Consumable recognition system, set of consumables and beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309953-A1
Application number	US-201415102283-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Oct 27, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source ( 31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341 ) for emitting light ( 35 ) to the consumable ( 4 a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 ), a light sensor ( 32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342 ) for sensing light ( 36 ) reflected from a reflection element ( 42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93 ) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor ( 33 ) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

First claim

1 . Consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser, the system comprising:
a consumable for use in a beverage dispenser for preparation of a beverage comprising a filtering body defining a space containing a food substance from which the beverage is obtained; the consumable further comprising a reflection element for reflecting incident light in a predetermined way, wherein the way depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristics of said reflection element, a light source for emitting light to the consumable, a light sensor for sensing light reflected from a reflection element of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

2 . System as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said light sensor comprises a plurality of sensor elements, wherein the number, the position and/or the sensed light intensity of the sensor elements, which sensed light reflected from the reflection element, depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, wherein the sensor signal is formed based on the number, position and/or the sensed light intensity of the sensor elements, which sensed light reflected from the reflection element.

3 . System as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said light source and/or said light sensor are arranged at a fixed position with respect to the consumable and wherein said light source is configured to emit a light beam onto a predetermined spot or area of a predetermined surface of the consumable.

4 . System as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said light source and said light sensor are arranged at a movable position with respect to the consumable and wherein said light source is configured to emit a light beam so that the light beam sweeps over a predetermined area of a predetermined surface of the consumable.

5 . System as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said light sensor is configured to sense the intensity, color, direction of incidence and/or polarization of light reflected from said reflection element.

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . Set of consumables comprising at least two consumables for use in a beverage dispenser for preparation of a beverage, each consumable of said set comprising:
a filtering body defining a space containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained, a reflection element for reflecting incident light in a
predetermined way, wherein the way depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, wherein said reflection element has a different position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic for each type of consumable of the set of consumables.

10 . Set of consumables as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the reflection element is a surface or part of a surface of the filtering body, in particular a rim, bottom surface, cover or side wall or a part thereof, which has a predetermined inclination with respect to the incident light.

11 . Set of consumables as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the reflection element comprises one or more predetermined reflective spots and/or reflective areas of a predetermined surface of the filtering body.

12 . Set of consumables as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the reflection element comprises a fluorescent, phosphorescent and/or polarization-affecting material.

13 . (canceled)

14 . Beverage dispenser for preparation of a beverage by use of a consumable containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained by use of extraction liquid, the beverage dispenser comprising:
a consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1 for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable, a chamber for receiving the consumable and for the passage of extraction liquid through the consumable, a liquid processing unit for the passage of extraction liquid through the consumable, and a controller for controlling one or more parameters of the beverage dispenser according to the recognized placement and/or type of consumable.

15 . Beverage preparation system for preparation of a beverage, the system comprising:
a beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 14 , and a consumable from among a set of consumables as claimed in claim 9 containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained by use of extraction liquid, said consumable being arranged in the chamber of the beverage dispenser.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• De Vreede Jasper
• Hakkens Franciscus Johannes Gerardus
• Kooijman Gerben
• Jutte Petrus Theodorus
• Johnson Mark Thomas
• Van Den Aker Karel Johannes Adrianus
• Suijver Jan Frederik
• Dobrusskin Christoph

Classifications

• A47J31/4403

  Constructional details · CPC title

• A47J31/407

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title

• A47J31/44

  Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) · CPC title

• A47J31/002

  following a specific operational sequence, e.g. for improving the taste of the extraction product · CPC title

• A47J31/4496

  Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth · CPC title