Beverage Maker And Method For Operating A Beverage Maker

Abstract

A beverage maker and a method for operating a beverage maker are provided. The beverage maker comprises a sensor of a 1st category which provides only one individual measuring value S1 at a specific time, a sensor of a 2nd category which provides a plurality of measuring values S2 at a specific time, a data memory and a control unit. The control unit is configured to compare the measuring values S2 with target values which are stored in the data memory and, based on this comparison, to trigger or not to trigger at least one event. If the comparison does not lead to an event being triggered, detection of at least one measuring value S1 is effected by the control unit, the measuring value S1 being used to assign the measuring values S2 to at least one event and to store these measuring values S2 as target values for the assigned event in the data memory.

Claims

1. A beverage maker comprising: a) at least one sensor of a first category, the sensor of the first category configured to provide only one individual measuring value S1 at a specific time; b) at least one sensor of a second category, the sensor of the second category configured to provide a plurality of measuring values S2 at a specific time; c) a data memory; d) a control unit configured to compare the measuring values S2 with target values for the measuring values S2, the target values stored in the data memory and encoded for at least one specific event and, based on the comparison, to trigger or not to trigger at least one event in the beverage maker; wherein the control unit is further configured to detect and to use at least one measuring value S1 in order to assign specific measuring values S2, which do not trigger an event after a comparison with target values for the measuring values S2, to at least one event, and to store the specific measuring values S2 as target values for the at least one event in the data memory.

2. The beverage maker according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface, the user interface configured i) to display a triggered event; and/or ii) to display a countdown until implementation of a triggered event; and/or iii) to display a beverage selection; iv) to display information about measuring values S2 of the at least one sensor of the second category, the information selected from the group consisting of height of a beverage container, level of a beverage container, level of a bean container of the beverage maker, empty running of a grinder of the beverage maker and combinations hereof; and/or v) to display target values for S2 and to confirm and/or to delete as a user wishes.

3. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to trigger the at least one event encoded in the target values for the measuring values S2 if the measuring values S2 can be assigned to target values for the measuring values S2 with a probability >50%.

4. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to use at least one measuring value S1 if the measuring values S2 can be assigned to target values for the measuring values S2 with a probability only 50%.

5. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor of the first category is configured to provide one only one-dimensional measuring value S1 at a specific time.

6. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor of the second category is configured to provide multidimensional measuring values S2 at a specific time.

7. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one specific event is selected from the group consisting of interaction of the beverage maker with a user, maintaining the beverage maker, controlling at least one component of the beverage maker and combinations hereof.

8. A method for operating a beverage maker, comprising: a) detecting a plurality of measuring values S2 from at least one sensor of a second category, the sensor of the second category configured to provide a plurality of measuring values S2 at a specific time; b) comparing the measuring values S2 with target values for the measuring values S2, the target values stored in a data memory of the beverage maker and encoded for at least one specific event, by a control unit of the beverage maker; c) triggering or not triggering at least one event in the beverage maker based on the comparison; and d) detecting at least one measuring value S1 from at least one sensor of the first category if no event is triggered, the sensor of the first category configured to provide only one individual measuring value S1 at a specific time; wherein, in a case in which no event is triggered after the comparison with target values for the measuring values S2, at least one measuring value S1 from at least one sensor of a first category of the beverage maker is used by the control unit in order to assign at least one event to the measuring values S2 which do not trigger an event after a comparison with target values for the measuring values S2, and the measuring values S2 are stored as target values for the at least one event in the data memory.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the beverage maker includes a user interface, via the user interface i) a triggered event being displayed; and/or ii) a countdown until implementation of a triggered event being displayed; and/or iii) a beverage selection being displayed; iv) information about measuring values S2 of the at least one sensor of the second category being displayed, the information selected from the group consisting of height of a beverage container, level of a beverage container, level of a bean container of the beverage maker, empty running of a grinder of the beverage maker and combinations hereof; and/or v) target values for S2 being displayed and being confirmed and/or deleted as a user wishes.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one event which is encoded in the target values for the measuring values S2 is triggered if the measuring values S2 can be assigned to target values for the measuring values S2 with a probability of respectively >50%.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein at least one measuring value S1 is detected and used if the measuring values S2 can be assigned to target values for the measuring values S2 with a probability of respectively only 50%.

12. The method according to one of the claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor of the first category provides one one-dimensional measuring value S1 at a specific time.

13. The method according to one of the claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor of the second category provides multidimensional measuring values S2 at a specific time.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one specific event is selected from the group consisting of interaction of the beverage maker with a user, maintaining the beverage maker, controlling at least one component of the beverage maker and combinations hereof.

Description

[0071] FIG. 1 shows the functional mechanism of a beverage maker according to the invention. If an object to be analysed is detected by the sensor of the 2nd category 2, a plurality of measuring values 4 (a so-called pattern) is transmitted from the sensor of the 2nd category 2 to the control unit 6 of the beverage maker. The control unit 6 accesses the data memory 5 and checks whether the detected measuring values 4 are already known with a specific probability, i.e. whether these are stored in the data memory 5 and assigned there to a specific event. If this question 7 can be answered in the affirmative, the beverage maker triggers a specific event 8. If this question is not answered in the affirmative, the beverage maker waits for an individual measuring value 3 of the sensor of the 1st category 1. After obtaining the measuring value 3 of the sensor of the 1st category 1, an assignment of the measuring values 4 detected by the sensor of the 2nd category 2 to at least one specific event 8 in the beverage maker is effected. In the data memory 5, originally no pattern 4 is associated with an event 8. A measuring value 3 of the sensor of the 1st category is then used for the purpose of associating, with the measured two measuring values 4 of the sensor of the 2nd category, a specific event 8 and storing this association in the data memory 5 (=machine learning).

[0072] FIG. 2 shows the functional mechanism of a beverage maker according to the invention with a radar sensor 2 for detecting a plurality of measuring values 12, 12 of a vessel 10, 10 which is placed by a user under a beverage output unit 11 of the beverage maker.

[0073] In FIG. 2A, the vessel is a latte-macchiato glass 10 which produces a frequency spectrum 12, which is characteristic of this glass 10, from the radar sensor 2. In the case of FIG. 2A, this characteristic frequency spectrum 12 is already stored in the data memory 5 of the beverage maker (see symbol) so that the beverage maker recognises the latte-macchiato glass 10 as such and, without further input of the user (e.g. via an interaction with a sensor of the 1st category 1), implements an event associated with this glass 10 (e.g. output of a latte-macchiato via the beverage output unit 11 of the beverage maker or displaying or highlighting a specific beverage selection). If the event is displaying or highlighting of a specific beverage selection (e.g. an enlarged display of specific beverage on a user surface of the beverage maker), then, with pressure on a button (activation of a sensor of the 1st category) or a gesture, or facial expression or acoustic speech (activation of a sensor of the 2nd category), a selection and output of a specific drink from the beverage selection can be effected concretely by the user.

[0074] The same applies for the situation illustrated in FIG. 2B. In FIG. 2B, instead of the latte-macchiato glass 10, an espresso cup 10 is placed under the beverage output unit 11 of the beverage maker. Since the characteristic frequency spectrum 12, detected by the radar sensor 2 for the espresso cup 10, is already stored in the data memory 5 (see symbol), the beverage maker recognises the espresso cup 10 as such and, without further input of the user (e.g. via an interaction with a sensor of the 1st category 1), implements an event associated with this cup 10 (e.g. output of an espresso via the beverage output unit 11 of the beverage maker).

[0075] In FIG. 2C, a situation is in contrast illustrated in which the pattern 12 detected by the radar sensor 2 for the latte-macchiato glass 10 is not yet stored in the data memory 5 of the beverage maker or has no similarity with patterns stored there (see X symbol). This has the effect that the beverage maker uses a measuring value (here: an impedance change which is changed by a user touching a latter-macchiato glass 10 displayed on the touch screen), which is detected by the sensor of the 1st category 1 (here: a touch screen 1 on the beverage maker) to assign the detected pattern 12 to the event output of latte-macchiato and to store this assignment in the data memory 5.

[0076] FIG. 3 shows an example of a plurality of measuring values of the sensor of the 2nd category. This sensor of the 2nd category concerns a two-dimensional sensor which, in the course of time (x axis), detects the intensity (y axis=1st dimension) of electromagnetic radiation of a different frequency I, II, III (z axis=2nd dimension).

Example 1Beverage Maker with Electromagnetic Sensor for Cup Recognition

[0077] The beverage maker is a coffee machine in which a sensor of the 2nd category is incorporated. This sensor here concerns a radar sensor (e.g. a radar sensor with 60 Ghz of Infineon Technologies AG, sensitivity: sub-mm range) or an image sensor.

[0078] Firstly a glass or a cup is placed under the beverage maker. In the case of a radar sensor, a frequency of the detected radar radiation is measured as first measuring value and, as second measuring value, an amplitude of the detected radar radiation. In the case of an image sensor, a frequency of the detected light (colour of the light) and an amplitude of the detected light (brightness of the light) is detected.

[0079] Since no target values are prescribed in the permanent memory of the beverage maker, also no assignment of the measuring values (i.e. of the pattern) to a specific event is present.

[0080] This beverage maker has, as sensor of the 1st category, a user input interface, e.g. a touch pad. Via the user input interface, various beverage which can be output by the beverage maker are displayed to the user.

[0081] If the user has placed a latte-macchiato glass under the beverage maker since he wants to have a latte-macchiato made, the user now selects the output of latte-macchiato via pressure on the touch pad. The signal of the sensor of the 1st category (touch pad) is now used in order to associate the signal recorded via the radar sensor or the image sensor with the output of latte-macchiato and to store this association in the permanent data memory. If the same latte-macchiato glass is placed under the beverage maker the next time, the output of latte-macchiato is effected without activation via the touch pad since the beverage maker has assigned the pattern, detected via the sensor of the 2nd category, of the specific latte-macchiato glass to the output of latte-macchiato.

[0082] Since the shape of latte-macchiato glasses can vary within a series or between different manufacturers, the allocation becomes all the better the more often a latte-macchiato glass is placed under the beverage maker (increase in shape information). Also with repeated use of a specific glass, the accuracy increases since the sensors of the 2nd category can also have measuring errors, the significance of which reduces with each further repetition of the measurement. At some time or another, a user input via the touch pad is no longer necessary since the machine assigns the detected measuring values unequivocally to a latte-macchiato glass. On the user surface of the beverage maker (e.g. display or touch screen), as a result only the drink can be displayed which, on the basis of comparison with the data memory, has matched the last outputs with the same pattern S2 and the appropriate push of the button of S1 (here: a latte-macchiato). The user then has the choice of selecting the drink (here: only a latte-macchiato displayed on the user surface) or possibly cancelling it with another command.

[0083] Of course, the control unit of the beverage maker can be configured such that the beverage maker, after the vessel has been put down, offers the user a beverage selection and/or blocks specific beverage. If no alternative beverage are available for a latte-macchiato glass, the control unit can be configured such that the output of latte-macchiato is started automatically. This can for example be effected via a display drink is automatically started in X seconds. To cancel press Y, X standing for seconds and Y for a button to be pressed on the beverage maker.

[0084] For example, the radar sensor functions as sensor of the 2nd category such that a part of the radar waves is reflected on the surface of the object to be checked (e.g. a coffee cup) and another part penetrates before the reflection into the object, slows down due to the higher density of the object compared with the ambient air, and then emerges again from the object. The quantity of reflected beams and the running time differences between the reflecting beams and the emitting beams is characteristic of different objects and materials.

[0085] Furthermore, further information about the glass or the cup can be collected via additional sensors in the beverage maker and can be assigned to the sensor signals. The following sensors are possible: [0086] collision detection sensor for determining the height of the vessel; [0087] flow sensor for protecting against overflow of the vessel; [0088] pressure sensor for cancelling dispensing of the drink in order to adapt the volume quantity to the normal use of the user.

Example 2Beverage Maker with Acoustic Sensor for an Beans-Empty Report

[0089] This beverage maker is a coffee machine and includes an acoustic sensor as sensor of the 2nd category. The acoustic sensor hears various events or errors. For example, the grinder of a coffee machine emits a characteristic noise when running empty. This noise can be recorded by the acoustic sensor and associated with the event that the grinder should stop the grinding process. If the acoustic sensor again detects the characteristic noise after this learning process, the grinder can be stopped before the result is complete empty running of the grinder.

[0090] In the state of the art, for example only one current sensor provides information about whether a grinder motor is running empty, i.e. no longer grinding coffee beans. In this case, the level of the electrical current detected by the current sensor drops. Now the noise pattern emitted by the grinder can be detected and learned for example in fact 2 to 3 seconds before reaching the current boundary value. By this measure, the beverage maker detects a state shortly before becoming empty of the grinder and can switch off the grinder in good time (before detecting the lower current value). The advantage hereby is that a product preparation is not interrupted by refilling with beans: when the grinder is running empty, grinder and grinder outflow are empty and, after filling with coffee beans, a specific lead time (grinding time) is required in order to fill the system with beans and ground coffee. Only thereafter are coffee grounds again conveyed correctly in the brewing chamber. Consequently a time loss is produced and the result is metering variations with respect to the ground coffee grounds.

[0091] Also the noise during refilling of beans could be detected and a specific event associated with this process.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0092] 1: sensor of the 1st category (e.g. touch display); [0093] 2: sensor of the 2nd category (e.g. radar sensor); [0094] 3: individual measuring value S1 of the sensor of the 1st category (e.g. a discrete pressure value of a pressure sensor); [0095] 4: a plurality of measuring values S2 of the sensor of the 2nd category (e.g. with locally resolved discrete frequencies and discrete intensities of an electromagnetic radiation); [0096] 5: data memory; [0097] 6: control unit; [0098] 7: determining whether measuring values 4 are present in the data memory 5; [0099] 8: event which is triggered by the beverage maker; [0100] 9: assignment of measuring values 4 to at least one event; [0101] 10: latte-macchiato glass; [0102] 10: espresso cup; [0103] 11: beverage output unit of the beverage maker; [0104] 12: frequency spectrum of a latte-macchiato glass 10; [0105] 12: frequency spectrum of an espresso cup 10; [0106] I: 1st frequency of electromagnetic radiation; [0107] II: 1st frequency of electromagnetic radiation; [0108] III: 3rd frequency of electromagnetic radiation;