Beverage Consumable Recognition Using Magnetic Field Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage dispensers lack a simple and foolproof method for recognizing the placement and type of consumables, requiring manual adjustments for brewing parameters, which affects user convenience and the quality of the beverage.
Innovation Solution
A consumable recognition system utilizing magnetic and/or electric field elements, with conductive materials on the consumables that change the sensed fields, allowing for accurate identification of the consumable type and placement, enabling automatic adjustment of brewing parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of brewing parameters is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and beverage quality consistency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically recognizes consumable type and placement through magnetic/electric field sensing, then self-adjusts brewing parameters without user intervention. The consumable itself provides the identification signal, making the system serve itself rather than requiring manual input from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automatic electromagnetic sensing and control. Magnetic and electric field elements detect consumable characteristics, and the system electronically adjusts brewing parameters based on detected signals, substituting mechanical user interaction with automated field-based detection and control.
2Reliability
If automatic recognition system is implemented, then ease of operation and beverage quality improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic and electric field elements serve multiple functions: they detect consumable type, verify correct placement, and trigger appropriate brewing parameters. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensors and control mechanisms, managing system complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic and electric field elements act as intermediaries between the consumable and the brewing system. Rather than direct mechanical or optical interaction, the fields mediate the recognition process, enabling reliable detection while keeping the physical structure relatively simple.
3Measurement precision
If magnetic and electric field sensing is used for consumable recognition, then measurement precision improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic magnetic and electric field pulses for detection rather than continuous fields. The field elements are activated in cycles to sense consumable characteristics, reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision through repeated sampling during the brewing process.
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 system ensures accurate recognition of consumables, allowing for automatic optimization of brewing parameters such as time, temperature, pressure, and flow, enhancing user convenience and beverage quality by ensuring optimal brewing conditions for each type of consumable.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of magnetic and/or electric field elements for separately sensing a magnetic and/or electric field, wherein said consumable comprises one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements and the sensed magnetic and/or electric fields depend on at least one characteristic of the one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of magnetic and/or electric field elements for separately sensing a magnetic and/or electric field
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way the system comprises a plurality of magnetic and/or electric field elements (31, 32, 33, 301) for separately sensing a magnetic and/or electric field, wherein said consumable comprises one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements (42, 51, 61, 71, 81, 82, 91, 92) and the sensed magnetic fields depend on at least one characteristic of the one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements, a driver (34) for providing drive currents to said magnetic and/or electric field elements, and a signal processor (35) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on the sensed magnetic and/or electric fields.