Beverage dispensing system with user customizable inputs

• US 9,020,635 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Hortin, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rehman, Raheena
• Application Number:
  US12/915,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20120102993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 623/31, 623/89, 621/27, 700/237, 700/233, 222/52, 222/129.1, 702/37
• US Class Current: 700/233
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0015 the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/004 the diluent being supplied from water mains
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0889 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/84 Casings, cabinets or frameworks; Trolleys or like movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/02 Timing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first compartment, a second compartment, a first door providing access to the first compartment, a second door providing access to the second compartment, and a beverage dispensing system operatively connected the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet, the user interface having a display and being configured to identify a user of the beverage dispensing system and customize beverage settings and preferences associated with the user.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising;

a cabinet;

a fresh food compartment;

a freezer compartment;

a first door providing access to the fresh food compartment;

a second door providing access to the freezer compartment;

a beverage dispensing system operatively connected the cabinet; and

a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet, the user interface having a display and being configured to optically identify a user of the beverage dispensing system and customize beverage settings and preferences associated with the user;

wherein the user interface comprises a user optical characteristic detecting device comprising an image sensor to assist in optically identifying the user; and

wherein the user interface recommends a beverage to be dispensed by the dispensing system for the identified user based upon beverage parameters from a set comprising beverage settings, preferences, usage, restrictions, and other data stored in the system a are saved for the identified user; and

wherein one or more functions of the beverage dispensing system are disabled based upon the identified user.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the image sensor comprises a charge-coupled device or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to adjust beverage parameters for the user at least partially based on time of day.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured for storing usage data for the beverage dispensing system.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 wherein the usage data includes beverage data and time data.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 wherein the usage data further includes user data.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to report beverage usage data of the user.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to display user preferences comprising at least one of level of carbonation, beverage strength, and sweetener level.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to display restrictions associated with the user.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 wherein the restrictions include number of drinks allowed per day.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user optical characteristic detecting device further comprises a fingerprint sensor.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the user interface provides for displaying on the display an interactive welcome message identifying the user and the beverage to be dispensed.

13. A refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising;

a cabinet;

a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet;

a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet;

a fresh food compartment door providing access to the fresh food compartment;

a freezer compartment door providing access to the freezer compartment;

a beverage dispensing system disposed operatively connected to the cabinet, the beverage dispensing system configured to prepare a beverage using a liquid enhancement component; and

a user interface electrically connected to the beverage dispensing system, the user interface having a display and being configured to optically identify a user of the beverage dispensing system;

wherein the user interface comprises a user optical characteristic detecting device comprising an image sensor to assist in identifying the user; and

wherein the user interface suggests a beverage to be dispensed by the dispensing system based upon beverage parameters from a set comprising beverage settings, preferences, usage, restrictions, and other data stored in the system that are saved for the identified user; and

wherein one or more fictions of the beverage dispensing system are disabled based upon the identified user.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the refrigerator is configured to report on beverage usage of the user.

15. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the refrigerator is configured to restrict beverage dispensement based on user restrictions associated with the user.

16. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the refrigerator is configured to store recipes for beverages and associate the recipes with the user.

17. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the user interface is configured to display brandable logos on the display to identify beverages.

18. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the user interface is configured to display a number of amount of a beverage produced based on availability of beverage enhancement.

19. The refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the user optical characteristic detecting device further comprises a fingerprint sensor.