Coffee Bean Roast Analysis Using Distance-Calibrated Light Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining coffee bean roast intensity, such as color sensing, are inaccurate and costly, and there is a need for a simpler and more reliable way to assess roast level for automatic control of coffee brewing parameters.
Innovation Solution
A system using a light sensor and distance sensor to measure the darkness of coffee beans, with calibration based on distance, enabling accurate determination of roast level, which is then used to adjust brewing parameters and inform user settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color sensing is used to determine coffee bean roast intensity, then the measurement can be performed, but the accuracy is poor and the cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function by using a simple light sensor to detect darkness level, removing the complexity of color sensing systems while maintaining the core capability to determine roast intensity. The solution focuses on measuring only the darkness parameter rather than full color information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive light sensors instead of costly color sensing systems. The simple optical sensors provide sufficient measurement capability for roast intensity determination at a fraction of the cost of complex color analysis systems.
2Reliability
If a fully automatic coffee machine is used, then brewing results are more uniform, but the cost is higher and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of coffee bean darkness level before brewing, allowing the system to pre-determine optimal brewing parameters. This advance information enables automatic adjustment of brewing settings, ensuring consistent results without requiring complex fully automatic machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts brewing parameters based on the measured darkness level of coffee beans. By dynamically changing brewing parameters according to the detected darkness, the system achieves reliable and uniform brewing results while maintaining a simpler machine architecture.
3Measurement precision
If distance calibration is added to the light sensor system, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light sensor and distance sensor into an integrated sensing system. By merging these two measurement functions, the system achieves accurate darkness level calibration through distance compensation without requiring separate complex calibration mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance measurement acts as an intermediary parameter that enables calibration of the darkness level. By introducing distance as a mediating variable, the system can correct and calibrate the light sensor readings to achieve higher accuracy without directly modifying the light sensor itself.
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 approach provides a cost-effective and accurate method for determining coffee bean roast level, allowing for optimized brewing parameters and user feedback, while also monitoring coffee bean quantity and suggesting recipes based on roast level.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor for sensing a level of darkness of a coffee bean
Implementation Method 2
a distance sensor for determining a distance between the light sensor and the coffee bean
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system is provided for analyzing coffee beans. A light sensor senses a level of darkness of a coffee bean and a distance sensor is used to determine a distance between the light sensor and the coffee bean. The sensed level of darkness is then calibrated using the determined distance, thereby to obtain a calibrated (and thereby more accurate) level of darkness. This represents a roasting intensity and may be used by a coffee machine to adjust coffee brewing parameters.