METHOD, CONTROL UNIT FOR A DEVICE, AND DEVICE PROVIDED WITH A CONTROL UNIT

• US 20120251680A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee/DE B.V. (Tyson Foods Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wessels, Hendrikus Christinus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,299,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage is provided with an input which enables the user to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared. The control unit is provided with an operating unit for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device. The input comprises an image input for visually observing the user and for generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation. The operating unit is arranged for generating control signals for the preparation unit of the automatic device as a reaction to the image signals.

Claims

1. A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the control unit comprising:

a user input which enables the user to choose a formulation for the beverage to be prepared from a plurality of formulations;

an operating unit for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device;

wherein the user input comprises an image input for visually observing the user and for generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation;

wherein the operating unit generates control signals for the preparation unit of the automatic device as a reaction to the image signals, wherein from the generated image signals an extent of movement of the user is determined and wherein the operating unit only prompts the preparation unit of the automatic device to prepare a beverage if the determined movement satisfies minimum requirements.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein for the prompting to prepare a beverage, at a minimum an overall vertical movement of the user is required.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit has an indication unit for calculating from the image signals an indication of energy spent by the user in providing the input.

4. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising a visual display for showing possible choices for the formulations of the beverage to be prepared by the device, and wherein the user is enabled to make a selection from the possibilities shown through movements.

5. The control unit according to claim 1, furthermore provided with acoustic display for auditorily representing the result of the input provided by the user.

6. An automatic device for preparing a beverage, the automatic device comprising:

a preparation unit;

a control unit having a user input enabling a user to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared, and an operating unit to control a preparation unit;

wherein the user input comprises an image input for visually observing the user and for generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation;

wherein the operating unit generates control signals for the preparation unit of the automatic device as a reaction to the image signals, wherein from the generated image signals an extent of movement of the user is determined and wherein the operating unit only prompts the preparation unit of the automatic device to prepare a beverage if the determined movement satisfies minimum requirements.

7. A group of automatic devices of claim 6 comprising at least a first automatic device and a second automatic device, wherein the control unit for each automatic device further comprises a visual display for showing possible choices for the formulations of the beverage to be prepared by the device, wherein the user is enabled to make a selection from the possibilities shown through movements;

wherein the image input of the first automatic device is coupled with the visual display of the second automatic device and vice versa.

8. A method for controlling an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the method comprising:

visually observing the user of the device;

generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation;

determining from the generated image signals an extent of movement of the user;

generating control signals for the automatic device as a reaction to the image signals; and

preparing a beverage according to a formulation from a plurality of formulations depending on the generated control signals, wherein control signals prompting the preparation of a beverage are only generated if the determined movement satisfies minimum requirements.

9. An operating unit for a beverage preparation device comprising a signal processor, the signal processor being operable to:

receive, from one or more sensors, image signals representative of visual observations of a user;

analyze the image signals to determine an extent of movement of the user;

generate a control signal based in part on a comparison between the determined extent of movement and a minimum threshold, the control signal being configured to cause a preparation unit to prepare a beverage; and

provide the control signal to the preparation unit.