Integrated Beverage Analyzer Using Miniature Pressure Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring alcohol and/or sugar content in beverages require multiple separate measuring instruments to obtain necessary values, which is cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A compact measuring apparatus that integrates a density measuring instrument, a speed of sound measuring instrument, a temperature measuring device, and an electronic measuring/operating circuit within a single housing, allowing for simultaneous measurement and calculation of alcohol and/or sugar content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate measuring instruments are used to obtain density and speed of sound values, then measurement functionality is comprehensive, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate measuring instruments (density measuring instrument, speed of sound measuring instrument, temperature measuring device) into a single integrated measuring apparatus with a common housing and control unit. This merging approach maintains comprehensive measurement functionality while reducing device complexity and improving ease of operation by eliminating the need to manually combine data from multiple separate devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate measuring instruments are used to obtain necessary measured values, then measurement functionality is comprehensive, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple measuring functions into a single apparatus with unified control. The control unit automatically operates the density measuring instrument, speed of sound measuring instrument, and temperature measuring device, and combines the measured values to determine alcohol and sugar content. This eliminates the need for users to manually operate separate instruments and combine data, significantly improving ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If measured values are obtained from multiple separate instruments and combined, then measurement comprehensiveness is achieved, but measurement precision worsens due to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measuring instruments into a single integrated system where the control unit centrally manages data acquisition and processing. This integration reduces measurement errors by ensuring consistent measurement conditions, proper synchronization of measurements, and accurate combination of measured values through centralized control, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining comprehensiveness.
4Speed
If the pressure measuring cell has larger volume, then measurement speed improves, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise geometric parameters for the pressure measuring cell, including side surface area of at most 3 square centimeters and maximum volume of less than 5 cubic centimeters. These parameter constraints optimize the cell dimensions to achieve the right balance between measurement speed and precision, ensuring that the cell is small enough for accurate speed of sound determination but large enough to allow sufficient ultrasonic wave propagation.
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
The integrated solution provides a robust, easy-to-use apparatus that reduces measurement errors and simplifies the process by combining necessary measurements within a single device.
Implementation Method 1
the density measuring instrument is configured to excite the density measuring channel to oscillations and to determine a density of the beverage based on a resonance frequency of the density measuring channel to be determined
Implementation Method 2
the electronic measuring/operating circuit is configured to determine a compressibility from pressure measurements for at least two different pressure measuring cell volumes and to determine a speed of sound in the medium from said compressibility
Implementation Method 3
the temperature measuring device has in each case one temperature sensor for the density measuring instrument and one for the speed of sound measuring instrument
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring apparatus for measuring a property of a medium includes: a density instrument for measuring a density of the medium; a speed of sound instrument for measuring a speed of sound in the medium; a temperature device for measuring a temperature of the medium; and an electronic circuit, wherein the foregoing components are arranged in a housing wherein the speed of sound instrument includes a pressure measuring cell, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to determine a compressibility from pressure measurements for at least two different pressure measuring cell volumes and to determine a speed of sound in the medium from the compressibility, wherein side surfaces of the pressure measuring cell each have a surface area of at most 0.5 square centimeter, and wherein the pressure measuring cell has a maximum volume of less than 5 cubic centimeters.