Liquid discharge control method, drinking water apparatus, and storage medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking water apparatuses face issues with liquid overflow due to varying cup heights and inefficiencies in liquid level measurement, leading to resource waste and potential safety hazards, especially for hot drinks among children and the elderly.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect the cup height and real-time liquid level using infrared and DToF sensors, controlling the liquid outlet based on the cup height and liquid level to prevent overflow, incorporating a target liquid level determination based on a pre-stored cup-full liquid level height ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed liquid level height is used for all cups, then the liquid discharge control is simple, but liquid overflow occurs for short cups and resource waste for tall cups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the liquid discharge control adaptive rather than fixed. The liquid level height threshold is dynamically adjusted based on the detected cup height, allowing the system to optimize liquid discharge control for each specific cup while maintaining reliable overflow prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of liquid level height threshold based on cup height detection. By detecting the actual cup height and adjusting the liquid level threshold accordingly (e.g., setting it to 80% of cup height), the system prevents overflow for short cups and avoids resource waste for tall cups.
2Reliability
If the liquid level threshold is set high to prevent overflow for short cups, then overflow prevention is improved, but resource waste increases for tall cups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the liquid level threshold parameter based on detected cup height. For short cups, the threshold is set appropriately to prevent overflow; for tall cups, the threshold is higher to maximize water utilization, thus eliminating resource waste while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static liquid level threshold to a dynamic one that adapts to different cup heights. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal water usage for each cup size, preventing both overflow and resource waste.
3Device complexity
If traditional infrared or image processing liquid level measurement is used, then the measurement method is simple, but measurement precision is insufficient for accurate overflow prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional infrared or image processing measurement methods with ultrasonic wave-based distance measurement. The ultrasonic sensor emits sound waves and measures the time for reflection from the liquid surface, providing more precise liquid level detection compared to optical methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ultrasonic waves as an intermediary medium for liquid level measurement. The ultrasonic sensor acts as an intermediary between the control system and the liquid surface, enabling accurate non-contact measurement through sound wave reflection timing.
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 effectively prevents liquid overflow, conserves resources, and enhances safety by dynamically controlling liquid discharge based on cup height and real-time liquid level, improving the reasonability of liquid discharge operations.
Implementation Method 1
controlling an infrared emitting tube to emit an infrared light; controlling an infrared receiving tube to receive a reflected light of the infrared light
Implementation Method 2
determining a first distance between the DToF sensor and the liquid surface in the cup based on a time interval between a first time of emitting the laser pulse and a second time of receiving the reflected pulse
Implementation Method 3
controlling an emitting unit of a direct time-of-flight (DToF) sensor to emit a laser pulse to a liquid surface in the cup
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
A liquid discharge control method includes: acquiring (S101) a cup height of a cup in response to detecting that a cup is placed in a preset position; controlling (S102) a liquid outlet to open for liquid discharge in response to receiving a liquid discharge instruction; acquiring (S103) a real-time liquid level height in the cup during the liquid discharge; and controlling (S104) the liquid outlet to open or close based on the cup height and the real-time liquid level height.