Optical Consumable Recognition for Automatic Beverage Parameter Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensers lack a simple and foolproof method for recognizing the placement and type of consumables, leading to suboptimal brewing parameters and user inconvenience, as they often require manual adjustments or rely on fixed settings.
Innovation Solution
A consumable recognition system utilizing a light source and sensor to detect the optical responses of reflection elements or light guides on consumables, generating a sensor signal that distinguishes different types based on position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and polarization characteristics, allowing for automatic adjustment of brewing parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of brewing parameters is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage dispenser automatically recognizes the consumable type through optical detection and self-adjusts brewing parameters without user intervention. The system serves itself by detecting the consumable's reflective properties and autonomously optimizing temperature, pressure, and infusion time settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical sensors to detect the consumable's reflective characteristics and feeds this information back to the control unit, which then adjusts brewing parameters accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation to different consumable types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed brewing settings are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates and manufacturing precision is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing parameters are made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously adapts temperature, pressure, and infusion time settings based on real-time optical detection of the consumable type, enabling versatile operation across different beverage preparations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes brewing parameters (temperature, pressure, infusion time) based on detected consumable characteristics. Different reflective properties trigger different parameter sets, allowing the device to optimize performance for various consumable types.
3Measurement precision
If optical recognition system is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical recognition systems with optical detection. Instead of using mechanical sensors or RFID tags, the system uses light reflection properties to identify consumable types, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits optical properties including color and reflectivity differences to distinguish between consumable types. By detecting how different consumables reflect light, the system achieves precise identification without requiring complex mechanical or electronic recognition mechanisms.
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
Enables accurate recognition of consumables, allowing for automatic optimization of brewing parameters such as temperature, water quantity, pressure, and infusion time, enhancing user convenience and beverage quality by ensuring optimal preparation for various types of beverages.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor for sensing light reflected from a reflection element of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal
Implementation Method 2
the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element
Implementation Method 3
the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element
Implementation Method 4
the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element
Implementation Method 5
a light guide for guiding light coupled in by a light source and for emitting the guided light at one or more predetermined positions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.