Optical recognition system for capsules for the production of hot beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for recognizing capsules in hot beverage machines are vulnerable to tampering and costly, with identifiers often located outside the capsule, making them susceptible to damage, dirt, and illicit alteration, and require complex and expensive optical systems.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a recognition substance inside the capsule that emits an optical signal in response to an excitation, allowing for effective and economical optical recognition, using a light source and optical reader to stimulate and read the signal, with a control unit evaluating the frequency and duration to ensure capsule suitability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If markers are placed outside the capsule for identification, then the recognition system can detect capsule types, but the identifier becomes vulnerable to tampering, dirt, and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The recognition marker is embedded inside the capsule body rather than placed on the external surface. The marker is positioned within the capsule's internal structure, making it inaccessible to external tampering while remaining detectable through the capsule wall by optical sensors during the brewing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule structure itself acts as an intermediary that protects the recognition marker. The marker is enclosed within the capsule's sealed environment, using the capsule body as a protective barrier against dirt, damage, and illicit alteration while still allowing optical detection through the material.
2Measurement precision
If complex marking systems like multiple concentric rings or barcodes are used, then identification accuracy improves, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex overall patterns, the system employs a simple local feature: a single colored ring or colored portion of the capsule wall. This localized color coding provides sufficient identification information for different capsule types without requiring complex multi-element marking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses color as the primary recognition feature, where different colored rings or colored portions of the capsule indicate different capsule types. This color-based identification system is simple to manufacture and detect, avoiding the need for complex barcodes or multiple concentric rings while maintaining accurate capsule type recognition.
3Measurement precision
If sophisticated optical systems with image sensors and processors are used, then recognition accuracy improves, but the cost becomes prohibitive for standard machines
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical and computational image recognition systems with a simpler optical detection approach. Instead of using image sensors and software processors to analyze complex patterns, the invention uses basic optical sensors to detect the color or color pattern of the capsule, which can be achieved with simple photodetectors and color filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
By using color as the recognition feature, the system can identify different capsule types using simple optical filters and photodetectors rather than expensive image sensors. The color detection can be implemented with basic optical components that are already present in standard coffee machines, avoiding the need for additional costly hardware and software systems.
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
This method provides a robust, cost-effective means to recognize suitable capsules and vary beverage production based on the capsule type, reducing the risk of tampering and maintaining machine operation integrity.
Implementation Method 1
marking the capsule with a recognition substance, said recognition substance arranged to emit an optical signal at a predetermined frequency B for a predetermined time frame K in response to an excitation by an optical signal at a predetermined frequency A
Implementation Method 2
said recognition substance arranged to emit an optical signal at a predetermined frequency B for a predetermined time frame K in response to an excitation by an optical signal at a predetermined frequency A and for a predetermined time frame H
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the optical recognition of capsules for hot beverages machines comprises the steps of introducing a capsule in a machine, stimulating the capsule by an exciting optical signal emitted by a light source, reading a feedback optical signal by an optical reader, acquisition of the values of the frequency and/or the time frame of the feedback optical signal, determining the fulfillment of predetermined conditions on the values of the frequency and/or the time frame. On the basis of the step of evaluating there is then a step of blocking the normal operation of the machine or a step of pursuing the normal operation of the machine.