Method for brewing hot beverages using ultrasound

Abstract

The embodiment relates to the convenient amateur creation of a beverage where the extraction of flavor into a solvent is obtained using ultrasound. Where the solvent and solute are held in a removable carafe which has an ultrasound transducer. A control system will trigger ultrasound into the solvent for specific durations in order to quickly create the desired outcome. The use of one or more computers that will be able to implement a recipe, control the machine, and interact with the user ensure that the end user is able to operate the machine easily.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the production of beverages using ultrasound comprising: a vessel including an ultrasound transducer located on a bottom thereof; and a base unit including a microcontroller; wherein the vessel is configured to be removed from or inserted into the base unit by a user; whereby the microcontroller is configured to receive human input selecting a desired beverage type, reference a database of beverage recipes to find the recipe comprising ultrasound parameters for the desired beverage type and control the ultrasound transducer according to the recipe for the desired beverage type by modulating the ultrasound parameters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood according to the following detailed description of several embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 presents the components of an ultrasound apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 presents a flow chart detailing the interaction of physical components with data sources according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) The core of the invention is the ultrasonic transducer attached to a carafe or vessel as shown in FIG. 1. The transducer 2 is actively controlled by a local microcontroller. When activated the ultrasound emitter causes super cavitation in the vessel 1 positioned in the socket or base unit 3, this effect rapidly extracts flavors into a solvent and catalyzes many reactions. Careful control of power cycles is done with millisecond levels of control as the catalysis acceleration can have perceptible effects below human control levels.

(5) The invention therefore includes a significant human interface component 4 connected to a microcontroller so that a user can define a recipe. A recipe, in this instance, is defined as a set of power on, power off, waits, and user steps. Power is about turning the transducer on or off, waiting is allowing the carafe to sit before the next step. User steps are prompts for the client to do an activity like adding new ingredients.

(6) A recipe is stored in a database, normally accessible via internet technology that is specific to the ingredients. The user may select a recipe manually via an application or may use a code that can lead and select a recipe. Users and database owners can adapt and update the recipe based on whatever information and algorithms they wish to apply.

(7) The Recipe is then loaded onto the microcontroller and is run unto completion. This is detailed in FIG. 2.

(8) The invention is most often used for beverages but a user knowledgeable in the art will understand that while we discuss beverages the invention is usable for any potable liquid. Soups, oils, marinades are clear choices but there are some applications such as lipid encapsulation of active medical ingredients (eg vitamins) that can be used with this technology.

(9) The embodiment can have the various components enclosed in different enclosures without effecting the usage. While the initial embodiment has the human interface within the main enclosure, the Human interface may be accomplished using a user's computing device (mobile device.