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US 7,734,373 B2Granted
Distributed architecture for food and beverage dispensers
AssigneeLancer Partnership, Ltd.
InventorsDavid C. Sudolcan, Thomas J. Chadwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus wherein traditional design methodologies directed toward obtaining minimized component costs are largely set aside in favor of mass customization, reduced design and ownership costs, and shorter design cycles. The distributed architecture contemplates widespread distribution of monitoring and control functions for most device-specific hardware under the direction of a CPU module. In implementation of the distributed architecture, various component modules are placed in communication with the CPU module through at least one and preferably multiple communication busses.
Claims21
A food/beverage dispenser, comprising:
- a housing;
- a first food/beverage source;
- a second food/beverage source;
- a CPU module disposed in the housing, wherein the CPU module monitors and/or controls operations for the food beverage dispenser;
- a first component module disposed in the housing, the first component module comprising a first component module microcontroller coupled with the CPU module through a first component module bus and a first component module valve coupled with the first food/product source, wherein, when the CPU module issues via the first component module bus a first component module address and instructions, the first component module microcontroller receives the first component module address and instructions and responsive thereto controls the first component module valve to regulate the delivery of food/beverage from the first food/beverage source exterior to the housing;
- and
- a second component module disposed in the housing, the second component module comprising a second component module microcontroller coupled with the first component module through a second component module bus and a second component module valve coupled with the second food/product source, wherein, when the CPU module issues via the first component module bus a second component module address and instructions, the first component module microcontroller ignores the second component module address and instructions such that the second component module address and instructions are transmitted from the first component module to the second component module via the second component module bus, further wherein the second component module microcontroller receives the second component module address and instructions and responsive thereto controls the second component module valve to regulate the delivery of food/beverage from the second food/beverage source exterior to the housing.
4 more elements
A food/beverage dispenser, comprising:
- a housing;
- a CPU module disposed in the housing, wherein the CPU module monitors and/or controls operations for the food beverage dispenser;
- a first component module disposed in the housing, the first component module comprising a first component module microcontroller coupled with the CPU module through a first component module bus and a first component module component, wherein, when the CPU module issues via the first component module bus a first component module address and instructions, the first component module microcontroller receives the first component module address and instructions and responsive thereto controls the first component module component to execute an operation of the food/beverage dispenser;
- and
- a second component module disposed in the housing, the second component module comprising a second component module microcontroller coupled with the first component module through a second component module bus and a second component module component, wherein, when the CPU module issues via the first component module bus a second component module address and instructions, the first component module microcontroller ignores the second component module address and instructions such that the second component module address and instructions are transmitted from the first component module to the second component module via the second component module bus, further wherein the second component module microcontroller receives the second component module address and instructions and responsive thereto controls the second component module component to execute an operation of the food/beverage dispenser.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.