# US 8,785,206 B2 · Drinking vessels and related systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,785,206 B2 - Document ID: US8785206B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/763,313 - Filed: 2013-02-08 - Published: 2013-06-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-28 - Assignees: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC - Applicants: Searete LLC - Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde; Muriel Y. Ishikawa; Jordin T. Kare; Eric C. Leuthardt; Clarence T. Tegreene; Lowell L. Wood; Victoria Y. H. Wood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785206B2 ## CPC - B60W 50/0098: {Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for} - A47G 19/2227: {with means for amusing or giving information to the user (A47G23/16 takes precedence)} - A47G 23/0306: {with means for amusing or giving information to the user (A47G23/14 takes precedence)} - G01F 23/80: Arrangements for signal processing - G01N 33/00: Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00 - G01N 33/0004: {Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air} - G01N 33/14: Beverages - G01N 33/146: {containing alcohol} - G06F 17/00: Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A47G 2019/2238: {with illumination means} - A47G 2019/2244: {with sound emitting means} - B01L 2200/16: Reagents, handling or storing thereof - B01L 2300/042: Caps; Plugs - G01N 33/4972: {Determining alcohol content (for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06)} - Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis - Y10T 436/204165: Ethanol - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems configured to determine an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid discharged from a drinking vessel or an amount of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel, drinking vessels configured to measure alcohol content or other property of an alcohol-containing liquid held therein, other related components such as mat devices that facilitate determining the amount, and related methods. The systems, drinking vessels, and methods disclosed herein facilitate determination of an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid discharged from a drinking vessel or an amount of alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel, which may be indicative of an amount of alcohol consumed by a drinker. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drinking vessel, comprising: a vessel body configured to hold an alcohol-containing liquid; a sensing system embedded within or mounted to the vessel body, the sensing system including an alcohol-content sensor configured to determine an alcohol content of the alcohol-containing liquid; and a processor coupled to the sensing system and programmed to determine a total amount of alcohol in the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body based, at least in part, on the alcohol content of the alcohol-containing liquid in the vessel body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the sensing system is further configured to determine an amount of alcohol in the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body based, in part, on the alcohol content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the sensing system is further configured to repetitively determine an amount of alcohol in the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body based, in part, on the alcohol content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the alcohol-content sensor includes at least one of a conductivity sensor, a permittivity sensor, a calorimeter, a spectrometer, an acoustic sensor, or a specific-gravity sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1: wherein the sensing system includes a weight sensor configured to sense data related to a weight of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body wherein the processor is coupled to the weight sensor to receive the data therefrom and configured to determine the amount of alcohol in the discharged alcohol-containing liquid based on the data and the alcohol content determined by the alcohol-content sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drinking vessel of claim 5, wherein the data includes data related to a weight of the alcohol-containing liquid within the vessel body at two or more different times. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The drinking vessel of claim 5, wherein the vessel body includes a base, and wherein the weight sensor is disposed on or in the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes: a weight sensor configured to sense a weight of the alcohol-containing liquid prior to and after discharge of the liquid from the vessel body; and a weight-sensor processor coupled to the weight sensor to receive information related to the weight of the liquid prior to and after the discharge of the liquid from the vessel body, and configured to determine the weight of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body, wherein the processor is configured to determine the amount of alcohol in the discharged alcohol-containing liquid based on the weight of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body and the alcohol content determined by the alcohol-content sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drinking vessel of claim 8, further comprising at least one of an inclinometer or an accelerometer coupled to the weight sensor and configured to sense when the vessel body has discharged at least a portion of the alcohol-containing liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The drinking vessel of claim 8, wherein the processor is wirelessly coupled to the weight-sensor processor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The drinking vessel of claim 8, wherein the weight-sensor processor is wirelessly coupled to the weight sensor or the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes: a volume sensor configured to sense data related to a volume of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body, wherein the processor is coupled to the volume sensor to receive the data therefrom and configured to calculate the amount of alcohol in the discharged alcohol-containing liquid based on the data and the alcohol content determined by the alcohol-content sensor. ### Claim 13 The drinking vessel of 12, wherein the data includes data related to a volume of the alcohol-containing liquid within the vessel body at two or more different times. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes at least one sensing device configured to measure data related to the amount of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drinking vessel of claim 14, wherein the data includes data related to the amount of the alcohol-containing liquid within the vessel body at two or more different times. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The drinking vessel of claim 14, wherein the data includes data related to at least one of a mass of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body or a volume of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The drinking vessel of claim 14, wherein the data includes data related to the cumulative weight of the drinking vessel and the alcohol-containing liquid within the vessel body at two or more different times. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The drinking vessel of claim 1, further comprising a reporting device operably coupled to the alcohol-sensor device and configured to communicate an amount of alcohol in the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body or an amount of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the vessel body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The drinking vessel of claim 18, wherein the reporting device is configured to communicate the alcohol content via one or more visible or audio signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The drinking vessel of claim 18, wherein the reporting device is configured to communicate the alcohol content via one or more electrical or optical signals. ### Claim 21 A method, comprising: sensing, with at least one sensing device, at least one characteristic related to an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from a drinking vessel having the at least one sensing device included as part thereof; and reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic includes reporting the information to a processor that calculates the amount of alcohol based, at least in part, on the at least one characteristic. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic includes transmitting one or more data signals to another device, the one or more data signals encoding the information. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic includes displaying indicia related to a comparison between the amount that has been discharged to a reference amount of alcohol-containing liquid or alcohol. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the indicia related to the comparison includes a number related to the difference between the amount that has been discharged and the reference amount. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the indicia related to the comparison includes a symbol related to the difference between the amount that has been discharged and the reference amount. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the indicia related to the comparison includes a symbol that indicates the amount that has been discharged has exceeded the reference amount. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the indicated amount is cumulative with an amount of alcohol-containing liquid or alcohol previously held in the drinking vessel or cumulative with previous alcohol usage. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the processor is included as part of the drinking vessel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the processor is not included as part of the drinking vessel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic includes displaying the information on a display device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic includes generating an audible signal when the amount of alcohol exceeds a specified level. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein reporting information associated with the at least one characteristic includes generating a visual signal when the amount of alcohol exceeds a specified level. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein sensing at least one characteristic related to an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from a drinking vessel with at least one sensing device includes sensing a quantity of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the quantity is at least one of volume, weight, or mass. ### Claim 36 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein sensing at least one characteristic related to an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from a drinking vessel with at least one sensing device includes: sensing a quantity of the alcohol-containing liquid contained within the drinking vessel at a first time period; sensing a quantity of the alcohol-containing liquid contained within the drinking vessel at a second time period that is later than the first time period; and subtracting the quantity of the second time period from the first time period. ### Claim 37 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein sensing at least one characteristic related to an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from a drinking vessel with at least one sensing device includes sensing an alcohol content of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel. ### Claim 38 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein sensing at least one characteristic related to an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from a drinking vessel with at least one sensing device includes receiving information that specifies an alcohol content of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel. ### Claim 39 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising repetitively calculating the amount of alcohol in the alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from the drinking vessel using the at least one characteristic. ### Claim 40 A method, comprising: sensing, with at least one sensing device, at least one characteristic related to an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid that is discharged from a drinking vessel; and reporting information to a processor that calculates the amount of alcohol based, at least in part, on the at least one characteristic, wherein the processor is included as part of the drinking vessel.