Patents by Inventor Natarajan Venkatakrishnan

Natarajan Venkatakrishnan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240148029
    Abstract: This application generally relates to incorporating edible oil into beverage products. One example can involve adding an edible oil to a container of a beverage appliance. The beverage appliance can then be actuated. When actuated, the beverage appliance can incorporate the edible oil into a beverage or a topping associated with a beverage product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Howard D. Schultz, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Jeffrey J. Chapman, Amy E. Dilger, Leslie A. Wolford
  • Patent number: 11889941
    Abstract: A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Joseph E. Gormley
  • Patent number: 11871866
    Abstract: A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Joseph Emil Gormley
  • Patent number: 11842543
    Abstract: A camera system can provide an in-store experience to a remote user according to some aspects described herein. In one example, a system can receive images from a camera that is oriented toward a display case at a physical location. The system can analyze the images to identify different types of objects in the display case. The system can then provide information about the different types of objects identified in the display case to a user device of a user that is remote from the physical location. The user device can receive the information and generate a graphical user interface that displays the information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Kathryn K. Young
  • Publication number: 20230225549
    Abstract: A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Natarajan VENKATAKRISHNAN, Joseph Emil GORMLEY
  • Publication number: 20230133724
    Abstract: A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Joseph E. Gormley
  • Publication number: 20230038010
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a system for creating color-customizable customized beverages (e.g., adding various color ingredients to a beverage to customize the color of the beverage). The system may obtain color mappings (e.g., manual color mappings) that map particular color ingredients to particular colors. The system can generate a three-dimensional color map based on the color mappings to identify additional color mappings. The system can receive a request for a particular beverage with a particular color, and based on the three-dimensional color map, the system can identify a color mapping for the particular color. The system can output an instruction set for the color mapping and/or can cause an automated dispensing platform to dispense one or more particular color ingredients for the beverage based on the color mapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jennica Mjelde, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20230021411
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Andrew Corlett, Jonathan Levey, Brandon Michael Roberts
  • Patent number: 11535504
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Andrew Corlett, Jonathan Levey, Brandon Michael Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220297995
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Andrew Corlett, Jonathan Levey, Brandon Michael Roberts
  • Patent number: 11440784
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Andrew Corlett, Jonathan Levey, Brandon Michael Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220257044
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for brewing a desired portion of a beverage, such as an individual serving portion of coffee, are provided. Certain aspects of this disclosure are directed toward a bulk hopper replacement unit, or individual serving feed hopper adapter, that is configured to be docked with an open hopper slot of a bulk hopper assembly of an existing automated bulk coffee brewing system that is typically used to prepare bulk beverages using coffee beans stored in bulk hoppers connected to the system. For example, the individual serving feed hopper adapter can advantageously allow the existing automated bulk coffee brewing system to prepare an individual serving portion of a particular beverage that involves use of ingredients (e.g., coffee beans) that are not currently stored in one of the bulk hoppers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Joseph Emil Gormley
  • Publication number: 20210369038
    Abstract: A modular brewing system is described for providing hot water and managing power to multiple brew tower modules using a single centralized boiler and power management module so as to limit the number of high-power circuits required in a coffeehouse or store. The boiler and power management module manages power of components of the centralized boiler assembly and any brew tower modules connected thereto, including the boiler heaters, the grinder motors, and the brew chamber heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Joseph Emil Gormley
  • Publication number: 20210221667
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to an automated modular dispensing platform for creating customized beverages (e.g., using various sauces, syrups, sweeteners, colors and/or flavors added to a base beverage). The automated dispensing platform may simultaneously aggregate beverage modifiers or ingredients (e.g., sweetener, flavor, and/or color) and facilitate automated, efficient cleaning cycles for modular beverage dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Andrew Corlett, Jonathan Levey, Brandon Michael Roberts
  • Patent number: 9696728
    Abstract: In one aspect, a water supply system for a waste disposal may include first and second supply conduits fluidly connected to separate water supplies, with the first supply conduit having a first discharge end and the second supply conduit having a second discharge end. The system may also include a disposal conduit fluidly connected to the first and second supply conduits. The disposal conduit may be spaced apart from the first and second conduits such that an air gap is defined between an inlet end of the disposal conduit and the first and second discharge ends. The inlet end may be configured to receive water expelled from the first and second supply conduits. Moreover, an outlet end of the disposal conduit may be configured to be in fluid communication with an inlet of the waste disposal such that water directed through the disposal conduit is received within the disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Emil Gormley, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9688546
    Abstract: A water filter assembly having one or more electrical connections with a removable filter cartridge is provided. The electrical connections can be used to provide power to, and/or communication with, one or more electrical components incorporated into the filter cartridge. Wire form contacts are used to provide the electrical connections. The wire form contacts can be incorporated into a variety of different water filter assembly configurations having a removable filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9687764
    Abstract: Audible features are provided for a fluid filter assembly and a filter cartridge for use with a fluid filter assembly. The audible features generate sound when the filter cartridge is installed in the filter system so as to provide a signal indicating proper installation. Sound can also be created when the filter cartridge is removed. The filter system can also be provided with features for reducing clogging of the fluid path leading to the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Reinhard Krause, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Kevin Farrelly Nolan
  • Patent number: 9599364
    Abstract: An electrochemical compressor type heat pump system is described. An electrochemical compressor compresses a mixed gas refrigerant whereby heat from the compression can be used to heat an object. The electrochemical compressor is capable of producing high pressure gas from a mixed fluid system including an electrochemically-active component, such as hydrogen, and at least one refrigerant fluid, for example water. Any suitable proton associable compound, such as any suitable ionic or polar solvent compound, may be used in the mixed gas refrigerant. The electrochemical compressor may be configured in a hot water heater along with a secondary type heating source to produce a hybrid hot water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Xergy LTD
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, William Paul Parmelee, Steven K Naugler, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Brent Alden Junge
  • Patent number: 9533894
    Abstract: A filtering system is provided that includes at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a filter cartridge. The temperature measurements can used to determine whether the filter cartridge is at an increased risk of suffering a leak due to a crack of other material failure caused by exposure to certain temperatures. More than one temperature sensor may be used. The temperature measurements can also be used to determine whether one or more corrective actions should be taken such as e.g., providing a notification to a user and/or shutting of a flow of fluid to the filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Stephen Bernard Froelicher, Andrew Reinhard Krause, Mariano Pablo Filippa
  • Patent number: 9366388
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Reinhard Krause, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Jonathan Charles Crosby, Tyler James Doering