Apparatus and method for measuring aging environment

• US 9,535,044 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dongaone Co., Ltd., Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Dongaone Co., Ltd., Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kang, Hyun-joong, Kim, Bong Wan, Lee, Jun Wook, Kang, Sungsoo, Chae, Jong-Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISLAM, MOHAMMAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/027,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12C 11/003 Fermentation of beerwort
• CPC Class Codes: C12G 1/00 Preparation of wine or sparkling wine
• CPC Class Codes: C12G 3/07 Flavouring with wood extracts, e.g. generated by contact with wood; Wood pretreatment therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12H 1/22 Ageing or ripening by storing, e.g. lagering of beer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0004 Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/146 containing alcohol

Abstract

An aging environment measurement apparatus measures aging environment data within an oak barrel and transmits the measured aging environment data within the oak barrel to a server, and the aging environment measurement apparatus is mounted in a bung of the oak barrel.

Claims

1. An aging environment measurement apparatus that measures an aging environment within an oak barrel that contains liquor, the aging environment measurement apparatus comprising:

a measurement sensing unit that measures aging environment data within the oak barrel;

a controller that collects the aging environment data and transmits the collected aging environment data to a server, wherein the aging environment measurement apparatus is mounted in a bung of the oak barrel,

a start detection unit that generates a start signal according to detection of an aging environment measurement start, wherein the controller supplies power to the measurement sensing unit according to the start signal, wherein the start detection unit comprises at least one of;

a push switch that detects pressing of the bung from the outside and that generates the start signal;

a touch sensor that senses touch of the bung from the outside and that generates the start signal; and

a vibration sensor that senses a vibration of the bung and that generates the start signal.

2. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller enters a sleep mode when transmission of the aging environment data is complete, and awakes from the sleep mode according to the start signal.

3. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller intercepts power from being supplied to the measurement sensing unit before entering the sleep mode.

4. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor and the vibration sensor are non-powered sensors.

5. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measurement sensing unit comprises:

a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of liquor liquid; and

a carbon dioxide sensor that measures a gas situation within the oak barrel.

6. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller supplies power to the measurement sensing unit according to an aging environment measurement cycle.

7. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller enters a sleep mode when transmission of the aging environment data is complete, and awakes from the sleep mode according to the aging environment measurement cycle.

8. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller intercepts power from being supplied to the measurement sensing unit before entering the sleep mode.

9. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bung comprises an outer edge frame that encloses to form an empty space, and

the aging environment measurement apparatus is mounted in the empty space.

10. The aging environment measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aging environment data comprises at least one of temperature, pH, tartaric acid, volatile acidity, and carbon dioxide.

11. A method in which an aging environment measurement apparatus measures an aging environment within an oak barrel that contains liquor, the method comprising:

measuring aging environment data within the oak barrel, wherein the aging environment measurement apparatus is mounted in a bung of the oak barrel and wherein the measuring of aging environment data comprises;

detecting an aging environment measurement start, wherein detecting of an aging environment measurement start comprises at least one of;

detecting a vibration of the bung;

detecting a human body touch of the bung; and

detecting pressing of the bung;

supplying power to a measurement sensing unit that measures the aging environment data according to detection of the aging environment measurement start; and

transmitting the aging environment data within the oak barrel to a server, wherein transmitting of the aging environment data comprises;

processing and storing the aging environment data; and

intercepting power from being supplied to the measurement sensing unit when processing and storage of the aging environment data are complete.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting of the aging environment data comprises entering a sleep mode when processing and storage of the aging environment data are complete.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the measuring of aging environment data comprises supplying power to the measurement sensing unit that measures the aging environment data according to an aging environment measurement cycle,

wherein the transmitting of the aging environment data comprises:

processing and storing the aging environment data; and

intercepting power from being supplied to the measurement sensing unit when processing and storage of the aging environment data are complete.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting of the aging environment data comprises intercepting the power supply and setting a time to awake, and entering a sleep mode according to the aging environment measurement cycle.