Beverage Maker Diagnostic Program for On-Demand Error Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current beverage makers lack systematic error detection, leading to inefficient and resource-intensive troubleshooting, where repair success depends heavily on the technician's experience and may result in unnecessary component replacements, increasing repair costs and affecting customer satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A beverage maker equipped with sensors, a data memory, a control unit, and an electronic data transmission interface that activates a diagnostic program to record and evaluate relevant measured values only when needed, allowing for efficient and precise monitoring and diagnosis of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of all components is implemented, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring only when a malfunction is detected, rather than continuous monitoring. The control unit activates sensors and data acquisition at specific intervals or upon error detection, reducing energy consumption while maintaining diagnostic accuracy when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores target values and diagnostic programs in advance in memory. When a malfunction occurs, the pre-stored diagnostic routines are immediately activated, enabling快速 diagnosis without needing to set up monitoring systems in real-time, thus reducing both energy consumption and response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If comprehensive error data is collected and stored, then diagnostic capability is improved, but data management complexity and memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror data completenessVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and stores only relevant error data and diagnostic information in a structured format in memory. Rather than storing all possible data, the control unit identifies and stores only the specific measured values and error conditions that are useful for diagnosis, simplifying data management while maintaining diagnostic effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified copies of diagnostic information in memory that can be quickly accessed and transmitted. Instead of managing complex raw data sets, the control unit generates condensed diagnostic records containing essential error information, making data management easier and faster.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If systematic error detection is implemented, then repair efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepair efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs multiple functions: it controls the beverage maker's normal operation, monitors for malfunctions, activates diagnostic programs, collects measured values, and transmits error data. By making the control unit multi-functional rather than adding separate dedicated diagnostic hardware, the system achieves systematic error detection without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically detecting malfunctions, activating diagnostic routines, and generating error reports without requiring external diagnostic equipment. The beverage maker monitors itself and provides its own diagnostic information, improving repair efficiency while avoiding the complexity of external diagnostic systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3590396B1Drink preparation device and method for diagnosis of a drink preparation device
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 WMF GROUP GMBH
  • EP3590396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3590396B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A beverage maker (1) and a method for diagnosing a beverage maker are provided. The beverage maker (1) includes a control unit (4) configured to activate a diagnostic program (6) upon receiving a command via the electronic data transmission interface (5) and, based on information contained in the diagnostic program (6), to acquire measured values ​​from one or more components of the beverage maker for a specific period of time via at least one sensor (2), and optionally via additional sensors of the beverage maker (1), and to provide these values ​​to the electronic data transmission interface (5) and/or to store them on the data storage device (3).