Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods and machine readable programs. In some implementations, the systems, methods and machine readable programs can be used for selecting coffee cups or mugs of particular shapes with the objective of accentuating particular flavor notes in coffee as experienced by a user. In further implementations, the systems, methods and machine readable programs can be used for recommending an infusible extract based on a drinking vessel.

Abstract: In order to measure distances precisely, a receiver device for determining a distance from an object is proposed, comprising: a receiver having a semiconductor structure with a photosensitive region for generating photo-induced charge carriers, which region faces the rear side, and having a transportation region, which faces the front side, wherein the photosensitive region and the transportation region are spatially separated from one another by a separation layer which has a passage between the photosensitive region and the transportation region, wherein the transportation region has an arrangement of at least two gates lying one next to the other, at least one of the gates thereof being located in the overlapping region of the passage.

Abstract: Spectrometer for recording a spectrum, in particular in a wavelength range of 250 nm to 1150 nm, comprising: a sensor array and a filter array for filtering the radiation depending on the wavelength, wherein, in order to reduce production costs, provision is made of a device for identifying the sensor pixels covered by the filter array, having a nonvolatile memory in which the coordinates of the filter array in relation to the sensor array and/or the coordinate transformation of the filter array in relation to the sensor array are/is stored in order to assign the sensor pixels to the individual filter pixels on the basis of the stored coordinates and/or coordinate transformation and/or in order to activate the individual filter pixels depending on which of the sensor pixels are covered by the corresponding filter pixels.

Abstract: A steaming pitcher comprising a flow receiving surface adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at a substantially oblique angle provides enhanced control of fluid flow inside the steaming pitcher to enhance mixing and heating of the fluid by the incoming steam. The steaming pitcher may also comprise flow directing and launching surfaces to assist in control of fluid flow patterns. A flow control kit with a flow receiving surface may be installed in an existing flat-bottom steaming pitcher to provide aspects of fluid flow control. The flow receiving, flow directing and launching surfaces of the steaming pitcher may be substantially smooth, faceted, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container, to define a first chamber containing the mixture of infusible material and extract. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber; the second surface includes extract flow openings which permit flow of extract from the first chamber into the second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of an infusion extractor are provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that can have vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. In some implementations, the plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: A rotary encoder system for registering the rotary angle position and/or angular speed of a rotary shaft which extends along an axis of rotation, including at least two optical marks at the rotary shaft, an optical sensor with a pixel matrix having pixel points, an imaging device for imaging each mark in a substantially axial direction on the pixel matrix as a mark image, and an evaluation device for reading and evaluating the pixel matrix in order to determine data in relation to the rotary angle position and/or angular speed. Further, the marks, the imaging device and pixel points are embodied in such a way that the mark images on the pixel matrix have at least the area of a pixel point, and the evaluation device is embodied to establish the location of the centroids of the mark images on the pixel matrix.

Abstract: A steaming pitcher comprising a flow receiving surface adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at a substantially oblique angle provides enhanced control of fluid flow inside the steaming pitcher to enhance mixing and heating of the fluid by the incoming steam. The steaming pitcher may also comprise flow directing and launching surfaces to assist in control of fluid flow patterns. A flow control kit with a flow receiving surface may be installed in an existing flat-bottom steaming pitcher to provide aspects of fluid flow control. The flow receiving, flow directing and launching surfaces of the steaming pitcher may be substantially smooth, faceted, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container, to define a first chamber containing the mixture of infusible material and extract. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber; the second surface includes extract flow openings which permit flow of extract from the first chamber into the second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

Abstract: An infusion extractor is provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that has vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. The plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.