A BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE

Abstract

A food or beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a control panel (5), said control panel (5) comprising an actuator (5x) for setting at least one beverage preparation parameter to a predetermined value and a controlling unit for controlling the functioning of the food or beverage preparation machine (1), the food or beverage preparation machine (1) comprising in association with said actuator (5x): a light emitting device (6x) for emitting a light beam, an element for reflecting the light beam that has been emitted by the light emitting device (6x), the position of the reflecting element being modified when a press action (F) is applied to the actuator (5x), a coupler (8x) for generating an interference signal based on the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam, a value of at least one parameter of the interference signal depending on the position of the reflecting element, and a light sensor (7x) for detecting the interference signal, said light sensor being electronically connected with the controlling unit, the controlling unit being configured for detecting a press action applied to the actuator (5x) based on the value of the at least one parameter of the interference signal so as to set at least one food or beverage preparation parameter.

Claims

1. A food or beverage preparation machine comprising a control panel, the control panel comprising an actuator for setting at least one food or beverage preparation parameter of the food or beverage preparation machine to a predetermined value and a controlling unit for controlling the functioning of the food or beverage preparation machine, the food or beverage preparation machine comprising in association with the actuator: a light emitting device for emitting a light beam; an element for reflecting the light beam that has been emitted by the light emitting device, the position of the reflecting element being modified when a press action (F) is applied to said actuator; a coupler for generating an interference signal based on the emitted light beam the reflected light beam, a value of at least one parameter of the interference signal depending on the position of the reflecting element; and a light sensor for detecting the interference signal, the light sensor being electronically connected with the controlling unit, the controlling unit being configured for detecting a press action applied to the actuator based on the value of the at least one parameter of the interference signal so as to set at least one food or beverage preparation parameter.

2. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, comprising a first light guide connecting the light emitting device and reflecting element through the coupler, and a second light guide connecting the coupler and the light sensor for transmitting the interference signal to the light sensor.

3. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 2, wherein the first light guide is positioned for transmitting the light beam emitted by the light emitting device to the reflecting element, the light beam passing through the coupler, and for transmitting the reflected light beam from the reflected element to the coupler.

4. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 2, comprising a third light guide connecting the reflecting element and the coupler for transmitting the reflected light beam from the reflected element to the coupler, the first light guide transmitting the light beam emitted by the light emitting device to the reflecting element, the light beam passing through the coupler.

5. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, comprising a light source and a light guide connecting the light source with the actuator, for transmitting light emitted by the light source to the actuator.

6. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 2, wherein the light guides comprise optic fibers, the light emitting device comprises a laser diode and the light sensor comprises a photodiode.

7. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting element comprises a reflective surface situated at an inner surface of the actuator, an outer surface of the actuator being configured for receiving a press action of a user.

8. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the actuator is at least partially transparent.

9. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, comprising a machine head having a receptacle for accommodating a portioned beverage ingredient and in which a fluid is injected for preparing food or a beverage and a machine body comprising functional components, and wherein the control panel is situated at the machine head and the light emitting device, the coupler and the light sensor are situated at the machine body.

10. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 9, wherein the machine head and the machine body are separated by a leak-tight wall.

11. A food or beverage preparation machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of the interference signal is the amplitude of the interference signal.

12. Interface system for a food or beverage preparation machine comprising a control panel comprising an actuator for setting at least one food or beverage preparation parameter of the food or beverage preparation machine to a predetermined value, comprising in association with the actuator: a light emitting device for emitting a light beam, an element for reflecting the light beam that has been emitted by the light emitting device, the position of the reflecting element being modified when a press action is applied to the actuator, a coupler for generating an interference signal based on the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam, a value of at least one parameter of the interference signal depending on the position of the reflecting element; and a light sensor for detecting the interference signal, which is electronically connected with a controlling unit which controls the functioning of the food or beverage preparation machine and which is configured for detecting a press action applied to the actuator based on the value of the at least one parameter of the interference signal so as to set at least one food or beverage preparation parameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set out below with reference to the drawings in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage preparation machine according to an embodiment the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a scheme representing a section view of a part of the machine comprising the control panel and elements in association therewith, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0045] FIG. 3 represents an example of an interference signal generated on the basis of the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] The invention is further described with reference to the following examples. It will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not intended to be limited in any way by these examples.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a liquid food or beverage preparation machine 1 according to one embodiment. The beverage preparation machine 1 comprises a machine head 2 and a machine body 3.

[0048] To simplify the description, the food or beverage preparation machine 1 will be named below as beverage preparation machine 1. However, the present invention is also suitable for preparing food.

[0049] The beverage preparation machine 1 comprises a receptacle (not illustrated in the drawings) for accommodating portioned beverage ingredients and a fluid injection system (not illustrated in the drawings) for injecting a fluid into the receptacle when preparing a beverage. The receptacle and the fluid injection system are positioned at the machine head 2.

[0050] The beverage preparation machine 1 comprises a control panel 5 allowing a user to command the preparation of a beverage and to set the values of certain beverage preparation parameters.

[0051] For example, a user may select a recipe, a volume or a temperature respectively from among a set of recipes, a set of volumes or a set of temperatures. Thus, a beverage preparation parameter is set to a predetermined value which depends on the selection made by the user.

[0052] The control panel 5 is situated at the machine head 2 such that it is accessible to a user of the beverage preparation machine 1.

[0053] The control panel 5 comprises at least one actuator 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 . . . 5.sub.7 for setting at least one beverage preparation parameter to a predetermined value.

[0054] For example, when a user applies a press action to an actuator 5x or pushes the actuator 5x, at least one beverage preparation parameter is set to a predetermined value.

[0055] In the represented embodiment, the control panel 5 comprises a set of actuators 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, . . . 5.sub.7 forming a selection device, for selecting, for example, a volume for the beverage to be prepared from among a set of volumes. Thus, in this example, each actuator 5x from among the set of actuators 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, . . . 5.sub.7 is associated with a predetermined value of volume.

[0056] Of course, the control panel 5 may comprise actuators for setting other beverage preparation parameters, such as a temperature, a pressure, an infusion time, a recipe, or an actuator for turning the machine on and off.

[0057] The beverage preparation machine 1 also comprises a set of light emitting devices 6, each light emitting device 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, . . . 6.sub.7 being associated with a respective actuator 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, . . . 5.sub.7.

[0058] The beverage preparation machine 1 also comprises a set of light sensors 7, and a set of couplers 8.

[0059] Each light sensor 7.sub.1, 7.sub.2 . . . 7.sub.7, and each coupler 8.sub.1, 8.sub.2, . . . 8.sub.7 is associated with a respective actuator 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 . . . 5.sub.7.

[0060] The set of light emitting devices 6, the set of couplers 8 and the set of light sensors 7 are positioned at the machine body 3, at a distance from the control panel 5.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the light emitting devices 6.sub.1, 6.sub.2, . . . 6.sub.7, the couplers 8.sub.1, 8.sub.2, . . . 8.sub.7, the light sensors 7.sub.1, 7.sub.2, . . . 7.sub.7 and the reflecting element, which is situated at the actuator 5x in the described embodiment, communicate together by light guides, such as optic fibers.

[0062] The beverage machine 1 further comprises a set of light sources 9, each light source 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, . . . 9.sub.7 of the set of light sources 9 being associated with a respective actuator of the set of actuators 5.sub.1 . . . 5.sub.7.

[0063] The set of light sources 9 is positioned at the machine body 3, at a distance from the control panel 5.

[0064] Each light source 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, . . . 9.sub.7 illuminates a part of the control panel 5 corresponding to the actuator 5.sub.1 . . . 5.sub.7 associated with the light source 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, . . . 9.sub.7 when an action, for example a press action, is applied to the actuator 5x.

[0065] According to an embodiment, the light source 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, . . . 9.sub.7 comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

[0066] The light source 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, . . . 9.sub.7 is connected with the actuator 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, . . . 5.sub.7 by a light guide, such as an optic fiber, for transmitting the light emitted by the light source 9x to the actuator 5x.

[0067] The functioning and interactions of the elements presented above will be described in reference to FIG. 2.

[0068] At the machine body 3, the beverage preparation machine 1 comprises functional components and a controlling unit (not illustrated in the drawings) for managing the functional components in order to prepare a beverage.

[0069] The controlling unit is electrically connected with the light sensors 7.sub.1, 7.sub.2 . . . 7.sub.7 and is configured for detecting, based on signals originating from the light sensors 7.sub.1, 7.sub.2 . . . 7.sub.7, a press action that a user has applied to an actuator 5x in order to select a predetermined value for at least one beverage preparation parameter.

[0070] The controlling unit sets at least one beverage preparation parameter to a predetermined value when the at least one actuator 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, . . . 5.sub.7 receives a press action from a user.

[0071] Thus, a beverage is prepared taking into account beverage preparation parameters, certain of them being set by a user of the beverage preparation machine 1.

[0072] In the represented embodiment, a user may select a volume value for a beverage by means of the control panel 5. For example, the user may select a value by applying an action, such as a press action, to one of the actuators 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, . . . 5.sub.7 of the set of actuators 5.

[0073] Depending on the selected value, the controlling unit set a beverage preparation parameter relative to the volume of beverage to a predetermined value.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the machine head 2 and the machine body 3 are separated by a leak-tight wall.

[0075] By virtue of the leak-tight wall, the electric/electronic elements situated in the machine body 3 are isolated from elements in the machine head 2, in particular from the control panel 5, which is in contact with a user and which may be in contact with a fluid in an event of leakage.

[0076] Thus, this leak-tight wall separating the machine head 2 and the machine body 3 provides an additional safety measure for users manipulating the control panel 5.

[0077] FIG. 2 illustrates a scheme of a section view of a control panel and elements interacting with the control panel.

[0078] In this Figure, there can be seen a single actuator 5x, a single light emitting device 6x, a single coupler 8x, a single light sensor 7x, and a single light source 9x. The light emitting device 6x, the coupler 8x, the light sensor 7x and an element for reflecting light 10 are associated with the actuator 5x.

[0079] The light emitting device 6x, the coupler 8x, the light sensor 7x, and the light source 9x are placed for example in a chip board 4.

[0080] It should be noted that the beverage preparation machine 1 comprises in general a set of actuators, a set of light emitting devices, a set of couplers, a set of light sensors and a set of light sources, each actuator being respectively associated with a light emitting device, a coupler, a light sensor and a light source, such as in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0081] The light emitting device 6x emits a light beam, the element for reflecting light 10 reflects the light beam that has been emitted by the light emitting device 6x, the coupler 8x generates a signal which is named “interference signal” and which is generated based on the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam, and the light sensor 7x detects the interference signal and converts the detected interference signal into an electrical signal.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the generated interference signal is generated by superposing the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam.

[0083] The light emitting device 6x and the reflecting element 10 are connected by a first light guide 60 through the coupler 8x, and the coupler 8x and the light sensor 7x are connected by a second light guide 80.

[0084] The second light guide 80 transmits the interference signal from the coupler 8x to the light sensor 7x.

[0085] According to an embodiment, the first light guide 60 transmits the light beam emitted by the light emitting device 6x to the reflecting element 10 and the reflected light beam from the reflected element 10 to the coupler 8x.

[0086] According to another embodiment, a third light guide (not illustrated) connects the reflecting element 10 and the coupler 8x for transmitting the reflected light beam from the reflected element 10 to the coupler 8x. In this embodiment, the first light guide 60 only transmits the light beam emitted by the light emitting device 6x to the reflecting element 10.

[0087] The light source 9x is connected with the actuator 5x by a light guide 90 which transmits the light emitted by the light source 9x to the actuator 5x.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the reflecting element 10 is a reflective surface, such as a mirror, situated at an inner surface 50 of the actuator 5x.

[0089] According to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, the actuator 5x comprises a rigid button. The actuator 5x is at least partially transparent and comprises an outer surface 51 which may be illuminated by the light originating from a light source 9x. The outer surface 51 is configured for receiving a press action F of a user.

[0090] According to another embodiment, the actuator 5x comprises a flexible button.

[0091] For example, the light guides comprise optic fibers, the light emitting device comprises a laser diode and the light sensor is a photodiode.

[0092] When a press action F is applied to the actuator 5x, the position of the reflecting element 10 is modified.

[0093] The phase of the reflected light beam depends on the position of the reflecting element 10. As a consequence, the difference in the phase of the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam depends on the position of the reflecting element 10.

[0094] For example, when the actuator 5x is in a relaxed position the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam are in phase, i.e. no phase shift is introduced in the reflected light beam with respect to the emitted light beam. At the contrary, when a press action F is applied to the actuator 5x the reflected light beam undergoes a phase shift with respect to the emitted light beam.

[0095] Thus, the interference signal is different when a press action F is applied to the actuator 5x compared to when no press action is applied to the actuator 5x (i.e. when the actuator 5x is situated in a relaxed position).

[0096] It may be noted that when the actuator 5x is situated in a relaxed position, the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam have a same phase, i.e. they are in phase.

[0097] FIG. 3 represents an example of interference signal IS generated on the basis of the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam as a function of the displacement “d” suffered by the reflecting element 10 when a press action F is applied to the actuator 5x, the displacement “d” being measured from the relaxed position of the actuator 5x.

[0098] According to an embodiment, the generated interference signal IS is generated by superposing the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam.

[0099] A value of at least one parameter of the interference signal IS depends on the position of the reflecting element 10.

[0100] Such a parameter can be for instance the amplitude of the interference signal IS, the frequency, or any other physical characteristic of the interference signal, that varies depending on the position of the reflecting element 10.

[0101] For example, if the at least one parameter of the interference signal IS is the amplitude, for each value of the displacement d corresponds to the sum of the amplitudes of the emitted light beam and the reflected light beam.

[0102] The generated interference signal IS is detected by the light sensor 7x which converts the interference signal IS in an electrical signal, for example an electric current or a voltage.

[0103] The light sensor 7x being electronically connected with the controlling unit, communicates this generated electrical signal to the controlling unit.

[0104] It should be noted that the electrical signal that has been generated by the light sensor 7x represents the detected interference signal IS.

[0105] On the basis of a value of at least one parameter of the electrical signal, the controlling unit detects whether a press action F has been applied to the actuator.

[0106] In the described embodiment, the at least one parameter of the electrical signal is the amplitude of the electrical signal.

[0107] Of course, the at least on parameter may be different, for example, the phase or the frequency of the electrical signal.

[0108] When a user applies a press action to an actuator 5x, the controlling unit detects this press action F and sets a beverage preparation parameter accordingly.

[0109] Also, the controlling unit commands the light source 9x to switch-on. The light originating from the light source 9x is transmitted by the light guide 90 to the actuator 5x, the actuator 5x appearing thereby illuminated.

[0110] Once the actuator 5x has been illuminated, the user may notice that the press action F applied in order to, for example, set a beverage preparation parameter to a value, has been taken into account.

[0111] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.