Dispenser indication system
AssigneeStarbucks Corporation
InventorsJoseph Emil Gormley, F Levi Danzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indicator may include a body comprising a sensor and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container. An indicator may include a light coupled to the body, wherein the light is configured to light up to indicate when a component in the corresponding container is part of a beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses an amount of the component into a beverage container. One or more indicators may communicate with a dock device to coordinate dispensing of beverage orders
Claims18
A beverage component indicator, comprising:
- a body comprising a sensor and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container;
- and
- a light coupled to the body,
- wherein the light is configured to light up to indicate when a component in the corresponding container is part of a beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses an amount of the component into a beverage container.
A system for indicating components of a beverage order, comprising:
- a plurality of indicators, each of the plurality of indicators comprising:
- a body comprising, a communication module, a sensor, and a recess configured to receive a pump head of a corresponding container;
- and
- a light coupled to the body,
- wherein the light is configured to light up to indicate when a component in the corresponding container is part of a beverage order, and the sensor is configured to determine when a user dispenses an amount of the component into a beverage container;
- a dock device comprising:
- a body comprising a control system;
- and
- a dock configured to receive the plurality of indicators;
- wherein the control system is configured to transmit information to the communication module of each of the plurality of indicators, and each of the indicators are configured to light up the light of each of the indicators based on the information.
A method of dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a dock device, a beverage order comprising one or more components;
- transmitting, by the dock device, information regarding the beverage order to one or more indicators;
- receiving, by each of the one or more indicators, the information;
- based on the received information, each of the one or more indicators, turning on a light of each of the one or more indicators if a component of a container paired with the indicator is part of a beverage order;
- dispensing, by a user, an amount of a first component of the beverage order;
- determining, by a sensor of a first indicator, the amount of the first component dispensed by the user, wherein the first indicator is an indicator paired to a container of the first component;
- and
- turning off, by the first indicator, the light of the first indicator paired with the container of the first component when the amount of the first component dispensed by the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.