초록 ▼

A device and a related method of operation of the device for continuously monitoring the progress of a steeping beverage during the steeping process is disclosed which provides an indication to the user when the steeping beverage has reached an adjustable, desired level of steeping to thereby enable

A device and a related method of operation of the device for continuously monitoring the progress of a steeping beverage during the steeping process is disclosed which provides an indication to the user when the steeping beverage has reached an adjustable, desired level of steeping to thereby enable the making of a consistently steeped beverage without requiring the steeping operation to be timed or otherwise closely monitored. The device optically monitors the steeping beverage by using a photo diode to detect light from an LED which passes through a fixed measurement aperture immersed in the steeping beverage. By determining when the passage of light through the measurement aperture has decreased to a predetermined level indicative of both the color and the strength of the steeping beverage, an alarm may be provided to indicate that the beverage has steeped to precisely the strength desired.

대표청구항 ▼

A device for measuring the strength of tea or a like steeped beverage, comprising: a light source; means for detecting light generated by said light source and for producing a signal proportional to the amount of light from said light source which is detected; a mounting member for supporting said l

A device for measuring the strength of tea or a like steeped beverage, comprising: a light source; means for detecting light generated by said light source and for producing a signal proportional to the amount of light from said light source which is detected; a mounting member for supporting said light source and said light detecting means in a fixed, spaced-apart relationship with an open measurement aperture located therebetween, said light source and said light detecting means being relatively oriented toward each other such that light generated by said light source will fall directly upon said light detecting means, and such that the greatest possible amount of light generated by said light source will be detected by said light detecting means, said mounting member being adapted to be placed into tea as the tea is being steeped; and means for producing an alarm signal when said signal from said light detecting means reaches a predetermined, variable threshold value.