Actively Heated Drinkware with Wireless Power and Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of actively heated or cooled dishwasher-safe dishware and drinkware that can maintain food or liquid at desired temperatures during use, relying on passive heat transfer mechanisms which are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The development of actively heated or cooled mugs and containers equipped with heating or cooling systems, including heating elements, power storage, wireless power reception, control circuitry, and sensors to maintain liquid temperatures through wireless power charging and intelligent temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If passive heating or cooling mechanisms are used for dishware, then the dishware can maintain food temperature based on heat transfer properties, but the heating or cooling duration is limited and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive thermal mechanisms with an active electrical heating system. Heating elements powered by rechargeable batteries provide controlled, sustained heating without relying on the thermal properties of the dishware material itself, thereby extending temperature maintenance duration significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system allows preliminary heating of food before serving, and continuous heating during transport or storage. The rechargeable battery can be charged in advance, ensuring heating capability is available whenever needed, extending the effective temperature maintenance window.
2Productivity
If actively heated dishware is developed, then temperature control efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional heating components
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into independent modular components: heating elements, rechargeable battery, control circuitry, and temperature sensors. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance while maintaining overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is designed to be universally applicable to various dishware types (plates, bowls, mugs). The same basic heating components and control system can be adapted to different geometries and materials, reducing overall device complexity through standardization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heating elements and power storage are integrated into dishware, then active temperature control is achieved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of heating components is achieved through segmentation where heating elements, batteries, and electronics are separate modules that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the final dishware product. This approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving active temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in heating power, temperature setpoints, and battery capacity to be achieved through software control rather than manufacturing changes. This enables versatile temperature control capabilities without increasing manufacturing complexity.
4Measurement precision
If sensors and control circuitry are added to monitor and control heating, then temperature precision is improved, but ease of operation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates autonomously using temperature sensors to monitor food temperature and automatically adjust heating element power to maintain the desired temperature. This self-regulating capability eliminates the need for constant user intervention, maintaining ease of operation while achieving precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors provide continuous feedback to the control circuitry, which adjusts heating element power accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system achieves precise temperature measurement and control while requiring minimal user input, preserving operational simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the maintenance of food or liquid at desired temperatures for extended periods, providing convenience and efficiency in keeping contents warm or cold, even when not in use, while being dishwasher-safe and aesthetically conventional.
Implementation Method 1
one or more heating elements configured to heat one or more surfaces of the receiving portion of the body
Implementation Method 2
the body having a vacuum insulated chamber configured to reduce the rate in which heat energy exits the mug or travel mug
Implementation Method 3
a wireless power receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a power source
Data Source
AI summary
An actively heated mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container is provided. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating or cooling system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating or cooling elements. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating or cooling system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated or cooled state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.