A luminous base includes a base body, a light guide structure, a light emitting module and a power supply module. The base body has a cover with a light outlet; the light guide structure is installed at the base body and configured to be corresponsive to the light outlet; the light emitting module is installed in the base body for projecting light towards the light guide structure; the power supply module is electrically connected to the light emitting module. Therefore, light can be illuminated upwardly from the bottom of a cup and/or a beverage bottle in a surface emitting manner, and the existence of the cup and/or the beverage bottle can be highlighted to provide a glare effect in a dark environment, and the light can be illuminated uniformly upward from the bottom of the cup and/or the beverage bottle to provide a light staining effect.

An active foodware system includes a dining plate unit that provides visual stimuli by having a power source and a visual stimulating component to provide light emanating from the dining plate unit. Other devices can provide auditory and haptic stimuli, as well as sensing and processing. The dining plate unit can be a single component where the device and circuitry are all contained in the unit and protected from water, or can be two components: an upper translucent dining plate, and an underplate comprising the devices and circuitry for directing light through the upper translucent dining plate.

A dining plate active foodware system senses food characteristics, such as weight and calories. Removable dining plates are placed on an underplate comprising sensing and wireless communication components. The system may include a camera. Data related to the food is sent to the internet as well as displayed on the visual stimulating component of a handheld communication device, such as a mobile phone. Auditory and haptic stimuli may also be provided.

A dining utensil includes a stimulating component, a sensing component, and a communication component to enhance a dining experience. The stimulating component includes one or more light sources, which may be different colors. The utensil has a processor with the computer program configured to activate the stimulating component to illuminate the eating portion of the utensil, which may display an image or video. The stimulating component may be optically coupled with a light guide to provide lighted bands, portions, and patterns. The sensing component senses a food condition, and may be configured to activate the stimulating component. The communication component provides wireless communication with a mobile phone and the internet.

A dining plate active foodware system senses food characteristics, such as weight and calories. Removable dining plates are placed on an underplate comprising sensing and wireless communication components. The system may include a camera. Data related to the food is sent to the internet as well as displayed on the visual stimulating component of a handheld communication device, such as a mobile phone. Auditory and haptic stimuli may also be provided.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an illuminated cupholder assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises an upper portion comprising a lower mating portion forming a first diameter and a base portion comprising an upper mating portion forming a second diameter. A light ring is disposed substantially between the lower mating portion and the upper mating portion in an assembled configuration. The cupholder assembly comprises a photoluminescent portion configured to convert a first wavelength to a second wavelength to illuminate at least a portion of the cupholder assembly.

An illuminated coaster comprising a plurality of light emitters, and a control unit associated with the illuminated coaster are provided. The control unit comprises a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions. The control unit comprises a processor in communication with the memory, the processor being configured to execute the computer-executable instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to detect presence of a container on the coaster, estimate a volume of liquid within the container present on the coaster, and activate a plurality of light emitters to emit one of a light of first color, a light of second color, or a light of third color based on the estimate volume of liquid.