초록 ▼

An enhancement control system that can be used as part of an enhanced water system to produce enhanced filtered water is described. The enhancement control system includes at least one enhancement delivery element that can dispense an enhancement(s) into filtered water in response to an enhancement

An enhancement control system that can be used as part of an enhanced water system to produce enhanced filtered water is described. The enhancement control system includes at least one enhancement delivery element that can dispense an enhancement(s) into filtered water in response to an enhancement delivery instruction(s). The enhancement control system can also include an input element that can enable transmittal of the enhancement delivery instruction(s) from a user to the enhancement delivery element(s). The control system can also include a memory element that can store information about the user and the user's preferences and information about the enhanced water system. The control system can also include a communication element that can provide information from the enhanced water system to the user. The control system can also include a monitor element that can gather data from outside the enhanced water system, such as user health information or environmental information, and provide the data to the enhanced water system. In some embodiments, a control logic element can be used to coordinate and control operation of the elements of the enhanced water system.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An enhanced water system for producing a sewing of enhanced filtered water, comprising: i. a housing; ii. an inlet for source water; iii. an outlet to dispense filtered water; iv. a filter in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; wherein the source water flows from the inl

We claim: 1. An enhanced water system for producing a sewing of enhanced filtered water, comprising: i. a housing; ii. an inlet for source water; iii. an outlet to dispense filtered water; iv. a filter in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; wherein the source water flows from the inlet through the filter and out the outlet as filtered water; v. an enhancement delivery element disposed outside the housing, said delivery element including a dispensing unit; and wherein the enhancement delivery element is operative to selectively dispense a first enhancement at the outlet in response to a first enhancement delivery instruction. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement adds no significant flavor to the filtered water. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement comprises no more than 5 wt % of the serving of enhanced filtered water. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional enhancements wherein the first enhancement and the one or more additional enhancements together comprise no more than 5 wt % of the serving of enhanced filtered water. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the filtered water has a temperature no higher than about 50° C. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement delivery instruction specify a type of the first enhancement and a dose of the first enhancement. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory element, the memory element operative to store information about each user and about a status of the enhanced water system. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor element capable of providing outside information to the enhanced water system. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement comprises no more than 3 wt % of the serving of enhanced filtered water. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement comprises no more than 1.5 wt % of the serving of enhanced filtered water. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the filtered water has a temperature no higher than about 40° C. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the input element is a device type selected from the group consisting of mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, sonic, optical, remote control, and combinations thereof. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing unit is a dispenser type selected from the group consisting of mechanical dispenser, electrostatic dispenser, magnetic dispenser, electromagnetic dispenser, and combinations thereof. 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication element for providing at least some information from the enhanced water system to a user. 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the information comprises information entered into the input element and information stored in a memory element of the enhanced water system. 16. The system of claim 14 wherein the communication element is also operative to receive input from a user. 17. The system of claim 8 wherein the monitor element can receive information wirelessly from a remote source. 18. The system of claim 8 wherein the monitor element comprises: i. a first health monitor element; and ii. optionally, a first environmental monitor element. 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first health monitor element is operative to provide user health information selected from the group consisting of weight, the results of tests of body functions and the results of tests of chemical composition of body fluids. 20. The system of claim 18 wherein the first environmental monitor element can provide environmental information selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, air quality, source water quality, and filtered water quality. 21. The system of claim 1, further comprising: i. an input element operative to enable transmittal of the first enhancement delivery instruction from a user to the enhancement delivery element; ii. optionally, a memory element operative to store information about the user and information about the enhanced water system; iii. optionally, a communication element operative to provide information from the enhanced water system to the user; iv. optionally, a monitor element operative to gather data from outside the enhanced water system and provide the data to the enhanced water system; and v. a control logic element capable of coordinating and controlling operation of the elements of the enhanced water system. 22. The system of claim 21 wherein the control logic element is operative to execute an algorithm to modify the first enhancement delivery instruction before transmitting the instruction to the first enhancement delivery element, the algorithm using one or more data selected from the group consisting of information from the input element, information from the communication element, programs and records from the memory element, and information from the monitor element. 23. The system of claim 1 wherein the enhancement delivery element includes a disposable cartridge with a reservoir for holding the first enhancement and the dispensing unit. 24. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement mixes with a serving of filtered water as it exits the system. 25. The system of claim 4 wherein the first enhancement and the one or more additional enhancements together comprise no more than 3 wt % of the serving of enhanced filtered water. 26. The system of claim 4 wherein the first enhancement and the one or more additional enhancements together comprise no more than 1.5 wt % of the serving of enhanced filtered water. 27. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input element for producing an input signal in response to activation by a user, the input signal operative to enable transmittal of the first enhancement delivery instruction to the enhancement delivery element. 28. The system of claim 27 wherein the input signal contains the first enhancement delivery instruction. 29. The system of claim 27 wherein the input signal invokes the first enhancement delivery instruction from a memory element. 30. The system of claim 27 wherein the input signal further comprises information selected from the group consisting of sets of executable instructions, and programs for first enhancement delivery. 31. The system of claim 27 wherein the input signal further comprises information selected from the group consisting of user identity, personal profile, and enhancement preferences. 32. The system of claim 27 wherein the input signal further comprises information selected from the group consisting of physical symptoms and anticipated physical needs. 33. The system of claim 31 wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of user health information, enhancement delivery programs, timing of enhancement delivery, repetition of enhancement delivery, enhancement delivery status, types and amounts of enhancements dispensed, types and amounts of enhancements set to be dispensed at a later time, environmental information, amounts of enhancement supplies, expiration dates of enhancement supplies and total dispensing history and status.