Patent ID: 7734373
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. 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.