# US 11,304,557 B2 · Consumable recognition system, set of consumables and beverage dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,557 B2 - Document ID: US11304557B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/238,733 - Filed: 2019-01-03 - Published: 2019-07-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-20 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Jasper De Vreede; Franciscus Johannes Gerardus Hakkens; Gerben Kooijman; Petrus Theodorus Jutte; Mark Thomas Johnson; Karel Johannes Adrianus Van Den Aker; Jan Frederik Suijver; Christoph Dobrusskin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304557B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/4492: {Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge} - A47J 31/3623: {Cartridges being employed (with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652)} - A47J 31/3676: {Cartridges being employed} - A47J 31/407: {with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means} - A47J 31/44: Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) - A47J 31/4403: {Constructional details} - A47J 31/4496: {Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth} - B65D 85/8043: {Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06)} - B65D 85/8046: {Pods, i.e. closed containers made only of filter paper or similar material} - A47J 31/002: {following a specific operational sequence, e.g. for improving the taste of the extraction product} - B65D 2203/12: Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means (B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence) - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser, the consumable recognition system comprising: a consumable for use in the beverage dispenser for preparation of the beverage comprising a filtering body defining a space containing the food substance from which the beverage is obtained, the consumable comprising a reflection element for reflecting incident light in a predetermined way, wherein the predetermined way depends on a position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, wherein said reflection element is a surface or part of a surface of the filtering body, and wherein said reflection element has a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the incident light, the predetermined angle of inclination being different for each type of the consumable; a light source for emitting light to the consumable; a light sensor for sensing light reflected from said reflection element of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element; and a signal processor for recognizing the placement and/or type of the consumable based on said sensor signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source and/or said light sensor are arranged at a fixed position with respect to the consumable, and wherein said light source is configured to emit a light beam onto a predetermined spot or area of a predetermined surface of the consumable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source and said light sensor are arranged at a movable position with respect to the consumable, and wherein said light source is configured to emit a light beam so that the light beam sweeps over a predetermined area of a predetermined surface of the consumable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light sensor is configured to sense intensity, color, direction of incidence, and/or polarization of light reflected from said reflection element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A beverage dispenser for preparation of a beverage by use of a consumable containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained by use of extraction liquid, the beverage dispenser comprising: a consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1 for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable, a chamber for receiving the consumable and for passage of extraction liquid through the consumable, a liquid processing unit for the passage of extraction liquid through the consumable, and a controller for controlling one or more parameters of the beverage dispenser according to the recognized placement and/or type of consumable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor signal has a different amplitude, phase, frequency, current, and/or voltage for each type of the consumable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The consumable recognition system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflection element is a skewed rim of the filtering body. ### Claim 8 A set of consumables comprising at least two consumables for use in a beverage dispenser for preparation of a beverage, each consumable of said set comprising: a filtering body defining a space containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained; and a reflection element for reflecting incident light in a predetermined way, wherein the predetermined way depends on a position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, wherein said reflection element has a different position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and/or polarization characteristic for each type of consumable of the set of consumables, wherein said reflection element is a surface or part of a surface of the filtering body, and wherein said reflection element has a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the incident light, the predetermined angle of inclination being different for each type of the consumable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The set of consumables as claimed in claim 8, wherein the surface or part of the surface of the filtering body includes one of a rim, bottom surface, cover,_ or side wall or a part thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The set of consumables as claimed in claim 8, wherein said reflection element comprises one or more predetermined reflective spots and/or reflective areas of a predetermined surface of the filtering body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The set of consumables as claimed in claim 8, wherein said reflection element comprises a fluorescent, phosphorescent, and/or polarization-affecting material.