Code and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12290200-B2
Application number	US-201716078917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2017
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

A container for a foodstuff or beverage 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 point and a reference line r extending from said point; the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on an encoding line D, the encoding line D extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle a to the reference line r, the data unit arranged a distance d from the reference point as a variable to at least partially encode a parameter of the preparation information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a plurality of codes, each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes is formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset, each code comprising:
a reference portion and a data portion, and each code has a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm, wherein a ratio of the peripheral length of the code to a diameter of the container is 0.006 to 0.08:
the reference portion comprising:
three reference units uniquely defining a reference point; and
a reference line extending from the reference point,
the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area; and

the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on a virtual line, the virtual line extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle α to the reference line, the data unit arranged a distance from the reference point, and the distance encoding a parameter of the preparation information;
wherein the plurality of codes is formed in a tessellating pattern.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the data unit is arranged at any continuous distance from the reference point.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the data portion comprises a plurality of data units, each arranged on a virtual line at a distance from the reference point and at least partially encoding a parameter of the preparation information, the virtual lines each arranged at different angles α to the reference line.

4. The container of claim 3 , wherein adjacent virtual lines are arranged at equal angles to each other.

5. The container of claim 3 , wherein a reference line orientation identifier defines the reference point, wherein the reference line orientation identifier comprises:
a reference unit which is identifiable from other units of the code by one or a combination of size, shape, and color; or
a plurality of reference units which are the same as the three reference units and/or the plurality of data units of the code, wherein the plurality of reference units of the reference line orientation identifier are arranged with a configuration defining the reference point.

6. The container of claim 5 , wherein the reference portion comprises a further reference unit, which is arranged:
at a greater radial position from the reference line orientation identifier than the plurality of data units; and/or
at a predetermined reserved radial position from the reference line orientation identifier.

7. The container of claim 1 , wherein the data portion comprises the circular encoding area, the data unit thereof being arranged within the bounds of the circular encoding area, whereby the encoding area is radially intersected by the reference line.

8. The container of claim 1 , wherein the data unit further encodes metadata associated with the parameter, the metadata being encoded discretely to either enable identification of the parameter and/or a property associated therewith.

9. The container of claim 8 , wherein the metadata is encoded as a variable comprising:
a unit length of the data unit selected from one of a plurality of predetermined unit lengths; and/or
an offset of a center of the data unit from the virtual line, the offset along an offset line orthogonal the virtual line, the offset selected from one of a plurality of predetermined offsets.

10. The container of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of data units are each arranged along a corresponding virtual line, and each data unit encodes a separate parameter, each data unit being identifiable by metadata.

11. The container of claim 1 , wherein the code is formed on a surface of the container or on an attachment attached to the container.

12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of: a capsule; a packet; a receptacle for end user consumption of the beverage or foodstuff therefrom; and a collapsible container.

13. A beverage or foodstuff preparation system comprising:
a container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a plurality of codes, each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes is formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset,
each code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, and each code has a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm,
the reference portion comprising:
three reference units defining a reference point; and
a reference line extending from the reference point,
the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area; and

the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on a virtual line, the virtual line extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle α to the reference line, the data unit arranged a distance from the reference point, and the distance encoding a parameter of the preparation information;
wherein the plurality of codes is formed in a tessellating pattern; and
a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the preparation machine comprising:

a container processing subsystem to receive the container and to prepare a beverage or foodstuff therefrom according to the parameter encoded by the distance of the data unit from the reference point;
a code processing subsystem operable to: obtain a digital image of each code of the container and process the digital image to decode the encoded preparation information; and
a control subsystem operable to control the container processing subsystem using the decoded preparation information in order to prepare the beverage or foodstuff material into the beverage or foodstuff, and
wherein the code processing subsystem is configured to decode the encoded preparation information by: locating the three reference units and the data unit of each code; identifying the three reference units and determining therefrom the reference point and the reference line extending from the reference point; determining for the data unit the distance along the virtual line from the reference point; and converting the determined distance into an actual value of a parameter using a stored relationship between the parameter and the determined distance.

14. The beverage or foodstuff preparation system of claim 13 , wherein the stored relationship is non-linear.

15. A method of encoding preparation information, the method comprising forming a plurality of codes on:
a container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container containing a beverage or foodstuff material; or
an attachment for attachment to the container or the beverage of foodstuff preparation machine,
each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes are formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset,
the method further comprising:
arranging, for each code:
three reference units to define a reference point; and
a reference line extending from the reference point of a reference portion,
the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area; and
encoding a parameter of the preparation information with a data portion of the code by arranging a data unit on a virtual line that extends from the reference point and arranged at an angle to the reference line, the data unit being arranged a distance ex

Assignees

• Soiete Des Produits Nestle S A
• Nestle Sa

Inventors

• Noth Andre

Classifications

• G06K19/06168 Primary

  the marking being a concentric barcode · CPC title

• G06V30/224

  of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks · CPC title

• B65D85/816

  into which liquid is added {and the resulting preparation is retained}, e.g. cups preloaded with powder or dehydrated food · CPC title

• A47J31/4492 Primary

  Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge · CPC title