or between any of the described operations. In addition, in other embodiments, the operations may be rearranged or reordered. Further, the separation of the various system components in the above-described embodiments should not be construed as required in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described components and systems may generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0069] In summary, various illustrative embodiments and examples of a beverage dispensing system and method have been disclosed. Although the system and method have been disclosed in the context of these embodiments and examples, the present disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and / or other uses of the embodiments, as well as to certain modifications and equivalents thereof. The present disclosure expressly contemplates that the various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined with or substituted for one another. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the specifically disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a reasonable reading of the full scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A beverage ingredient indicator, comprising: a body including a sensor and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container; and a light coupled to the body, wherein the light is configured to be lit to indicate when an ingredient in the corresponding container is part of a beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses a certain amount of the ingredient into a beverage container.

2. The beverage ingredient indicator according to claim 1, wherein the light is configured to turn off when the sensor determines that the amount of the ingredient dispensed by the user is the amount of the ingredient in the beverage order.

3. The beverage ingredient indicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light is configured to indicate when the ingredient is dispensed into the beverage container.

4. The beverage ingredient indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light is configured to indicate the amount of the ingredient in the beverage order.

5. The beverage ingredient indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a controller configured to send information to the sensor and the light, and the controller is configured to receive information from the sensor and the light.

6. The beverage ingredient indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor is a capacitance sensor.

7. The beverage ingredient indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body includes a power source, and the light is configured to indicate whether the power level of the power source is below a threshold.

8. A system for indicating ingredients of a beverage order, comprising: a plurality of indicators, each of the plurality of indicators including: a body including a communication module, a sensor and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container; and a light coupled to the body, wherein the light is configured to be lit to indicate when an ingredient in the corresponding container is part of a beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses a certain amount of the ingredient into a beverage container; a base device including: a body including a control system; and a base configured to receive the plurality of indicators; wherein the control system is configured to send information to the communication module of each of the plurality of indicators, and each of the plurality of indicators is configured to light the light of each indicator of the plurality of indicators based on the information.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of indicators includes a power source, and the base of the base device includes an indicator connector configured to supply power to the power source of each indicator.

10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the base device includes a communication module configured to communicate with a point-of-sale system.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the communication module is configured to receive a beverage order from the point-of-sale system.

12. The system according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the base device includes an input device configured to receive a beverage order.

13. The system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein, the information is based on a beverage order.

14. A method for dispensing a beverage, the method comprising: receiving, by a base device, a beverage order including one or more ingredients; transmitting, by the base device, information about the beverage order to one or more indicators; receiving, by each of the one or more indicators, the information; based on the received information, if the ingredient of the container paired with each of the one or more indicators is part of the beverage order, turning on the light of each of the one or more indicators by each of the one or more indicators; dispensing, by a user, an amount of a first ingredient of the beverage order; determining, by a sensor of a first indicator, the amount of the first ingredient dispensed by the user, wherein the first indicator is the indicator paired with the container of the first ingredient; and when the user dispenses the amount of the first ingredient, turning off the light of the first indicator paired with the container of the first ingredient by the first indicator.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: dispensing, by a user, an amount of a second ingredient of the beverage order; determining, by a sensor of a second indicator, the amount of the second ingredient dispensed by the user, wherein the second indicator is the indicator paired with the container of the second ingredient; and when the user dispenses the amount of the first ingredient, turning off the light of the first indicator paired with the container of the first ingredient by the first indicator.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein, the lights of the one or more indicators are configured to indicate the order of dispensing the one or more ingredients of the beverage order.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, each container is paired with each indicator by scanning the recognizable information of each container and the recognizable information of each indicator.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein, the sensor of the first indicator detects the pressure applied to the pump head of the container to determine the amount of the first ingredient dispensed by the user.

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