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 ▼

We claim: 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 adapted to receive a beverage dispense request, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulati

We claim: 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 adapted to receive a beverage dispense request, 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 low level drivers firmware for controlling the microcontroller; and modifying the low level drivers firmware to interface the microcontroller with the beverage dispenser components. 2. The method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: substituting one beverage dispenser component for another similar beverage dispenser component; and modifying the low level drivers firmware to interface the microcontroller with the substituted beverage dispenser component. 3. The method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: substituting one valve interface for another different valve interface; and modifying the low level drivers firmware to interface the microcontroller with the substituted valve interface. 4. The method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising substituting components of the valve interface, thereby changing the dispense ratio through physical means. 5. The method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: substituting electronic control system hardware for existing electronic control system hardware; and modifying the low level drivers firmware to interface the substituted electronic control system hardware. 6. The method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the program memory further includes supervisory control firmware and dispenser tasks firmware comprising at least one dispenser tasks firmware state machine. 7. The method of designing a beverage dispenser or re-configuring an existing beverage dispenser according to claim 6, further comprising: removing a beverage dispenser component; modifying the low level drivers firmware whereby the microcontroller does not interface with the removed beverage dispenser component; removing a dispenser tasks firmware state machine for the removed beverage dispenser component; and modifying the supervisory control firmware whereby the supervisory control firmware does not call the removed dispenser tasks firmware state machine.