Wireless Heated Mug Control for Long-Lasting Drink Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for dishwasher-safe dishware and drinkware that can be actively heated or cooled during use, as existing technologies rely on passive heating and cooling mechanisms that are not effective for maintaining food temperatures over time.
Innovation Solution
The development of actively heated or cooled dishware and drinkware, such as mugs and plates, equipped with heating or cooling elements, power storage, control circuitry, and wireless power reception, allowing for temperature control through user interfaces and sensors to maintain liquids at desired temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If passive heating or cooling mechanisms are used, then the plate can maintain food temperature for a short time, but the temperature maintenance duration is limited and not effective for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive thermal mechanisms with an active electronic heating system. The heating element, powered by a battery and controlled by a microcontroller, substitutes the passive reliance on material heat retention properties with an active electrical heating mechanism that can maintain temperature reliably over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the food temperature and automatically adjust the heating element's operation. This self-regulating mechanism allows the plate to maintain its own temperature without external intervention, extending the duration of effective temperature maintenance.
2Reliability
If active heating elements are added to dishware, then temperature control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple components into a unified system embedded within the plate structure. The heating element, battery, control circuitry, and sensors are merged into a single integrated unit that forms part of the dishware, managing complexity through consolidation rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller serves multiple functions: it controls the heating element, processes sensor data, manages battery power, and can interface with wireless communication modules. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If wireless power reception and control circuitry are integrated, then temperature control capability is enhanced, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry and wireless power reception components are pre-integrated into modular assemblies during the design phase. This preliminary integration allows for standardized manufacturing processes where pre-assembled units are installed into the dishware, simplifying the final assembly process despite the complexity of the individual components.
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 active heating or cooling of liquids in dishware and drinkware, ensuring they remain at set temperatures for extended periods, enhancing food and beverage preservation and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
one or more heating elements configured to heat one or more surfaces of the receiving portion of the body
Implementation Method 2
the body having a vacuum insulated chamber configured to reduce the rate in which heat energy exits the mug or travel mug
Data Source
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.