Brewer timer adjustment control

A digital timer and method for controlling a length of a brewing cycle during which time a brewer brews a beverage. The digital timer includes a controller having an initial brew time stored therein. A switch is in communication with the controller, and the controller is configured to add to and/or subtract from the initial brew time when the switch is actuated. The method includes steps of providing a digital timer including a controller having an initial brew time stored therein, providing a switch in communication with the controller, and actuating the switch, where the controller is configured to add to and/or subtract from the initial brew time when the switch is actuated.

BACKGROUND 
The present invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for 
controlling a length of a brewing cycle during which time a brewer brews a 
beverage. The present invention more specifically relates to an apparatus 
and method for controlling a length of a brewing cycle during which time a 
brewer brews a beverage, where an initial brew time which is stored in a 
controller can be adjusted relatively easily. 
Some automatic brewers which brew hot beverages, such as coffee or tea, 
provide that the length of a brewing cycle can be programmed into the 
brewer so that each time the brewer performs a brewing cycle, generally 
the same volume of beverage is brewed. 
For example, some automatic brewers provide a controller which generally 
controls the brewing operation and the length of the brewing cycle. 
Additionally, a warmer switch, a brew button and a run/program switch are 
provided on the brewer. To initially set the length of the brewing cycle 
of the brewer, a user switches on the warmer switch causing a warmer in 
the brewer to turn on, then switches the run/program switch from a "run" 
setting to a "program" setting. Then, the user presses the brew button to 
begin brewing, and after allowing the brewing to continue until the 
desired amount of beverage has been brewed by the brewer, the user turns 
off the warmer switch or presses the brew button a second time. The 
controller programs the brewing cycle to be the length of time between the 
beginning of the brewing and the switching off of the warmer switch or the 
pressing of the brew button a second time by the user. 
Subsequently, should the user wish to initiate a brewing cycle of the same 
length of time, the user switches the warmer switch on, switches the 
run/program switch from the "program" setting to the "run" setting and 
presses the brew button. 
Should the user wish to adjust the length of the brewing cycle which has 
been previously programmed into the brewer, the user may repeat the entire 
above-described process, i.e. switches the warmer switch on, switches the 
run/program switch to a "program" setting, presses the brew button, and 
then either switches the warmer switch off or presses the brew button a 
second time. 
Alternatively, on some automatic brewers, the user may turn an analog knob 
on the brewer to set the length of the brewing cycle. Then, after the 
brewer completes the brewing cycle, the user may adjust the setting of the 
analog knob depending on whether or not the previous setting had resulted 
in the desired volume of beverage being brewed. Using the analog knob on 
the brewer to adjust the brewing cycle often results in much trial and 
error where the user first sets the knob, and then waits to see if the 
setting provides the desired volume of beverage. If not, the user adjusts 
the knob before starting another brewing cycle. 
Therefore, while one method of adjusting the brewing cycle requires a user 
to repeat the entire process of programming the length of brewing cycle 
into the brewer, the other method may require a user to go through much 
trial and error. In brewers which have multiple batch settings, the user 
may have to repeat either process with regard to more than one brewing 
cycle setting of the brewer. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY 
A general object of the present invention may be to provide an apparatus 
and method for controlling a length of a brewing cycle during which time a 
brewer brews a beverage, where the brewing cycle can be adjusted 
relatively easily. 
Another object of the present invention may be to provide an apparatus and 
method for controlling a length of a brewing cycle during which time a 
brewer brews a beverage, where the brewing cycle can be easily adjusted 
by, for example, pressing a single button on the brewer. 
In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention envisions 
a digital timer for controlling a length of a brewing cycle during which 
time a brewer brews a beverage, where the length of the brewing cycle can 
be adjusted relatively easily. The digital timer includes a controller 
having an initial brew time stored therein, and a switch in communication 
with the controller. The controller is configured to add a pre-determined 
time increment to and/or subtract a predetermined time increment from the 
initial brew time when the switch is actuated. 
The present invention also envisions a method which includes steps of 
providing a digital timer including a controller having an initial brew 
time stored therein, and providing a switch in communication with the 
controller. When the switch is actuated, the controller adds a 
pre-determined time increment to or subtracts a predetermined time 
increment from the initial brew time.

DESCRIPTION 
FIGS. 2-3 and 4-5 illustrate a digital timer 10a and a combination 
controller 10b, respectively, each of which can be used to control a 
beverage brewer, such as the beverage brewer 11 illustrated in FIG. 1, 
which brews a beverage, such as coffee or tea. Each is in accordance with 
a different embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIGS. 2 and 
3 illustrate a digital timer 10a which controls the length of a brewing 
cycle of the beverage brewer, during which time the beverage brewer brews 
a beverage. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a combination controller 10b, which 
is also digital, and which controls not only the length of the brewing 
cycle, but also some additional functions such as a water level and a 
thermostat in the beverage brewer. Because the combination controller 10b 
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 controls the length of the brewing cycle, the 
combination controller 10b, like the digital timer 10a illustrated in 
FIGS. 2 and 3, is also effectively a digital timer. 
Both the digital timer 10a illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the combination 
controller 10b illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 provide that the length of a 
brewing cycle can be programmed into the digital timer 10a or combination 
controller 10b, respectively, so that the beverage brewer produces 
generally the same quantity of brewed beverage each time the beverage 
brewer performs a brewing operation (or produces generally the same 
quantity of beverage each time the beverage brewer performs a brewing 
operation for a particular batch setting). 
Both the digital timer 10a and the combination controller 10b also provide 
that the length of the brewing cycle, after it has been programmed, can be 
easily adjusted. In fact, each provides that an adjustment to the length 
of the brewing cycle can be effected at the push of a single button. This 
convenience is an improvement over many timers and methods which have been 
previously utilized in connection with beverage brewers. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, both the digital timer 10a and combination 
controller 10b preferably include a microprocessor 14a, 14b or some other 
type of controller. The microprocessor 14a of the digital timer 10a may be 
an MCPICST microprocessor, and the microprocessor 14b of the combination 
controller 10b may be an MC68HC705CP microprocessor. 
In both the digital timer 10a and the combination controller 10b, the 
microprocessor 14a, 14b is connected to an on/off switch or button 16a, 
16b and to a brew button 18a, 18b. The on/off switch 16a, 16b and brew 
button 18a, 18b are preferably located on the face of the respective 
beverage brewer, such as is shown in FIG. 1. However, they may be located 
inside a door (not shown) of the respective beverage brewer, or at some 
other location on the beverage brewer. 
Although not specifically shown, a warming device may be provided in the 
beverage brewer, where the warming device heats a liquid, such as water, 
in the beverage brewer during a brewing operation. In this case, the 
on/off switch 16a, 16b is preferably effectively a warmer button which is 
not only in communication with the microprocessor 14a, 14b, but is also in 
communication with the warming device. Preferably, the warming device 
becomes activated when the on/off switch 16a, 16b is actuated (i.e. is 
turned "on"). 
The microprocessors 14a, 14b of both the digital timer 10a and the 
combination controller 10b are connected to a brew solenoid valve 20a, 
20b. The microprocessors 10a, 10b of both the digital timer 10a and the 
combination controller 10b control the respective brew solenoid valve 20a, 
20b to control dispensing of brewed beverage by the respective beverage 
brewer. Preferably, the microprocessors 14a, 14b of both the digital timer 
10a and combination controller 10b are configured to initiate a brewing 
cycle when the brew button 18a, 18b is pressed. This will be described 
more fully later herein. By controlling the brew solenoid valve 20a, 20b, 
each microprocessor 14a, 14b controls a length of a brewing cycle, which 
determines what volume of beverage is brewed and dispensed by the beverage 
brewer in a brewing operation. 
Other devices besides a brew solenoid valve 20a, 20b can be connected to 
the microprocessors 14a, 14b of the digital timer 10a and the combination 
controller 10b, respectively. For example, selecting means 22a, 22b such 
as buttons or switches may be connected to the microprocessors 14a, 14b 
and may be provided on the face, or inside a front door, of the beverage 
brewer for selecting the size of the batch to be brewed by the beverage 
brewer. As illustrated in FIG. 3 in connection with the digital timer 10a, 
the selecting means 22a may provide that a user can select between a 
quarter (25%) batch, a third (33%) batch, a half (50%) batch, a two-thirds 
(66%) batch, a three-quarters (75%) batch and a full (100%) batch 
(preferably the default selection). Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 
5 in connection with the combination controller 10b, the selecting means 
22b may provide that a user can select only between a quarter (25%) batch, 
a half (50%) batch and a full (100%) batch (preferably the default 
selection). Still further, all selections may be independently settable 
times rather than fixed percentages. Preferably, the selecting means 22a, 
22b is provided on the face of the respective beverage brewer, such as is 
shown in FIG. 1. However, the selecting means 22a, 22b may be located 
instead inside a door (not shown) of the respective beverage brewer, or at 
some other location on the beverage brewer. 
As discussed above, the combination controller 10b preferably controls a 
water level and a thermostat in the beverage brewer. Therefore, preferably 
the microprocessor 14b of the combination controller 10b is connected to a 
water level sensor 24b and to a thermostat 26b. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 
and 5, the microprocessor 14b of the combination controller 10b can also 
be connected to a refill solenoid 28b. Preferably, the beverage brewer is 
connected to a water line (not shown), and the microprocessor 14b of the 
combination controller 10b operates the refill solenoid 28b depending on 
what the water level sensor 24b senses, in order to refill the beverage 
brewer with water from the water line at the appropriate time. 
Although not specifically illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, the microprocessors 
14a, 14b of the digital timer 10a and combination controller 10b can also 
be connected to additional or alternative buttons and/or switches, and can 
be connected to additional or alternative devices which the 
microprocessors 14a, 14b control and/or receive information from in 
connection with operation of the beverage brewer. 
Both the digital timer 10a and the combination controller 10b provide that 
the length of a brewing cycle can be programmed into the microprocessors 
14a, 14b, so that the beverage brewer produces generally the same quantity 
of brewed beverage each time the beverage brewer performs a brewing 
operation. Additionally, both the digital timer 10a and the combination 
controller 10b provide that the length of a brewing cycle, after it has 
been programmed into the microprocessors 14a, 14b, can be easily adjusted. 
In fact, preferably each provides that an adjustment to the length of the 
brewing cycle can be effected at the push of a single button, such as at 
the push of the brew button 18a, 18b. 
One example of how the microprocessors 14a, 14b of the digital timer 10a 
and the combination controller 10b can be configured to effect the 
programming of a length of a brewing cycle into the microprocessors 14a, 
14b, and the subsequent adjustment of the length of the brewing cycle will 
now be described. 
Preferably, the length of a brewing cycle can be programmed or stored into 
the microprocessors 14a, 14b by actuating the respective on/off switch 
16a, 16b (i.e. turning the switch "on"). The microprocessors 14a, 14b may 
be configured such that after the respective on/off switch 16a, 16b is 
actuated, the brew button 18a, 18b may be pressed and held down until the 
brew solenoid valve 20a, 20b clicks on and off three times, which may take 
approximately five seconds, thereby effectively indicating to the 
microprocessor 14a, 14b that one wants to set or adjust the length of a 
brewing cycle. After the beverage brewer dispenses the desired amount of 
water or brewed beverage, one may de-actuate the on/off switch 16a, 16b 
(i.e. turn the switch "off"). The microprocessor 14a, 14b is then set to 
produce this desired amount of brewed beverage during a brewing cycle. 
This process may be repeated for different batch settings, or the 
microprocessor 14a, 14b may be configured such that a single programmed 
setting carries over into the other batch settings. In other words, the 
microprocessor 14a, 14b may be configured to use the full batch setting, 
which has been set by the user, to automatically set the other batch 
settings. 
The microprocessors 14a, 14b may be configured such that to increase the 
length of the brewing cycle which has been programmed into the 
microprocessors 14a, 14b, one first actuates the on/off switch 16a, 16b 
(i.e. turns the switch "on"), and then presses and holds the brew button 
18a, 18b until the brew solenoid valve 20a, 20b clicks on and off three 
times, which may take approximately five seconds, thereby effectively 
indicating to the microprocessor 14a, 14b that one wants to set or adjust 
the length of a brewing cycle. Then, one may momentarily press the brew 
button 18a, 18b a number of times to increase the length of the brewing 
cycle, where the microprocessors 14a, 14b are configured such that the 
length of the brewing cycle increases a predetermined length of time (i.e. 
a pre-determined time increment) for each time the brew button 18a, 18b is 
pressed. For example, the microprocessors 14a, 14b may be configured such 
that each time the brew button 18a, 18b is momentarily pressed, two 
seconds are added to the length of the brewing cycle, where each two 
second block may yield about one ounce of brewed beverage. 
Preferably, after the user adjusts the brew time by pressing the brew 
button 18a, 18b a desired number of times, the microprocessor 14a, 14b 
senses that the adjustment is complete due to the fact that the brew 
button 18a, 18b has not been pushed for a certain period of time, such as 
for the last twenty seconds. Once the microprocessor 14a, 14b detects that 
the user has completed the adjustment, the microprocessor 14a, 14b stores 
the new value so that subsequent brewing cycles are performed in 
accordance therewith. 
Alternatively, the microprocessors 14a, 14b may be configured such that 
after one presses the brew button 18a, 1 8b the desired number of times to 
add time to the length of the brewing cycle, one presses and holds the 
brew button 18a, 18b until the brew solenoid valve 20a, 20b clicks on and 
off three times, which may take approximately five seconds, thereby 
effectively indicating to the microprocessor 14a, 14b that one is finished 
adjusting the length of the brewing cycle. Preferably, the new adjusted 
brewing cycle length is stored in the microprocessor 14a, 14b such that 
subsequent brewing cycles are performed in accordance therewith. 
The microprocessors 14a, 14b may be configured such that to decrease the 
length of the brewing cycle which has been programmed into the 
microprocessors 14, 14b, one first actuates the on/off switch 16a, 16b 
(i.e. turns the switch "on"), and then momentarily presses the brew button 
18a, 18b a number of times to decrease the length of the brewing cycle, 
where the microprocessors 14a, 14b are configured such that the length of 
the brewing cycle decreases a pre-determined length of time for each time 
the brew button 18a, 18b is pressed. For example, the microprocessors 14a, 
14b may be configured such that each time the brew button 18a, 18b is 
momentarily pressed, two seconds are subtracted from the length of the 
brewing cycle, where each two second block may yield about one ounce of 
brewed beverage. 
Preferably, after the user adjusts the brew time by pressing the brew 
button 18a, 18b a desired number of times, the microprocessor 14a, 14b 
senses that the adjustment is complete due to the fact that the brew 
button 18a, 18b has not been pushed for a certain period of time, such as 
for the last twenty seconds. Once the microprocessor 14a, 14b detects that 
the user has completed the adjustment, the microprocessor 14a, 14b stores 
the new value so that subsequent brewing cycles are performed in 
accordance therewith. 
Alternatively, the microprocessors 14a, 14b may be configured such that 
after one presses the brew button 18a, 18b the desired number of times to 
subtract time from the length of the brewing cycle, one presses and holds 
the brew button 18a, 18b until the brew solenoid valve 20a, 20b clicks on 
and off three times, which may take approximately five seconds, thereby 
effectively indicating to the microprocessor 14a, 14b that one is finished 
adjusting the length of the brewing cycle. Preferably, the new adjusted 
brewing cycle length is stored in the microprocessor 14a, 14b such that 
subsequent brewing cycles are performed in accordance therewith. 
After adjusting the length of the brewing cycle, one may allow the beverage 
brewer to finish dispensing the brewed beverage to determine if the new 
setting is correct. If not, one may repeat the above-described adjusting 
process. However, typically one will not need to repeat the process to 
obtain the desired setting because each momentary press of the brew button 
1 8a, 1 8b adjusts the length of the brewing cycle for a pre-determined 
length of time. 
The adjusting process may also be repeated for different batch settings, or 
the microprocessors 14a, 14b may be configured such that the 
microprocessors 14a, 14b automatically carry an adjustment to one batch 
setting over into the other batch settings. For example, adjusting the 
desired volume for a full batch setting may cause the microprocessors 14a, 
14b to automatically adjust the other batch settings depending on the 
adjustment made by the user. 
While a specific example of how the microprocessors 14a, 14b may be 
configured to provide for the setting and adjusting of a length of a 
brewing cycle is described hereinabove, several other configurations are 
possible. 
While embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is 
envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.