Patent ID: 6067894
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: A47J,G01F,G01G

Abstract:
A coffee maker comprising(a) a reservoir for accommodating a quantity of water to brew a coffee beverage;(b) a filter basket for accommodating ground coffee to be brewed therein;(c) a water quantity sensor for producing a first signal representing the quantity of water in said reservoir; said water quantity sensor comprising a first pressure-transmitting component operatively connected to said reservoir; a first transducer connected to said first pressure-transmitting component for producing a first electric signal representing a pressure applied to said first pressure-transmitting component by said reservoir as a function of a quantity of water therein;(d) a coffee quantity sensor for producing a second signal representing the quantity of coffee in said filter basket; said coffee quantity sensor comprising a second pressure-transmitting component operatively connected to said filter basket; a second transducer connected to said second pressure-transmitting component for producing a second electric signal representing a pressure applied to said second pressure-transmitting component by said filter basket as a function of a quantity of coffee therein;(e) a comparator for comparing a ratio between said first and second signals; said comparator comprising a bridge circuit having(1) a first branch including said first pressure-transmitting component;(2) a second branch including said second pressure-transmitting component; and(3) a zero branch; and(f) a display device connected to said comparator for being actuated thereby as a function of the ratio between said first and second signals; said zero branch of said bridge circuit including said display device.