Apparatuses and methods for managing liquid volume in a container

A cup having an apparatus for managing liquid volume of a liquid in the cup, the apparatus comprising:

• a detector configured to detect liquid volume changes in said container during a first preset period of time;
• a determiner configured to determine whether said changes are lower than a first preset threshold value;
• and
• a presenter configured to present first prompt information in response to said changes being lower than said first preset threshold value,
• wherein said detector comprises:
• a single near-IR light source configured to emit near-IR light;
• a plurality of near-IR sensors configured to detect intensities of the near-IR light emitted by said single near-IR light source, wherein said single near-IR light source and said plurality of near-IR sensors are arranged at a first sidewall of said container;
• and
• a reflector arranged on a second sidewall of said container opposite to said first sidewall and configured to reflect the near-IR light emitted by said single near-IR light source towards said plurality of near-IR sensors, and
• wherein the plurality of near-IR sensors detect the near-IR light emitted from the single near-IR light source.

A method of managing liquid volume of a liquid in a container, comprising acts of:

• detecting liquid volume changes in said container during a first preset period of time;
• determining whether said changes are lower than a first preset threshold value;
• and
• presenting first prompt information if said changes are lower than the a first preset threshold value,
• wherein the detecting act comprises acts of:
• reflecting near-IR light emitted by a single near-IR light source and reflected by a reflector arranged on a sidewall of said container;
• detecting by a plurality of near-IR sensors the near-IR light reflected by the reflector;
• and
• determining said liquid volume changes by detecting changes in intensities of the near-IR light detected by said plurality of near-IR sensors,
• wherein the plurality of near-IR sensors detect the near-IR light emitted from the single near-IR light source.

An apparatus for managing liquid volume of a liquid in a container, comprising:

• a detector configured to detect liquid volume changes in the container during a first preset period of time;
• a determiner configured to determine whether the changes are lower than a first preset threshold value;
• and
• a presenter configured to present first prompt information in response to the changes being lower than the first preset threshold value,
• wherein the detector comprises:
• a single near-IR light source configured to emit near-IR light and located at a first sidewall of the container;
• a plurality of near-IR sensors configured to detect intensities of the near-IR light emitted by the single near-IR light source, wherein the plurality of near-IR sensors are arranged at a second sidewall of the container opposite the first sidewall;
• and
• a light-guide coupled to the single near-IR light source and configured to extract the near-IR light emitted by the single near-IR light source for detection by the plurality of near-IR sensors,
• wherein the plurality of near-IR sensors detect the near-IR light emitted from the single near-IR light source, and
• wherein the light-guide is a light guiding plate located along the first sidewall of the container for emitting light towards the plurality of near-IR sensors.