WIRELESS ELECTRICAL TEMPERATURE REGULATOR FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGES
A cup or plate for heating food or beverages is disclosed. The cup/plate contains a heating component, which may keep consumable goods, such as food and beverages at a desired temperature. An insulated external layer may be placed between the heating component and the external portion of the cup/plate. A wireless power receiver may be coupled to the heater component to receive an electrical power source and transfer it to the heater component. A transmitter element may form pockets of energy at the location of the different receivers to be used as power sources.
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The present disclosure is related to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 13/891,430 filed May 10, 2013, entitled “Methodology For Pocket-forming”; Ser. No. 13/925,469 filed Jun. 24, 2013, entitled “Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming”; Ser. No. 13/946,082 filed Jul. 19, 2013, entitled “Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-forming”; Ser. No. 13/891,399 filed Jul. 22, 2013, entitled “Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission”; and Ser. No. 13/891,445 filed Jul. 22, 2013, entitled “Transmitters for Wireless Power Transmission” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by these references.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present disclosure relates to an accessory for managing desired temperatures for consumable goods, such as beverages and food, and more particularly to an electric accessory using wireless power transmission to manage temperature in beverages and food.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSome foods or beverages when consumed are generally preferred hot. These foods and beverages may not be desirable once they have cooled off. The use of devices for heating and maintaining food and beverages at a desired temperature is known in the art. These devices typically include insulating elements to limit the rate of heat loss from heated food or liquids. However, some of these devices are generally not able to keep food or beverages hot for an extended period of time. Other devices may be able to keep food or beverages hot by applying a heat source; however, these devices may require a constant electric power source or a controlled flame in order to keep consumables at a desired temperature. Such devices may be tedious and may represent a burden to consumers. For example, a consumer may need to find available power sources, such as a power outlet in a wall to connect the device to. In another example, a flame may use to heat food or beverages, but may be inconvenient, uncomfortable or hard to manage. Therefore, a need exists for a convenient and easy to implement device for maintaining food or beverages at desirable temperatures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed here is a cup system whereby liquids, such as beverages, may be controllably heated to, or maintained at, a desired temperature using wireless power transmission. The system includes a cup coupled with a heating component that may induce heat into beverages. The heating component may receive electrical energy from a transmitter through a wireless receiver.
In another embodiment a plate system is disclosed whereby foods may be controllably heated to or maintained at a desired temperature using wireless power transmission. The system includes a plate coupled with a heating component that may induce heat into food. The heating component may receive electrical energy from a transmitter through a wireless receiver.
A method for wireless electrical temperature regulation, comprising the steps of: emitting power RF waves from a transmitter generating pockets of energy through pocket-forming to converge in 3-d space; coupling receivers to a food or beverage receptacle; capturing the pockets of energy at the receivers; and powering or charging a heating or cooling regulating component connected to the receiver within the receptacle.
Numerous other aspects, features and benefits of the present disclosure may be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing prior art, the figures represent aspects of the present disclosure.
“Pocket-forming” may refer to generating two or more RF waves which converge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns.
“Pockets of energy” may refer to areas or regions of space Where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves.
“Null-space” may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energy do not form because of destructive interference patterns of RE waves.
“Transmitter” may refer to a device, including a chip which may generate two or more RE signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted and gain adjusted with respect to other RF signals, substantially all of which pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RE signals are directed to a target.
“Receiver” may refer to a device which may include at least one antenna, at least one rectifying circuit and at least one power converter for powering or charging an electronic device using RE waves.
“Adaptive pocket-forming” may refer to dynamically adjusting pocket-forming to regulate power on one or more targeted receivers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, which may not be to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims, are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
Cup 400 may also include a sensor that may determine the temperature of a beverage. Sensor information may then be sent by communications component 310 from receiver 300 to a transmitter 200. The information may then be analyzed by micro-controller 208 in order to adjust accordingly and transmit the appropriate amount of energy to the electrical resistor and subsequently transfer the energy as heat to temperature regulating component 402.
Plate 500 may also include a sensors that may determine the temperature of food. Sensor information may then be sent by communications component 210 to a transmitter 200. The information may then be analyzed by micro-controller 208 in order to adjust accordingly and transmit the appropriate amount of energy to the electrical resistor and subsequently transferred as heat to temperature regulating component 402.
In another embodiment, small rechargeable batteries such as those used in small watches may be included in electrical heaters as those described in
is a coffee shop in which hot beverages are served using cups 400 described in
is a restaurant in which food is served using plates 500 described in
is a Bar in which cold drinks are served using cups 400 described in
Claims
1. A method for wireless electrical temperature regulation, comprising the steps of:
- Emitting power RF waves from a transmitter generating pockets of energy through pocket-forming to converge in 3-d space; coupling receivers to a food or beverage receptacle; capturing the pockets of energy at the receivers; and
- powering or charging a heating or cooling regulating component connected to the receiver within the receptacle.
2. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, wherein the heating regulating component is an electrical resistance to dissipate electrical energy as heat within the receptacle.
3. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a cup for heating a beverage.
4. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, wherein the container is a plate for heating the food.
5. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, wherein the cooling regulating component is a thermoelectric cooler within the receptacle operated by the Peltier effect.
6. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, wherein the receiver communicates to the transmitter through short RF signals sent through antenna elements within the receiver to regulate heating or cooling power.
7. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 6, wherein the short RF signals are standard wireless communication protocols including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee or FM radio.
8. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, further includes the step of utilizing adaptive pocket-forming to regulate the pockets of energy to power the receiver for heating or cooling the receptacle.
9. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, further including the step of regulating the temperature of the receptacle with an electrical switch on a housing of the receptacle for turning heat or cooling on or off.
10. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 3, wherein the cup includes an external layer to serve as a thermal insulator.
11. The method for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 1, wherein the temperature regulating component uses gas expansion or magnetic cooling.
12. A wireless electrical temperature regulator, comprising:
- a transmitter for pocket-forming to send controlled radio frequency waves to converge into pockets of energy in 3-d space; and
- a receiver for capturing the pockets of energy to charge or power the temperature regulator within a receptacle housing to heat or cool a food or a beverage.
13. The wireless electrical temperature regulator of claim 12, wherein the receiver is embedding in the housing with an electric switch to turn on and off the power.
14. The wireless electrical temperature regulator of claim 12, wherein the temperature regulator includes an electrical resistance to dissipate electrical energy as heat.
15. The wireless electrical temperature regulator of claim 12, wherein the temperature regulator includes a thermoelectric cooler.
16. The wireless electrical temperature regulator of claim 12, wherein the temperature regulator uses the Peltier effect to heat or cool the receptacle.
17. The wireless electrical temperature regulator of claim 15, wherein the temperature regulator utilizes gas expansion or magnetic cooling to regulate the temperature of the receptacle.
18. An apparatus for wireless electrical temperature regulation, comprising:
- a pocket-forming transmitter for transmitting power RF waves to form pockets of energy to power the apparatus;
- a receiver connected to a receptacle for capturing the pockets of energy; and
- a temperature regulating component connected to the receiver for heating or cooling the receptacle, containing a food or beverage.
19. The apparatus for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 18, further including an electrical switch connected to the receiver for turning on or off the power to the temperature regulating component.
20. The apparatus for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 18, wherein the receptacle includes a sensor to determine and to set the temperature for the food or beverage.
21. The apparatus for wireless electrical temperature regulation of claim 18, wherein the temperature regulating component utilizes the Peltier effect, gas expansion or magnetic cooling to regulate the temperature of the receptacle.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2015
Applicant: DvineWave Inc. (San Ramon, CA)
Inventors: Michael A. Leabman (San Ramon, CA), Gregory Scott Brewer (Livermore, CA)
Application Number: 13/960,560
International Classification: B65D 81/34 (20060101); F25B 21/02 (20060101);