Mineral Water Apparatus with Personalized Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

The nutrient content, particularly mineral substances and vitamins, in currently available vegetables and fruits has significantly reduced due to factors like new species failing to absorb necessary nutrients, modern agricultural technologies not providing natural growth environments, and the use of chemical fertilizers, leading to mineral deficiencies in human diets.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for producing mineral water that calculates and adds specific mineral supplements to drinking water based on user input data, including sex, age, eating habits, physical/mental conditions, and water supply area, using a formula to ensure the recommended daily mineral intake is met, with an ultraviolet irradiator for water sterilization and multiple mineral substance containers for customizable mineral addition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mineral supplements are added to drinking water based on general population averages, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot meet individual mineral intake requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating individual mineral requirements based on user input data (age, weight, health conditions) before water production. The controller stores these calculated values and automatically retrieves them during operation, eliminating the need for real-time calculations and maintaining ease of operation while achieving personalization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to input their own basic data once, after which the controller autonomously calculates and adjusts mineral supplementation for all subsequent water production. The system serves itself by automatically retrieving stored calculation results and controlling mineral addition without requiring user expertise in nutritional calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system calculates and adds specific mineral supplements based on user data, then adaptability to individual needs is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it collects user data, calculates mineral requirements using the specified formula, stores calculation results in memory, retrieves stored data during operation, and controls mineral substance containers. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated controller, managing adaptability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs complex calculations once during an initial setup phase, storing results for repeated use. This preliminary calculation approach separates the complex computational task from ongoing operation, allowing the system to achieve high adaptability while keeping operational complexity low, as the controller simply retrieves pre-calculated values during normal water production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If mineral intake is personalized based on individual data, then manufacturing precision of mineral supplementation is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring individual requirements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoiddifficulty of detecting and measuring
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex medical or laboratory measurement mechanisms with a simplified data collection approach. Instead of requiring sophisticated devices to measure individual mineral needs, the system uses basic user-input parameters (age, weight, health conditions) that can be easily detected through simple interfaces, then applies a standardized calculation formula to achieve precise mineral supplementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves manufacturing precision by changing from direct measurement of mineral requirements to indirect calculation based on correlated parameters (age, weight, health conditions). This parameter substitution approach maintains precision in mineral supplementation while significantly reducing the difficulty of data collection, as basic personal information is much easier to obtain than direct physiological measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If the system allows users to set daily water intake, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of meeting mineral intake targets may worsen if users exceed recommended amounts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback by continuously monitoring the relationship between user-set water intake targets and actual mineral supplementation. The controller calculates mineral requirements based on the formula and compares this with the mineral content that would be delivered through the user's specified water intake. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust or warn when user preferences would compromise reliability of meeting mineral intake targets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The system provides mineral water with tailored mineral content to meet individual users' needs, automatically adjusting mineral supplementation based on user data, ensuring adequate mineral intake and preventing excessive water consumption from overriding mineral addition, thus addressing mineral deficiencies in daily diets.

Implementation Method 1

an ultraviolet irradiator for water sterilization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet irradiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP2354094B1Method and apparatus for producing mineral water
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 AQUA LOHAS WATER TECH SERVICE
  • EP2354094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2354094B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2354094B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mineral water producing method includes the steps of inputting basic data to obtain data about human mineral intake and data about average mineral intake from food; selecting a water supply area to obtain data about mineral intake from daily water intake; selecting an eating habit and a physical/mental condition; inputting personal body weight and calculating mineral intake; setting a daily water intake and calculating a daily mineral supplement; and outputting mineral water. A mineral water producing apparatus includes a water inlet and a water outlet; a first filter being connected at a first end to the water inlet and at a second end to the water outlet; at least one mineral substance container being located between and connected to the second end of the filter and the water outlet; and a controller for controlling the mineral substance container to supply a mineral substance.