Beverage Preparation Touch Interface for Adjustable Recipe Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage preparation systems are complex and prone to erroneous operations, especially when users attempt to change the composition of a beverage mid-preparation, leading to material wastage and unnecessary disposal of cups.

Innovation Solution

A beverage preparation system with a touch-sensitive panel and control unit that allows intuitive control through soft-buttons, providing visual feedback and enabling users to adjust ingredient ratios and other parameters via a user-friendly interface, including a tuning mode for detailed recipe adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the blending ratio is made adjustable by the user, then the adaptability of the beverage preparation system is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblending ratio adjustabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adjustable blending ratios by allowing users to modify parameters (blending percentages of different coffee containers) through a user interface. The system stores multiple container configurations and allows dynamic adjustment of blending parameters without changing the physical hardware, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through software control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the beverage preparation process is made interruptible and editable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to material wastage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess editabilityVSAvoidingredient wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows users to pre-configure blending ratios and beverage parameters before the actual preparation starts. The system enables editing of blending parameters in a setup phase before material delivery begins, and provides cancellation functionality that prevents wastage by allowing users to abort the process before ingredients are dispensed. This preliminary configuration approach enables easy operation while minimizing substance loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3027098B1Beverage preparation system and method for preparing a beverage
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 KONINK DOUWE EGBERTS BV
  • EP3027098B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3027098B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3027098B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a beverage preparation system(l) with a preparation unit (6) for preparing a beverage, with a display panel (3) defining a screen space, and having integrated therewith a touch sensitive panel (4) and with a control unit (5) for controlling the preparation unit with user guidance obtained from the touch sensitive panel and for providing visual feedback to the display panel, the touch sensitive panel being arranged for generating a position signal indicative for a position pointed to. The control unit is operable in a tuning mode wherein the user is enabled to tune a beverage recipe. In the tuning mode a beverage holder (322) is displayed with a filling (3220) corresponding to a beverage recipe as well as a movable soft-button in its interior. The user is enabled to control a composition of the beverage to be prepared by moving the soft-button.