EP-4735155-A1 - DETECTING LIQUID TEMPERATURE FOR A BEVERAGE CARBONATION SYSTEM

EP4735155A1EP 4735155 A1EP4735155 A1EP 4735155A1EP-4735155-A1

Abstract

Various systems, devices, and methods of detecting liquid temperature for a beverage carbonation system are provided. A carbonation system is one example of a treatment system to which the systems, devices, and methods described herein apply. In general, a carbonation system is configured to form a carbonated fluid by mixing a liquid and a gas and dispensing the carbonated fluid into a container. A temperature of the liquid can be detected, e.g., using a temperature sensor, before the liquid and the gas are mixed together to form the carbonated fluid. A user of the carbonation system can be informed of the liquid's temperature before the mixing begins.

Inventors

M. RAPOSO, Danny
BEKIROGLU, Korkut
ZHANG, YIMING
TERAJEWICZ, ANDREW GEORGE
WHITE, Evan James
WAILIBIEKE, Walayiding

Assignees

Sharkninja Operating LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20230630

Claims (20)

A system comprising: a liquid reservoir configured to supply a liquid to a chamber of a carbonation system configured to form a carbonated fluid in the chamber; a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the liquid; and a processor configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor that is indicative of the sensed temperature, determine, based on the received signal, whether the sensed temperature is below a predetermined threshold temperature; and cause a notification to be provided to a user indicative of whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature.
The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid reservoir is configured to be releasably coupled to the carbonation system.
The system of claim 2, further comprising a switch configured to be activated in response to the liquid reservoir being releasably coupled to the carbonation system; wherein the activation of the switch is configured to trigger the temperature sensor to transmit the signal to the processor.
The system of claim 2, wherein the releasable coupling of the liquid reservoir to the carbonation system is configured to close an electrical circuit that includes the temperature sensor and thereby trigger the temperature sensor to transmit the signal to the processor.
The system of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is attached to the liquid reservoir; and the liquid reservoir is configured to be releasably coupled to a dock of the carbonation system such that electrical contacts attached to the liquid reservoir electrically mate with electrical contacts attached to the dock, the mating of the electrical contacts closing the electrical circuit.
The system of claim 1, wherein determining whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature includes comparing the predetermined threshold temperature with a forecasted future temperature of the liquid; and the processor is configured to determine the forecasted future temperature based on the received signal.
The system of claim 6, wherein the signal from the temperature sensor includes a plurality of signals each indicative of the temperature of the liquid at a successive time, with the successive times defining a time period; and the forecasted future temperature is for a time after the time period.
The system of claim 1, wherein determining whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature includes comparing the predetermined threshold temperature with an actual temperature of the liquid.
The system of claim 1, wherein the notification includes at least one of an audible notification and a visual notification.
The system of claim 9, wherein the notification includes at least the visual notification; the visual notification includes a first illuminated light if the sensed temperature is determined to be below the predetermined threshold temperature; and the visual notification includes a second, different illuminated light if the sensed temperature is determined to be above the predetermined threshold temperature.
The system of claim 9, wherein the notification includes at least the visual notification; and the visual notification includes at least one of text and a symbol provided on a user interface.
A method comprising: receiving, at a processor, a signal from a temperature sensor that is indicative of a sensed temperature of a liquid in a liquid reservoir, the liquid in the liquid reservoir being configured to be supplied to a chamber of a beverage carbonation system in which a carbonated fluid is formed; determining, using the processor and based on the received signal, whether the sensed temperature is below a predetermined threshold temperature; and causing, using the processor, a notification to be provided to a user indicative of whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature.
The method of claim 12, wherein activation of a switch triggers the temperature sensor to transmit the signal to the processor; the liquid reservoir is configured to be releasably coupled to the carbonation system; and the switch is activated in response to the liquid reservoir being releasably coupled to the carbonation system.
The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid reservoir is configured to be releasably coupled to the carbonation system; and the releasable coupling of the liquid reservoir to the carbonation system closes an electrical circuit that includes the temperature sensor and thereby triggers the temperature sensor to transmit the signal to the processor.
The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature includes comparing the predetermined threshold temperature with a forecasted future temperature of the liquid; and the forecasted future temperature is determined based on the received signal.
The method of claim 15, wherein the signal from the temperature sensor includes a plurality of signals each indicative of the temperature of the liquid at a successive time, with the successive times defining a time period; and the forecasted future temperature is for a time after the time period.
The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature includes comparing the predetermined threshold temperature with an actual temperature of the liquid.
The method of claim 12, wherein the notification includes at least one of an audible notification and a visual notification.
The method of claim 18, wherein the notification includes at least the visual notification; the visual notification includes a first illuminated light if the sensed temperature is determined to be above the predetermined threshold temperature; and the visual notification includes a second, different illuminated light if the sensed temperature is determined to be above the predetermined threshold temperature.
The method of claim 18, wherein the notification includes at least the visual notification; and the visual notification includes at least one of text and a symbol provided on a user interface.

Description

DETECTING LIQUID TEMPERATURE FOR A BEVERAGE CARBONATION SYSTEM FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to detecting liquid temperature for a beverage carbonation system. BACKGROUND Various beverage carbonation systems are available that dispense carbonated beverages, for example, carbonated water. In some instances, the carbonated water can be flavored. Consumers can use such beverage carbonation systems in various locations, such as in homes or offices, to carbonate liquid and dispense the carbonated fluid into a container on demand. To create carbonated fluid, beverage carbonation systems can mix carbon dioxide (CO2) gas with water in a mixing chamber to dissolve the CO2 in the water. The dissolution takes place at a significantly elevated pressure to reach the required concentration of dissolved CO2. The carbonated fluid thereafter exits the mixing chamber for dispensing to a user. However, if the water is at too high a temperature, the dissolution will not occur as effectively as with the water at a lower temperature. The carbonated fluid may therefore have a lower level of carbonation than expected and desired by a user. Accordingly, there remains a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for carbonation systems. SUMMARY In general, systems, devices, and methods for detecting liquid temperature for a beverage carbonation system are provided. In one aspect, a system is provided that in one embodiment includes a liquid reservoir configured to supply a liquid to a chamber of a carbonation system configured to form a carbonated fluid in the chamber, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the liquid, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor that is indicative of the sensed temperature, determine, based on the received signal, whether the sensed temperature is below a predetermined threshold temperature, and cause a notification to be provided to a user indicative of whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature. The system can have any number of variations. For example, the liquid reservoir can be configured to be releasably coupled to the carbonation system. Further, the system can also include a switch configured to be activated in response to the liquid reservoir being releasably coupled to the carbonation system, and the activation of the switch can be configured to trigger the temperature sensor to transmit the signal to the processor; or the liquid reservoir can be configured to be releasably coupled to the carbonation system, and the releasable coupling of the liquid reservoir to the carbonation system can be configured to close an electrical circuit that includes the temperature sensor and thereby trigger the temperature sensor to transmit the signal to the processor. Further, the temperature sensor can be attached to the liquid reservoir, the liquid reservoir can be configured to be releasably coupled to a dock of the carbonation system such that electrical contacts attached to the liquid reservoir electrically mate with electrical contacts attached to the dock, and the mating of the electrical contacts can close the electrical circuit. For another example, the liquid reservoir can be integrally formed with the carbonation system. For yet another example, determining whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature can include comparing the predetermined threshold temperature with a forecasted future temperature of the liquid, and the processor can be configured to determine the forecasted future temperature based on the received signal. Further, the signal from the temperature sensor can include a plurality of signals each indicative of the temperature of the liquid at a successive time, with the successive times defining a time period, and the forecasted future temperature can be for a time after the time period. For still another example, determining whether the sensed temperature is below the predetermined threshold temperature can include comparing the predetermined threshold temperature with an actual temperature of the liquid. For another example, the notification can include at least one of an audible notification and a visual notification. Further, the notification can include at least the visual notification, the visual notification can include a first illuminated light if the sensed temperature is determined to be below the predetermined threshold temperature, and the visual notification can include a second, different illuminated light if the sensed temperature is determined to be above the predetermined threshold temperature; and/or the notification can include at least the visual notification, and the visual notification can include at least one of text and a symbol provided on a user interface. Further, the first light can be in a first color, and the second, different illuminated light can be a second, different color; and/or the firs