Beverage dispenser including an improved electronic control system

• US 6,650,962 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• 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:
  US09/766,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/242, 700/97, 700/237
• US Class Current: 700/231
• 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 designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser, comprising:

providing 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;

providing 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, and

a program memory including supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware for controlling the microcontroller;

adding a beverage dispenser component;

modifying the low level drivers firmware to interface the microcontroller with the added beverage dispenser component;

adding a dispenser tasks firmware state machine; and

modifying the supervisory control firmware to call the added dispenser tasks firmware state machine.

2. A method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser, comprising:

providing 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;

providing 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, and

a program memory including dispenser tasks firmware for controlling the microcontroller;

inputting ratio control parameters associated with a beverage dispense into the program memory; and

modifying a beverage dispense state machine of the dispenser tasks firmware utilizing the inputted ratio control parameters.