Patent Description:
For the purpose of the present description, a "beverage" is meant to include any human-consumable liquid substance, such as tea, coffee, hot or cold chocolate, milk, soup, baby food, etc. A "capsule" is meant to include any pre-portioned beverage ingredient, such as a flavouring ingredient, within an enclosing packaging of any material, in particular an airtight packaging, e.g. plastic, aluminium, recyclable and/or biodegradable packagings, and of any shape and structure, including soft pods or rigid cartridges containing the ingredient. The capsule may contain an amount of ingredient for preparing a single beverage portion or a plurality of beverage portions.

Certain beverage preparation machines use capsules containing ingredients to be extracted or to be dissolved and/or ingredients that are stored and dosed automatically in the machine or else are added at the time of preparation of the drink. Some beverage machines possess filling means that include a pump for liquid, usually water, which pumps the liquid from a source of water that is cold or indeed heated through heating means, e.g. a thermoblock or the like.

Especially in the field of coffee preparation, machines have been widely developed in which a capsule containing beverage ingredients is inserted in a brewing device.

Brewing devices have been developed to facilitate insertion of a "fresh" capsule and removal of the capsule upon use. Typically, the brewing devices comprise two parts relatively movable from a configuration for inserting/removing a capsule to a configuration for brewing the ingredient in the capsule.

The actuation of the movable part of the brewing device may be manual as disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. Various handle configurations are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. Integrations of such arrangements into beverage machines are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The actuation of the movable part of the brewing device may be motorized. Such a system is for example disclosed in <CIT>. In this case, the user does not have to provide any manual effort to open or close the brewing device. The brewing device has a capsule insertion passage provided with a safety door assembled to the movable part of the brewing device via a switch for detecting an undesired presence of a finger in the passage during closure and prevent injuries by squeezing. Alternative covers for a capsule insertion passage are disclosed <CIT> and <CIT>. Different motorization systems are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

For allowing the user to interact with such machines, for providing operation instructions to the machine or obtaining feedback therefrom, various systems have been disclosed in the art, for instance as mentioned in the following references: <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

<CIT> discloses a capsule recognition module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion of capsule comprising an optical sensor, a capsule detection window between the capsule detection position and the camera and a module cover which closes an opening.

To facilitate the operating of the machine, it is possible to identify automatically the capsule supplied to the machine and then handle and extract the capsule automatically, as for instance disclosed in <CIT>.

There is still a need to improve the beverage dispensing with machines that reliably identify capsules automatically.

The invention relates to a machine for preparing a beverage. The beverage preparation machine can be an in-home or out of home machine.

The machine may be for the preparation of coffee, tea, chocolate, cacao, milk, soup, baby food, etc..

The beverage preparation typically includes the mixing of a plurality of beverage ingredients, e.g. water and milk powder, and/or the infusion of a beverage ingredient, such as an infusion of ground coffee or tea with water. One or more of such ingredients may be supplied in loose and/or agglomerate powder form and/or in liquid form, in particular in a concentrate form. A carrier or diluents liquid, e.g. water, may be mixed with such ingredient to form the beverage. Typically, a predetermined amount of beverage is formed and dispensed on user-request, which corresponds to a portion (e.g. a serving). The volume of such portion may be in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> and even up to <NUM> or <NUM>, e.g. the volume for filling a cup, depending on the type of beverage. Formed and dispensed beverages may be selected from ristrettos, espressos, lungos, cappuccinos, latte macchiato, café latte, americano coffees, teas, etc. In particular, a coffee machine may be configured for dispensing espressos, e.g. an adjustable volume of <NUM> to <NUM> per portion, and/or for dispensing lungos, e.g. a volume in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> per portion.

The machine of the invention has an extraction unit for extracting a beverage ingredient capsule in an extraction chamber to form the beverage. The unit has a first part and a second part that are relatively movable between a distant position for inserting a capsule in and/or removing a capsule from the extraction chamber, and a close position for securing and extracting such capsule in the extraction chamber. In the close position the first and second parts typically delimit the extraction chamber.

The capsule can comprise a capsule body, e.g. a generally straight, tapered or disc shaped body. The capsule can have a circular peripheral annulus flange, e.g. a flexible or rigid flange, extending from a peripheral part, e.g. an edge or face, of the capsule body. The capsule may contain a flavoring ingredient for preparing tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food.

At least one part of the first and second parts may delimit a cavity for receiving the ingredient e.g. within a capsule, such as a tapered cavity, e.g. a conical or pyramidal cavity, or a straight cavity, e.g. a cylindrical or trapezoidal cavity, or a disc shaped cavity. Such cavity may extend along an axis that is generally collinear with a direction of relative movement of the first and second parts. The extraction chamber is then delimited on one side by such cavity.

The other part of these first and second parts may be delimited by another cavity and/or include an extraction plate, such as a plate provided with piercing elements for opening a flow-through face of the capsule or a non-intrusive plate for cooperating with a pre-opened or a self-opening flow-through face of the capsule.

Examples of extraction units are disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

At least one of these parts can have a capsule opener e.g. one or more capsule piercers.

The capsule can also include a self-opening mechanism. Self-opening capsules are for instance disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

When closed capsules are used, the first and second parts may include a capsule opener such as blades and/or a tearing tool, e.g. a plate with a tearing profile, for instance as known from Nespresso™ machines or as disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> and the references cited therein.

At least one of the parts may have an opening for an inflow of liquid to be mixed with an ingredient contained in such capsule.

The machine includes a control unit for controlling the extraction unit to extract such capsule. The control unit can be powered by the mains e.g. via an electric cord.

The machine has an outlet for dispensing the beverage formed by extracting such capsule to a user-receptacle, such as a cup or a mug, located in a receptacle placing area.

A flavoured beverage may be prepared by circulating (by means of a liquid driver, e.g. a pump) a carrier liquid, such as water, into the capsule to flavour the liquid by exposure to a flavouring ingredient held in the capsule, e.g. along an extraction direction that may be generally parallel to the direction of relative movement of the first and second parts or to a longitudinal or central direction of the extraction.

For instance, the user receptacle can be placed on a receptacle support to collect the beverage.

The receptacle support can be formed by an external placement support on which such machine is located.

The receptacle support may be formed by a support comprised by the machine, e.g. a movable or removable machine support.

The receptacle placing area can be associated with a machine recipient support for supporting such user-recipient under the outlet. The support can be: associated with a drip tray e.g. a drip tray supporting the support; and/or movable relative to the housing vertically under the outlet and/or away from under the outlet for enabling a placement of user-recipients of different heights under the outlet. Examples of suitable recipient supports are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

In embodiments, the outlet can be fixed to or formed by or mounted to or mounted in:.

For instance, the machine is provided with a machine head as disclosed in <CIT> and in <CIT>.

Examples of suitable waste receptacles for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The directing fluid guide can be entirely confined in the main body and/or the machine head.

Details of directing fluid guides that are suitable or adaptable for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The extraction unit can include a capsule feeder for feeding a capsule to the extraction chamber, the feeder having a capsule dispenser with a release configuration for releasing such capsule from the feeder towards the extraction chamber, and a retain configuration for retaining such capsule away from the extraction chamber.

The capsule dispenser can be formed by a mechanical and/or magnetic capsule gate, such as a capsule holder e.g. having a shape complementary to and matching at least part of an outer shape of such capsule.

The capsule holder may have a capsule gate that is movable, such as pivotable and/or translatable, between a position obstructing a transfer towards the extraction chamber and a position clearing the transfer towards the extraction chamber.

The capsule holder may have an actuator for passing from the retain configuration to the release configuration and vice versa, such as an actuator controlled by the control unit.

The capsule holder may be formed by at least a part of the first part and/or of the second part of the extraction unit, for example by a surface and/or an edge of the first and/or second part obstructing a transfer of the capsule towards the extraction chamber when the first and second parts are in the close position and/or when they are in an intermediary position between the distant position and the close position. The capsule holder is then actuated simultaneously with the first and second parts of the extraction unit.

Immediately after releasing a capsule towards the extraction chamber, the capsule dispenser may be passed from the release configuration to the retain configuration so that access towards the extraction chamber is only provided when needed to release a capsule.

The capsule feeder may include a passage for guiding such capsule to the extraction chamber into a predetermined capsule orientation for its entry into the extraction chamber such as a passage associated with capsule immobilizer for immobilizing such capsule between the first and second parts in their distant position prior to relatively moving them into their close position.

The interaction between the first and second parts (and optionally the capsule guiding passage) and an ingredient capsule may be of the type disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The control unit may control the capsule dispenser to release such capsule from the feeder when the first and second parts are in the distant position or moving towards the distant position, for an entry of such capsule into the extraction chamber when the first and second parts are brought back into their close position.

The control unit may control the capsule dispenser to retain such capsule at the feeder and away from the extraction chamber when the first and second parts are:.

The capsule feeder may include or be associated with a capsule sensor connected to the control unit, the control unit being configured to bring or maintain the capsule dispenser in its retain configuration when the capsule sensor senses no such capsule on or at the capsule dispenser. Examples of capsule sensors are for example disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The control unit can be configured to control the actuator so that the first and second parts are moved by the actuator: from the close position into the distant position and from the distant position into the close position after a predetermined period of time starting for example from a beverage preparation triggering event such as for example capsule detection, capsule recognition, user actuation of the machine's user interface, etc., or a combination thereof, for instance a predetermined period of time in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> sec, such as <NUM> to <NUM> sec, e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> sec.

Examples of such parts that are relatively moved by an actuator (e.g. a motor) are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

For instance, the first part and the second part are relatively movable generally along a straight axis by the actuator from the close to the distant positions and/or vice versa.

The machine may include a liquid supplier for supplying liquid, e.g. water, into the extraction chamber, the liquid supplier being connected to and controlled by the control unit to supply such liquid into the extraction chamber and to interrupt such supply, automatically and/or manually via a user-interface connected to the control unit and/or when a removal of such receptacle is detected by the detecting arrangement. For instance, the liquid supplier includes one or more of: a source of said liquid, such as a liquid tank or a liquid connector for connection to an external liquid provider; one or more liquid tubes for guiding such liquid to the extraction chamber; a liquid driver, such as a pump e.g. a solenoid pump (reciprocating piston pump) or a peristaltic pump or a diaphragm pump, for driving such liquid into extraction chamber; and a thermal conditioner, e.g. a heater and/or a cooler, such as an inline thermal conditioner, e.g. an inline flow conditioner, for thermally conditioning such liquid.

Examples of suitable liquid sources, e.g. tanks or connectors, are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and the references cited therein.

The thermal conditioner may be a boiler or a thermoblock or an on demand heater (ODH), for instance an ODH type disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Examples of pumps and their incorporation into beverage machines are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The control unit may be configured to control the liquid supplier to supply automatically the liquid into the extraction chamber when:.

In a particular embodiment, it is also contemplated to deliver cold or cooled beverages.

The control unit can be configured to control the liquid supplier not to supply automatically the liquid into the extraction chamber when the first and second parts have reached their close position without any (for instance detected or recognised) capsule housed in the extraction chamber. For instance, the control unit is configured to control the liquid supplier to supply the liquid into the extraction chamber upon sensing a corresponding manual user-input on a user-interface connected to the control unit.

The control unit may have an end-of-extraction management program which is run automatically when the liquid supply is interrupted (e.g. when a predetermined extraction process is over or is detected as faulty) to:.

For instance, prior to moving the first and second parts into their close position, the parts may remain into their distant position for a predetermined period of time, such as a period of time in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> sec. e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> sec, for allowing an insertion of a new capsule inbetween the first and second parts prior to relatively moving them into their close position with the new capsule housed in the extraction chamber for an extraction of the new capsule.

Hence, a user can request the dispensing of two (or more) portions of beverages (e.g. a double expresso) into the same user-recipient.

According to the invention, the machine for preparing and dispensing a beverage, such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food, comprises:.

wherein the capsule recognition module comprises a diffusor for diffusing the light of the at least one source of light towards the capsule recognition position.

Preferably, the diffusor forms a tapered cavity extending from the camera to the capsule recognition position, wherein the cavity preferably opens towards the capsule recognition position. The diffusor for example forms an essentially conical cavity. Alternatively, the diffusor forms a half-ellipsoidal cavity.

In embodiments, the diffusor comprises a structured inner surface in order to improve the diffusion of light within said inner surface.

The machine preferably further comprises a light guide for guiding light from the at least one source of light to the diffusor. The light guide for example comprises at least one light guiding protrusion for guiding light from the at least one source of light to the diffusor.

The diffusor is preferably configured to prevent direct reflection of light from the at least one source of light on a capsule located at the capsule recognition position.

Using a diffusor according to the invention allows avoiding reflections of light from the light source on a capsule located at the capsule recognition position and/or in the capsule recognition module that may lead to faulty lightning of the capsule and thus possibly to faulty capsule recognition. Using a diffusor according to the invention thus allows increasing the overall reliability of the beverage preparation machine, in particular of the capsule recognition module.

The invention further relates to a system for preparing a beverage. The system comprising the machine according to one of the attached claims and a plurality of predetermined capsules of different types recognizable by the capsule recognition module, wherein the beverage preparation machine is able to extract the plurality capsules of different types in order to prepare different beverages and/or different beverage styles.

The invention further relates to a use of a capsule for preparing a beverage, in particular with a machine according to one of the attached claims. In the use of a capsule for preparing and a beverage, the beverage preparation machine is able to extract the capsule in order to prepare a predetermined beverage among different beverages and/or different beverage styles, wherein the capsule is recognized by the capsule recognition module, and wherein the capsule is extracted in the extraction chamber applying extraction parameters determined on the basis of the recognised type of the capsule.

In an embodiment, In the use of a capsule for preparing and a beverage the type of the capsule is recognized by the capsule recognition module among a plurality of predetermined capsules of different types.

The invention will now be described with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein:.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a beverage machine <NUM> according to the invention for preparing and dispensing a beverage, such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food. The ingredient may be supplied in the form of an ingredient capsule, e.g. of the type described above under the header "Field of the Invention".

Machine <NUM> includes an extraction unit for extracting a beverage ingredient capsule to form a beverage. The extraction unit for example has a first part and a second part, preferably located inside the machine housing and thus not visible in <FIG>, that are relatively movable between a distant position for inserting and/or removing a capsule and a close position, such as a close position in which the first and second parts delimit an extraction chamber, for securing and extracting the capsule. For instance, at least one of the parts has a capsule opener e.g. one or more capsule piercers and/or at least one of the parts has an opening for an inflow of liquid to be mixed with an ingredient contained in the capsule.

Machine <NUM> includes a control unit located preferably inside the machine housing, for controlling the extraction unit to extract the capsules. The control unit may be powered by the mains, e.g. in a known manner via an electric cord or by a DC source, e.g. battery such as a car battery or portable battery or machine battery.

Machine <NUM> has an outlet <NUM> for dispensing beverages formed by extracting such capsules to a user-receptacle, not represented, such as a cup or a mug, located in a receptacle placing area <NUM> to collect the beverage.

In embodiments, outlet <NUM> is for example fixed to or formed by or mounted to or mounted in a machine head <NUM>, wherein the outlet <NUM> is located above the receptacle placing area <NUM>.

The extraction unit includes an actuator configured to relatively move the first and second parts between their relatively distant and close positions. The actuator is connected to the machine's control unit and controlled thereby to relatively move the first and second parts.

The control unit is connected to an input device for initiating and/or controlling the extraction unit. According to the invention, the input device comprises for example a user interface <NUM>, for example a touch screen.

With reference to <FIG>, the extraction unit may include a capsule feeder <NUM> for feeding a capsule to the extraction chamber, and a capsule recognition module <NUM> to recognise a type of a capsule fed to the extraction chamber. The capsule recognition module <NUM> for example recognizes a type of a capsule while such capsule is in a capsule recognition position <NUM> within the capsule feeder <NUM>, and before it is fed to the extraction chamber, which is not represented in the figures and for example located below the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

The machine preferably further comprises a capsule sensor, for example a mechanical and/or optical sensor, not represented, for sensing the presence of a capsule approaching and/or located in the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

The capsule feeder <NUM> can have retaining means, not represented, to hold a capsule at the capsule recognition position <NUM>. The retaining means typically have a release configuration for releasing the capsule from the capsule recognition position <NUM> towards the extraction chamber, for example under the action of gravity, and a retain configuration for retaining the capsule away from the extraction chamber, for example above the extraction chamber, in the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

The capsule feeder <NUM> can have a passage for guiding the capsule to the extraction chamber into a predetermined capsule orientation for its entry through the capsule recognition position, into the extraction chamber. The passage for example comprises guiding grooves <NUM> in which a flange of the capsule is inserted while the capsule travels through the passage, thereby keeping the capsule in a predetermined orientation preferably appropriate for its recognition by the capsule recognition module <NUM> and/or its insertion into the extraction chamber.

The control unit may control the retaining means to release the capsule from the capsule recognition position <NUM> when the first and second parts of the extraction unit are in the distant position or when they are moving towards the distant position, for an entry of the capsule into the extraction chamber when the first and second parts are brought back into their close position. The retaining means for example comprise a surface and/or an edge of the first and/or of the second part of the extraction unit.

The capsule recognition module <NUM> is preferably connected to the control unit and configured to recognize a type among predetermined capsule types of a capsule located in the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

As explained in more details further below, the capsule recognition module <NUM> recognizes a type of a capsule by capturing an image of said capsule and feeding it as input to a trained neural network computing device.

The control unit is for example configured to control the liquid supplier of the machine according to a liquid supply program associated with the capsule type, such as a liquid supply program with one or more adjusted supplied liquid parameters selected from a liquid temperature, flow, pressure and volume that is/are constant or variable during an extraction of the recognised capsule. For instance, the capsule type can be selected from a plurality of known, predetermined capsule types extractible in the machine's extraction chamber.

The capsule recognition module <NUM> is preferably positioned along the passage of the feeder <NUM>, at the height of the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

During use of the machine of the invention, the following steps can be carried out:.

According to the invention, the capsule recognition module <NUM> is configured to determine a type of a capsule inserted in the beverage preparation machine at the capsule recognition position <NUM> by capturing an image of said capsule and processing said image by a neural network computing device.

The beverage preparation machine typically allows extracting capsules of different types in order to prepare different beverages and/or different beverage styles. The different types of capsules extractible in the extraction chamber for example correspond to different ingredients contained therein and/or different ingredient conditioning.

In embodiments, each type of capsule corresponds to a particular type of coffee, which differs from the coffee contained in capsules of other types for example, but not exclusively, in one or more of its origin, its roasting degree, its grounding level, its quantity contained in the capsule and/or its caffeine content. Alternatively or in combination thereof, different types of capsules extractible in the beverage preparation machine <NUM> correspond to ingredients for the preparation of different beverages, such as for example coffee, milk, soup, baby milk, tea, cold beverages, etc..

Preferably, each type of capsule is associated with a specific aspect of the capsule, for example a colour or combination of colours, specific characters and/or drawings formed on the surface of the capsule, etc., thereby allowing for example a user visually differentiating capsules of different types. The neural network device of the capsule recognition module <NUM> comprises a neural network program preferably previously trained to recognize the type of a capsule based on a digital image of at least part of said capsule. The neural network device typically comprises a data processor for running the neural network program.

The machine <NUM> may be configured to extract each capsule using preparation parameters specific to the particular type of the capsule. The preparation parameters for example include one or more of: a carrier liquid temperature, a carrier liquid volume, an extraction time, a carrier liquid pressure, a carrier liquid type, a number of successive preparation phases, etc. The preparation parameters for use with each type of capsule extractible in the machine <NUM> are preferably stored in an internal or external data storage means connected or connectable with the control unit and/or with the capsule recognition module <NUM>. The appropriate preparation parameters for a particular capsule are selected on the basis of the capsule type determined by the capsule recognition module <NUM>, and they are used by the control unit for controlling the extraction of the recognised capsule.

The machine <NUM> may also be configured to store and/or to transmit to an external terminal and/or server information about the type of each capsule extracted in the machine, in order for example to monitor the capsule consumption at the machine <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the capsule recognition module <NUM> comprises a source of light, for example one or more white LEDs <NUM> or any other appropriate source of light, preferably with known and definite spectrum, a camera <NUM>, for example a CCD camera, and a neural network computing device, not represented in the figures, for example in the form of a microcontroller, a microprocessor or another appropriate computing device configured to run a neural network computer program. The capsule recognition module <NUM> preferably further comprises a controller, not represented on the figures, for example but not exclusively an ASIC or a programmable microcontroller, for controlling the source of light, the camera <NUM> and the neural network computing device. Alternatively, the neural network computing device and the controller of the capsule recognition module are the same component or integrated as a single component. The controller of the capsule recognition module <NUM> is for example configured for switching the source of light on and off and/or for receiving and handling the signals from the camera <NUM>. The source of light, the camera <NUM>, the neural network computing device and the module's controller are preferably attached, for example soldered, to an electronic board <NUM>, typically a PCB, providing them in a known manner with the necessary power and data connections and/or interconnections. The controller is preferably connected to and controlled by the control unit of the machine <NUM>.

Preferably, the capsule recognition module <NUM> further comprises a light guide <NUM> and a diffusor <NUM> for guiding light emitted by the source of light towards the capsule recognition position <NUM> and/or for limiting the light received by the camera <NUM> preferably to the light reflected by a capsule located at the capsule recognition position <NUM> in order to avoid sensing parasitic light, for example environmental light.

Preferably, the source of light is an extended source of light. In embodiments, the source of light for example comprises a plurality of LEDs <NUM> that are preferably equally distributed, for example around the camera <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiments, the source of light for example comprises four LEDs <NUM> distributed around the camera <NUM>, of which only two are schematically illustrated in <FIG>. Extended sources of light of other types and/or distributions are however possible within the frame of the invention, such as for example a ring-shaped source of light encircling the camera <NUM>.

The light guide <NUM> is for example in the form of an essentially transparent cover associated with, for example at least partly covering, the light source and/or the camera <NUM>. The cover comprises for example openings or other guiding means for guiding the light to and from the capsule recognition position <NUM>, through the diffusor <NUM>. In the embodiment schematically illustrated on <FIG>, the light guide <NUM> for example comprises light guiding protrusions <NUM>, each protrusion <NUM> extending from a LED <NUM> of the light source towards the diffusor <NUM> in order to guide light emitted by the LED <NUM> into the diffusor <NUM>.

The light guide <NUM> and/or the diffusor <NUM> are preferably configured such as to avoid light emitted by the light source to directly reach the capsule recognition position <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the light guiding protrusions <NUM> are for example configured such that a majority of the guided light is directed into the diffusor <NUM> against a portion of the inner wall of the diffusor where it will be reflected, hence in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the diffusor <NUM> that extends from the camera <NUM> to the capsule position recognition <NUM>. The extremities of the light guiding protrusions <NUM> on the side of the diffusor <NUM> are for example bevelled at <NUM>° such that most of the guided light is reflected on the bevelled surface and directed towards the diffusor <NUM> at an angle essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the diffusor <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the diffusor <NUM> comprises a preferably light coloured, for example white, and opaque element forming a truncated conical cavity opening towards the capsule recognition position <NUM>. Other shapes are however possible for the diffusor within the frame of the invention. The diffusor however preferably forms a tapered cavity extending from the camera <NUM> to the capsule recognition position, opening preferably towards the capsule recognition position.

The diffusor <NUM> is preferably configured to avoid reflections on a capsule located at the capsule recognition position <NUM> and/or in the capsule recognition module that may lead to faulty lightning of the capsule and thus possibly to faulty capsule recognition. The inner surface of the diffusor <NUM> is for example textured in order to improve the diffusion of the light traveling from the light source to the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

The diffusor <NUM> optionally comprises openings and/or protruding elements that interrupt and/or deviate the light rays emitted from the light source in the direction of the capsule recognition position <NUM>. Alternatively or in combination thereof, the diffusor is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material and light from the light source is guided, for example by the light guide, through the walls of the diffusor, thus resulting in light being refracted in a distributed manner out of the diffusor wall and into the cavity in front of the capsule recognition position.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a diffusor <NUM> that, according to the invention, comprises protruding elements <NUM> formed on its inner surface in order to prevent light, for example light guided by the light guide <NUM> and exiting the light guide <NUM> through the light guiding protrusions <NUM>, from reaching directly the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the light guide <NUM> forms a half-ellipsoidal cavity opening towards the capsule recognition position <NUM>, the camera <NUM> being preferably located at the end opposite the capsule recognition position <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the protruding elements <NUM> at least partly cover the extremities of the light guiding protrusions <NUM> of the light guide <NUM>. The aim of the protruding elements <NUM> is to block light refracted out of the bevelled extremity of the light guiding protrusions <NUM> in a direction close to the longitudinal axis of the diffusor <NUM>, in order to avoid that such light reaches the capsule recognition position <NUM> directly, i.e. without being first reflected at least once by the inner wall of the diffusor <NUM>. The protruding elements <NUM> of the diffusor <NUM> however preferably comprise an opening configured to allow light refracted towards the inner wall of the diffusor <NUM> to enter the diffusor's cavity.

Optionally, the machine <NUM> comprises a capsule detector for detecting a capsule located in or approaching the capsule recognition position <NUM>. The capsule detector is for example comprised in the capsule recognition module <NUM>, preferably attached to, for example soldered on, the electronic board <NUM>. Other dispositions of the capsule detector are however possible within the frame of the invention. The capsule detector may be of any appropriate type, for example a presence and/or movement detector, such as an infrared (IR) detector, an inductive and/or resistive detector, a mechanical switching element, etc. The capsule detector is for example controlled by the controller of the capsule recognition module <NUM> or directly controlled by the control unit of the machine.

In embodiments, when a capsule is approached to and/or placed in the capsule feeder <NUM> at the capsule recognition position <NUM>, the capsule detector detects the presence of the capsule and sends a corresponding signal to the controller and/or to the machine's control unit, which activates the source of light <NUM> to illuminate at least part of the surface of the capsule located at the capsule recognition position <NUM>. The camera <NUM> is in turn activated to capture an image of at least part of the illuminated capsule. The captured digital image is then fed to and treated by the neural network computing device in order to determine a type of the capsule. In other embodiments, for example if the machine does not comprise any capsule detector, the capsule recognition module <NUM>, in particular the source of light <NUM> and the camera <NUM>, is activated for example by a user actuation of the machine's user interface, for example by the actuation of a beverage selector.

Preferably, the camera <NUM> is a CCD sensor or any appropriate camera that provides a digital image of at least part of the capsule, for example a colour or a grey-scale image. The image is fed as input data to the neural network computing device that will run the neural network computer program using this input data, in order to determine the type of capsule, wherein the parameters of the neural network, in particular its synaptic weights and biases, have been previously set during training of the neural network implemented by the neural network computer program.

The neural network for determining a type of a capsule according to the invention is trained manually and/or automatically, for example on a training bench comprising a capsule feeder for feeding capsules of various types to one or more capsule recognition positions, each capsule recognition position of the training bench being provided with a camera for taking a picture of at least part of each capsule fed at the corresponding capsule recognition position. Preferably, the lightning and image capturing conditions in the capsule recognition positions of the training bench are similar to those at the capsule recognition position in the beverage preparation machine. The captured images are then fed as input to a computing device running the neural network computer program of the invention. The output of the program, i.e. of the neural network, for each image is compared with the actual type of the corresponding sample capsule and the result of the comparison is fed back to the program in order for it to adjust the neural network parameters, in particular the weights and/or biases of one or more synaptic connections.

Once a desired rate of successful recognition is achieved, the neural network is preferably considered as sufficiently trained and the neural network program with the adjusted parameters may be for example copied and loaded into neural network computing devices integrated or to be integrated into beverage preparation machines of the invention.

The neural network computer program of the invention may be updated to recognize a new type of capsule by a new training session according to the scheme described above, with capsules including capsules of the new type. Once the new type of capsule is learned by the neural network, the computer program with updated parameters may be copied and loaded into the neural network computing devices of functional machines for updating their capsule recognition module to the newer version. Optionally, one capsule type of the various recognized capsule types corresponds to capsules unknown to the machine.

Training of the neural network computer program of the invention is preferably performed on a training bench outside the beverage preparation machine. The conditions of capturing images of the sample capsules are however preferably similar or even identical to the conditions in the machine.

An example of a suitable architecture for the neural network implemented by the neural network computer program of the invention is summarized in the table below:.

According to this example, the neural network is a convolutional neural network comprising twelve layers, with a first convolutional layer having an input size of 128x128x1. The neural network thus typically expects a <NUM> pixels by <NUM> pixels grey-scale image as its input and performs a <NUM>-way classification. The neural network for example comprises five basic layers: three convolutional layers followed by two fully-connected ones. Every convolutional layer uses kernels of size 3x3x1 with a stride of <NUM> and no padding, to produce <NUM> output feature maps. Each convolution is followed by ReLU non-linearity and a max-pooling sub-sampling operation. The outputs of the feature extraction part are then fed into a two-layer fully-connected classifier, for example a LogSoftMax classifier. The hidden layer of the classifier is for example built from sixty-four neurons and uses a ReLU activation function as well.

Preferably, before the image data inputs are forwarded through the neural network of the invention, a three-step preprocessing is carried out on them. In a first preprocessing step, the data is preferably centered around zero by subtracting the mean activation calculated over the entire training set for each pixel. In a second preprocessing step, the data is divided by the global standard deviation of the data set in order to normalize the range of input values. In a third and last preprocessing step, a local contrast normalization is performed with a thirteen-by-thirteen Gaussian weighting window in order to amplify edges in the picture.

Claim 1:
Machine (<NUM>) for preparing and dispensing a beverage, such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold chocolate, milk, soup or baby food, such machine (<NUM>) comprising:
- an extraction unit for extracting a beverage ingredient capsule to form said beverage, e.g. a unit having a first part and a second part that are relatively movable between a distant position for inserting and/or removing a capsule and a close position, such as a close position in which the first and second parts delimit an extraction chamber, for securing and extracting such capsule, optionally at least one of said parts has a capsule opener e.g. one or more capsule piercers and/or at least one of said parts has an opening for an inflow of liquid to be mixed with an ingredient contained in such capsule;
- a control unit for controlling the extraction unit to extract such capsule, such as a control unit powered by the mains e.g. via an electric cord;
- an outlet (<NUM>) for dispensing said beverage formed by extracting such capsule to a user-receptacle, such as a cup or a mug, located in a receptacle placing area, such as on a receptacle support e.g. an external placement support on which such machine (<NUM>) is located or a machine support e.g. a movable or removable machine support, to collect said beverage,
- a capsule recognition module (<NUM>) for recognizing a capsule inserted in said machine (<NUM>) at a capsule recognition position (<NUM>), the capsule recognition module comprising a camera (<NUM>) for capturing an image of at least part of said capsule in said capsule recognition position (<NUM>),
- at least one source of light, for example at least one LED (<NUM>), to light up a capsule at said capsule recognition position (<NUM>),
wherein the capsule recognition module (<NUM>) comprises a diffusor (<NUM>) for diffusing the light of said at least one source of light towards said capsule recognition position (<NUM>),
characterized in that the diffusor (<NUM>) further comprises protruding elements (<NUM>) formed on its inner surface in order to prevent the light from reaching directly the capsule recognition position (<NUM>).