Beverage Maker Pressure Sensor Dispensing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage makers lack an efficient method to calculate the dispensed amount without a flow detection sensor and effectively control the air pump during beverage dispensing, leading to potential pressure issues that affect smooth dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A beverage maker that uses a pressure sensor to measure the pressure inside a container and calculates the dispensed amount based on the measured pressure, while controlling the air pump to maintain optimal pressure levels, ensuring smooth dispensing without the need for a separate flow sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow detection sensor is used to calculate dispensed amount, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow detection function from a separate flow sensor and integrates it into the pressure sensor system. By using the pressure sensor already present in the beverage maker to detect pressure changes that correlate with beverage dispensing, the system eliminates the need for a dedicated flow detection sensor while maintaining dispensed amount calculation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: monitoring container pressure for dispensing control and calculating dispensed amount by detecting pressure changes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
2Reliability
If air pump is not controlled during dispensing, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to pressure issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the pressure sensor to monitor container pressure during dispensing and automatically controls the air pump to maintain optimal pressure levels. This closed-loop control ensures reliable smooth dispensing by preventing pressure-related issues while keeping the control logic integrated into the existing controller
Solution Approach 2:
The air pump is controlled in advance to maintain optimal pressure conditions before and during dispensing. By proactively managing pressure levels, the system prevents dispensing issues rather than reacting to them, improving reliability
3Device complexity
If pressure sensor is used for both pressure monitoring and dispensed amount calculation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure sensor's measurement data into different time periods: before dispensing (for pressure monitoring) and during dispensing (for dispensed amount calculation). By analyzing pressure changes specifically during the dispensing period, the system accurately calculates dispensed amount while maintaining the sensor's primary pressure monitoring function
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines dispensed amount by calculating the difference between pressure values at different time points during dispensing. This dynamic measurement approach adapts to varying dispensing conditions and maintains accuracy even while the sensor performs dual functions
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 accurate calculation of dispensed and remaining beverage amounts, preventing pressure-related issues during dispensing and maintaining optimal conditions for smooth beer production.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a pressure value inside the container using the pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
controlling an air pump for supplying air into the container
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage maker includes a container configured to accommodate beverage therein, a fermentation tank having an accommodating space for accommodating the container therein, a beverage dispenser including a limit switch turned on or off according to manipulation of a lever and configured to dispense the beverage, a beverage dispensing channel configured to connect the container and the beverage dispenser, a beverage dispensing valve disposed in the beverage dispensing channel, a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure inside the container, and a controller configured to open the beverage dispensing valve to dispense the beverage accommodated in the container through the beverage dispenser upon detecting that the limit switch is turned on, to measure pressure inside the container using the pressure sensor, and to calculate a dispensed amount of the beverage based on the measured pressure.