Coffee Machine Pressure Monitoring via Pump Motor Current Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fully automatic coffee machines are complex, expensive, and require frequent maintenance due to reliance on multiple sensors, including pressure sensors, which can become unresponsive, making it difficult to maintain optimal grinding degree and fluid system pressure for consistent coffee quality.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine with an electric pump motor, a sensor measuring the electric current, and a processing unit that calculates and displays liquid pressure without the need for expensive pressure sensors, allowing users to adjust the grinding degree and pump power through a user interface and dial graphic gauge, enabling real-time monitoring and adaptation of brewing parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure sensors are used to measure and control brewing pressure, then the coffee quality and pressure control are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressure sensors with an electrical measurement system. The electric pump motor's current consumption is measured electrically, and brewing pressure is calculated based on the relationship between current consumption and pressure. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical pressure sensors while maintaining pressure monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation method using the electric pump motor's electrical characteristics as a mediator. Instead of directly measuring pressure with sensors, the system measures current consumption and uses stored characteristic values to calculate pressure indirectly, serving as an intermediary measurement approach.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used for monitoring brewing parameters, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture and production cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electric pump motor serve multiple functions: it not only pumps water for brewing but also acts as a pressure sensor through its current consumption characteristics. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate pressure sensing components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct pressure measurement to electrical current measurement. By monitoring the electric pump motor's current consumption and using characteristic curves that relate current to pressure, the system achieves precise parameter monitoring through electrical parameters instead of mechanical ones.
3Reliability
If pressure sensors are installed in the brewing unit, then the reliability of pressure measurement is improved, but the ease of repair and maintenance frequency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressure sensors that require physical maintenance with an electrical measurement system based on the pump motor's current characteristics. This substitution eliminates sensors that can become unresponsive or fail mechanically, improving ease of repair while maintaining measurement reliability.
4Reliability
If the grinding degree is set too fine, then the coffee quality and aroma extraction are improved, but the productivity decreases due to longer brewing time or blocked brewing unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system that monitors the brewing process through electrical parameters and provides real-time information to the user via display. The system detects brewing pressure and brewing time, and when the brewing unit is blocked or brewing takes too long, it alerts the user to adjust the grinding degree, enabling dynamic optimization of coffee quality and productivity.
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 solution simplifies the coffee machine design, reduces maintenance needs, and allows users to achieve consistent high-quality beverages by directly monitoring and adjusting grinding degree and fluid system pressure, enhancing the stability and cost-effectiveness of the brewing process.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor which is provided to measure parameters of the electric current supplying the electric pump motor
Implementation Method 2
the liquid pressure in the brewing unit is calculated by the processing unit based on the stored data in relation with the operating parameter measured by the sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A coffee machine (1), in particular a fully automatic coffee machine, comprising a pump (4) with an electric pump motor (4') and is embodied to pump a liquid and causing the liquid flow (15) in the coffee machine (1), a brewing unit (7), a sensor (10) which is provided to measure parameters of the electric current supplying the electric pump motor (4'), a processing unit (12) for calculating and adjusting the coffee brewing parameters and for storing data, a pump supply unit (9) which is coupled to the electric pump motor (4') and to the sensor (10) which is provided to detect an operating parameter (A), a control unit (11) for controlling at least the pump supply unit (9), wherein the control unit (11) is communicatively connected to the processing unit (12), a user interface (13) with a display (14) which displays the liquid pressure produced by the pump (4) in the brewing unit (7), wherein the liquid pressure in the brewing unit (7) is calculated by the processing unit (12) based on the stored data in relation with the operating parameter (A) measured by the sensor (10).