Personalized Beverage Selector Device for Balanced Substance Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current coffee and beverage mixtures fail to meet individual sensory, physical, or physiological requirements, as they are either predefined and unsuitable or created with unbalanced components, leading to ineffective performance for specific users.

Innovation Solution

A personalized selector device with a software system that analyzes user-specific requirements to optimize a mixture of substances, ensuring compatibility and balance of components, allowing for customizable ratios and treatments to produce tailored beverages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If predefined mixtures are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the beverage cannot satisfy individual sensory, physical, or physiological requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the beverage preparation system into modular components: multiple containers for different substances (coffee, tea, milk, etc.), individual feed devices for each container, and a central control unit. This segmentation enables personalized mixtures while keeping each module relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed as a universal system that can handle multiple types of substances (coffee, tea, milk, infusions, etc.) through standardized containers and feed mechanisms. This multi-functionality allows the same device structure to serve diverse personalization needs without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If do-it-yourself mixtures are created, then adaptability increases, but components may be unbalanced or incompatible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixture customizationVSAvoidmixture balance and compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit receives user input about desired beverage characteristics and provides feedback by automatically calculating and adjusting the precise quantities of each substance to be dispensed. This feedback mechanism ensures that customized mixtures maintain proper balance and compatibility, preventing the creation of unbalanced formulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows users to adjust parameters such as substance ratios, quantities, and treatment conditions, while the control unit automatically optimizes these parameters to ensure compatibility and balance. This parameter-based control enables customization while maintaining reliability through systematic optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If predefined mixtures are used, then ease of operation is improved, but the beverage cannot meet specific user requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidpersonalization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device enables users to independently configure their personalized beverage mixtures by selecting desired substances and parameters through an intuitive interface. The system then automatically executes the preparation, combining self-service customization with automated execution to maintain ease of operation while achieving high personalization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows users to pre-configure their preferred substance combinations and parameters, which are then stored and automatically executed during beverage preparation. This preliminary configuration capability simplifies operation for regular users while maintaining full adaptability for personalized requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3182870B1Personalized selector device to obtain and optimize mixtures of substances able to generate beverages and connected method
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 ILLYCAFFE SPA
  • EP3182870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3182870B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A device (10) to produce personalized mixtures of substances intended to obtain and optimize beverages for a specific individual or user, comprises a plurality of containers (11) of basic substances, at least a measuring device (25) and management and control means (14). The device (10) is associated to the management and control means (14) configured to carry out instructions regarding personalized formulas that express univocal sensory profiles or profiles functional to the specific needs of a specific individual or user.