Patent Description:
Pathogens can be transmitted via direct airborne transmission between users or via indirect contact transmission from different users occupying the same space at different times. For example, lingering pathogens may remain on contact surfaces of an aircraft cabin to be spread to passengers and/or crew members on a subsequent flight. The safety of passengers and crew members may be improved by performing disinfecting treatments to surfaces, such as seats, ceiling/wall panels, handles, and lavatory surfaces, beverage devices, etc., to mitigate the presence of pathogens on such surfaces. However, conventional disinfection procedures between flights may take time and may thus adversely affect the operating efficiency of the aircraft (increased interval time between flights), and the effectiveness and quality of such conventional treatments are often difficult to verify/track.

For aerospace beverage makers, the water is heated more than <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit (or <NUM> degrees Celsius) for over <NUM> seconds thus providing thermal disinfection for all surfaces in contact. However, current aerospace beverage service equipment does not have any integrated devices for the explicit purpose of disinfecting the product or beverage from bacteria and viruses. The devices are used in every flight by the flight attendants and each touch interaction potentially introduces bacteria and viruses. In addition, airborne contaminants can also be introduced onto the devices, potentially passing the contaminant to the passengers. <CIT> relates generally to beverage makers and, more particularly, to beverage makers constructed on transport vehicles including commercial aircraft. The beverage maker has an in-line heating assembly for heating water to make hot beverages such as coffee and tea. An optical sensor assembly is provided to detect when a serving container of the beverage maker has a prescribed capacity of liquid within it. The sensor assembly includes at least one light source aligned to shine into the container and at least one detector aligned to detect light reflected off the liquid surface within the container.

<CIT> relates to an anti-overflow water dispenser.

<CIT> relates to a water purifier. The water purifier includes a water purifier body including a housing defining an outer appearance, and a filter provided inside the housing to filter raw water introduced from the outside. A water discharging nozzle is exposed to a front surface of the water purifier body and is configured to supply water passing through the filter to the outside of the water purifier body. An ultraviolet lamp is provided above the water discharging nozzle and is configured to emit ultraviolet rays to an inner surface of the water discharging nozzle.

<CIT> relates to a contactless autofill dispenser. The contactless autofill dispenser includes a housing and a dispense area for receiving a cup. The dispenser includes a supply of consumable product disposed within the housing. The dispenser includes an outlet connected to the supply and extending from the housing into the dispense area for dispensing the consumable product into the cup. The dispenser includes a controller disposed within the housing and connected to the supply, wherein the controller is configured to control dispensing of the consumable product from the outlet. The dispenser includes a time of flight sensor attached to or with a direct line of sight into the dispense area and connected to the controller.

A beverage maker is provided as claimed in claim <NUM>. The beverage maker can comprise: a housing defining a recess, the recess configured to receive a server in the recess; and a sanitization device disposed in the recess, the sanitization device comprising an ultraviolet light emitter and an ultraviolet light sensor, the ultraviolet light emitter oriented towards a base of the housing, the sanitization device configured to detect a fluid level in the server during dispensing of a fluid and configured to at least partially sanitize one of the server and the fluid during dispensing of the fluid and/or the recess in response to the server not being present.

In various embodiments, the beverage maker further comprises a controller in electronic communication with the ultraviolet light emitter and the ultraviolet light sensor, the controller configured to: receive an input signal; couple a power supply to the ultraviolet light emitter in response to receiving the input signal; receive sensor data from the ultraviolet light sensor; and decouple the power supply from the ultraviolet light emitter in response to determining an ultraviolet radiation level exceeded an ultraviolet radiation threshold.

In various embodiments, the beverage maker further comprises a second ultraviolet radiation emitter disposed in the housing and oriented towards surfaces within the recess. In various embodiments, the coffee or beverage maker further comprises a controller in electronic communication with the second ultraviolet radiation emitter, the controller configured to: receive an input signal; couple a power supply to the second ultraviolet radiation emitter in response to receiving the input signal; and decouple the power supply from the second ultraviolet radiation emitter in response to exceeding a time threshold.

In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter is configured to emit ultraviolet radiation having an average wavelength between <NUM> and <NUM>. The average wavelength can be between <NUM> and <NUM> or between <NUM> and <NUM>.

A retrofit process for a beverage dispensing device is provided as claimed in claim <NUM>. The retrofit process can comprise: decoupling a level sensor from a location of a housing of the beverage dispensing device, the level sensor configured to detect a level of a fluid in a container during a dispensing process of the beverage dispensing device; and coupling a sanitization device in the location of the housing, the sanitization device comprising an ultraviolet light emitter and an ultraviolet light sensor, the sanitization device configured to detect the level of the fluid in the container during the dispensing process of the beverage dispensing device and sanitize one of the beverage dispensing device and the container.

In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter is configured to emit ultraviolet radiation having an average wavelength between <NUM> and <NUM> or between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the level sensor is configured to emit infrared radiation having an average wavelength between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the level sensor comprises a first housing having a first shape and the sanitization device comprises a second housing having a second shape, and wherein, the second shape is substantially similar to the first shape.

The following detailed description of various embodiments herein refers to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Disclosed herein is sanitization system including an integrated light emitting source (e.g., ultraviolet light) having a wavelength range configured to safely disinfect a beverage device and/or a beverage container in a location where the beverage(s) are dispensed. As described further herein, the sanitization system can be located in a cavity or faucet area where a service cup or server is located (i.e., any beverage service devices, such as soda dispensers, water dispensers, coffee and/or tea makers, etc.). For a beverage maker, a sanitization system may be retrofitted into an existing beverage maker by replacing a liquid level detector (e.g., an infrared LEDs/photo-receivers) with a sanitization device (e.g., a combined sanitization and level detection system). The liquid level detector may comprise a disc that is disposed vertically above the coffee server. A retrofit process comprises removing the liquid level detector from the beverage maker and installing the sanitization device. In various embodiments, the sanitization device comprises an ultraviolet light emitter (e.g., emitting radiation with an average wavelength between <NUM> nanometers (nm) and <NUM>, or between <NUM> and <NUM>, or between <NUM> and <NUM>) and an ultraviolet light sensor.

With reference to <FIG>, a cabin <NUM> of an aircraft <NUM> is shown, according to various embodiments. The aircraft <NUM> may be any aircraft such as an airplane, a helicopter, or any other aircraft. The aircraft <NUM> defines an aircraft cabin <NUM> in a fuselage of the aircraft <NUM>. Disposed in the aircraft cabin <NUM> is a galley <NUM> (or server station). The galley <NUM> includes various beverage devices <NUM> (e.g., a coffee maker <NUM>, a beverage dispensing device <NUM>, or the like). Although described herein with respect to the coffee maker <NUM> and the beverage dispensing device <NUM>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, any beverage device <NUM> with a sanitization system for use in an aircraft gallery <NUM> or the like is within the scope of this disclosure. Although described herein with respect to the galley <NUM> in an aircraft cabin, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the beverage devices <NUM> may be disposed on a beverage cart in an aircraft cabin, or any other location where sanitization around a beverage device is desired.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, a beverage device <NUM> (e.g., coffee or tea maker <NUM>, referred to herein as a "beverage maker") having a sanitization system <NUM> for use in the galley <NUM> or a beverage cart on an aircraft <NUM> from <FIG>, is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. The beverage maker <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, and the sanitization system <NUM>. The sanitization system <NUM> includes a sanitization device <NUM>. The housing <NUM> comprises a base <NUM>, sidewalls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and a top portion <NUM>. The top portion <NUM> may include a lid, configured to open, and receive a filter and filter basket therein. The housing <NUM> can further comprise a reservoir configured to receive water therein. In various embodiments, the base <NUM>, sidewalls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the top portion <NUM> define a recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is configured to receive a server (e.g., a coffee server <NUM> from <FIG>), as described further herein. In various embodiments, beverage maker <NUM> further comprises a feed spout <NUM> in fluid communication with a reservoir disposed within the housing <NUM> during operation. In this regard, coffee can be dispensed from the beverage maker <NUM> via the feed spout <NUM> during operation, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the sanitization device <NUM> is disposed within the recess <NUM> proximal (i.e., adjacent to, or abutting), the top portion <NUM> of the beverage maker <NUM>. The sanitization device <NUM> comprises an ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>, and an ultraviolet light sensor <NUM>. In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> is configured to emit radiation with an average wavelength between <NUM> and <NUM>, or between <NUM> and <NUM>, or between <NUM> and <NUM> (referred to herein as "ultraviolet radiation"). In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> is configured to emit radiation with an average wavelength between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., UV-C light). In this regard, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> can be configured to emit light for sanitizing surrounding components and surfaces that are contacted by the emitted radiation. In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM> is configured to measure a photon flux density and/or an energy flux density of ultraviolet radiation.

Although illustrated as including a single ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the sanitization device <NUM> may comprise any number of the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and be within the scope of this disclosure.

In various embodiments, the sanitization device <NUM> is configured to sanitize a server (e.g., server <NUM> from <FIG>), sanitize a liquid in the server <NUM>, and/or detect a fluid level within the server <NUM>. In this regard, the sanitization device <NUM> can replace a typical level sensor of a beverage maker <NUM> and provide an additional benefit of sanitization, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, in response to having a plurality of light emitters (e.g., the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>), only a single light emitter in the plurality of light emitters may be oriented to reflect light back to the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM>. In this regard, a single pair of an ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and an ultraviolet light sensor <NUM> can work together to provide fluid level detection and sanitization, and the additional ultraviolet light emitters <NUM> may provide additional sanitization (e.g., of the recess <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, outer surfaces of the server <NUM>, or the like). The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and ultraviolet light sensor <NUM> are disposed within a housing <NUM> of the sanitization device <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be configured to be installed in a beverage maker <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM> are in electronic (e.g., electrical, or wireless) communication with a controller <NUM>. In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> can be integrated into a microcontroller. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> can be configured as a central network element or hub to access various systems and components of the sanitization system <NUM> and/or the beverage maker <NUM>. For example, controller <NUM> can be a main controller of the beverage maker <NUM> or controller <NUM> can be a local controller configured to interface with a main controller of a beverage maker <NUM>. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

Controller <NUM> can comprise a network, computer-based system, and/or software components configured to provide an access point to various systems and components of sanitization system <NUM>. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> comprises a processor. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> is implemented in a single processor. In various embodiments, controller <NUM> is implemented as and may include one or more processors and/or one or more tangible, non-transitory memories and be capable of implementing logic. Each processor can be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. Controller <NUM> can comprise a processor configured to implement various logical operations in response to execution of instructions, for example, instructions stored on a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium configured to communicate with controller <NUM>.

System program instructions and/or controller instructions may be loaded onto a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a controller, cause the controller to perform various operations. The term "non-transitory" is to be understood to remove only propagating transitory signals per se from the claim scope and does not relinquish rights to all standard computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory signals per se. Stated another way, the meaning of the term "non-transitory computer-readable medium" and "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium" should be construed to exclude only those types of transitory computer-readable media which were found in In Re Nuijten to fall outside the scope of patentable subject matter under <NUM> U.

In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> is configured to receive an input signal <NUM>. For example, the input signal <NUM> can be from a sensor (e.g., a motion sensor, a weight sensor, or the like) indicating that a server <NUM> from <FIG> has been placed in the recess <NUM>. In various embodiments, the input signal <NUM> may be from a button <NUM> disposed on the housing <NUM> being pressed (e.g., to start a brew process for coffee in the beverage maker <NUM>, or the like). The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In response to receiving the input signal <NUM>, the controller <NUM> can electrically couple a power supply (e.g., via a switch, or the like), to the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>. In this regard, ultraviolet radiation can be emitted from the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> for an entire duration of a brewing process, for a brewing process and after the brewing process for a predetermined period of time (e.g., to clean the recess <NUM> of the housing <NUM>).

In various embodiments, while sanitizing in accordance with the above, the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM> is receiving measurements of photon flux density and/or an energy flux density of ultraviolet radiation and relaying the sensor data to the controller <NUM>. In various embodiments, based on the sensor data, the controller <NUM> may be configured to determine a level of fluid in the coffee server <NUM> from <FIG>, determine an amount of ultraviolet radiation emitted in the recess <NUM>.

In various embodiments, in response to the controller determining a threshold fluid level in the server <NUM> has been met or exceeded, the controller <NUM> can send an output signal <NUM> to terminate a coffee brewing process. In this regard, based on the sensor data from the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM>, the controller <NUM> can determine a fluid level in the server <NUM> from <FIG>, compare the fluid level to a threshold level, and command termination of a brewing process by the beverage maker <NUM> in response to the fluid level exceeding the threshold level.

In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> may further be configured to monitor an amount of ultraviolet radiation released at one time. For example, excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation may have negative health effects when exposed to human skin. In this regard, the controller <NUM> can be further configured to decouple the power supply <NUM> from the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> in response to determining an amount of ultraviolet radiation has exceeded a threshold amount of radiation. In various embodiments, an amount of radiation may be measured in photon flux density and/or an energy flux density of ultraviolet radiation. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In various embodiments, the sanitization system <NUM> can further comprise an ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> separate from the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> of the sanitization device <NUM>. In this regard, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> can be configured to sanitize the sidewalls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the base <NUM> within the recess <NUM> periodically, after a brewing process, or the like. In various embodiments, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> can also be configured to sanitize an outer surface of the server <NUM> from <FIG>. In this regard, the controller <NUM> can be in electronic communication with the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and configured to couple the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> to the power supply <NUM> in a similar manner as outlined above.

In various embodiments, as described further herein, the sanitization system <NUM> can comprise the sanitization device <NUM> and/or the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM>. In this regard, a sanitization system <NUM> including only the sanitization device <NUM>, including only the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM>, or including both the sanitization device <NUM> and the ultraviolet light sensor <NUM> are all within the scope of this disclosure.

For example, in response to the controller <NUM> receiving an input signal <NUM> (e.g., from a button <NUM>, from a main controller of the beverage maker <NUM>, from a motion sensor or a weight sensor, etc.), the controller <NUM> can couple the power supply <NUM> to the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> can be configured to emit a predetermined amount of ultraviolet light from the light source <NUM> (e.g., for a predetermined amount of time or the like). In this regard, the controller <NUM> can control how much ultraviolet radiation is emitted from the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> during sanitization of the recess <NUM>.

Although described herein with respect to a beverage maker <NUM>, the sanitization system <NUM> is not limited in this regard. For example, a sanitization system <NUM> can be used in other beverage devices for use in an aircraft <NUM> from <FIG>, such as a beverage dispensing device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. With reference now to <FIG>, the beverage dispensing device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, a feed spout <NUM>, and the sanitization system <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the sanitization system <NUM> comprises the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and/or the sanitization device <NUM> coupled to the feed spout <NUM>. In various embodiments ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and/or the sanitization device <NUM> is oriented / directed in a downward direction (i.e., towards a container <NUM> being filled, or in a direction of gravity). In this regard, the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and/or the sanitization device <NUM> can be configured to sanitize the container <NUM> being filled, a fluid being dispensed into the container <NUM>, and/or a surface <NUM> after dispensing.

In various embodiments, the sanitization system <NUM> can be configured to sanitize as outlined previously herein during dispensing of a fluid, periodically, and/or after dispensing of a fluid. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In various embodiments, the feed spout <NUM> comprises a handle <NUM> and a fluid outlet <NUM>. In various embodiments, the handle <NUM> can mechanically open a valve to fluidly couple a fluid disposed in the housing <NUM> to the fluid outlet <NUM>. In this regard, various mechanisms may be used as an input signal to the sanitization system <NUM> for sanitizing during dispensing. For example, pulling the handle <NUM> can close an electrical switch, coupling the power supply <NUM> to one of the ultraviolet light emitter <NUM> and/or the sanitization device <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, a flow sensor may be disposed in the feed spout <NUM> configured to detect mass flow rate of fluid therein. The controller <NUM> can use the flow sensor data to determine whether a fluid is being dispensed. In various embodiments, the handle <NUM> can be in mechanical communication with a piezoelectric sensor that sends the input signal <NUM> in response to the valve closing. In this regard, the sanitization process may commence after dispensing of the fluid disposed in the housing <NUM>. Thus, one skilled in the art may recognize various initiation methods for sanitizing surrounding surfaces and/or containers (e.g., container <NUM> or server <NUM>) during a beverage dispensing process and be within the scope of this disclosure.

Referring now to <FIG>, a retrofit process for integrating a sanitization system in a beverage maker is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. With combined reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the retrofit process <NUM> comprises decoupling a level sensor <NUM> from a beverage device <NUM> (step <NUM>). The level sensor <NUM> can comprise an infrared (IR) level sensor (e.g., an emitter configured to emit IR radiation between <NUM> and <NUM>) and an IR receiver. In various embodiments, the level sensor <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>. In various embodiments, the housing <NUM> defines a first shape (e.g., a partially annular shape, an annular shape, a cylindrical shape, or the like).

In various embodiments, the retrofit process <NUM> further comprises coupling a sanitization device <NUM> to the beverage dispensing device (step <NUM>). In various embodiments, the sanitization device <NUM> is configured to detect a level of fluid in a container during dispensing of the fluid by the beverage dispensing device <NUM> and configured to sanitize the container during dispensing, the beverage dispensing device <NUM>, or the like. In this regard, the sanitization device <NUM> comprises dual functionality as described previously herein. In various embodiments, the sanitization device comprises a second shape that is substantially similar to the first shape of the level sensor <NUM>. "Substantially similar" as referred to herein includes remaining with a profile of <NUM> inches (<NUM>) of a profile of the first shape, or within <NUM> inches (<NUM>) or the like. In this regard, the sanitization device <NUM> can be installed in the same location as the level sensor <NUM> upgrading capability of the beverage maker with sanitization capabilities in an easy and efficient manner.

The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, where a phrase similar to "at least one of A, B, or C" is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided herein.

As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed.

Claim 1:
A beverage maker (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) defining a recess, the recess configured to receive a server in the recess; and
a sanitization device (<NUM>) disposed in the recess, the sanitization device comprising an ultraviolet light emitter (<NUM>) and an ultraviolet light sensor (<NUM>), the ultraviolet light emitter oriented towards a base of the housing, the sanitization device configured to detect a fluid level in the server during dispensing of a fluid and configured to at least partially sanitize one of the server and the fluid during dispensing of the fluid.