DE102022107277A1 - Conditionable water system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for a conditionable water system in order to provide water according to adjustable conditioning by means of the water system, comprising: a control device, a memory, a coding reader connected to the control device, and a signal output connected to the control device for controlling a Actuator of the water system, wherein the control device is set up to: wirelessly read out a coding from a coding element by means of the coding reader, read out control data assigned to the coding from the memory and to control the actuator via the signal output for dispensing water from the water system with a Conditioning of the water depending on the control data read out.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a control device for a conditionable water system, a conditionable water system and a coding element for a conditionable water system for providing water and a method for providing water.

State of the art

Water systems for providing water are known from the prior art, which, for example, enable the water to be carbonated before being dispensed through a tap. Devices are available from GROHE Deutschland Vertriebs GmbH under the name “GROHE BLUE” which enable water to be conditioned by adding carbonic acid or carbon dioxide to the water.

However, there is a need for simplified operability or for expanded or automated adjustability of conditionable water systems.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the invention is to solve, at least partially, the problems of the prior art. In particular, it is the object of the invention to propose an improved control device for a conditionable water system, which enables water to be dispensed in a particularly easily programmable manner.

The task is solved with a conditionable water system according to claim 1 and a method according to the independent claim. Advantageous further developments and embodiments result from the subclaims and from this description.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a control device for a conditionable water system for providing water according to adjustable conditioning by means of the water system, comprising: a control device, a memory, a code reader connected to the control device, a signal output connected to the control device Controlling an actuator of the water system, the control device being set up to: wirelessly read out a coding from a coding element by means of the coding reader, reading out the control data associated with the coding from the memory, and controlling the actuator via the signal output for releasing water from the water system with conditioning of the water depending on the control data read out.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a coding element for a conditionable water system, comprising a coding memory, wherein a coding is stored in the coding memory, which can be read by a coding reading device connected to a control device, so that the control device is an actuator of the water system depending on the control data. Example encodings may include a unique identifier such as a UUID or other numeric or alphanumeric code.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a conditionable water system having a control device in one of the typical embodiments described herein and with an encoder in one of the typical embodiments described herein.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for providing conditioned water using a conditionable water system in one of the typical embodiments described herein, comprising: wirelessly reading a coding from a coding element using a coding reader, reading control data associated with the coding from a Storage, and with: Controlling an actuator of the conditionable water system for releasing water from the water system with conditioning depending on the control data read out.

Typical conditionable water systems further comprise at least one or more of the following elements, the respective elements being controlled, controlled or monitored by the control device: filter for filtering water, bubbling device for carbonating water, i.e. for bubbling, cooler for cooling water , Boiler for providing hot water, for example boiling water, mixer for mixing different waters, for example cold water with boiling water from the boiler to provide water with a temperature below the boiling temperature.

Typical control devices include a control element, in particular for manually entering coding or directly control data. The control element can be set up to receive codes or control data haptically or without contact, for example through haptic or through non-contact gestures or through voice input. An acoustic acceptance of control data is also provided for typical control elements. Typical embodiments of control devices can be connected to a voice assistance server via a digital interface and are set up to evaluate acoustic inputs using a voice assistance server, for example to determine coding or control data from a voice input.

The manual entry of control data is also to be understood in particular as meaning that the actuator can be controlled via the control element or, in further embodiments, via an additional manual input device. In this way, a user can also interact with the water system in a manner similar to conventional operation using typical control devices.

Typically, the coding reader is integrated into the control element or arranged in close spatial relationship to the control element. In typical embodiments, several coding readers can also be provided. Integration offers the advantage of a particularly compact structure.

In typical embodiments, the control data includes information about at least one of the following conditioning of the dispensed water: carbonation, quantity or temperature. For example, information about a target water temperature in °C or °F can be included in the control data. Typical temperatures can range from, for example, just above 0°C, for example 4°C, to boiling or essentially 100°C. Furthermore, information about carbon dioxide addition can be included in the control data, for example a target fizz level of the water to be dispensed.

Typically, the code reader includes an optical scanner or an RFID reader. An optical sensor can be used to read optical codes that are attached to vessels or other objects such as tags, and thus a coding. Using RFID readers or comparable wireless near-field communication readers, codes can be read from RFID chips or similar chips. Typical optical codes can be bar or matrix codes.

Typical control devices of embodiments include an output interface which is designed to output information to an operator before activating the actuator. Typically, the information can be optical or acoustic, for example by lighting up a lamp arranged in the control element or by a sound or a sequence of sounds played.

In typical embodiments, the output interface is set up to provide a warning signal, for example acoustically or visually, when an event occurs that requires a user's increased attention. In addition, the warning signal can be sent to a cloud server or to a mobile device using a digital interface.

Typically, tax data can also be stored in the cloud. “Cloud” is typically used to describe any server system that can be accessed via the Internet. Cloud is typically also understood to mean a server that is located in close proximity to the control device, for example in the same building as the control device.

In typical embodiments, the control data stored in the memory is synchronized with the control data stored in the cloud, for example at certain time intervals or possibly depending on the availability of a WAN or Internet connection. In embodiments, the control data in the memory or in the cloud can be accessed for mobile access using a mobile device, for example via Bluetooth or via the Internet. In embodiments, control data may be stored in a mobile device or in an RFID chip, in addition to a cloud storage or in addition to a storage in memory. In embodiments, prioritization of the control data assigned to a coding can be provided, for example, in the cloud, in the memory or on the mobile device.

Typically, the control device includes a digital interface, for example an interface for connecting to the Internet. In typical control devices, the control data can be programmed using the control element or via the digital interface. Typical examples of digital interfaces can be a LAN or WLAN interface or a Bluetooth or USB interface or similar transmission methods. Typically, programming of the control device or the control data or the assignment of control data to a coding can be carried out via the cloud or using a mobile device.

Typical control devices of embodiments are set up to release water by controlling the actuator a stop input to stop. The stop input overwrites or pauses, in particular, an amount of water dispensed that is predetermined by the control data. Upon a stop input, the delivery is immediately interrupted, and in embodiments the control device can be set up to continue the interrupted delivery in accordance with the control data upon further input. In this way, a pause in delivery can be made possible with the stop input. In typical embodiments, a stop input is via the control element, for example acoustically using a microphone connected to the control device or by removing the coding element from the range of an optical sensor.

Typically, the control device or the coding reader are also set up to program a coding element. In typical embodiments, the coding reading device can, for example, be set up to write a coding or control data onto the coding element, for example an RFID chip.

Typically, in embodiments, the coding element is coupled to a liquid container. “Coupled” can be understood to mean, for example, attached, integrated, or integrally executed. Typically, the coding element is coupled to a liquid container which has a filling opening. In typical liquid containers, the coding element is arranged on a side of the liquid container facing away from the filling opening. In further embodiments, the coding element is provided as a stand-alone element, for example as a tag or as a chip. Typical coding elements include an optical code or an RFID chip.

Brief description of the drawings

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines konditioniertes Wassersystem mit einer Steuervorrichtu ng;
• 2 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Codierelements mit einem Codierungschip;
• 3 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Codierungs-Lesegeräts;
• 4 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Codierelements mit maschinenlesbaren Code;
• 5 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines weiteren Codierungs-Lesegeräts mit einem optischen Scanner; und
• 6 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Codierungs-Lesegeräts mit optischer Ausgabe.

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, the figures being described as follows:

• 1 an embodiment of a conditioned water system with a control device;
• 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coding element with a coding chip;
• 3 an embodiment of a coding reader;
• 4 an embodiment of a coding element with machine-readable code;
• 5 an embodiment of a further coding reader with an optical scanner; and
• 6 an embodiment of a coding reader with optical output.

Description of exemplary embodiments

Typical embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures, whereby the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is determined by the claims. When describing the embodiment, the same reference numerals for the same or similar parts may be used in different figures and for different embodiments in order to make the description clearer. However, this does not mean that corresponding parts of the invention are limited to the variants shown in the embodiments.

1 shows a section of an exemplary embodiment of a control device in an exemplary conditionable water system. The control device comprises a control device 20 and a memory 26. The control device 20 is connected to an actuator 27 via a signal output. Furthermore, a coding reading device 21 is connected to the control device 20. The coding reading device 21 reads a coding from a coding element 10 and transmits the coding to the control device 20.

The control device 20 reads the control data assigned to the coding from the memory 26 and controls the actuator 29 accordingly, so that a quantity of water with a degree of fizz and a temperature is output, the named parameters of the water each corresponding to the corresponding information in the control data .

The control device 20 outputs information or warnings, for example acoustic or optical ones, to the operator via an acoustic or optical output interface 22. For example, warnings are issued when the water delivered via the actuator 29 is above a temperature that is harmless to the operator.

A control element 30 is connected electronically, for example wirelessly, to the control device 20, so that the type and amount of water assigned to a coding of a coding element 10, i.e. the control data, can be displayed and changed. The type and quantity of water associated with the coding is stored in the non-volatile memory 26. The data can also be stored in a cloud 32, in particular all data from the memory 26 can be stored here, for example to be able to transfer it to another control device 20.

The control element can be used by the control device in embodiments to output information to an operator. This information can be, for example, maintenance information, status reports and consumption information.

2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coding element 10 with a coding chip 12, for example an RFID chip. The coding element 10 can, for example, have a coupling body 11 and a coding chip 12. The coupling body 11 can, for example, have an opening in the coupling body 14 through which, for example, water can be introduced into the coupling body. The coding chip 12 can be physically coupled to the coupling body 11.

The coupling body 14 can be, for example, a container, in particular a beverage bottle, for example a water carafe, a sports bottle, a water bottle or a baby bottle. The data stored on the coding chip 12 can then contain, for example, a unique identifier or information about the coupling body, such as the type and amount of water with which the coupling body is typically filled.

3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coding reading device 21 with at least one RFID reading unit 24, also referred to herein as an RFID reader. The coding reading device 21 has an operating area 23, which is arranged, for example, in the axial direction, on the end face or both in the axial direction and on the end face. The operating area 23 can be characterized, for example, by the presence of operating elements and can differ visually or haptically from the other areas of the coding reading device 21.

The operating area 23 can, for example, have an RFID reading unit 24, which detects the data of the coding chip 12 of a coding element 10, preferably without contact.

4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coding element 10 with a machine-readable coding 13. The coding element 10 can, for example, be arranged on a coupling body 11 and have a machine-readable coding 13. The coupling body 11 can, for example, have an opening 14 through which, for example, water can be introduced into the coupling body 11. The machine-readable coding 13 can be physically coupled to the coupling body 11, preferably applied externally.

The coupling body 11 can be, for example, a beverage bottle, for example a water carafe, a sports bottle, a water bottle or a baby bottle. The data stored in the machine-readable coding 13 can then contain, for example, a unique identifier or direct information or control data about the beverage bottle, such as the type and amount of water with which the beverage bottle is filled.

5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coding reading device 21 with at least one optical scanner 25 for machine-readable code. The coding reading device 21 has an operating area 23, which is arranged, for example, in the axial direction, on the end face or both in the axial direction and on the end face. The operating area 23 can be characterized, for example, by the presence of operating elements and can differ visually or haptically from the other areas of the coding reading device 21.

The operating area 23 can, for example, have an optical scanner 25 for machine-readable code, which captures the data of the machine-readable code 13 of a coding element 10, preferably without contact.

6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coding reading device 21, in which an optical output interface 22 of the control device is integrated. The optical output interface 22 is preferably designed in the operating area 23, for example in the area of an axial operating area 23, on the front side of the operating area 23 or both in the axial direction and on the front side of the operating area 23. For example, the optical output interface 22 with the operating elements is in the operating area combined.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but the scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims.

Reference symbol list

10

Coding element

11

Coupling body

12

Coding chip / RFID chip

13

machine-readable coding

14

Opening of the coupling body

20

Control facility

21

Coding reader

22

optical output interface

23

Operating area

24

RFID reading unit

25

optical scanner

26

Storage

27

actuator

30

Control element

32

Cloud

Claims (15)

Control device for a conditionable water system for providing water according to adjustable conditioning by means of the water system, comprising: a control device, a memory, a coding reader connected to the control device, and a signal output connected to the control device for controlling an actuator of the water system, whereby the control device is set up to: - wireless reading of a coding from a coding element using the coding reading device, - Reading out the control data assigned to the coding from the memory and to - Controlling the actuator via the signal output to release water from the water system with conditioning of the water depending on the control data read out. control device Claim 1 , comprising a control element, in particular for manually entering coding or control data control device Claim 2 , wherein the coding reader is integrated into the control element or is arranged in close spatial relationship to the control element. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control data includes information on at least one of the following conditioning of the delivered water: carbonation, amount and / or temperature. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the code reading device comprises an optical scanner and/or an RFID reader. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an output interface, which is in particular set up to output information to an operator before the actuator is activated. control device Claim 6 , wherein the output interface is set up to provide a warning signal when an event occurs that requires increased attention from a user. control device Claim 6 , whereby the parameters can be programmed using the control element and/or via a digital interface. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device is designed to stop a delivery of water by controlling the actuator in response to a stop input. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device and the coding reading device are also set up to program a coding element. Coding element for a conditionable water system, comprising a coding memory, wherein control data is stored in the coding memory, which can be read by a coding reader connected to a control device, so that the control device controls an actuator of the water system depending on the control data. Coding element according to Claim 11 , wherein the coding element is coupled to a liquid container or is provided as a stand-alone element. Coding element according to one of the Claims 11 until 12 , wherein the coding element comprises an optical code and / or an RFID chip. Conditionable water system with a control device according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 and a coding element according to one of the Claims 11 until 13 . Method for providing conditioned water using a conditionable water system, in particular using a conditionable water system Claim 14 , with - wireless reading of a coding from a coding element using a coding reader, - reading out control data assigned to the coding from a memory, and - controlling an actuator of the conditionable water system to release water from the Water system with conditioning depending on the control data read out.

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