Wireless Heated Drinkware with Active Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of technology for actively heating or cooling dishwasher-safe dishware and drinkware, which limits the ability to maintain food at desired temperatures during use.
Innovation Solution
The development of actively heated or cooled mug and container systems that incorporate heating or cooling elements, power storage, control circuitry, and wireless power reception, allowing for temperature control and maintenance through user input or remote communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If passive insulation methods (styrofoam, air gaps) are used to maintain liquid temperature, then energy loss is reduced, but the liquid temperature cannot be actively maintained at a user-selected setting and will eventually equilibrate to ambient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to automatically detect liquid temperature and control circuitry to autonomously activate heating or cooling elements, enabling the beverage container to self-regulate temperature without user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by providing active temperature maintenance while minimizing energy loss through on-demand operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor the liquid temperature and provide feedback to the control circuitry, which adjusts the heating or cooling elements accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables precise temperature control at user-selected settings while optimizing energy consumption by operating only when temperature adjustment is needed.
2Temperature
If heating or cooling elements are continuously operated to maintain liquid temperature, then temperature control is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating or cooling elements operate periodically rather than continuously, activated only when the sensor detects that the liquid temperature deviates from the desired setpoint. This periodic operation maintains precise temperature control while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous temperature monitoring and readiness to act, ensuring the liquid temperature is constantly controlled within the desired range. The useful action (heating or cooling) is applied continuously only when needed to maintain temperature, rather than operating continuously regardless of actual temperature conditions.
3Temperature
If battery-powered heating elements are used to heat liquid in a beverage container, then temperature control is improved, but the weight of the container increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides adjustable temperature settings that allow users to select from multiple temperature levels. By enabling users to choose lower heating temperatures when full heating is not required, the system reduces the energy demand and allows for smaller, lighter heating elements and power storage devices, thereby reducing overall container weight while still maintaining adequate temperature control.
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 the maintenance of liquids at desired temperatures for extended periods, enhancing food and beverage preservation and convenience by allowing active temperature control during use.
Implementation Method 1
The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body
Implementation Method 2
The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source
Data Source
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AI summary
An actively heated mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container is provided. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating or cooling system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating or cooling elements. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating or cooling system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated or cooled state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.