System and Method for Controlling Temperature of a Beverage using a Temperature-Controlled Cup Holder

A temperature-controlled cup holder is disclosed. The temperature-controlled cup holder can comprise a conducting inner layer, a conducting outer layer, a middle layer, a control system, and a control device. The conducting inner layer can be capable of mounting a cup. The middle layer can be in between the conducting inner layer and the conducting outer layer. The middle layer can comprise a first side and a second side. The middle layer can further comprise a first thermoelectric network comprising one or more first thermoelectric coolers. Each of the one or more first thermoelectric coolers can comprise a hot side. The hot sides can each be oriented to be facing the first side. The control system can control the activation of the first thermoelectric network. The control device can be connected to the control system operable to give information related to a preferred temperature setting.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a system and method for controlling temperature of a beverage using a temperature-controlled cup-holder. Automobile cup holders are used to keep a driver's beverage secure, thereby preventing spillage on the automobile's interior. Though automobile cup holders provide an effective way of securing a cup, automobile a cup holder does not substantially prevent a beverage from staying at its ideal temperature. For example, ice can melt into a drink, watering it down. Similarly, hot coffee can become luke-warm. As such it would be useful to have an improved system and method for controlling temperature of a beverage using a temperature-controlled cup-holder.

SUMMARY

A system and method for controlling temperature of a beverage using a temperature-controlled cup holder is described herein. The cup holder can comprise a conducting inner layer, a conducting outer layer, a middle layer, a control system, and a control device. The conducting inner layer can be capable of mounting a cup. The middle layer can be in between the conducting inner layer and the conducting outer layer. The middle layer can comprise a first side and a second side. The middle layer can further comprise a first thermoelectric network comprising one or more first thermoelectric coolers. Each of the one or more first thermoelectric coolers can comprise a hot side. The hot sides can each be oriented to be facing the first side. The control system can control the activation of the first thermoelectric network. The control device can be connected to the control system operable to give information related to a preferred temperature setting.

A method for controlling temperature of a cup holder comprising the step placing a cup within the cup holder. The cup holder can comprise a conducting inner layer, a conducting outer layer, a middle layer, a control system and a control device. The conducting inner layer can be capable of mounting a cup. The middle layer can be in between the conducting inner layer and the conducting outer layer. The middle layer can comprise a first side and a second side. The middle layer can further comprise a first thermoelectric network comprising one or more first thermoelectric coolers. Each of the one or more first thermoelectric coolers can comprise a hot side. The hot sides can each be oriented to be facing the first side. The control system can control the activation of the first thermoelectric network. The control device can be connected to the control system operable to give information related to a preferred temperature setting. The steps can further comprise receiving information from the control device and heating or cooling the cup based on the information from the control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a cup101within a cup holder100. Cup holder100can be a built in cup holder on an automobile that can hold cup101or any other drinking vessel. In one embodiment, cup holder100can be a single cup holder capable of holding a single cup. In other embodiments, cup holder100can be a multiple cup holder. In such embodiment, cup holder100can hold two or more cups. In such embodiments, cup holder100can be used to substantially maintain the temperature of beverages within cup101. In one embodiment, cup101can comprise a machine-readable medium102. Machine-readable medium102can be a medium capable of storing data in a format that can be readable by a mechanical device such as barcode readers or scanners. Examples of machine-readable medium102can include but are not limited to radio frequency identification chips (RFIDs) and barcodes. Some examples of barcodes are Universal Product Codes (UPC) and Quick Response Codes (QRC).

FIG. 2Aillustrates a top view embodiment of cup holder100. In one embodiment, cup holder100can comprise a conducting inner layer201, a middle layer202, and a conducting outer layer203. Conducting outer layer203can be the exterior surface of cup holder100while conducting inner layer201can be the interior surface of cup holder100. As such, conducting inner layer201can be the portion of cup holder100that can come in contact with cup101. Middle layer202can be the middle section of cup holder100placed in between conducting inner layer201and conducting outer layer203.

FIG. 2Billustrates a sectional view embodiment of cup holder100. In one embodiment, middle layer202can comprise one or more thermoelectric coolers204. Each thermoelectric204cooler is a solid-state active heat pump, which transfers heat from one side of the device to the other by using the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junctions of two different types of materials. The effect is such that each thermoelectric has a side above ambient temperature, and a side below ambient temperature, described further below as a hot side and a cold side. Thus, middle layer202can comprise a first side and a second side such that when an electric current flows through cup holder100, heat can flow from the first side to the second side or vice versa, so that one side gets cooler and the other gets hotter. As such, middle layer202can be used to manage the temperature of cup holder100, as will be described further below. In these embodiments, conducting inner layer201can transfer the temperature into or out of cup101while conducting outer layer203can dissipate the temperature accordingly.

FIG. 2Cillustrates an embodiment of middle layer202comprising a plurality of thermoelectric coolers204. Each thermoelectric cooler204can comprise a hot side205and a cold side206. In one embodiment, a first subset of thermoelectric coolers204can be oriented within middle layer202such that each hot side205of the first subset of thermoelectric coolers204faces conducting inner layer201. Further, in such embodiment, a second subset of thermoelectric coolers204can be oriented within middle layer202such that each cold side206of the second subset of thermoelectric coolers204faces conducting inner layer201. In one embodiment, hot sides205of the first subset can be arranged in a checkerboard pattern within middle layer202with cold sides206of the second subset. To heat a beverage, one or more of the first subset of thermoelectric coolers204can be activated. To cool a beverage, one or more of the second subset of thermoelectric coolers204can be activated. Evenly distributing thermos electric coolers in a checkerboard or other pattern can help the beverage is evenly heated or cooled. Middle layer202can further comprise an insulator207capable of supporting thermoelectric coolers204within middle layer202and resisting heat transfer between conducting inner layer201and conducting outer layer203.

FIG. 2Dillustrates an embodiment of control system208. In one embodiment, middle layer202can further comprise control system208that controls thermoelectric coolers204. In one embodiment, the first set of thermoelectric coolers204can be wired into a hot thermoelectric network209and the second set of thermoelectric coolers204can be wired into a cold thermoelectric network210. Thermoelectric coolers204of hot thermoelectric network209can be wired in parallel in one embodiment. Similarly, thermoelectric coolers204of cold thermoelectric network210can also be wired together in parallel in one embodiment. For purposes of this disclosure a “network” of thermoelectric coolers204can comprise one or more thermoelectric coolers204. Control system208can activate either hot thermoelectric network209or cold thermoelectric network210. For example in an embodiment wherein the first side of middle layer202can be facing conducting inner layer201, to heat a beverage, control system208can activate hot thermoelectric network209, causing heat to transfer from cold sides206to hot sides205, and into conducting inner layer201while heat from the environment can warm conducting outer layer203. Similarly, to cool a beverage, control system208can activate cold thermoelectric network210causing heat to transfer from cold sides206, pulling heat from conducting inner layer201and beverage, to hot sides205, and into conducting outer layer203, allowing heat to escape into the environment. In another example embodiment wherein the first side of middle layer202can be facing conducting outer layer203, to heat a beverage, control system208can activate cold thermoelectric network210causing heat to transfer from cold sides206to hot sides205and into conducting inner layer201pulling heat into conducting inner layer201and beverage. Likewise, to cool a beverage, control system208can activate hot thermoelectric network209causing heat to transfer from cold sides206to hot sides205and dissipating heat to conducting outer layer203.

Further, control system208can be connected to a control device that determines a preferred temperature setting to be applied on cup holder100. In one embodiment, control device can be a temperature sensor211. In such embodiment, temperature sensor211can detect when a hot beverage is put in cup holder100. Similarly, temperature sensor211can detect when a cold beverage is put in cup holder100. Control system208can be programmed to heat warm beverages and chill cold beverages. In another embodiment, temperature sensor211can sense if cup holder100gets too hot or too cold and shut off thermoelectric coolers204.

In another embodiment, control device can be an electronic reader212. In such embodiment, control system208can direct thermoelectric coolers204to heat or cool according to information stored within machine-readable medium102on cup101.

Further in another embodiment, control device can be a switch213connected to control system208. In such embodiment, the selected mode on switch213gets relayed to control system208. As such, control system208manages which mode gets activated on cup holder100. In one embodiment, switch213can be a two-pole switch that can allow a user to set cup holder's temperature into “Hot” or “Cold”. In another embodiment, switch213can be a four-pole switch that can allow a user to set cup holder's temperature into “Hot”, “Cold”, “Off”, and “Auto”. In Auto mode, a second control device such as temperature sensor211can be implemented and used to determine when cupholder is put in hot or cold mode, as described above.

FIG. 3illustrates an embodiment of cup holder100that uses temperature sensor211. In this embodiment, cup101can be any disposable cup. When cup101is placed into cup holder100, temperature sensor211reads the temperature of cup101. The measured temperature recorded through temperature sensor211can be transmitted to control system208. As such, control system208can activate the thermoelectric layer according to the same temperature detected by temperature sensor211. Thus, when temperature sensor211detects that cup101is hot, control system208can activate hot thermoelectric network209, and when temperature sensor211reads that cup101is cold, control system208can activate cold thermoelectric network210. In other embodiments, the exact temperature detected by temperature sensor211can be applied to cup holder100. In such embodiment, control system208can regulate the activation of hot thermoelectric network209and cold thermoelectric network210to keep the temperature the same with the measured temperature made by temperature sensor211.

FIG. 4Aillustrates a cup comprising machine-readable medium102being placed on cup holder100. In this embodiment cup101can comprise machine-readable medium102and electronic reader212can be used to read and decode an electronic data400stored within machine-readable medium102.

FIG. 4Billustrates electronic data400on machine-readable medium102. As an example embodiment, electronic data400can include but is not limited to beverage information such as store name401, contents402, ideal temperature403, etc. Store name401can be the name of the restaurant, store, or café wherein cup101can be bought. Content402can be the kind of beverage contained in cup101, such as coffee, tea, juice, soda, etc. Ideal temperature403can be “hot” or “cold” designation or an actual preferred temperature for the beverage contained in cup101. In this embodiment, control system208can use the information within machine-readable medium102to determine whether cup holder100should heat or cool the beverage, and in some embodiments, to what temperature. As such, when electronic data400on cup101contains contents402or ideal temperature403, control system208can activate the thermoelectric network that matches the information found on machine-readable medium102. For example, when content402on machine-readable medium102is set to “ice tea” control system208can activate cold thermoelectric network210to keep cup holder100cold. In another example, when ideal temperature403set on machine-readable medium102is 140-degree Fahrenheit then control system208can activate hot thermoelectric network209to keep cup holder100warm.

FIG. 5illustrates an embodiment of cup holder100comprising a two-pole switch501. Switch213can be a device, such as a button, lever, control, etc. that can allow the user to choose which temperature can be applied on cup holder100. As such, the selected mode on switch213gets relayed to control system208. Then, control system208manages which mode gets activated on cup holder100. In one embodiment, switch213can be placed at the outer surface of cup holder100to allow accessibility. In this embodiment, switch213can be two-pole switch501that can allow a user to set cup holder's temperature into “Hot” or “Cold”. In such embodiment, when the user sets two-pole switch501to “hot” control system208can activate hot thermoelectric network209on cup holder100, and vice versa. In such embodiment, a sensor such as a switch or other device known in the art can be mounted within cup holder to let system turn system off when cup101is not in cup holder100.

FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment of cup holder100comprising a four-pole switch601. In this embodiment, switch213can be a four-pole switch that can allow a user to set cup holder100to “Hot”, “Cold”, “Off”, and “Auto”. In an embodiment wherein four-pole switch601can be set to “Hot”, control system208can activate hot thermoelectric network209to keep cup holder100in hot temperature. When four-pole switch601can be set to “Cold”, control system208can activate cold thermoelectric network210to keep cup holder100in cold temperature. In another embodiment wherein four-pole switch601can be set to “Auto”, temperature sensor211and electronic reader212can be on a standby mode. As such, either temperature sensor211or electronic reader212can be activated when cup101is placed within cup holder100. In a scenario wherein ordinary disposable cup101is placed within cup holder100, temperature sensor211can be used to read the temperature of cup101. Then, control system208can activate the correct thermoelectric cooler(s)204. In another scenario wherein cup101with machine-readable medium102can be placed within cup holder100, electronic data400can be decoded through electronic reader212and transmitted to control system208. In turn, control system208can activate the appropriate thermoelectric cooler(s)204in cup holder100according to the information gathered from electronic data400of machine-readable medium102. Further in an embodiment wherein four-pole switch601can be set to “Off”, no electric current can be transmitted to one or more thermoelectric coolers204.