Single-Pair Drive-Through Intercom Wiring for Power and Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intercom communication systems for quick-service restaurant drive-throughs are inefficient in capturing and processing customer orders and restaurant responses in real-time, leading to delays and miscommunication.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an audio-order placement sub-system and an audio-order receipt sub-system, both connected to a base station via a single pair of wires, which captures customer orders using microphones, converts them into digital signals, encodes them for transmission, and receives restaurant responses for playback, all while being powered by the same wire pair.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single pair of wires is used for both power and data transmission, then device complexity and installation cost are reduced, but signal interference and power transmission reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring complexityVSAvoidsignal transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power transmission and data communication functions into a single wire pair, eliminating the need for separate power and data cables. This merging reduces installation complexity and cost while maintaining functional reliability through integrated DC power delivery and bidirectional data transmission over the same physical medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wire pair is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both electrical power delivery and bidirectional data communication. This multi-functionality allows the same infrastructure to support both power supply and intercom communication without requiring additional dedicated cables, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If real-time audio processing and transmission is implemented, then order accuracy and customer service quality improve, but system response time and processing delays may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder capture accuracyVSAvoidorder processing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and pre-processing audio signals in real-time as they are captured. The audio-order placement sub-system and audio-order receipt sub-system immediately encode and transmit audio data packets without significant delay, ensuring that order information is captured accurately and transmitted promptly for immediate processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous audio capture, encoding, and transmission operations without interruption or batch processing delays. The real-time processing ensures that audio signals are continuously converted to data packets and transmitted through the wire pair, eliminating gaps in order capture and ensuring timely delivery of customer orders and restaurant responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 system enables efficient and real-time intercom communication at quick-service restaurant drive-throughs, reducing delays and improving order accuracy by facilitating seamless transmission and reception of audio signals through a single wire pair.

Implementation Method 1

transmit the order data packets from the audio-order placement sub-system to the base station through a single pair of wires

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical signal transmission: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert the digital restaurant signals into restaurant signals. The audio-order placement sub-system may comprise a speaker configured to generate restaurant sound based on the restaurant signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical to acoustic energy conversion:

Implementation Method 3

a microphone configured to capture sound from a customer placing an order at or near one or both of the menu board and the speaker post, and to generate (analog or digital) order information signals that represent the sound captured from the customer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic to electrical energy conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS12340430B2Systems and methods for dc power and data communication over a single pair of wires, for a quick-service restaurant

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 HM ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for facilitating intercom communication for one or more quick-service restaurant drive-throughs are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: capture sound from a customer placing an order; generate order information signals that represent the captured sound; encode signals to form order data packets; transmit the order data packets to a base station through a single pair of wires that is also used to provide power; decode information from the order data packets; and generate order sound based on the decoded information, such that the generated order sound is audible to a staff member of the quick service restaurant through a headset.