Wireless Charging Illuminated Tap Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beer tap handles lack visibility under low-lighting conditions and fail to provide additional functional features to establishments or customers, limiting their promotional potential and usability.
Innovation Solution
A wireless charging system for an illuminated tap handle that uses multiple power transmission technologies (radio wave, induction, and magnetic resonance) to power LED lights and a personal-area network module, allowing for customizable lighting and internet connectivity through a wireless internet network and text messaging technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LED lights are added to illuminate the tap handle for better visibility, then the promotional visibility is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tap handle system automatically manages its own lighting by detecting ambient light levels with a photosensor and adjusting LED illumination accordingly. The system turns off lights during daytime when ambient light is sufficient and activates them during nighttime or low-light conditions, eliminating the need for manual intervention and optimizing energy consumption based on actual visibility needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational state of LED lights based on ambient light conditions detected by the photosensor. The lighting parameter is adjusted from off to on based on environmental conditions, and the wireless power reception parameters are optimized to efficiently charge the battery during periods when lighting is not needed, balancing visibility requirements with energy conservation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless power unit and network module are integrated into the tap handle, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless power unit, battery, LED lighting system, and personal area network module are integrated into a single unified tap handle assembly. This consolidation allows the tap handle to simultaneously perform lighting, wireless communication, and power management functions without requiring separate devices, thereby improving versatility while managing complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tap handle is designed as a multi-functional device that combines beverage dispensing, illuminated signage, wireless internet access point, and text messaging capabilities. The single device serves multiple purposes: it illuminates for visibility, provides wireless network connectivity to customer devices, receives text messages for promotional content display, and manages its own power through wireless charging, eliminating the need for separate dedicated devices for each function.
3Reliability
If multiple wireless power transmission technologies are used, then the power transmission reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A wireless power unit serves as an intermediary device that contains both induction charging and magnetic resonance charging capabilities. This external unit handles the complexity of multiple power transmission technologies, receiving power from the wall outlet and transmitting it wirelessly to the tap handle via two different methods. The tap handle itself remains relatively simple, containing only a receiver that can accept power from the wireless unit, while the intermediary handles the sophisticated multi-technology power transmission.
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
Enhances the visibility and promotional capabilities of tap handles by providing customizable lighting and internet connectivity, improving customer engagement and business promotion while maintaining durability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention utilizes multiple wireless power transmitting technologies, such as radio wave, induction charging, and magnetic resonance
Implementation Method 2
The present invention utilizes multiple wireless power transmitting technologies, such as radio wave, induction charging, and magnetic resonance
Implementation Method 3
The present invention utilizes multiple wireless power transmitting technologies, such as radio wave, induction charging, and magnetic resonance
Implementation Method 4
continuously powers at least one light-emitting diode (LED) light
Implementation Method 5
at least one light-emitting diode (LED) light
Data Source
AI summary
A system for wirelessly charging an illuminated tap handle includes a tap handle and a wireless power unit. The tap handle includes a receiver coupling device, at least one light-emitting diode (LED) light, a transparent body, handle attachment, a handle chipset, and a personal-area network module. The handle attachment attaches the tap handle to existing beer tower opposite of the transparent body so that the existing beer tower can be operated through the tap handle. The transparent body is illuminated by the LED light that is communicably coupled to the handle chipset along with the personal-area network module. A transmitter coupling device of the wireless power unit communicably coupled with the receiver coupling device so that the handle chipset, the LED light, and the personal-area network module can be electrically powered as the transmitter coupling device is electrically connected to an external electrical outlet.