Beverage dispenser including an improved electronic control system
First Claim
1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:
- beverage dispenser components, comprising at least;
a user interface, a dispensing valve that combines a syrup and a diluent, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of the syrup and the diluent from the dispensing valve; and
an electronic control system, comprising;
a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of the syrup and the diluent from the dispensing valve, and a program memory including firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system includes a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system further includes a program memory with firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. The state machine system architecture supports either a non-preemptive or a preemptive multitasking real time operating system. The firmware includes supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware.
70 Citations
71 Claims
-
1. A beverage dispenser, comprising:
-
beverage dispenser components, comprising at least;
a user interface, a dispensing valve that combines a syrup and a diluent, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of the syrup and the diluent from the dispensing valve; and
an electronic control system, comprising;
a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of the syrup and the diluent from the dispensing valve, and a program memory including firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A beverage dispenser, comprising:
-
beverage dispenser components, comprising at least;
a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve; and
an electronic control system, comprising;
a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, a program memory including firmware for controlling the microcontroller, and a device interface that permits the electronic control system to monitor and control devices external to the beverage dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
-
Specification