Recipcode and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage and foodstuff preparation systems face limitations in encoding density, visibility, and aesthetic appeal of codes on containers, which restrict the amount of preparation information that can be encoded and processed efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A container with a code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, where the data portion includes a data unit on an encoding line intersecting the reference line, allowing for high encoding density and efficient image processing using a Polar coordinate system, enabling the encoding of various preparation parameters such as temperature, torque, and fluid volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional barcodes or 2D barcodes are used on containers, then the code can be read by the machine, but the encoding density is limited and the code is highly visible and aesthetically displeasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional linear or 2D barcodes to a polar coordinate system where data is encoded radially around a central reference point. This dimensional change allows continuous encoding along a circular path, dramatically increasing encoding density while keeping the code compact and less visually intrusive on the container surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the encoding parameters by using angular position and radial distance in a polar coordinate system instead of linear x-y coordinates. This parameter transformation enables more efficient use of the available code space, allowing preparation information to be encoded with higher density in a smaller, less visible area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more preparation information is encoded on the container, then the machine can optimize the preparation process better, but the code becomes more complex and harder to process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the preparation information into distinct data units, each encoded at a specific angular position around the reference point. This segmentation allows the machine to process information in discrete, organized units rather than dealing with a monolithic complex code, simplifying the processing of multiple preparation parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or algorithmic decoding methods with a geometric polar coordinate system that is inherently more efficient for encoding radial data. This substitution simplifies the processing system by leveraging the natural geometric properties of circular arrangements, making it easier to read and decode multiple parameters simultaneously.
3Loss of information
If a code with high encoding density is used, then more preparation information can be stored, but the code may be harder to read and process reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The polar coordinate system with its central reference point and radial data units creates a self-aligning code structure. The reference point automatically establishes the origin and angular measurements, allowing the code to self-correct for rotational misalignment and ensuring reliable reading regardless of the container's orientation during scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses uniform data units distributed homogeneously around the circular encoding path. This homogeneous arrangement ensures consistent spacing and sizing of data elements, making the code more robust against reading errors and facilitating reliable detection and decoding by the machine's imaging system.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~3A
Figure 3B~4A
AI summary
A container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion comprising an arrangement of at least two reference units defining a reference line r, the data portion comprising: a data unit arranged on an encoding line D which intersects the reference line r, the data unit arranged a distance d along the encoding line D from said intersection as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information, whereby the encoding line D is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line r at the intersection point; and a plurality of discrete positions arranged in operative proximity to the reference line r and distal the encoding line D, whereby said discrete positions either comprise or do not comprise a data unit as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information.