# US 2017/0280928 A1 · Apparatus for extracting coffee and method for preheating heater thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280928 A1 - Document ID: US20170280928A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/510,497 - Filed: 2015-08-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-12 - Assignees: Coway Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Coway Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Dong-Min OH; Tae-Yong SON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280928A1 ## CPC - A47J 31/56: having water-level controls; having temperature controls - A47J 31/36: with mechanical pressure-producing means - A47J 31/44: Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) - A47J 31/469: {Details of hydraulic circuits} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract Disclosed are an apparatus for extracting coffee and a method for preheating a heater thereof. The apparatus for extracting coffee comprises: an input part which receives a command for controlling an operation of the apparatus for extracting coffee; a heater which heats water supplied to a coffee flow path for extracting coffee; a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the heater; an input voltage acquisition part which acquires an input voltage value applied to the apparatus for extracting coffee; and a control part which determines the possibility of coffee extraction by detecting the operation of the apparatus for extracting coffee, and if it is determined that there is a high possibility of coffee extraction, controls a preheating operation of the heater on the basis of the input voltage value acquired by the input voltage acquisition part and the temperature of the heater measured by the temperature sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for extracting coffee, comprising: an input unit receiving a command for controlling an operation of the apparatus for extracting coffee; a heater heating water supplied to a coffee flow path, in order to extract coffee; a temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the heater; an input voltage acquisition unit obtaining an input voltage value applied to the apparatus for extracting coffee; and a control unit determining a possibility of extracting coffee by detecting an operation of the apparatus for extracting coffee and controlling a preheating operation of the heater, based on the input voltage value obtained by the input voltage acquisition unit and the temperature of the heater, measured by the temperature sensor, in a case in which the possibility of extracting coffee is determined to be relatively high. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the possibility of extracting coffee is relatively high, when an operation is detected among: a case in which an operation of flushing the coffee flow path is finished after initial power is applied to the apparatus for extracting coffee; a case in which a lever of the apparatus for extracting coffee is operated; a case in which a type of coffee is selected by using the input unit; and a case in which coffee extraction is finished by the apparatus for extracting coffee. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 1, wherein, in a case in which the possibility of extracting coffee is determined to be relatively high, the control unit sets a standard temperature for controlling the preheating operation of the heater, based on the input voltage value obtained by the input voltage acquisition unit and an initial temperature of the heater measured by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 3, wherein the control unit sets the standard temperature for controlling the preheating operation of the heater, according to whether the input voltage value is equal to or higher than a predetermined standard voltage, and according to a temperature range in which the initial temperature of the heater is determined to be, among a plurality of predetermined temperature ranges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 3, further comprising a flow sensor measuring an amount of water supplied to the coffee flow path, wherein the control unit controls the preheating operation of the heater, according to the temperature of the heater measured by the temperature sensor, based on the standard temperature, and a flow rate measured by the flow sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 5, wherein the control unit controls an On/Off state of the heater, according to a temperature range in which the temperature of the heater is determined to be, among temperature ranges set, based on predetermined standard temperatures, and according to whether the flow rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined standard flow rate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 1, wherein the input voltage acquisition unit is implemented as a circuit for measuring the input voltage value and directly measures the input voltage value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus for extracting coffee of claim 1, wherein the input voltage acquisition unit is implemented as a combination of the circuit for measuring a current value and a processor, measures the current value of the heater, and estimates the input voltage value from a measured current value. ### Claim 9 A method for preheating a heater of an apparatus for extracting coffee, comprising: determining whether a possibility of extracting coffee is relatively high by detecting an operation of the apparatus for extracting coffee; obtaining an input voltage value of the apparatus for extracting coffee, in a case in which the possibility of extracting coffee is determined to be relatively high; setting a standard temperature for controlling a preheating operation of the heater, based on the input voltage value and an initial temperature of the heater; and controlling the preheating operation of the heater, according to a temperature of the heater based on the standard temperature and a flow rate of water supplied to a coffee flow path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein, in the determining whether a possibility of extracting coffee is relatively high, the possibility of extracting coffee is determined to be relatively high, when an operation is detected, among: a case in which an operation of flushing the coffee flow path is finished after initial power is applied to the apparatus for extracting coffee; a case in which a lever of the apparatus for extracting coffee is operated; a case in which a type of coffee is selected by using an input unit provided in the apparatus for extracting coffee; and a case in which coffee extraction is finished by the apparatus for extracting coffee. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein in the obtaining an input voltage value of the apparatus for extracting coffee, the input voltage value is obtained in such a manner that the input voltage value is directly measured, or the input voltage value is estimated from a current value that is measured, after the current value of the heater is measured. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein in the setting a standard temperature, the standard temperature for controlling a heating operation of the heater is set, according to whether the input voltage value is equal to or higher than a predetermined standard voltage, and according to a temperature range in which the initial temperature of the heater is determined to be, among a plurality of predetermined temperature ranges. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein in the controlling the preheating operation of the heater, an On/Off state of the heater is controlled, according to a temperature range in which the temperature of the heater is determined to be, among temperature ranges set, based on predetermined standard temperatures, and whether the flow rate of water is equal to or higher than a predetermined standard flow rate.