Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining a location of a personal care device with respect to a skin surface of a subject, the personal care device being configured to perform a personal care treatment to the skin when in contact with the skin surface. The method includes receiving data representative of a measured degree of curvature of the skin surface within a first region of the skin surface of the subject, with which the personal care device is in contact; determining, by comparing the measured degree of curvature with curvature information for a plurality of regions of the skin surface of the subject contained in a database, an indication of a location of the first region of the skin surface on the subject; and performing, based on the determined indication of the location of the first region, an action in respect of the personal care device. A processing apparatus, a system, a personal care device, and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.

Abstract: A domestic beverage dispensing device includes a conduit for supplying the beverage from keg to a tap and a cooling member. The cooling member has a passage surrounded by heat conductive material. A disposable tube of deformable material forms at least a part of the conduit and extends through the passage. The deformability of the material of the disposable tube is such that the outer surface of the wall of the tube abuts against the inner surface of the passage when the beverage is pressurized.

Abstract: There is provided a device (100) for use in determining a hydration level and/or lipid level of skin (200). The device (100) comprises at least two electrodes (102) configured to provide an electrical signal to the skin (200) and a spacer (104) arranged such that the at least two electrodes (102) provide the electrical signal to the skin (200) at different penetration depths (106, 108). The device (100) also comprises a detector (110) configured to measure a response received from the skin (200) at the different penetration depths (106, 108) for use in determining the hydration level and/or lipid level of the skin (200).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

Abstract: A heat sensitive actuator uses a shape memory material layer which is thermally stimulated to change shape, in response to a rise in temperature, from a first shape at a first temperature to a second shape at a second temperature. A layer stack is associated with the shape memory material layer, and it can adopt the first shape at the first temperature. In this way, the layer stack is used to return the shape memory material to its original shape after cooling.

Abstract: A coffee grinder having a grinding tool (20) for grinding coffee beans, a motor (30) for driving the grinding tool (20), a stall detector (41) for detecting a stall condition of the grinding tool (20) and/or of the motor (30), and a reversal unit (40) configured to temporarily reverse a direction of rotation (28,28?) of the grinding tool (20) and/or of the motor (30) if the stall detector (41) detects a stall condition. Further, a corresponding coffee grinding method and a coffee machine having a coffee grinder are presented.

Abstract: At least two consumables of a set for use in a beverage dispenser wherein each consumable includes a filtering body defining a space containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained by use of liquid, and a recognition element representing a surface of the filtering body configured to face a plurality of nozzles of the beverage dispenser that provide a flow of liquid through the consumable. The recognition element has a mechanical property, which is recognizable and/or interpretable by the beverage dispenser when said beverage dispenser obtains a sensor signal by sensing a flow characteristic of the flow of liquid, when the flow of liquid through the consumable is started by the plurality of nozzles. Said mechanical property is different for each type of consumable of the set of consumables so that a characteristic of said sensor signal depends on the mechanical property of the recognition element.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

Abstract: A coffee dispensing apparatus includes a base and an at least one nozzle. Further, base and nozzle are arranged such that the dispensed coffee flows via inner upstanding wall of a standard sized coffee container.

Abstract: A heat sensitive actuator utilizes a bilayer of shape memory material, each layer thermally stimulated to change shape at a different temperature, to generate two-way actuation functionality. The second layer—with higher phase-change temperature—brings up greater intrinsic force in its high temperature phase than the first, and in this way is able to be used to reset the actuator to its initial shape after being deformed by the first layer at a lower temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way the system comprises a plurality of magnetic and/or electric field elements (31, 32, 33, 301) for separately sensing a magnetic and/or electric field, wherein said consumable comprises one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements (42, 51, 61, 71, 81, 82, 91, 92) and the sensed magnetic fields depend on at least one characteristic of the one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements, a driver (34) for providing drive currents to said magnetic and/or electric field elements, and a signal processor (35) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on the sensed magnetic and/or electric fields.

Abstract: A heat sensitive actuator uses a shape memory material layer which is thermally stimulated to change shape, in response to a rise in temperature, from a first shape at a first temperature to a second shape at a second temperature. A layer stack is associated with the shape memory material layer, and it can adopt the first shape at the first temperature. In this way, the layer stack is used to return the shape memory material to its original shape after cooling.

Abstract: A coffee dispensing apparatus (200) includes a base (210) and an at least one nozzle (208). Further, base (210) and nozzle (208) are arranged such that the dispensed coffee flows via inner upstanding wall (214a) of a standard sized coffee container (212). The coffee thus collected in the container has an aesthetically improved crema.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of consumables comprising at least two consumables for use in a beverage dispenser for preparation of a beverage. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way each consumable (4, 40, 50, 60) of said set comprises a filtering body (41) defining a space containing a food substance, from which the beverage is obtained by use of liquid, and a recognition element (42) representing a surface of the filtering body facing a plurality of nozzles of the beverage dispenser for recognizing the type of consumable, said plurality of nozzles being provided for providing a flow of liquid through the consumable. The recognition element (42) has a mechanical property, which is recognizable and/or interpretable by the beverage dispenser by obtaining a sensor signal by sensing a flow characteristic of the flow of liquid, when the flow of liquid through the consumable is started by the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way an embodiment of the system comprises a light source (31, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341) for emitting light (35) to the consumable (4a, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), a light sensor (32 302, 312, 322, 332, 342) for sensing light (36) reflected from a reflection element (42, 52, 63, 73, 83, 93) of the consumable to obtain a sensor signal, wherein the sensor signal depends on the position, orientation, fluorescence, phosphorescence and/or polarization characteristic of said reflection element, and a signal processor (33) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on said sensor signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumable recognition system for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable containing a food substance for the preparation of a beverage by use of a beverage dispenser. To enable the recognition of placement and/or type of consumable in a simple, foolproof and easily implementable way the system comprises a plurality of magnetic and/or electric field elements (31, 32, 33, 301) for separately sensing a magnetic and/or electric field, wherein said consumable comprises one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements (42, 51, 61, 71, 81, 82, 91, 92) and the sensed magnetic fields depend on at least one characteristic of the one or more magnetically and/or electrically conductive elements, a driver (34) for providing drive currents to said magnetic and/or electric field elements, and a signal processor (35) for recognizing placement and/or type of consumable based on the sensed magnetic and/or electric fields.

Abstract: A coffee grinder is presented that comprises a grinding tool (20) for grinding coffee beans, a motor (30) for driving the grinding tool (20), a stall detector (41) for detecting a stall condition of the grinding tool (20) and/or of the motor (30), and a reversal unit (40) configured to temporarily reverse a direction of rotation (28, 28?) of the grinding tool (20) and/or of the motor (30) if the stall detector (41) detects a stall condition. Further, a corresponding coffee grinding method and a coffee machine comprising a coffee grinder are presented.