초록 ▼

A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic

A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system includes a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve. The electronic control system further includes a program memory with firmware configured in a state machine system architecture for controlling the microcontroller. The state machine system architecture supports either a non-preemptive or a preemptive multitasking real time operating system. The firmware includes supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser, comprising: providing beverage dispenser components, comprising at least: a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing v

1. A method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser, comprising: providing beverage dispenser components, comprising at least: a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve; providing an electronic control system, comprising: a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, and a program memory including supervisory control firmware, dispenser tasks firmware, and low level drivers firmware for controlling the microcontroller; adding a beverage dispenser component; modifying the low level drivers firmware to interface the microcontroller with the added beverage dispenser component; adding a dispenser tasks firmware state machine; and modifying the supervisory control firmware to call the added dispenser tasks firmware state machine. 2. A method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser, comprising: providing beverage dispenser components, comprising at least: a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve; providing an electronic control system, comprising: a microcontroller for monitoring the user interface and for activating the valve interface responsive to user input, thereby regulating the delivery of a beverage from the dispensing valve, and a program memory including dispenser tasks firmware for controlling the microcontroller; inputting ratio control parameters associated with a beverage dispense into the program memory; and modifying a beverage dispense state machine of the dispenser tasks firmware utilizing the inputted ratio control parameters.