Beverage dispenser transponder identification system

• US 6,354,468 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Berg Companies Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: DEC International (NZ) Limited
• Inventors: Riek, Jan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/691,719
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/129.2, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/144.5, 222/30, 222/36-38
• US Class Current: 222/129.3
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00144 Magnets, e.g. used in valves or for stirring
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0051 dispensing by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry

Abstract

A beverage dispenser transponder identification system includes a pourer spout for insertion into a bottle containing a beverage, the pourer spout having an electromagnetically actuated stopper valve for dispensing the beverage, the pourer spout having an rf receive/transmit antenna connected to an identification transponder circuit. An actuator is provided by an activator ring for insertion around the pourer spout and has a driver coil for actuating the stopper valve, an rf transmit antenna connected to an oscillator, and an rf receive antenna connected to a decoder. The rf transmit antenna broadcasts an rf signal to the rf receive/transmit antenna which is conducted to the identification transponder circuit which sends an identification signal to the rf receive/transmit antenna which is broadcast to the rf receive antenna and received by the decoder to identify the pourer spout.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser transponder identification system comprising a pourer spout for insertion into a bottle containing a beverage, said pourer spout having an electromagnetically actuated stopper valve for dispensing said beverage, said pourer spout having an rf receive/transmit antenna connected to an identification transponder circuit, an actuator for activating said pourer spout, said actuator having a driver coil for actuating said stopper valve, an rf transmit antenna connected to an oscillator, and an rf receive antenna connected to a decoder, said rf transmit antenna broadcasting an rf signal to said rf receive/transmit antenna which is conducted to said identification transponder circuit which sends an identification signal to said rf receive/transmit antenna which is broadcast to said rf receive antenna and received by said decoder to identify said pourer spout.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said oscillator and said decoder are separately connected to separate different antennas, namely said rf transmit antenna and said rf receive antenna, respectively.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said oscillator and said decoder are ohmically isolated from each other.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said oscillator is connected to said rf transmit antenna by a first conductor, said rf receive antenna is connected to said decoder by a second conductor, and said second conductor carries only the signal from said rf receive antenna and not the signal on said first conductor from said oscillator.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said oscillator is connected to said rf transmit antenna by a first conductor, said rf receive antenna is connected to said decoder by a second conductor, and wherein said second conductor carries only the signal from said rf receive antenna without ohmic interference of the signal on said first conductor from said oscillator, to reduce degradation of identifiability and integrity of desired detection otherwise due to presence of an additional signal from said oscillator, such that the signal on said second conductor from said rf receive antenna to said decoder is easier to detect and has greater strength and integrity.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said oscillator is connected to said rf transmit antenna by a first conductor, said rf receive antenna is connected to said decoder by a second conductor, and wherein said first and second conductors each carry only the respective signal from said oscillator and said rf receive antenna, respectively, without ohmic interference from each other, such that said second conductor carries only the signal from said rf receive antenna without degradation of identifiability and integrity of desired detection otherwise due to additional presence of the signal from said oscillator.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said rf transmit antenna and said rf receive antenna are separate antennas ohmically isolated from each other.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said oscillator is ohmically connected only to said rf transmit antenna and not to said rf receive antenna, and wherein said decoder is ohmically connected only to said rf receive antenna and not to said rf transmit antenna.

9. The invention according to claim 1 comprising a first tuning capacitor connected to said rf transmit antenna, and a second tuning capacitor connected to said rf receive antenna.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said first capacitor and said rf transmit antenna comprise a first tank circuit tuned to a given frequency, and said second capacitor and said rf receive antenna comprise a second tank circuit tuned to the same said give frequency.

11. The invention according to claim 1 comprising a first coaxial cable having a conductor connecting said oscillator to said rf transmit antenna, said first coaxial cable having a grounded sheath, a second coaxial cable having a conductor connecting said decoder to said rf receive antenna, said second coaxial cable having a grounded sheath, said grounded sheathes of said first and second coaxial cables protecting and isolating said conductors of said first and second coaxial cables and said oscillator and said decoder from cross-talk and a spurious interference therebetween, such that said decoder sees only the signal from said rf receive antenna without the signal from said oscillator ohmically superimposed thereon or interfering with the signal that said decoder receives from said rf receive antenna.

12. The invention according to claim 1 comprising a tank circuit connected to said rf receive antenna and tuned to a given frequency, and a coaxial cable connecting said rf receive antenna to said decoder and having a length equal to onequarter wavelength of said given frequency.

13. The invention according to claim 1 comprising a controller having a first output to said oscillator, a second output to said driver coil, and an input from said decoder.