Patent Publication Number: US-2022212913-A1

Title: Contactless interface for a beverage dispenser

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/894,078, filed on Jun. 5, 2020, for “Contactless Interface For A Beverage Dispenser,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a beverage dispensers and more particularly to contactless interface for modulating liquid dispensing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Water dispensing system are no longer relegated to restaurants and similar commercial establishments. Frequently, water dispensers are being installed in offices, building lobbies and homes, because the water dispensers allow for dispensing hot water, cold water, and sparkling water on demand. 
     SUMMARY 
     A water dispenser located in a shared space (e.g., offices, building lobbies, etc.) represents a potential health hazard caused by multiple different people touching buttons on the water dispenser and then touching the lids of their beverage containers (e.g., water bottles, cups, etc.). A contactless interface for interacting with water dispensers is needed. 
     A contactless interface for a beverage dispenser is provided using contactless sensors. The contactless interface may be included as part of a beverage dispenser or may be added to an existing beverage dispenser by replacing the existing contact buttons of the beverage dispenser. Similarly, the contactless interface may be added alongside traditional mechanically actuated buttons so that users may use the contactless interface or standard push buttons. 
     While a number of features are described herein with respect to embodiments of the invention; features described with respect to a given embodiment also may be employed in connection with other embodiments. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features according to aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including a contactless interface on a front of the beverage dispenser. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including a contactless interface on a top of the beverage dispenser. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including the contactless interface. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a contactless interface. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including a heater and a chiller. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including a heater, a chiller, and a carbonator. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including a container contactless interface. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including a container contactless interface. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including multiple container contactless interfaces and multiple dispensing outlets. 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispenser including multiple container contactless interfaces and multiple dispensing outlets. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a mechanical button including a contactless interface. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of a contactless interface located adjacent to a touch sensor. 
     
    
    
     The present invention is described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, each element with a reference number is similar to other elements with the same reference number independent of any letter designation following the reference number. In the text, a reference number with a specific letter designation following the reference number refers to the specific element with the number and letter designation and a reference number without a specific letter designation refers to all elements with the same reference number independent of any letter designation following the reference number in the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The principles described herein may be used in beverage dispensing applications and contactless interfaces for beverage dispensers. Exemplary applications include controlling liquids dispensed from beverage dispensers using contactless interfaces. The principles described herein may be sized down for use in home beverage dispensers or sized up for use in industrial beverage dispensers. Many liquids (e.g., different temperatures, flavors, carbonation, etc.) may be suitable for use with contactless interfaces, the beverage dispensing machine, and control system described herein. 
     The beverage dispensers, systems, and methods described herein are advantageous in controlling dispensing of liquids from a beverage dispenser without requiring a user to touch the beverage dispenser (e.g., reducing the spread of germs through touching shared surfaces). 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary beverage dispenser  10  is shown. The beverage dispenser  10  includes a contactless interface system  12 , a water supply  14 , a temperature regulator  16 , an outlet  18 , a control valve  20 , and a hardware controller  22 . The temperature regulator  16  is fluidly connected to the water supply  14  and generates temperature controlled water by modulating a temperature of water supplied by the water supply  14 . The hardware controller  22  controls dispensing of temperature controlled water  30  from the outlet  18  by controlling the control valve  20  based on a detection signal received from the contactless interface  12 . The contactless interface system  12  includes one or more contactless interfaces  32 . Each contactless interface  32  includes a sensor  40  both having a field of view  42  and configured to sense an object  44  located in a detection zone  46  of the sensor  40 . Each contactless interface  32  also includes circuitry  50  for outputting a detection signal while the object  44  is sensed within the detection zone  46 . 
     As shown in the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the detection zone  46  is an area within the field of view  42  and at a distance less than a maximum detection distance from the sensor  40 . For example, the maximum distance threshold may be less than four inches, less than three inches, less than 2.5 inches, less than two inches, or less than one inch.  FIG. 3  shows a top down view of the contactless interface  32  with the detection zone  46  extending from the contactless interface system  12  as a cone or triangle. The detection zone  46  is not limited to a triangular shape, but may have any suitable shape for sensing an object  44  near the sensor  40 . For example, the sensor  40  may have a detection zone  46  that is shaped to avoid overlap with neighboring contactless interfaces  32 . 
     As an example,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  both show a contactless interface system  12  having three contactless interfaces  32 . In  FIG. 1A , the contactless interfaces  32  are located on a front side of the beverage dispenser  10 , while in  FIG. 1B  the contactless interfaces  32  are located on a top side of the beverage dispenser  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , the beverage dispenser  10  may also include touch buttons  33  and contactless interfaces  32 . Each of the contactless interfaces  32  may have a differently shaped detection zone  46 . For example, the right most contactless interface  32  may have a detection zone  46  that is shifted to cover an area to a right compared to a detection zone  46  of the other two contactless interfaces  32 . Similarly, the left most contactless interface  32  may have a detection zone that is shifted to cover an area more towards a left of the contactless interface  32  as compared to the other two contactless interfaces  32 . 
     Alternatively, the contactless interfaces  32  may each have a same detection zone  46 . In one embodiment, the contactless interfaces  32  may have a detection zone that is adjustable, such that the detection zone  46  is adjustable to avoid overlapping detection zones  46  with neighboring contactless interfaces  32  that maybe positioned near in space to one another. 
     As described above, the circuitry  50  of the contactless interface  32  outputs a detection signal when an object  44  is detected within the detection zone  46 . The detection signal may be an electrical signal or any other suitable signal for notifying the hardware controller  22  that an object has been detected within the detection zone  46 . In one embodiment, the circuitry  50  is configured to only output a detection signal while the object is sensed within the detection zone, such that the detection signal is only output when an object  44  is detected within the detection zone  46 . As opposed to outputting a signal when an object  44  is detected, the circuitry  50  may not output a signal when an object  44  is detected (i.e., the detection signal is a lack of a signal). 
     In one embodiment, the detection signal output by the contactless interface  32  varies depending on a distance of the detected object  44  from the sensor  40 . In this embodiment, the hardware controller  22  is configured to vary a flow of the liquid  30  from the outlet  18  based upon the detection signal, such that: (1) the flow of the liquid increases as the distance between the object and the sensor decreases; and (2) the flow of the liquid decreases as the distance between the object and the sensor increases. 
     In one embodiment, the hardware controller  22  is configured to compare the detection signal received from two contactless interfaces  32  of the contactless interface system  12  to determine which of the two contactless interfaces  32  sensed the closest object  44 . For example, if both the cold water contactless interface and the ambient temperature water contactless interface sense an object (e.g., a user&#39;s finger is in front of the cold water contactless interface and a portion of the user&#39;s hand is in front of the ambient temperature water contactless interface), the controller  22  will determine which of the contactless interfaces  32  sensed the closest object  44  (e.g., based on a property of the received detection signal such as intensity, frequency, timing, etc.). The controller  22  will then dispense the temperature controlled liquid controlled by the contactless interface of the two contactless interfaces determined to be sensing the closest object. In this example, if the user&#39;s finger is closer to the cold water contactless interface than the user&#39;s hand is to the ambient temperature contactless interface, then cold water would be dispensed. 
     In another embodiment, the controller  22  compares the detection signal received from two contactless interfaces  32  of the contactless interface system  12  to determine which of the two contactless interfaces  32  sensed the object  44  first in time. The controller  22  then dispenses the temperature controlled water controlled by the contactless interface  32  that sensed the object first in time. For example, if a detection signal is first received by the controller  22  from a cold water contactless interface, then cold water would be dispensed. 
     The sensor  40  may be any suitable device for sensing an object  44  at a distance from the sensor  40 . For example, the sensor  40  may be a near field sensor with a detection zone extending a limited distance (e.g., less than two inches) from the sensor  40  so that water is not mistakenly dispensed when a user is not attempting to interact with the sensor  40 . In one embodiment, the sensor  40  is an infrared (IR) sensor including an IR emitter and an IR receiver. For example, the sensor  40  may be an adjustable near field combination of an IR light emitting diode (LED) emitter(s) and IR sensor(s) behind an IR translucent panel. In another embodiment, the sensor  40  is an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasound emitter and an ultrasound receiver. In another embodiment, the sensor  40  uses a combination of an IR sensor and an ultrasonic sensor to detect the object  44  within the detection zone  46 . 
     The contactless interface  12  may be placed in close proximity (e.g., within less than two inches) of touch sensors (e.g., traditional mechanically actuated buttons). This placement improves cost efficiency for retrofitting existing beverage dispensers with contactless interfaces and also improves user interface experience, because the format creates both a touch and touchless interface out of the same user points of contact. For example, a user can either touch a button for cold water or instead hover their finger(s) within 0.75-1.5 inches of a cold water contactless interface. 
     As shown in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the water supply  14  supplies water to the temperature regulator  16 . The water supply  14  may comprise a connection to an exterior water source such as a waterline of a building. The water supply  14  may also include a pump  52  for supplying water to the temperature regulator  16  at a sufficient pressure. For example, the water supply  14  may be a water reservoir that simply holds water added to the beverage dispenser  10  (e.g., by a user). The pump  52  may be used to pressurize the water such that water from the water supply  14  is received by the temperature regulator  16 . 
     Other devices may be provided to transport the water to and from the temperature regulator  16 . Various pumps, valves, motors, and/or pneumatic devices may be arranged along the supply line  54  to move the water along the supply line  54  toward the temperature regulator  16 . The water supply  14  may be oriented substantially vertically with the supply line  54  and the water supply  14  arranged above the temperature regulator  16  such that the water may be assisted by gravity in entering the temperature regulator  16  from the water supply  14 . 
     Similarly, the temperature regulator  16  may also be arranged in the beverage dispenser  10  above the control valve  20  and the outlet  18 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the temperature regulator  16  is arranged independently from the water supply  14  and the temperature regulator  16  may include a reservoir for storing or holding the water from the water supply  14 . For example, the temperature regulator  16  may alter a temperature of water located in the reservoir and output the temperature regulated water from the reservoir based upon control signals received from the hardware controller  22 . 
     The temperature regulated water may be moved from the temperature regulator  16  to the outlet  18  via a supply line  56 . The temperature regulated water may then be dispensed from the outlet  18  into a container  60 . For example, the dispensed liquid  30  may be dispensed into any suitable container  60  such as a cup, mug, water, bottle, etc. 
     The supply lines  54 ,  56  used in the beverage dispenser  10  may include any suitable hoses, tubing, and fluid connectors configured for fluid transport. In other embodiments, various pumps, valves, motors, and/or pneumatic devices may be arranged along the supply lines  54 ,  56  to move the liquid toward the outlet  18 . While the embodiments described herein are frequently described with reference to water, any suitable liquid may be used and examples of suitable liquids include water, alkaline water, carbonated water, carbonated water that is made with alkaline water, flavored carbonated or non-carbonated water, or other non-beverage liquids for other applications including and not including temperature control requirements. 
     As described above, the beverage dispenser  10  includes a hardware controller  22  (also referred to as a control system) for controlling the dispensing of liquids from the beverage dispenser  10 . The hardware controller  22  is communicatively coupled with a control valve  20  that is arranged to control dispensing of the temperature regulated water  30  from the temperature regulator  16 . The control valve  20  may be opened, closed, or partially opened or closed by the hardware controller  22  to meter the amount of temperature controlled water  30  dispensed from the outlet  18 . The hardware controller  22  may also be communicatively coupled with the water supply  14  to control water flowing from the water supply  14  to the temperature regulator  16 . 
     Any suitable electronic lines, wiring, cables, harnesses, etc. may be used to connect the hardware controller  22  with the corresponding components of the beverage dispenser  10  and the hardware controller  22  may be automated. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the temperature regulator  16  includes a chiller  70  and a heater  72 . The chiller  70  is configured to receive water from the water supply  14  and output chilled water having a lower temperature than the water received from the water supply  14 . Similarly, the heater  72  is configured to receive water from the water supply  14  and output heated water having a higher temperature than the water received from the water supply. For example, the chiller  70  and the heater  72  may be set to chill and heat, respectively, received water to a set temperature. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the cooler  70  is fluidly connected to the supply line  54  for cooling the water as the water travels from the water supply  14  towards the output  18 . The cooler  70  may be configured to cool the water to a temperature that is between 1 and 8 degrees Celsius (between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit). The cooling temperature may be dependent on whether the water is being stored or moving toward the output  18 . To maintain cool temperatures, a supply line may be thermally insulated. Any suitable cooling device or components may be used to cool the water, including heat exchangers, desiccants, insulators, evaporators, condensers, compressors, expansion valves, cooling fans, etc. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the heater  72  is fluidly connected to the supply line  54  for heating the water as the water travels from the water supply  14  towards the output  18 . The heater  72  may be configured to heat the water to a temperature that is between 35 and 70 degrees Celsius (between 100 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit). The heating temperature may be dependent on whether the water is being stored or moving toward the output  18 . To maintain hot temperatures, a supply line may be thermally insulated. Any suitable heating device or components may be used to heat the water. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the control valve  20  includes a chilled water valve  74  and a heated water valve  76 . The heated water valve  76  is configured to regulate dispensing of the heated water from the outlet  18 . Similarly, the chilled water valve  74  is configured to regulate dispensing of the chilled water from the outlet  18 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , the contactless interface system  12  may include multiple contactless interfaces  32  including a chilled contactless interface  32   a  and a heated contactless interface  32   b . The chilled contactless interface  32   a  and the heated contactless interface  32   b  are both operatively coupled to the hardware controller  22 . The hardware controller  22  is configured to modulate dispensing of chilled water and hot water by the beverage dispenser. That is, the chilled contactless interface  32   a  outputting a detection signal results in dispensing of the chilled water by the beverage dispenser, while the heated contactless interface  32   b  outputting the detection signal results in dispensing of the heated water. 
     The hardware controller  22  is configured to control the control valve  20  such that the heated water is dispensed from the output  18  when the heated contactless interface  32   b  outputs the detection signal. Conversely, the hardware controller  22  is configured to control the control valve  20  such that the chilled water is dispensed from the output  18  when the chilled contactless interface  32   a  outputs the detection signal. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the circuitry  50  of the heated contactless interface  32   b  only outputs the detection signal while an object is sensed within the detection zone after: (1) sensing the object within the detection zone; (2) issuing a notification; and (3) after a time delay following issuing the notification, sensing the object within the detection zone. This twice detection requirement is meant as a safety requirement to prevent accidental dispensing of heated water. 
     To dispense heated water in this embodiment, an object  44  must be sensed within the detection zone  46  of the heated contactless interface  32   b . A notification is then issued by the heated contactless interface  32   b . For example, the notification may be issued as at least one an audible notification by a speaker or a visible notification by a light emitter (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED)). This notification serves to indicate to a user that a first input to the heated contactless interface  32  has been received. 
     After issuing the notification, the heated contactless interface  32   b  waits an interval of time (i.e., the time delay) and then again checks for an object  44  within the detection zone  46  of the heated contactless interface  32   b . If an object  44  is detected within the detection zone  46  by the heated contactless interface  32   b  before the expiration of a safety time threshold (e.g., ten seconds, five seconds, or three seconds), then the heated contactless interface  32   b  outputs the detection signal, such that the hardware controller  22  causes heated water to be dispensed from the output  18 . The safety time threshold is used to ensure that two interactions with the heated contactless interface  32   b  are close enough in time to indicate that a user would like to dispense heated water. The time delay is used to ensure that a user does not accidentally cause heated water to be dispensed by leaving their finger over the heated contactless interface  32   b.    
     To further ensure that a user does not accidentally cause heated water to be dispensed by accidentally leaving their finger in front of the heated contactless interface  32   b , the time delay may only begin when the object  44  is no longer sensed within the detection zone  46 . For example, a user may be required to place their finger in the detection zone  46  of the heated contactless interface  32   b , remove their finger from the detection zone  46 , and then place their finger back into the detection zone  46  of the heated contactless interface  32   b.    
     As shown in the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the contactless interface  12  may additionally include at least one of an ambient contactless interface  32   c  or a sparkling contactless interface  32   d . The ambient contactless interface  32   c  is operatively coupled to the controller  22 . The controller  22  is configured to modulate dispensing of ambient temperature water, such that the ambient contactless interface  32   d  outputting the detection signal results in dispensing of the ambient temperature water by the beverage dispenser  10 . Similarly, the sparkling contactless interface  32   d  is operatively coupled to the controller  22  and the controller  22  is configured to modulate dispensing of sparkling temperature water, such that the sparkling contactless interface  32   d  outputting the detection signal results in dispensing of the sparkling temperature water by the beverage dispenser. 
     When the contactless interface system  12  includes a sparkling contactless interface  32   d , the beverage dispenser  10  may additionally include a carbonator  82 . The carbonator  82  is configured to carbonate water received from the water supply  14 . The carbonated water generated by the carbonator  82  may be chilled via the chiller  70  or the carbonator  82  may include a chiller for chilling the carbonated water. The same chiller  70  (also referred to as a cooling device) or a second chiller may also be provided to cool the carbonated water generated by the carbonator  82 . For example, the carbonator  82  may carbonate chilled water received from the chiller  70 . 
     The carbonator  82  may be fluidly connected to a carbon dioxide supply and the water supply  14 . In this embodiment, the supply line  54  is fluidly connected to the carbonator  82  for transferring the water from the water supply  14  to the carbonator  82 . The carbonator  82  may include any suitable valves or control lines and the hardware control  22  may also be configured to operate the carbonator  82 . 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the beverage dispenser  10  includes multiple contactless interfaces  32  that include a container contactless interface  84  (also referred to as a cup detector or a bottle detector. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the container contactless interface  84  is located under the same outlet  18  that dispenses water based on signals from the other contactless interfaces  32 . Conversely, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the beverage dispenser  10  includes two outlets  18  and the container contactless interface  84  is located on a side of the beverage dispenser  10 . For example, the container contactless interface  84  may be a secondary bottle fill dispensing point that is separate from a primary dispensing area on a front of the beverage dispenser  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the outlet  18  includes multiple separate outlets  18 , each dispensing the temperature controlled water. In this embodiment, the control valve  20  includes multiple control valves  20  and each of the multiple control valves is configured to control dispensing of the temperature controlled water from an associated outlet  18  of the multiple separate outlets  18 . The contactless interface  32  is embodied as one of multiple container contactless interfaces  84  in a contactless interface system  12 . Each of the multiple container contactless interfaces  84  include a sensor and circuitry and is positioned relative to an associated outlet  18 . The sensor has a field of view and is configured to sense a container  60  located in a detection zone of the sensor. The circuitry is configured to output a detection signal while the object is sensed within the detection zone. The hardware controller  22  is communicatively coupled with each of the multiple control valves  22  and each of the multiple container contactless interfaces  32 . The hardware controller is configured to control dispensing of the temperature controlled water from each of the multiple outlets associated with one of the multiple control valves outputting a detection signal. 
     The container contactless interface  84  is operatively coupled to the controller  22  of the beverage dispenser  10 , such that the container contactless interface  84  outputting a detection signal results in dispensing of a default water type by the beverage dispenser  10 . The container contactless interface  84  may be the same combination of sensor and circuitry as the contactless interfaces  32  described above. For example, the container contactless interface  84  may utilize an IR sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. The container contactless interface  84  may be calibrated to differentiate between containers  60  and other objects (e.g., a user&#39;s hand) or the container contactless interface  84  may output a detection signal whenever an object  44  is detected. 
     As described above, the controller  22  causes a default temperature water to be output when a detection signal is received from the container contactless interface  84 . The default temperature water may be set to be chilled water. Alternatively or additionally, the default water temperature may be set by a user. 
     For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a container may be detected by the left most container contactless interface  84  and the right most container contactless interface  84 . The controller  22  receives detection signals from these two container contactless interfaces and causes water to be dispensed from the outlets  18  associated with these container contactless interfaces  84  (i.e., the left most outlet and the right most outlet). 
     The hardware controller  22  may include any suitable electronic control mechanism, such as, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, control circuitry, a processor, and other suitable components. The controller  22  may be communicatively coupled with the control valve  20 , the temperature regulator  16 , and the contactless interface system  12 . The control valve  20  may have any suitable configuration or components to directly control the flow rate. The control valves may be rotary, having balls, butterfly or plug type closures, or linear, having globe, diaphragm or pinch type closures. Any suitable type of actuator may be used for the valves, such as a piston or diaphragm that is pneumatic, electric, or a combination thereof. Electromechanically operated valves including solenoid valves may also be suitable. Many other types of control valves may be suitable. 
     As described above, in an embodiment, the controller  22  is configured to provide instructions to adjust the control valve  20  (e.g., including the chilled water valve  74 , heated water valve  76 , ambient water valve  78 , sparkling water valve  80 , etc.) for controlling dispensing of liquid from the output  18 . 
     The beverage dispenser  10  may include a volume sensor  90  configured to measure a volume of fluid dispensed by the beverage dispenser  10 . The volume sensor may be any suitable sensor for determining a dispensed volume of fluid. For example, the volume sensor may be a flow sensor and the output of the flow sensor may be used to determine a dispensed volume over a period of time. As another example, the volume sensor may be implemented by the control  22  and may estimate the dispensed volume based on the time that fluid was dispensed by the beverage dispenser  10  based on a known flow rate of the beverage dispenser  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the flow detector is configured to determine a volume of the dispensed liquid for a continuous dispensing of the liquid caused by receiving a continuous detection signal from the contactless interface. That is, the flow detector determines the volume of dispensed liquid for a single continuous dispensing operation (as opposed to a volume of dispensed liquid due to multiple sequential dispensing operations). When the determined volume is greater than or equal to a volume threshold, the controller  22  is configured to stop dispensing the liquid (independent of the detection signal) until: (1) a lull in the continuous detection signal is received indicating that the object is no longer detected; and (2) after receiving the lull, a renewed detection signal is received from the contactless interface. 
     For example, the volume threshold may be twelve ounces. When a user places their finger in front of the cold contactless interface  32   a  to dispense cold water, the controller  22  may stop dispensing of the cold water at twelve ounces (i.e., the volume threshold). For the user to dispense more cold water, the user needs to remove their finger so that it is no longer detected by the cold contactless interface  32   a  and then the user needs to replace their finger so that it is again detected by the cold contactless interface  32   a.    
     The controller  22  may limit the volume of liquid output during a continuous dispensing operation to reduce the risk of a user overfilling their container  60 . For example, many countertop units do not include drains or include drains with a limited capacity. In such systems, reducing the possibility that user&#39;s will overfill their beverage container (e.g., a cup, water bottle, mug, etc.) may be more important. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the sensor  40  may be positioned near to a touch sensitive input  33 . The sensor  40  includes an IR transparent panel  90  (in  FIG. 11  the IR transparent panel is an IR transparent touch panel) and IR diodes  92 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  the touch sensitive input  33  is a mechanically actuated button including a biasing element  94  (such as a spring). In this embodiment, pressing on the IR transparent panel  90  pushes against the biasing member  94  and causes a button press to be received by the controller  22 . Alternatively, instead of pressing against the IR transparent panel  90 , a user may place their finger in front of the IR transparent panel such that their finger is detected by the IR diodes of the contactless interface  32 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the IR diodes  92  are located near a touch sensor  33  (e.g., above, below, to the right or left, etc.). In this embodiment, the user may either touch the IR touch panel  90  or interact with the contactless interface  32 . 
     All ranges and ratio limits disclosed in the specification and claims may be combined in any manner. Unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” may include one or more than one, and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.