Bar code and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage and foodstuff preparation systems using containers with encoded preparation information face limitations in encoding density and aesthetic appeal, with existing codes being either too visible or having limited information capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system and container with a virtual encoding line, such as an elliptical or circular line, that encodes preparation information using angular distances between data units, allowing for high-density encoding of multiple sequences of operations and parameters, minimizing visual impact by being small and tessellating, and potentially formed on a surface or attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a periphery code is arranged on the container flange, then preparation information can be encoded, but the encoding density is limited and the code is highly visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear/peripheral code arrangements to a two-dimensional matrix code structure. Data units are arranged in rows and columns within a compact area, enabling significantly higher encoding density while maintaining small overall dimensions that reduce visual impact on the container surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The code structure uses different visual properties for different parts of the code: data units have one visual appearance while separator units have a contrasting visual appearance. This local differentiation enables efficient decoding while the overall compact 2D structure maintains aesthetic appeal by minimizing total code area.
2Loss of information
If more preparation information is encoded, then the encoding density increases, but the code size and visual impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
By organizing data units in a two-dimensional matrix rather than a linear sequence, the code achieves quadratic scaling of information capacity relative to code dimensions. This allows substantially more preparation information to be encoded in a compact area, maintaining high density while minimizing visual footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The code uses multiple parameters encoded within each data unit position, including row position, column position, and the presence/absence or visual property of separator units. This multi-parameter encoding approach maximizes information density within each unit of code area.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Container for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, in particular preparation information for a beverage preparation machine or foodstuff preparation machine to prepare a beverage or a foodstuff with beverage or foodstuff material contained in the container, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion. The reference portion comprises at least one reference configuration defining a virtual reference line. The data portion comprises a virtual encoding line intersecting the virtual reference line at a virtual intersection point and a sequence of data units comprising at least two data units aligned at a distance from each other along the virtual encoding line for encoding a sequence of operations of the preparation information. Each data unit of the sequence of data units encodes an operation of the sequence of operations, wherein a relative position of each data unit in the sequence of data units encodes a nature of the encoded operation and wherein a distance between the data unit and the virtual intersection point and/or a distance between the data unit and another data unit of the sequence of data units or of another sequence of data units encodes a value of a condition for the performance of the encoded operation.