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US 11,820,641 B2Granted
Smart beer tap
AssigneePubinno, Inc.
InventorsAhmet Necdet Alpmen, Yusuf Can Algul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for smart draft beer taps that can dynamically vary flow rate and control the amount of dispensed head based on one or more of sensed parameters of the beer, the draft beer environment, characteristics of the beer, and on brewery specified pouring standards. The disclosed systems provide networked data communication relating to bar draft beer pouring conditions.
Claims27
A fluid dispensing tap comprising:
- a housing having a fluid path extending therethrough from an input aperture to an output aperture in a spout of the tap;
- a display positioned on a user-facing surface of the housing;
- at least one sensor positioned along the fluid path and configured to generate parameter data representing a parameter of fluid flowing along the fluid path based on real-time sensing of the parameter;
- a variable opening valve positioned along the fluid path and configured to define a variable area across the fluid path;
- an actuator configured to open and close the variable opening valve;
- a creamer positioned along the fluid path and configured to agitate the fluid and to cause the fluid to transform from a liquid into a foam;
- a handle coupled to an exterior of the housing;
- a position sensor configured to generate position data representing whether the handle is in any of a first or second position;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive the parameter data from the at least one sensor;
- based at least partly on the parameter data, determine an extent to which to open or close the variable opening valve;
- control the actuator to open or close the variable opening valve to the determined extent;
- in response to receiving a creamer activation signal, activate the creamer to agitate the fluid;
- generate an output for presentation on the display based at least partly on the parameter data;
- in response to receiving position data indicating that the handle is in the first position, close the variable opening valve to stop flow of the fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- in response to receiving position data indicating that the handle is in the second position, control the actuator to open or close the variable opening valve to the determined extent.
15 more elements
A fluid dispensing tap comprising:
- a housing having a fluid path extending therethrough from an input aperture to an output aperture in a spout of the tap;
- a display positioned on a user-facing surface of the housing;
- at least one sensor positioned along the fluid path and configured to generate parameter data representing a parameter of fluid flowing along the fluid path based on real-time sensing of the parameter;
- a variable opening valve positioned along the fluid path and configured to define a variable area across the fluid path;
- an actuator configured to open and close the variable opening valve;
- a creamer positioned along the fluid path and configured to agitate the fluid and to cause the fluid to transform from a liquid into a foam;
- a rotatable dial positioned around the display on an exterior of the housing, wherein the rotatable dial is configured to be moved along an axis of its rotation;
- and
- a controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive the parameter data from the at least one sensor;
- based at least partly on the parameter data, determine an extent to which to open or close the variable opening valve;
- control the actuator to open or close the variable opening valve to the determined extent;
- in response to receiving a creamer activation signal, activate the creamer to agitate the fluid;
- generate an output for presentation on the display based at least partly on the parameter data;
- receive a signal representing a positioning of the rotatable dial relative to the housing;
- identify a pour volume indicated by the positioning of the rotatable dial;
- update the display based at least partly on the pour volume indicated by the positioning of the rotatable dial;
- identify selected user interface options based on user rotation of the rotatable dial;
- and
- wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of:
- control the actuator and creamer based at least partly on a specified volume of liquid and a specified volume of foam for the pour volume;
- and
- determine a timing and duration for activation of the creamer based on the pour volume.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.