Method, control unit for a device, and device provided with a control unit

• US 9,299,208 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wessels, Hendrikus Christinus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): ATKISSON, JIANYING CUI
• Application Number:
  US13/444,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20120251680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 992/85, 426/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage is provided with an input which enables the user to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared. The control unit is provided with an operating unit for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device. The input comprises an image input for visually observing the user and for generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation. The operating unit is arranged for generating control signals for the preparation unit of the automatic device as a reaction to the image signals.

Claims

1. An automatic device for preparing a beverage, the automatic device comprising:

a preparation unit;

a control unit having a user input enabling a user to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared, and an operating unit to control a preparation unit;

wherein the user input comprises an image input for visually observing the user and for generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation;

wherein the operating unit generates control signals for the preparation unit of the automatic device as a reaction to the image signals, wherein from the generated image signals an extent of movement of the user is determined and wherein the operating unit only prompts the preparation unit of the automatic device to prepare a beverage based on determining that a center of gravity of the user moves at least a minimum amount.

2. A group of automatic devices of claim 1 comprising at least a first automatic device and a second automatic device, wherein the control unit for each automatic device further comprises a visual display for showing possible choices for the formulations of the beverage to be prepared by the device, wherein the user is enabled to make a selection from the possibilities shown through movements;

wherein the image input of the first automatic device is coupled with the visual display of the second automatic device and vice versa.

3. The automatic device of claim 1, wherein for the prompting to prepare a beverage, at least an overall vertical movement of the user is required.

4. The automatic device of claim 1, wherein the operating unit includes an indication unit for calculating from the image signals an indication of energy spent by the user in providing the input.

5. The automatic device of claim 1, further comprising a visual display for showing possible choices for the formulations of the beverage to be prepared by the device, and wherein the user is enabled to make a selection from the possible choices shown through movements.

6. The automatic device of claim 1, further comprising an acoustic display for auditorily representing the result of the input provided by the user.

7. An automatic device for preparing a beverage, the automatic device comprising:

a preparation unit;

a control unit having a user input enabling a user to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared, and an operating unit to control a preparation unit;

wherein the user input comprises an image input for visually observing the user and for generating image signals which are representative of the visual observation;

wherein the operating unit comprises

a first module operable to preprocess the image signals,

an analysis module operable to determines a center of gravity (xz,yz) from the preprocessed image signals,

an activation module operable to deliver an activation signal (Ex) to the preparation unit only if a vertical position (yz) of the center of gravity of the user moves at least a minimum amount.