STRAW CUP ASSEMBLY AND CUP
The present disclosure provides a straw cup assembly, including: a cup body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall; and a straw, an end of which is connected to the side wall and/or the bottom wall, the straw comprises an optical fiber configured to emit light according to a preset condition associated with a liquid within the cup body. The present disclosure also provides a cup provided with such optical fiber.
The present application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/070843, filed on 11 Jan. 2017, which has not yet published, and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610330541.X, filed on May 18, 2016, the references of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDEmbodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to technical field of drinking tool, and particularly, to a straw cup assembly and a cup.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTA straw cup is well known as a common drinking tool in daily life. The straw cup includes a cup and a straw, so that people sucks water or other liquid beverage in the cup through the straw.
A conventional straw cup cannot provide any intelligent interactive function, which means that people's drinking plan completely depends on his/her initiative. It is needed positively a cup or a straw cup which can actively remind people to drink and thus provide interest when drinking. Thus, this type of straw cup is useful to people who is busy, particularly to children who have no habit of drinking.
SUMMARYAn object of the present disclosure is to provide a straw cup assembly and a cup which can provide an additional intelligent function of emitting light with respect to a conventional cup.
According to an embodiment of an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a straw cup assembly comprising: a cup body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall; and a straw, an end of which is connected to at least one of the side wall and the bottom wall, the straw comprises an optical fiber configured to emit light according to a preset condition.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom wall of the cup body comprises:
an optical signal transmitter configured to emit a preset optical signal to the optical fiber;
a pressure sensor configured to detect a weight of a liquid within the cup body and to provide a detection result;
a processor electrically connected with the optical signal transmitter and the pressure sensor and configured to receive the detection result from the pressure sensor and control the optical signal transmitter to transmit the preset optical signal according to the received detection result; and
a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the optical signal transmitter, the processor and the pressure sensor.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cup body has a double-layer structure including an inner cup body and an outer cup body, and a receiving space is defined between the inner cup body and the outer cup body; and
the optical signal transmitter, the processor, the pressure sensor and the power supply are arranged in the receiving space.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the straw further comprises a straw body comprising an inner cylindrical layer and an outer cylindrical layer, and the optical fiber is arranged between the inner cylindrical layer and the outer cylindrical layer.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical fiber extends into the receiving space of the cup body.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the straw comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged uniformly in a circumferential direction of the straw and an adhesive is filled among the plurality of optical fibers.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical signal transmitter, the processor, the pressure sensor and the power supply are integrated onto a first surface of a circuit board, and a second surface of the circuit board, opposite from the first surface, is connected to a bottom surface of the inner cup body in the receiving space.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer cup body comprises a side wall portion and a bottom cover portion, and the bottom cover portion is removably connected to the side wall portion to enclose the circuit board.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom cover portion is threadedly connected with the side wall portion.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical signal transmitter comprises:
an electrical-to-optical converter configured to convert an electrical signal from the processor into an optical signal; and
a laser configured to emit the optical signal from the electrical-to-optical converter into the optical fiber.
The laser may be integrated into the electrical-to-optical converter, or may be provided separately from the electrical-to-optical converter.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of a bottom portion of the inner cup body corresponding to the pressure sensor is made of an elastic material.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the straw cup assembly further comprises:
a cover component configured to cover an opening of the cup body; and
the cover component comprises an aperture through which the straw passes.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the preset condition comprises the amount of the liquid within the cup body being maintained to be constant within a certain time period.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the preset condition includes the amount of the liquid within the cup body being reduced.
According to an embodiment of another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cup, comprising: a cup body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall; the cup further comprises an optical fiber provided in the side wall of the cup body, and the optical fiber is configured to emit light according to a preset condition.
In order to make objects, technical schemes and advantages of the present disclosure more definite, the present disclosure will be further described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawings.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. In the description, similar or same component or element is indicated by similar or same reference symbol. The description of the embodiment by reference to the drawings is intended to show a general concept of the present disclosure, instead to limit the present disclosure.
In addition, in the following description, for convenient for interpretation, much specific detail is described to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments. However, obviously, one or more embodiments may be implemented without the specific detail. In other situations, known structure and device are illustrated in manner of view so as to simply the drawings.
In an embodiment, as shown in
According to an exemplary embodiment, the optical signal transmitter 31 includes an electrical-to-optical converter 311 configured to convert an electrical signal from the processor 32 into an optical signal and a laser 312 configured to emit the optical signal from the electrical-to-optical converter 311. The laser 312 may be integrated into the electrical-to-optical converter 311, or may be provided separately from the electrical-to-optical converter. The laser 312 may be coupled or connected to the extending portion 26 of the optical fiber 23 that extends out of the straw 20, so as to transmit the optical signal towards the optical fiber 23. An optical fiber connection interface, an optical fiber connection line or the like may be provided between the laser 312 and the extending portion 26 of the optical fiber 23.
According to an embodiment of the present, as shown in
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical signal transmitter 31, the processor 32, the pressure sensor 33 and the power supply 34 are integrated onto a surface of a circuit board 35 (referring to
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of the bottom portion of the inner cup body 111 corresponding to the pressure sensor 33 is made of an elastic material such that the pressure sensor 33 may effectively sense a change of a weight of the liquid within the cup body 10.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in
In the straw cup assembly of the present disclosure, the optical fiber may be configured to emit light according to the preset condition by setting a corresponding program in the processor 32 to control lighting conditions and manners of the optical fiber 23. The program may be implemented by a single-chip computer. The preset condition may be for example a condition related to the liquid within the cup body.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the preset condition includes the amount of the liquid within the cup body 10 being maintained to be constant within a certain time period. In this case, the straw cup assembly 1 may be configured such that, when the liquid within the cup body 10 is sucked through the straw 20, an electrical resistance measured by the pressure sensor 33 is changed as the liquid level within the cup body 10 is dropped and the amount of the liquid is reduced. In response to the change of the detected weight of the liquid, the processor 32 initiates the optical signal transmitter 31 to drive the laser 312 to discontinuously emit a series of pulse signals, imitating a flowing of water and thus increasing interest of drinking of people.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the preset condition includes the amount of the liquid within the cup body 10 being reduced. In this case the straw cup assembly 1 may be configured such that, when the pressure sensor 33 detects the weight of the liquid within the cup body 10 is not changed within a certain time period, the processor 32 initiates the optical signal transmitter 31 to drive the laser 312 to emit a twinkling optical signal, making the straw 20 twinkle continuously and thus reminding a user that it is time to drink. In addition, the processor 32 may be further configured to control the optical signal transmitter 31 to emit light of different color according to the amount of the liquid within the cup body 10, so as to indicate the amount of the liquid remained within the cup body 10.
As described above, in the straw cup assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the straw includes or is provided with the optical fiber and the optical fiber is configured to emit light according to the preset condition, such that the straw cup assembly is capable of providing an intelligent interactive function, such as reminding drinking, adding interest of drinking or the like.
According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, the optical fiber 23 shown in
In the cup according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the cup body includes or is provided with the optical fiber therein and the optical fiber is configured to emit light according to the preset condition. Thus, the cup may provide an intelligent interactive function, such as reminding drinking, increasing interest of drinking and the like.
The above embodiments are merely exemplary to interpret the principle and structure of the present disclosure, instead to limit the present disclosure. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any modification and improvement made to the present disclosure without departing from the general concept of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims of the present application. It is noted that the word “include” or “comprise” is not exclusive of other element or step, and wordings “a” or “an” is not exclusive of more. In addition, any reference symbols in claims shall not be understood to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A straw cup assembly, comprising:
- a cup body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall; and
- a straw, an end of which is connected to at least one of the side wall and the bottom wall,
- wherein the straw comprises an optical fiber configured to emit light according to a preset condition.
2. The straw cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the cup body comprises:
- an optical signal transmitter configured to emit a preset optical signal to the optical fiber;
- a pressure sensor configured to detect a weight of a liquid within the cup body and to provide a detection result;
- a processor electrically connected with the optical signal transmitter and the pressure sensor and configured to receive the detection result from the pressure sensor and control the optical signal transmitter to transmit the preset optical signal according to the received detection result; and
- a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the optical signal transmitter, the processor and the pressure sensor.
3. The straw cup assembly according to claim 2, wherein
- the cup body has a double-layer structure including an inner cup body and an outer cup body, and a receiving space is defined between the inner cup body and the outer cup body; and
- the optical signal transmitter, the processor, the pressure sensor and the power supply are arranged in the receiving space.
4. The straw cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein the straw further comprises a straw body comprising an inner cylindrical layer and an outer cylindrical layer, and the optical fiber is arranged between the inner cylindrical layer and the outer cylindrical layer.
5. The straw cup assembly according to claim 3, wherein the optical fiber extends into the receiving space of the cup body.
6. The straw cup assembly according to claim 5, wherein the straw comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged uniformly in a circumferential direction of the straw and an adhesive is filled among the plurality of optical fibers.
7. The straw cup assembly according to claim 3, wherein the optical signal transmitter, the processor, the pressure sensor and the power supply are integrated onto a first surface of a circuit board, and a second surface of the circuit board, opposite from the first surface, is connected to a bottom surface of the inner cup body in the receiving space.
8. The straw cup assembly according to claim 7, wherein the outer cup body comprises a side wall portion and a bottom cover portion, and the bottom cover portion is removably connected to the side wall portion to enclose the circuit board.
9. The straw cup assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bottom cover portion is threadedly connected with the side wall portion.
10. The straw cup assembly according to claim 2, wherein the optical signal transmitter comprises:
- an electrical-to-optical converter configured to convert an electrical signal from the processor into an optical signal; and
- a laser configured to emit the optical signal from the electrical-to-optical converter into the optical fiber.
11. The straw cup assembly according to claim 3, wherein a part of a bottom portion of the inner cup body corresponding to the pressure sensor is made of an elastic material.
12. The straw cup assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a cover component configured to cover an opening of the cup body; and
- the cover component comprises an aperture through which the straw passes.
13. The straw cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition comprises the amount of the liquid within the cup body being maintained to be constant within a certain time period.
14. The straw cup assembly according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition includes the amount of the liquid within the cup body being reduced.
15. A cup, comprising:
- a cup body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall;
- wherein the cup further comprises an optical fiber provided in the side wall of the cup body, and the optical fiber is configured to emit light according to a preset condition.
16. The cup according to claim 15, wherein the bottom wall of the cup body comprises:
- an optical signal transmitter configured to emit a preset optical signal to the optical fiber;
- a pressure sensor configured to detect a weight of a liquid within the cup body and provide a detection result;
- a processor electrically connected to the optical signal transmitter and the pressure sensor and configured to receive the detection result from the pressure sensor and control the optical signal transmitter to transmit the preset optical signal according to the received detection result; and
- a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the optical signal transmitter, the processor and the pressure sensor.
17. The cup according to claim 16, wherein
- the cup body has a double-layer structure including an inner cup body and an outer cup body, and a receiving space is defined between the inner cup body and the outer cup body; and
- the optical signal transmitter, the processor, the pressure sensor and the power supply are arranged in the receiving space.
18. The cup according to claim 17, wherein the optical fiber is arranged in the receiving space.
19. The cup according to claim 18, wherein the optical signal transmitter, the processor, the pressure sensor and the power supply are integrated onto a first surface of a circuit board, and a second surface of the circuit board, opposite from the first surface, is connected to a bottom surface of the inner cup body in the receiving space.
20. The cup according to claim 19, wherein the outer cup body comprises a side wall portion and a bottom cover portion, and the bottom cover portion is removably connected to the side wall portion to enclose the circuit board.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 11, 2017
Publication Date: Jun 7, 2018
Inventors: Weiqing Guo (Beijing), Lu Tong (Beijing), Hong Wang (Beijing)
Application Number: 15/552,143