GB2625780A

GB2625780A - In-vehicle beverage maker as well as a vehicle with the in-vehicle beverage maker and method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker

Info

Publication number: GB2625780A
Application number: GB2219637.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vakiti Karthik; Goek Alper
Original assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2022-12-23
Filing date: 2022-12-23
Publication date: 2024-07-03
Also published as: GB202219637D0; DE102023004977A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an in-vehicle beverage maker 10 comprising a water reservoir 14 for receiving water 16 for making a respective beverage 20. The beverage maker comprises a dispenser opening(s) 18 for dispensing the beverage into a drinking vessel 22 and a heat exchanger 38 configured to be supplied with drive system coolant 42. The component may comprise an electric machine(s) for driving the vehicle and may comprise a battery 12. The component may also comprise an internal combustion engine. The heat exchanger may be adjacent to the water reservoir. The beverage maker may comprise a heating/colling chamber 36 located downstream from the heat exchanger and that can be electrically operated and supplied with water from the reservoir and configured to heat the water when it flows through the chamber. A method of using the beverage maker is also disclosed. A vehicle comprising the beverage maker which is configured to perform the method is also disclosed.

Description

IN-VEHICLE BEVERAGE MAKER AS WELL AS A VEHICLE WITH THE IN-VEHICLE BEVERAGE MAKERAND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE IN-VEHICLE BEVERAGE

MAKER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle beverage maker. The present invention further relates to a vehicle with the in-vehicle beverage maker and a method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] DE 10 2019 003 413 Al shows a motor vehicle comprising a hot beverage preparation device. Furthermore, US 2020037808 shows an in-vehicle coffee maker assembly. Moreover, US 2007039477 shows an in-vehicle coffee maker including a coffee mug and a brewing station. US 4875408 shows a beverage maker for use in an automotive vehicle. US 2021133468 shows an action recognition method. FR 2929189 Al shows a motor vehicle. Furthermore, US 4303109 A shows a beverage dispenser holder being radially mountable on a vehicle dashboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In-vehicle beverage makers may provide an advantageous feature for vehicle operators and/or passengers who may request and/or need a hot beverage such as coffee or tea. However, the vehicle may benefit from the in-vehicle beverage maker to heat the water for the beverage. By pre-heating the water for the beverage with the present invention, heat from components in a drive system such as the battery, electric motor, and/or engine may be utilized to increase energy efficiencies and reduce impacts on the life cycle of the components. For example, the present invention includes an energy efficient way of heating the water based on the status of the vehicle and energy sources such as 12V, 48V, high voltage battery and/or hot fluids within vehicle.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle beverage maker, a vehicle that includes the in-vehicle beverage maker such that beverages may be made in a particularly efficient way. Additionally, the present inventions includes a method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker.

[0005] This object is solved by an in-vehicle beverage maker having the features of patent claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of patent claim 9. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method having the steps of patent claim 10, a corresponding computer program product, and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, by which to initiate and provide pre-heated water for a beverage. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the present invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention relates to an in-vehicle beverage maker which includes a water reservoir for receiving water for making a respective beverage. The water reservoir is also referred to as a water tank. Preferably, the water is received in the water tank. Moreover, preferably, the water is potable water. From the water received in the water reservoir, said beverage may be made. The in-vehicle beverage maker further includes at least one dispenser opening for dispensing the beverage made from the water into a drinking vessel that may be located in a receiving space of the beverage maker. For example, said drinking vessel may be component of the in-vehicle beverage maker according to the present invention.

[0007] The in-vehicle beverage maker according to the present invention further includes a heat exchanger configured to be supplied with a coolant for cooling at least one component of a drive system for driving the vehicle. Preferably, the coolant may be a liquid. For example, the vehicle includes a heating/cooling circuit or a heat exchanger circuit through which said coolant can flow. Said component of the drive system may be arranged in the heating/cooling circuit that may also be referred to as a coolant circuit such that the coolant can flow through the component. Thereby, the component can be cooled by the coolant in such a way that heat can pass from the component to the coolant thereby cooling the component and heating the coolant. Since the heat exchanger may be supplied with the coolant, the coolant can flow through the heat exchanger. According to the present invention, the heat exchanger may be configured to transfer the heat from the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger to the water thereby heating the water in the water reservoir. Thus, the water can be heated, in particular pre-heated using the heat provided by the component, coolant, and the heating/cooling circuit. For example, said heat provided by the component may include waste heat which can be now used to heat or pre-heat the water. Thereby, the beverage can be made in a particularly efficient way. Preferably, the beverage is a hot beverage. In other words, the beverage maker may be configured to make beverage as a hot beverage. Thereby, the beverage maker may be configured or operated as a hot beverage maker. For example, the hot beverage may be a coffee or another hot beverage.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention includes the in-vehicle beverage maker that may be configured to perform a brewing process for making the beverage. In the brewing process, the heat from the coolant may be used to heat, in particular pre-heat, the water, wherein the beverage is made by or in the brewing process. The beverage maker and/or vehicle may include an electronic computing device including at least non-transitory memory for implementing the computer program product. The method for operating the beverage maker includes the following steps. The electronic computing device may determine a request for the beverage, and the request may be based on at least one of a driver request or a drowsiness detection. For example, the request may be provided with a manual command such as a voice command from the driver, a selection in a software application, a schedule, and/or the drowsiness detection from a device in the vehicle.

[0009] The electronic computing device may detect water in the water reservoir and a coffee/tea capsule in the capsule chamber for the beverage. The electronic computing device may further detect an indicator from a component of the drive system for the vehicle. For example, the electronic computing device may detect the state of charge of the battery for storing electrical energy and operating an electric machine in the vehicle. In a different embodiment, the electronic computing device may detect another status of the vehicle and energy sources such as the 12V, 48V, high voltage battery, and/or hot fluids within the vehicle.

[0010] Said component is or includes at least one electric machine for, in particular electrically, driving the vehicle. The present invention relates to a vehicle, at least the vehicle which is at least in part electrically operated, including at least the electrical energy storage device such as a battery. The vehicle may also be a fully electrically operated motor vehicle.

[0011] Alternatively or additionally, the component may be or include a battery for storing electrical energy for operating at least one electric machine for, in particular electrically, driving the vehicle. Preferably, said battery includes a high-voltage battery having an electrical voltage, in particular an electrical operating or nominal voltage, which is greater than 50 Volts, in particular greater than 60 Volts. Preferably, the electrical voltage, in particular the electrical operating or nominal voltage, of the high-voltage battery may provide several hundred volts of electrical energy.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, electrical energy stored in the battery may be used to heat the water, in particular in the brewing process. The electronic computing device may utilize the in-vehicle beverage maker to pre-heat the water for the beverage with a heating/cooling circuit. The heating/cooling circuit may include a heat exchanger, a coolant, a valve, and the component of the drive system. The beverage maker may then provide the heated water for the driver and/or passenger by dispensing the pre-heated water through a dispenser opening into a drinking vessel.

[0013] For pre-heating the water, for example, the in-vehicle beverage maker may include an electrically operable heating/cooling chamber which may be operated by electrical energy stored in the battery. Moreover, the heating/cooling chamber may include a flow heater and may be configured to be supplied with the water from the water reservoir, wherein, for example the heating/cooling chamber may be configured to heat the water flowing from the water reservoir through the flowmeter. In other words, the water from the water reservoir may flow through the heating/cooling chamber which may heat the water using electrical energy stored in the battery. Thus, the water may be heated in a particularly efficient way. Moreover, the brewing process may be performed in a particularly energy efficient way. For example, in a method of operating the in-vehicle beverage maker a combination of heat in the coolant and electrical energy stored in the battery may be used to heat the water, in particular to a brewing temperature. For example, the heat in the coolant may be used to pre-heat the water using a heat transfer from the component to the coolant. For example, due to different ways of initiating the brewing process based on a status of the vehicle, a particularly energy efficient way to perform the brewing process may be initiated.

[0014] For example, the water may be heated on the basis of a status of the vehicle. If, for example, a temperature of the component is low such that the coolant may not be heated by the component, the water may be electrically heated by the heating/cooling chamber. If, for example, the temperature of the component is sufficiently high such that the component may heat the coolant, the water may be heated by the coolant. For example, if the water may be heated to a sufficiently high temperature by the coolant, the water may not need to be heated by the heating/cooling chamber. For example, if the water may not be heated to a sufficiently high temperature by the coolant, the water may be heated by both, the coolant and the heating/cooling chamber such that a sufficiently high temperature of the water may be reached.

[0015] Moreover, the present invention provides a beverage option for a driver of the vehicle if, for example, a drowsiness of the driver is detected. Thus, for example, the vehicle, in particular the in-vehicle beverage maker, may include a sensor device configured to detect a drowsiness of the driver. If, by the sensor device, a drowsiness of the driver is detected, a preparation process for making a beverage may be started or initiated, in particular automatically. For example, said preparation process may be said brewing process. Thus, for example, in the preparation process, the water for making the beverage may be heated by the coolant and/or by the heating/cooling chamber in the heating/cooling circuit. Moreover, for example, the present invention allows for creating a recurring schedule or request, in particular from a software application, for initiating said brewing process.

[0016] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle including at least one in-vehicle beverage maker according to the first and second aspect of the present invention. For example, the beverage maker may be positioned in a center console of the vehicle. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first and second aspect of the present invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous of the third aspect of the present invention and vice versa.

[0017] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone may be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The novel features and characteristic of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this present disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an in-vehicle beverage maker.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram for illustrating a first embodiment of a method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram for illustrating a second embodiment of the method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram for illustrating a third embodiment of the method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker.

[0023] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0025] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0026] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise' does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0027] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the present disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows, in a schematic view, an in-vehicle beverage maker 10. Thus, for example, a vehicle such as a passenger vehicle may include the in-vehicle beverage maker 10 which may also be referred to as a beverage maker or a drink maker. For example, the beverage maker 10 may be configured to make hot drinks such as hot coffee and/or hot tea. Moreover, for example, the beverage maker 10 may be configured to make cold drinks such as cold water and/or cold coffee and/or cold tea. For example, the beverage maker may be part of a vehicle architecture which may use one or more vehicle energy sources. For example, one of the energy sources may include a battery 12 of the vehicle. For example, the battery 12 may be configured as a low voltage battery having an electrical voltage of less than 48 Volts, in particular of less than 30 Volts and in particular of less than 20 Volts. Moreover, for example, the battery 12 may have an electrical voltage of more than 40 Volts, such that, for example, the electrical voltage of the battery 12 may be 48 Volts. Moreover, for example, the battery 12 may be configured as a high-voltage battery having an electrical voltage of more than 60 Volts. Moreover, for example, a second one of the vehicle energy sources may be a fluid, such as a coolant 42 which will be described in greater detail below. For example, the beverage maker 10 may be operated by an interface such as a software application and an electronic computing device configured to receive inputs from a person such as a driver of the vehicle. For example, said inputs may be manual and/or verbal inputs such that, for example, the beverage maker 10 may be operated by voice commands. Particularly, the beverage maker 10 within the vehicle may provide a luxury experience for said person.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, the beverage maker 10 includes a water reservoir 14 which may be also referred to as a water tank. The water reservoir 14 may be configured to receive water 16 for making a respective beverage 20. In other words, said beverage 20 may be made from the water 16 received in the water reservoir 14. The beverage maker 10 further includes at least one dispenser opening 18 for dispensing the beverage 20 made from the water 16 into a drinking vessel 22. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the drinking vessel 22 may be a cup. For example, the beverage maker 10 may include a receiving space 24 for receiving the drinking vessel 22. The dispenser opening 18 may open into the receiving space 24 where the drinking vessel 22 may be located. Thereby, the person may arrange the drinking vessel 22 in the receiving space 24. Subsequently, the beverage maker 10 may be activated such that the beverage maker 10 may performs the preparation process by or in which the beverage 20 may be made. For example, the preparation process may be a brewing process. In the preparation process, the beverage 20 made from the water 16 from the water reservoir 14 may flow through the dispenser opening 18 and into the receiving space 24. Since the drinking vessel 22 is arranged in the receiving space 24 and under the dispenser opening 18, the beverage 20 flowing through the dispenser opening 18 may flow into the drinking vessel 22. Subsequently, the person may drink the beverage 20 from the drinking vessel 22. As shown in Fig. 1, the beverage maker 10 may include a capsule chamber 26 in which a capsule 28 may be arranged. The capsule 28 includes a raw material such as coffee grounds from which the beverage 20 is made in such a way that the water 16 from the water reservoir 14 may be guided to and through the capsule chamber 26. The water 16 flowing through the capsule chamber 26 may flow through the capsule 28 and, in particular, through the raw material contained in the capsule 28. The water flowing through the capsule 28 and the capsule chamber 26 may flow out of the capsule chamber 26 and through the dispensing opening 18 such that the beverage 20 made from the water 16 and the raw material may be dispensed by the dispenser opening 18.

[0030] For example, the receiving space 24 and/or the capsule chamber 26 may be located in a central console of the vehicle. If, for example, the beverage 20 is made as a cold drink, the water 16 may be not be heated. Moreover, for example, if the beverage 20 is made as a cold drink, the water 16 may be cold. If, for example, the beverage 20 is made as a hot drink, the water 16 from the water reservoir 14 is, in particular, heated, which will be explained in greater detail below.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the beverage maker 10 includes at least one duct 30 through which water 16 from the water reservoir 14 may flow. By the duct 30, the water 16 may be guided from the water reservoir 14 to the capsule chamber 26. The beverage maker 10 includes a pump 32 arranged in the duct 30. By the pump 32, the water 16 may be pumped from the water reservoir 14 to and through the capsule chamber 26. For example, the pump 32 may be configured as a displacement pump, in particular, as a vibrating displacement pump. For example, the beverage maker 10 further includes a flowmeter 34 arranged in the duct 30. By the flowmeter 34, an amount such as a mass flow and/or a volume flow of the water flowing through the duct 30 may be measured.

[0032] Beverage maker 10 may include an electrically operable heating/cooling chamber 36. As shown in Fig. 1, the flowmeter 34 may be arranged upstream of the pump 32 and downstream of the water reservoir 14. The heating/cooling chamber 36 may be arranged in the duct 30, wherein the heating/cooling chamber 36 may be arranged downstream of the pump 32 and upstream of the capsule chamber 26. By electrically operating the heating/cooling chamber 36, the water flowing through the duct 30 and the heating/cooling chamber 36 may be electrically heated by the heat exchanger circuit 40 that may include the heating/cooling chamber 36, the heat exchanger 38, and the coolant 42. As illustrated in Fig. 1, for example, the heating/cooling chamber 36 may be electrically operated by electrical energy stored in the battery 12, such that, for example, electrical energy stored in the battery 12 may be used to electrically heat the water 16 on its way from the water reservoir 14 to and through the capsule chamber 26. The beverage 20 may also be referred to as a drink. The beverage 20 flowing through the dispensing opening 18 may enter the drinking vessel 22 such as a spill-proof drinking vessel. Once, the beverage 20 is in the drinking vessel 22, the drinking vessel 22 may be dispensed to said person which may be the driver or a passenger of the vehicle. An input to initiate, start or begin the preparation process may be manual. For example, a type of the beverage 20 to be made may be selected through a software application with a user interface. Moreover, for example, the preparation process may be initiated by a voice command to start the preparation process so that the beverage 20 may be made.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the in-vehicle beverage maker 10 further includes a heat exchanger 38 which may be configured to be supplied with said cooling. The vehicle includes a heating/cooling circuit 40 through which said coolant 42 may flow. In Fig. 1, a flow of the coolant 42 through the heating/cooling circuit 40 is illustrated by arrows 50. Preferably, the coolant 42 is a liquid which may include water. For example, the heat exchanger 38 is fluidly connected or connectable to the heating/cooling circuit 40 which may be also referred to as a coolant circuit 40. Thereby, the coolant flowing through the heating/cooling circuit 40 may flow through the heat exchanger 38, for example, thereby supplying the heat exchanger 38 with said coolant. For example, a valve 44 may be provided, by which an amount such as mass and/or volume flow of the coolant 42 flowing through the heat exchanger 38 may be adjusted. For example, the valve 44 may be configured as a flow control valve. When the valve 44 is closed, the beverage maker 10 may provide a cold beverage. If the driver and/or passenger selects a cold beverage to be made by the beverage maker 10, the coolant circuit 40 or the coolant 42 is not used to heat the water 16 from which the selected beverage 20 is made. For this purpose, for example, the valve 44 is closed such that, for example, the coolant 42 does not flow through the heat exchanger 38. Thus, the water 16 is not heated by the heat exchanger 38.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 1, the heat exchanger 38 may be arranged in the cooling circuit 40. Moreover, at least one component 46 of a drive system 48 for driving the vehicle may be arranged in the coolant circuit 40 such that the coolant may flow through the component 46. Thus, the component 46 may be cooled by the coolant in such a way that heat may pass from the component 46 to the coolant flowing through the component 46. Thereby, the component 46 may be cooled and the coolant is heated. The component 46 may include the battery 12 such as a battery pack, and in alternative embodiments, the component 46 may include an engine, an electric motor, and/or a combination system components.

[0035] In this regard, the heat exchanger 38 may be configured to transfer the heat from the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger 38 to the water 16 thereby heating the water 16. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the heat exchanger 38 in the coolant circuit may be configured to transfer the heat from the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger 38 to the water 16 received in the water reservoir 14 thereby heating the water 16 while the water 16 is received in the water reservoir 14. For example, the component 46 may be the battery 12 and/or another battery of the vehicle. Moreover, for example, the component 46 may be an electric machine for, in particular, electrically driving the vehicle. This may be, in particular, advantageous if the vehicle may be configured as an electric vehicle such as a battery electric vehicle, or as a hybrid vehicle. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the component 46 may be an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle. Thus, for example, the coolant is an engine coolant which may be used to heat, in particular pre-heat the water 16.

[0036] Since the water 16 may be heated by the coolant, waste heat energy, in particular provided by the component 46, may be used to heat the water 16. Thus, using electrical energy stored in the battery 12 for heating the water 16 can be avoided or kept particularly low.

[0037] For example, the person may select a type and/or amount of the beverage to be made manually through a user interface that may receive voice commands. Moreover, for example, the preparation process may be initiated by drowsiness detection. The drowsiness detection system may be a sensor device configured to detect a drowsiness of the driver. If, for example, the sensor device detects a drowsiness of the driver of the vehicle, a coffee icon may be shown on a screen which may be arranged on or in a dashboard of the vehicle. Moreover, for example, if the electronic computing device with the sensor device detects the drowsiness of the driver, the preparation process may be started, in particular, automatically. Moreover, the preparation process may be started or initiated by a voice command of the person.

[0038] The in-vehicle beverage maker may be configured to perform a brewing process for making the beverage. In the preparation process such as the brewing process, the heat from the coolant may be used to heat, in particular pre-heat, the water, wherein the beverage is made by or in the brewing process. The beverage maker and/or vehicle may include an electronic computing device including at least non-transitory memory for implementing the computer program product.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrated a first embodiment of a method for operating the in-vehicle beverage maker 10. Particularly, in Fig. 2, the preparation process may be initiated or started by a driver's request when driving at S1.1. For example, the electronic computing device may determine a request for a hot beverage 20 from the driver. At S1.2, the electronic computing device may detect water 16 in the water reservoir 14 and a capsule 28 in the capsule chamber 26 for the beverage 20. If there is no water 16 and/or the capsule 28, the driver and/or passenger may be informed by the beverage maker 10 to provide the water 16 and/or capsule 28 for the beverage maker 10 at S1.3. If there is water 16 and the capsule 28 in the beverage maker 10, the electronic computing device may detect an indicator from a component 46 of the drive system 48 for the vehicle. The indicator may include the state of charge when the component 46 is the battery 12.

[0040] At S1.4, the electronic computing device may detect the state of charge (SoC) of the high-voltage and/or low-voltage battery 12 to determine whether the beverage 20 brewing is possible. If the SoC of the battery 12 is low, for example, less than 15%, the driver and/or passenger may be informed by the beverage maker 10 that the beverage 20 may not be brewed at S1.5. If the SoC of the battery 12 is adequate, the electronic computing device of the beverage maker 10 may determine if the pre-heating functionality is available at S1.6. For example, the beverage maker 10 may detect the position of the valve 44 and the temperature of the coolant 42 and the component 46 such as an engine, electric motor, and/or the battery 12. If the pre-heating functionality is not available at S1.7, the beverage maker 10 may use the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius.

[0041] At S1.8, the beverage maker 10 may determine if the driver and/or passengers bypasses the pre-heat functionality to retrieve the hot beverage 20 quickly. If the pre-heat phase of the brewing process is bypassed, the beverage maker 10 may use the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius, at S1.9.

[0042] During S1.10 if the pre-heat functionality is not bypassed, the beverage maker 10 may pre-heat the water 16 for the beverage 20 with a coolant circuit 40 between, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. The coolant circuit 40 or the heating/cooling circuit 40 may include a heating/cooling chamber 36, a heat exchanger 38, a coolant 42, a valve 44, and the component 46 of the drive system 48. The beverage maker 10 may then provide the heated water 16 for the driver and/or passenger using the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 50 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius, at S1.11.

[0043] After the water 16 is pre-heated by the beverage maker 10, the beverage maker 10 may then dispense the pre-heated water 16 through a dispenser opening 18 into a drinking vessel 22. In some embodiments, the dispensing of the water 16 may occur after S1.7 or S1.9. In certain embodiments, the request may be based on at least one of a driver request or a drowsiness detection.

[0044] Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the method. For example, in the second embodiment, the preparation process may be initiated based on a detection of a drowsiness of the driver. At S2.1, the beverage maker 10 may detect that the driver is drowsy and the vehicle may provide a warning message to the driver. For example, the vehicle, in particular the in-vehicle beverage maker, may include a sensor device configured to detect a drowsiness of the driver. If, by the sensor device, a drowsiness of the driver is detected, a preparation process for making a beverage may be started or initiated, in particular automatically. For example, said preparation process may be said brewing process.

[0045] At S2.2, the electronic computing device may detect water 16 in the water reservoir 14 and a capsule 28 in the capsule chamber 26 for the beverage 20. If there is no water 16 and/or the capsule 28, no action is taken at S2.3. If there is water 16 and the capsule 28 in the beverage maker 10, the electronic computing device may detect the state of charge (SoC) of the high-voltage and/or low-voltage battery 12 to determine whether the brewing beverage 20 is possible at S2.4. If the SoC of the battery 12 is low, no action is taken at S2.5.

[0046] If the SoC of the battery 12 is adequate, the electronic computing device of the beverage maker 10 may provide a voice message and/or display a message to the driver on a user interface to ask if the driver would like to request a hot beverage 20 at S2.6. The request may be provided with a manual command such as a voice command from the driver, and/or a selection in a software application. At S2.7, if the driver does not make a request for a hot beverage 20, then no further action is taken.

[0047] The beverage maker 10 may determine if the pre-heating functionality is available at S2.8. For example, the beverage maker 10 may detect the position of the valve 44 and the temperature of the coolant 42 and the component 46 such as an engine, electric motor, and/or the battery 12. If the pre-heating functionality is not available at S2.9, the beverage maker 10 may use the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius.

[0048] At 32.10, the beverage maker 10 may determine if the driver and/or passengers bypasses the pre-heat functionality to retrieve the hot beverage 20 quickly. If the pre-heat phase of the brewing process is bypassed, the beverage maker 10 may use the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius, at 32.11.

[0049] During S2.12 if the pre-heat functionality is not bypassed, the beverage maker 10 may pre-heat the water 16 for the beverage 20 with a coolant circuit 40 between, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. The beverage maker 10 may then provide the heated water 16 for the driver and/or passenger using the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 50 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius, at 32.13.

[0050] After the water 16 is pre-heated by the beverage maker 10, the beverage maker 10 may then dispense the pre-heated water 16 through a dispenser opening 18 into a drinking vessel 22. In some embodiments, the dispensing of the water 16 may occur after S2.9 or S2.11. Moreover, for example, the present disclosure allows for creating a recurring schedule or request, in particular from a software application, for initiating said brewing process with the in-vehicle beverage maker 10.

[0051] Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the method. In the third embodiment, the preparation process may be initiated based on a recurring schedule and/or based on a request from a software application. At S3.1, the beverage maker 10 may detect a schedule to initiate the brewing process of the beverage maker 10. At 33.2, the electronic computing device of the beverage maker 10 may detect water 16 in the water reservoir 14 and a capsule 28 in the capsule chamber 26 for the beverage 20. If there is no water 16 and/or the capsule 28, the driver and/or passenger may be informed by the beverage maker 10 to provide the water 16 and/or capsule 28 for the beverage maker 10 at S3.3. If there is water 16 and the capsule 28 in the beverage maker 10, the electronic computing device may detect the state of charge (SoC) of the high-voltage and/or low-voltage battery 12 to determine whether brewing the beverage 20 is possible at 33.4.

[0052] If the SoC of the battery 12 is low, the electronic computing device may determine whether the charging connector for the vehicle is plugged into a charging station and/or power supply and whether the SoC is above a minimum threshold at 53.5. For example, the electronic computing device may determine whether the energy storage device has a SoC of at least 15%. The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, at least the vehicle which is at least in part electrically operated, including at least the electrical energy storage device such as a battery. The vehicle may also be a fully electrically operated motor vehicle.

[0053] If the SoC of the battery 12 is adequate from S3.4 or is above a minimum threshold from S3.5, the electronic computing device of the beverage maker 10 may use the energy of the battery 12 to heat the water 16 to the brewing temperature, for example, 25 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius at S3.6. In some embodiments, the brewing process may be started when the electronic computing device detects that a driver and/or passenger are in the vehicle based on the schedule and/or a request in the software application.

[0054] If the SoC of the battery 12 is low from S3.4 or not above the minimum threshold from S3.5, the driver and/or passenger may be informed by the beverage maker 10 that the beverage 20 may not be brewed at S3.7.

Reference signs in-vehicle beverage maker 12 battery 14 water reservoir 16 water 18 dispenser opening beverage 22 drinking vessel 24 receiving space 26 capsule chamber 28 capsule duct 32 pump 34 flowmeter 36 heating/cooling chamber 38 heat exchanger coolant circuit 42 coolant 44 valve 46 component 48 drive system arrow S1.1-S1.11 steps of a first embodiment of a method S2.1-S2.13 steps of a second embodiment of the method S3.1-S3.7 steps of a third embodiment the method

Claims

CLAIMS1. An in-vehicle beverage maker (10) comprising: - a water reservoir (14) for receiving water (16) for making a respective beverage (20); - at least one dispenser opening (18) for dispensing the beverage (20) made from the water (16) into a drinking vessel (22); and - a heat exchanger (38) configured to be supplied with a coolant (42) for cooling at least one component (46) of a drive system (48) for driving the vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger (38) is configured to transfer heat from the coolant (42) flowing through the heat exchanger (38) to the water (16) thereby heating the water (16).
2. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to claim 1, wherein the component (46) of the drive system (48) comprises at least one electric machine for driving the vehicle.
3. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the component (46) of the drive system (48) comprises a battery (12) for storing electrical energy for operating at least one electric machine for driving the vehicle.
4. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (46) of the drive system (48) comprises an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle.
5. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (38) is configured to transfer the heat from the coolant (42) flowing through the heat exchanger (38) to the water (16) received in the water reservoir (14) thereby heating the water (16) received in the water reservoir (14).
6. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (38) is arranged adjacent to the water reservoir (14).
7. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the in-vehicle beverage maker (10) comprises a heating/cooling chamber (36) configured to be electrically operated and supplied with the water (16) from the water reservoir (14), and wherein the heating/cooling chamber (36) is configured to heat the water (16) flowing from the water reservoir (14) through the heating/cooling chamber (36).
8. The in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to claim 7, wherein the heating/cooling chamber (36) is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger (38).
9. A method for operating an in-vehicle beverage maker (10) brewing water (16) for a beverage (20), comprising the steps of: - determining a request for the beverage (20), wherein the request for the beverage (20) is based on at least one of a driver request or a drowsiness detection; - detecting water (16) in the water reservoir (14) and a capsule (28) in the capsule chamber (26) of in-vehicle beverage maker (10); - detecting an indicator from a component (46) of a drive system (48), wherein the indicator is based a state of charge of the battery (12) for storing electrical energy for operating at least one electric machine for driving the vehicle; - pre-heating the water (16) for the beverage (20) with a coolant circuit (40), wherein the coolant circuit (40) comprises a heat exchanger (40), a coolant (42), a valve (44) and the component (46) of the drive system (48); and - dispensing the pre-heated water (16) for the beverage (20) through a dispenser opening (18) into a drinking vessel (22).
10. A vehicle comprising at least one in-vehicle beverage maker (10) according to any one of the claims 1-8, wherein the in-vehicle beverage maker (10) comprises an electronic computing device and is configured for performing a method according to claim 9.