Beverage dispenser including an improved electronic control system

• US 6,600,969 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lancer Partnership Limited (Hoshizaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lancer Partnership Limited (Hoshizaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Chadwell, Thomas J., Sudolcan, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US09/766,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 700/232, 700/240
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

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.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser, comprising:

providing a beverage dispenser, comprising;

a dispensing valve,

a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, and

an electronic control system, comprising;

a microcontroller for controlling the valve interface, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, and

a program memory including a dispense state machine for controlling the microcontroller, wherein the dispense state machine includes a detect dispense state, a dispense state, a dispense over state, and a stop dispense state;

calling the dispense state machine to assume control of the microcontroller;

detecting in the detect dispense state whether a dispense has been requested;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller when a dispense has not been requested;

changing the dispense state machine from the detect dispense state to the dispense state upon the request of a dispense;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the dispense state machine from the detect dispense state to the dispense state;

activating in the dispense state the valve interface to deliver a beverage from the dispensing valve;

changing the dispense state machine from the dispense state to the dispense over state upon the activation of the valve interface;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the dispense state machine from the dispense state to the dispense over state;

monitoring in the dispense over state when the valve interface requires deactivation;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller as long as the valve interface does not require deactivation;

changing the dispense state machine from the dispense over state to the stop dispense state when the valve interface requires deactivation;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the dispense state machine from the dispense over state to the stop dispense state;

deactivating in the stop dispense state the valve interface to stop delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve;

changing the dispense state machine from the stop dispense state to the detect dispense state upon the deactivation of the valve interface; and

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the stop dispense state to the detect dispense state.

2. The method of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the valve interface requires deactivation when the dispense request has been discontinued.

3. The method of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the valve interface requires deactivation when a preset volume of beverage has been dispensed from the dispensing valve.

4. The method of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the valve interface requires deactivation when a preset time period has expired.

5. A method of receiving user input into a beverage dispenser, comprising:

providing a beverage dispenser, comprising;

a push-button switch, and

an electronic control system, comprising;

a microcontroller coupled with the push-button switch, and

a program memory including a switch state machine for controlling the microcontroller, wherein the switch state machine includes an off state and an on state;

calling the switch state machine to assume control of the microcontroller;

monitoring in the off state for the depression of the push button switch;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller as long as the push button switch has not been depressed;

changing the switch state machine from the off state to the on state upon the depression of the push-button switch;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the switch state machine from the off state to the on state;

receiving in the on state via the push button switch a dispense signal utilized by the beverage dispenser in dispensing a beverage therefrom;

changing the switch state machine from the on state to the off state upon the release of the push-button switch; and

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the switch state machine from the on state to the off state.

6. The method of receiving user input into a beverage dispenser according to claim 5, further comprising:

providing the switch state machine including a masked state;

changing the switch state machine from the on state to the masked state when the push button switch remains depressed longer than a predetermined time period; and

changing from the masked state to the off state upon the release of the push-button switch.

7. A method of outputting information from a beverage dispenser to a user, comprising:

providing a beverage dispenser, comprising;

a user interface device, and

an electronic control system, comprising;

a microcontroller for controlling the user interface device, and

a program memory including a user interface state machine for controlling the microcontroller, wherein the user interface state machine includes an activate state and a deactivate state;

calling the user interface state machine to assume control of the microcontroller;

monitoring in the activate state for a condition requiring the activation of the user interface device;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller as long as a condition requiring the activation of the user interface device has not been detected;

activating the user interface device upon the detection of a condition requiring the activation of the user interface device;

changing the user interface state machine from the activate state to the deactivate state after activating the user interface device;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the user interface state machine from the activate state to the deactivate state;

monitoring in the deactivate state for a condition requiring the deactivation of the user interface device;

relinquishing control of the microcontroller as long as a condition requiring the deactivation of the user interface device has not been detected;

deactivating the user interface device upon the detection of a condition requiring the deactivation of the user interface device;

changing the user interface state machine from the deactivate state to the activate state after deactivating the user interface device; and

relinquishing control of the microcontroller upon the changing of the user interface state machine from the deactivate state to the activate state.