HK1225361B - Beverage capsule, beverage preparation system and method for identifying a beverage capsule - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage capsule for the preparation of a beverage from a beverage ingredient contained in the capsule. In particular, it relates to a beverage capsule which contains a code which may contain information on the beverage ingredient contained in the capsule or other characteristics of the capsule and which can be decoded by a brewing machine. The invention also relates to a beverage preparation system from a beverage capsule and a brewing machine and a method for identifying a beverage capsule in a brewing machine.

In particular, the present invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of beverages in a brewing machine, which consists of a capsule cup filled with a beverage ingredient with a basically square bottom and a capsule lid attached to the capsule cup. The capsule as a whole is preferably essentially cube-shaped, i.e. the side walls of the capsule connecting the bottom and the lid are essentially the same square shape as the bottom and the lid. However, the side edges can also be larger or smaller, resulting in a basically square capsule.

Capsules of the same type are known from EP 2419352 A1, WO 2015/096989, WO 2015/096990 and WO 2015/096991 to which reference is made.

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It is already known that beverage capsules are provided with a code which can be read by the brewing machine, for example information on the type of capsule, the beverage ingredient or the optimal brewing parameters for the capsule concerned. For example, the capsules with a barcode on a capsule membrane are known from EP2168073 or from WO2011/089048A1 capsules which also have a QR code printed on a capsule membrane. Also according to WO02/078498A1 a machine-readable label is affixed to a capsule membrane, with capsule and capsule symmetry fitted. In EP2743206A1, capsules with a liquid flow indicator are also described on the capsule, which is also described in a separate section of the capsule, which contains a code US029143/140A1 which is also applicable to the capsule itself.

Although it is relatively easy to apply a code to a cap cap, the caps are often printed anyway and can be coded with little additional effort, but it is difficult to read the code on the cap, especially when the cap is placed horizontally in a brewery, where most of the time the water is introduced through the cap bottom and the brewing product is discharged through the cap cap and into the cup. A detection unit in the brewing chamber on the side of the cap is therefore always exposed to contamination by beverage residues, sprayers, etc. It is also desirable to keep the path between the cap and the cup horizontally as short as possible, and the typical brewing machine is designed for the production of a solution in the horizontal direction.

Other disadvantages of the state of the art lie in the codes themselves.

The amount and type of information that can be encoded in a barcode is very limited.

QR codes and similar known 2-D codes, although capable of containing and encoding much more information, are due to their structure only to a limited extent suitable for use on beverage capsules if they are to be read in brewing machines.

The most common optical 2-D codes have all so-called Finder patterns, whose successful detection is imperative to be able to read the code. If a local contamination is present in the area of the Finder pattern, the entire code is unreadable. Thus, the robustness cannot be arbitrarily increased by increasing the redundancy. Finder patterns limit the maximum achievable robustness. This then, depending on the programming of the machine, leads to an error message that requires removal of the unreadable capsule.

The present invention is therefore intended to provide a capsule of the type mentioned at the outset, which is encoded to store a sufficient amount of information and which can be read in the brewing machine quickly and with an extremely high success rate.

This task is solved by the capsule defined in the claims, the system defined in the claims and the procedure for identifying such a capsule.

According to the invention, at least one first optically readable code is provided or mounted on the bottom of the capsule, i.e. the capsule cup. The first code has a two-dimensional arrangement of several first code elements, each containing information from which one of several possible orientations of the code at the floor level can be clearly derived. The code elements themselves have a two-dimensional shape and geometric contour that allows the orientation of the code elements at the floor level to be determined. The orientation of the first code element is correlated with the orientation of the code elements from the first code element. Each code element can be clearly defined to provide a direction of the code without any further orientation of the code, and in particular, the orientation of the code element can be determined on the basis of at least one possible orientation and may contain information about the orientation of the code without any further specification of the code element.

In addition to the orientation, the position and size, horizontal and vertical scaling of the code, or the position and size, horizontal and vertical scaling of a grid or grid underlying the code, may also be encoded in the code elements themselves.

The application of the code on the capsule bottom rather than on a lid or on a lid membrane as described in the above state of the art has several advantages: the capsule lid is available for decorative printing, user-readable information or the like, and the design of the capsule is not affected by an additional code. However, it is not excluded that, in addition to the capsule lid, the capsule cup bottom may contain other visually identifiable elements, e.g. decorative elements, a sign or other readable information in a suitable form; in particular, the code may also be integrated into a suitable decorative element, for example.

In addition, by placing the code on the floor, a detection unit can be placed in a horizontal brewery chamber pre-stored, i.e. upstream of the brewery chamber, where there is less risk of contamination from beverage sprayers and other sources and the installation space is less critical.

The type-appropriate capsule can be thrown or inserted into the brewer in four different positions due to its symmetry and square cross-section. There are thus four orientations rotated 90° for the capsule, and thus also for the code on the bottom of the capsule. By carrying the information about the orientation of the code, the individual code elements can be clearly determined from several possible orientations of the code by recognizing and identifying a single and arbitrary code element.

The use of Finder patterns can be completely eliminated by providing coded information by the form, orientation and spatial distribution of the code elements in the plane, and the robustness of the code, especially with regard to local pollution, can be improved.

The code elements shall in particular be defined or have a geometric structure which is not rotationally symmetrical but rather a unique, individually conceived pointer structure which is at least unique for the several possible orientations of the code in the brewery, i.e. for different orientations in the floor plane.

The coupling of the code orientation with the orientation of its individual code elements, as envisaged here, allows the information for code orientation required for decoding and reading the code to be decoupled from and determined independently of the decoding of the code, which can have a beneficial effect on achieving the lowest possible and most cost-effective technical requirements for an optical detection unit and a downstream image analysis.

The determination of one of several possible orientations of the code relative to a detection unit of the brewery may be based on at least one code element and its orientation at the ground level or its orientation at an image level of a detection unit.

In particular, the orientation of the code at the floor level is included in each code element, so that the information on the orientation and orientation of the capsule relative to the detection unit of the brewery is redundantly contained in the code.

After further design of the capsule, the first code has a number of essentially identical and essentially identically aligned first code elements. It is particularly conceivable that the first code consists exclusively of identical code elements. It is also conceivable that the first code consists of identical code elements, which are also identically aligned to each other. Code information may be contained in particular in the spatial and two-dimensionally distributed arrangement of individual code elements.

As an alternative to designing the code with identical, identically aligned code elements, it may also be provided that the code elements are not identical by systematically or non-systematically differing from each other in a property.

The detection unit of the brewer is equipped with an image-producing two-dimensional detector, e.g. a camera. The use of identical and identically oriented first code elements makes it possible to create a particularly inexpensive detection unit. In some circumstances, only a regionally sharp and precise image of the code, such as a region with a two-dimensional code, may be required for reading and decoding the code.

Since only the location of individual code elements within the ground level or within the peripheral areas of the code is decisive for the acquisition of code information, even comparatively blurry code elements on the detection unit may be sufficient for error-free detection, reading and/or decoding of the code.

In a further embodiment, the first code elements have at least two straight line segments adjacent to each other at a given angle. Straight line segments of the code elements can be detected in the detection unit with particular ease and precision. The detection unit has in particular a two-dimensional regular arrangement of several optical or light-sensitive (in the visible, infrared and/or ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum more sensitive) sensors, which are typically referred to as detector pixels.

In this way, straight line sections of the code elements can be mapped according to the geometric arrangement of adjacent detector pixels of the detection unit, and even with a small number of detector pixels, thus a detection unit with a comparatively low resolution, at least the alignment of the line sections of the code elements for the purpose of their orientation, but also the location of individual code elements within the 2-D code can be captured precisely and easily.

After further training, it is also possible for individual outwardly thinking code elements to virtually mark the outer edges of the rectangular or square code by their edge positions alone. The parallel orientation of at least one line segment to the outer edges of the code can, but does not necessarily have to, be designed visually or visually identifiable on the bottom of the capsule cup. In particular, the visual or optical design of the code can be used within a range of possible and predictable values and to evaluate the potential errors of the code by means of a virtual machine and the correspondingly low tolerance of the error.

For the detection of the code structure, a parallel orientation of line sections or code elements relative to the edge of the code is not necessary. The code structure can also be contained exclusively in the position of the code elements.

After further design, at least one line segment of the first code elements runs essentially parallel to the outer edges of the square floor. This may include the possibility of the possible orientations of the code running parallel to the outer edges of the square floor. It may also be possible to provide that the possible orientations of the code in the floor plane or the four typically conceivable orientations of the capsule in the brewing machine, with vertical or horizontal outer edges of the square floor or horizontal or vertical outer edges of the square or rectangular floor, may be combined. The detection unit and the integrated or image outputs may be equipped with two or three y-axes, running parallel to or parallel to the front axis of the square or rectangular floor, as provided for in the code.

It is also conceivable that at least the first code elements consist exclusively of line segments, all of which run parallel to the outer edges of the code.

After a further layout, the first code elements are essentially L-shaped. An L-shaped layout of code elements has two, for example at a right angle, adjacent line segments, both of which are straight and which can have essentially the same or different lengths. One end of a first line segment borders an end of the second line segment. Opposite ends of the line segments are separated from each other.

In addition to L-shaped code elements, a large number of different code elements are possible. Code elements with at least one arc section can, for example, have a C-shaped or U-shaped geometry. In addition to L-shaped code elements, especially T-shaped or V-shaped code elements are conceivable, which are characterized by a particularly simple geometric structure, so that even when using a detection unit with low resolution, the determination of an orientation of individual code elements can be reliably and precisely carried out.

In particular, such code elements, which consist exclusively of line segments running parallel to the code edges, allow a significant reduction in the required resolution of a detection unit. An L-shaped code element is particularly characterized by a minimum number of pixels for detection. An L-shaped code element also shows good performance in terms of blur in image recognition and evaluation.

After further design, the code elements are lasered or welded into the bottom of the capsule cup. The application of the code elements, and therefore the entire code, to the outer surface of the floor or to the floor material, is carried out by laser irradiation. This may include the provision that the floor material undergoes a change in colour or texture when exposed to laser radiation over a given wavelength range, so that the resulting code elements are visually particularly contrasting. This does not necessarily mean a change in colour visible to the human eye.It is also conceivable that the code elements are laser engraved on or in the bottom of the capsule cup. Therefore, the application of the code elements and the code to the bottom of the capsule cup does not require printing or the use of dyes. Thus, no printed or otherwise applied dyes can be dissolved during the brewing process and, in the worst case, enter the drink. The application of the code elements on or in the bottom of the capsule cup results in a particularly long-lasting and robust coding of the capsule and the entire beverage.

The first code is designed to contain 50 to 400 individual code elements, and preferably 70 to 100 individual code elements, arranged in two dimensions and at the bottom of the capsule cup. The individual code elements are arranged in a non-overlapping manner, and are thus spaced apart at the bottom of the capsule cup. The number of code elements is sufficient to integrate a total of 100 to 800 bits of information into the bottom of the capsule cup. In particular, each code element contains an information content of 2 bits. In particular, the information content of each code element is contained in the relative spatial position of the code element relative to the remaining code elements at the bottom level.

A part of the code elements may be used to implement test bits, while another part of the code elements contains so-called information bits.

The first code is divided into a regularly-conceived arrangement of code fields, which are grouped into code groups at least in pairs. Within a code group, only one code field contains a code element, while the remaining code fields of a code group remain free. For example, if a code group has four adjacent code fields, four possible placeholders are provided for the code element.

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The regular division of the code into code fields and the occupation of a code group consisting of code fields with only one code element each results in the code having a homogeneous density of code elements over the area of the code, in relation to the division into code groups. The presence of a homogeneous information density can thus already be a plausibility or test criterion at the image level of the code, which can detect reading errors, e.g. caused by contamination, which can be mistakenly interpreted as code elements by the detection unit and/or a downstream control.

The number of code groups and/or code fields in a code word can be chosen arbitrarily. Typically, each code word has an identical number of code elements or an identical number of code groups. For the division into code words, it can be provided that each code word consists of an integer number of code groups.

In particular, several plausibility and/or quality tests can be implemented at different code levels. It is conceivable that a first test is performed with respect to a given geometric shape of individual code elements. For example, if a code element with such a geometric structure is read out that differs from a given, for example L-shaped geometry, this may already lead to the rejection or correct recognition of the code.

For example, at the image level, it is possible to directly check whether a given number of code elements is present within a given area segment of the layer. For example, an integrity check can be performed at the level of each or individual code group or code fields. It can be checked, for example, whether a code group has exactly one code element. If there are several or fewer than one code element per code group, the test criterion is not met. This can then be used to correct or correct the correct detection of the code.

Finally, it is also conceivable to perform a plausibility check at the level of individual or several codewords, in particular, individual test bits contained in codewords can be read selectively and evaluated for plausibility control.

Decoding requires that only a certain percentage of code fields, code groups or code words can be read. The plausibility tests and quality assessments of code elements, code fields, code groups and code words can then be used to make a good selection, and decoding can include the reliability of the information available in the decoding process. In particular, all decoding options that arise in a given situation can be compared. The quality assessment of the decoding options identified can then be used to make a decision about the encoded content with a certain probability or trustworthiness.

Furthermore, the possibility of code testing or quality assurance at the level of code elements, code fields or code groups and/or code words allows the quality of the code, i.e. its recognition multiple times and thus quite reliably, to be determined.

In addition, it is generally conceivable that an assessment of the quality of the recorded codes at the image level is involved in the calculation of a grid and one or more of the grid constants underlying the code.

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If decoding on the basis of the words with the highest quality score is not possible or produces an implausible result, it is intended to change the grid constant and/or grid position and to perform the evaluation and decoding again.

After further design, it is also provided that the capsule has at least a second optically readable code at the bottom of the capsule cup in addition to the first optically readable code. Like the first code, the second optically readable code has a two-dimensional arrangement of several second code elements radially outside the first code in relation to a centre of the first code. It is provided in particular that the first code extends over the centre of the bottom of the capsule cup. The centre of the first code may coincide approximately with a geometric centre of the bottom of the capsule cup.

The first and second codes represent different code levels, in particular the code on the capsule floor may be two- or multi-level, where the first code defines a first code level or a first code level and the second code defines a second code level or a second code level.

For example, if we consider the four different possible orientations of the code, i.e. the capsule inside the brewery, the centre of the first code may coincide in particular with an axis of rotation of the capsule cup, in relation to which one orientation of the capsule can be transposed into another conceivable orientation within the brewery.

By providing a second code with second code elements, several and different information can be stored and read on the bottom of the capsule cup in staggered and differently robust coding. The second code may in particular be optional and contain optional information which may not be relevant to the operation or brewing process of the brewing machine or may be of secondary importance. In particular, it is conceivable that the first code contains brewing parameters or information relevant to the brewing process, such as a quantity of water, water temperature, pre-break time, or a set value or set curve for pump power, flow rate, or pressure.

Alternatively, the first code may contain only information that allows the capsule or a type of capsule to be identified and attributed to it, for example a brewing programme or a beverage recipe stored on the machine.

The second code may, for example, contain such additional recipe information or information as a minimum shelf life, place of manufacture or origin, date of manufacture or even batch number.

The spatially separated arrangement of the first and second codes allows for selective reading of the first and second codes. The spatially separated and radially outwardly staggered arrangement of different codes can also be used for different brewing machines. Depending on the equipment of the brewing machine, the second code may be used or ignored. Optional additional information on the capsule and its extraction product may be made available, for example, via the second code of a particular brewing machine genus or variant, only to breweries that have a suitable detection unit.

On the other hand, inexpensive brewing machines may be able to read only the first code, and may be equipped with a correspondingly reduced detection and image analysis unit which only visually detects or decodes the first code in the central area of the bottom of the capsule cup.

The first and second code elements are essentially identical, but the first code elements are oriented differently from the second code elements. For example, the first code elements can be oriented relative to the second code elements by 90°, 180° or 270° in the plane of the capsule cup's floor.

In addition, all the previously described properties and characteristics of the first code elements can be identical or substantially identical or correspondingly realized for the second code elements.

The system consists of a brewing machine with a brewing chamber for taking a capsule of the type described above with a basically square bottom for brewing a brewing drink and an optical detection unit for reading a first code from the bottom of the capsule cup while the capsule is in a reading position above the brewing chamber. The capsule can be positioned in the reading position in four different orientations. The detection unit is designed to detect the orientation of individual code elements on the capsule beverage and hence the orientation of the code. For this purpose, the orientation of the code and the evaluation of the code can be derived from the orientation of the code itself, without the need for a single visual code detection unit. The analysis of the code can therefore be carried out on the basis of the orientation of the code itself.

It is not excluded that the detection unit may detect, in addition to the (first) code elements, additional elements on the capsule floor from which the detection unit does not derive the orientation of the code but which are detected as code elements and which are used to read information and/or discarded as non-code elements.

In particular, sub-sections of the capsule floor may be rejected as not falling within the code; such areas may be, for example, peripherally arranged or even within the outer edges of the valid code.

In another respect, the invention also relates to a method for identifying a capsule with a capsule cup, which has a basically square bottom and a code with a two-dimensional arrangement of several code elements on the bottom, in a brewing machine for brewing a beverage. Pass the capsule placed by a user into the brewer into a reading position,Recognize code elements and determine the alignment of the code by the alignment of the code elements,Decode the code and identify the capsule type by the code information contained in the code.

After successful recognition of a code, the code information can be used to control the brewing machine, in particular a brewing process.

In general, all the characteristics and benefits described in connection with the capsule are equally valid for the system and the process described herein, and vice versa.

The concept of essentially identical or essentially identically aligned code elements, which is required in embodiments of the invention, expresses that the code elements are provided for identical or identically aligned on the capsule floor within the resolution accuracy of the detection unit and the downlinked image evaluation.

Geometric deviations of the code elements in terms of their longitudinal or transverse stretching of up to 10%, up to 20%, up to 30% or even up to 40% are still within the tolerance range of the detection unit and can therefore still be considered essentially identical.

The following examples of the invention are described by means of figures. In the figures, the same reference marks denote the same or analogous elements. Fig. 1a perspective view of a capsule for beverage preparation,Fig. 2a side view of the capsule as shown in Fig. 1,Fig. 3a schematic representation of a brewer designed to contain a capsule,Fig. 4a schematic and simplified representation of a detection unit provided in the machine for the visual detection of the code at the bottom of the capsule cup,Fig. 5a schematic representation of a first code provided at the bottom of the capsule cup,Fig. 6a simplified and schematic representation of a regular distribution of the first code into individual code fields, code groups and code shorts,Fig. 7the different positions of a code element in different code fields,Fig. 8a schematic representation of a first code element and a second code element combined with a sub-code element,Fig. 9a schematic representation of a code element and a second code element.

Detailed description

The capsule cup 11 is facing the floor 12 and is closed with a capsule lid 16 extending over the entire cross-section of the capsule cup 11 and the capsule lid 16 and the side walls 14 of the capsule cup 11 form an outward-pointing flange section 18. The circular flange section 18 is used to guide and orient the capsule, in addition to a closing function. An input 21 provided on a brush machine 20, typically in the form of a throw or pick axis, can be used to carry out one of the capsule controls in Figure 2 so that the capsule 10 is oriented in a direction corresponding to the geometry of the capsule unit 20 or a unit of the brush machine, which is oriented in the direction of the bottom of the capsule unit.

Due to the square geometry of the 12th floor of the capsule cup 11 and the essentially square circular flange section, correctly positioning the capsule 10 in a reading position L inside the brewery 20 still results in four different possible orientations of the 10th floor and the optically readable or visually recognisable code 50 provided for on the 12th floor.

The brewery 20 shown in Figure 3 is designed to contain at least one capsule 10 which, by introducing it into capsule 21, can be initially held in a reading position L. In that reading position L, the detection unit 24 can visually capture the code 50 provided on the outside of the bottom 12 of capsule cup 11 and provide an image analysis by which the coded information can be decoded.

The brewery 20 is also equipped with a control 30 which is coupled, inter alia, to the detection unit 24. An image evaluation can be contained either in the detection unit 24 or in the control 30. By reading the code information from the capsule 10 the brewing process can be controlled, but at least influenced. For example, the code 50 can contain information on a pre-set brewing program which, after detection and reading the code 50, can be selected automatically by the control 30. The operating convenience of the brewery 20 can be increased and improved in this way.

The brewery may also be equipped with a motor, not shown in Figure 3, which opens and closes the brewing chamber and which can also be controlled by means of the control 30 so that, after the code has been successfully detected and read, the capsule is automatically passed to the brewing chamber 26.

The diagram in Fig. 4 shows the detection unit 24 in a simplified way. The detection unit 24 has in particular a camera 25 which typically has an optical axis approximately corresponding to the centre 55 of a first code 50 shown in Fig. 5 and 6 when the capsule 10 is in reading position L inside the brewery 20. A first code 50 at the bottom 12 of the capsule cup 11 is shown schematically in Fig. 5.

The first code 50 also has a two-dimensional arrangement of several first code elements 52. Each of the first code elements 52 contains information from which one of several possible orientations of code 50 in the floor plane 12 can be clearly derived. In the XY plane shown in Figures 5 and 6, which, for example, represents or coincides with the image plane of the detection unit 24, code 50 may be arranged in a total of four different orientations. The individual orientations may be obtained, for example, by rotating the capsule 10 90° each with respect to its rotational axis 15.

All the first code elements 52 of the first code 50 are identical or substantially identical in form, and have an L-shaped outline with a first line segment 52a, which is horizontal in Figures 5 and 9, and a second line segment 52b, which is essentially vertical. In the orientation of code 50 and its individual code elements 52 shown in Figures 5 and 9, the intersection of line segments 52a, 52b is located at the bottom left. A short leg segment 52a, or the first line segment 52a, extends from the horizontal to the right, while the longer one, i.e. the intersection of the second line segment 52b with the line segment 52a, extends vertically from the top.

This arrangement and orientation of the individual line segments 52a, 52b allows a clear determination of the orientation of the associated code element 52 and the code element 50 formed therefrom. In particular, a pointer structure 56 can be clearly assigned to code element 52; for example, a pointer structure 56 is shown in Figure 9 as an extension of the second line segment 52b, where the pointer structure 56 points away from the intersection of the two line segments 52a, 52b. When rotating code 50 and its code elements 52, for example, 90° clockwise, a corresponding triangular structure of the line segments 52a, 52b and the associated code element 56 can be obtained. This would show that all possible orientations of the pointer 52 are essentially identical in the horizontal direction of the individual line segments 52a, 52b.

In particular, it is advantageous if at least one line segment 52a, 52b of the first code elements 52 runs essentially parallel to the outer edges 13 of the square floor 12 and/or essentially parallel to the outer edges 54 of the essentially rectangular or square code 50. Furthermore, a rectangular arrangement of the line segments 52a, 52b of different lengths proves to be particularly robust and precise for detecting code elements 52. The detection unit 24 may in particular have a regular two-dimensional arrangement of more than 50 detector pixels, which may be located adjacent to each other horizontally and vertically, respectively, on the X-Y-plane.

The use of L-shaped code elements 52 is only described as an example and is not mandatory. In principle, it is conceivable to use other code elements 53 with a basic geometry, for example, C-shaped and an arc section 53a, as shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 6 shows schematically that the first code 50 is divided into a regularly conceived arrangement of code fields 61, 62, 63, 64 which are grouped at least in pairs into code groups 60. Only one code field 61, 62, 63, 64 within a code group 60 is assigned a code element 52, while the remaining code fields 61, 62, 63, 64 of a code group 60 remain free of code elements 52.

The rule that each code group 60 has only one code element 52 causes the area density at first code elements 52 normalised to the area size of code groups 60 to be constant over the total area of the first code 50. Furthermore, any area segment of the first code 50 having an integer number of code groups contains an identical information density. Ultimately, the local position of a code element within the code group is the carrier of the information in question. By containing code information in the position of individual code elements 52 relative to code groups 60 and 54 relative to the edge of code 50, the code information can be stored by a single identical code type in code 52.

It is also provided that a code group 60 contains at least four code fields 61, 62, 63, 64 and a minimum information of 2 bits in length. Furthermore, several code groups 60 and/or several code fields 61, 62, 63, 64 can be combined into a code word 70. In the layout shown in Figure 6, the code groups 60 provided for in the upper left quadrant of code 50 are combined into a code word 70 which has sixteen code fields 61, 62, 63, 64.

In accordance with the requirement that a code group 60 may contain or have only a single code element 52, an initial integrity check of code 50 can be performed independently of a decoding of code 50 and thus directly on the basis of a recorded image of code 50. For example, if the detection unit 24 detects that several code fields 60 contain more than one code element 52, the corresponding code ranges can be discarded.

It is also envisaged that code 50 code information may be redundantly contained in several code words 70, for example by means of Reed-Solomon coding or another form of redundancy coding. This can ensure that, in the event of area-specific contamination in the area of code 50 or detection unit 24, code 50 and the code information contained therein are reliably readable. In particular, it is conceivable that, for example, by assigning and identifying individual code elements 52 to individual code words 70, the image or selection quality of code words 70 may be determined. For example, if a code 70 does not contain the required number of code elements 52 in a single code taken, a number of code elements 52 which is indicated by a decoding error or a decoding error is typically selected for only one of the number of code 70s.

If there are not enough complete code words 70 to decode, several appropriate estimates or assumptions can be made at the relevant points. An integrity check of the code information or individual bits of information subsequently derived from the respective assumption can then be used to decide whether the assumption was correct or not. Accordingly, another assumption can be made as a result of the integrity check. This process can be repeated iteratively until the code information derived from the assumption satisfies the criteria for integrity checking.

A codeword 70 may in principle, in addition to the grouping of individual code groups 60 shown in Figure 6, also consist, for example, of one or more code groups and additionally of one or more code fields, so that the total number of code fields 61, 62, 63, 64 of a codeword 70 is an odd multiple of the number of code fields 61, 62, 63, 64 per code group 60.

In the further design of a capsule 10, as shown in Fig. 8, it is conceivable that on the bottom 12 of the capsule cup 11 there is not only a first code 50, but also a second code 150, in addition to the first code 50. While the first code 50 with its first code elements 52 is arranged approximately in the middle or in a central area of the floor 12, the second code 150 with its second code elements 52' is located in relation to a geometric center of the first code 50 radially outside the first code 50. In the embodiment according to Fig. 8, the second code 150 completely encloses the first code 50 in the perimeter direction. The first and second code 50, 150 each have a rectangular or square contour. In other words, the first code 50 is located within the second code 150.

The first code element 52' is the same as the first code element 52', but the first and second code elements 52' are arranged differently to distinguish clearly and better between the first and second code 50, 150. All the first code elements 52' are essentially identical, while all the second code elements 52' are essentially identical. In the example shown in Figure 8, the orientation of the second code element 52' is 90° counterclockwise compared to the first code element 52'.

However, it is conceivable that, for example, the second code elements 52' instead of an L-shaped contour may have a different geometry, e.g. a C-shaped contour or a U-shaped contour, which is visually distinguishable as such from the contour and geometry of the first code elements 52. In order to determine the orientation of the first and second code elements 50, 150 it is in principle sufficient if only one of the first and second code elements 52, 52' contains information from which one of several possible orientations of code 50, 150 in the floor plane 12 can be clearly derived. Instead of rotated L-shaped second code elements 52's, pointed or rotational code elements could also be used in principle.

The first and second codes 50, 150 typically contain different code information, while the first code 50 typically contains information intended for a brewing process, such as brewing program, water volume, brewing temperature, brewing pressure, flow rate, pump power, brewing time or brewing time, while the outer code 150, which may be optional for certain breweries, 20 may contain additional extraction product information such as a minimum shelf life date, place of production, place of origin or batch number.

The different or differently aligned code elements 52, 52' allow a visual separation of the first and second code 50, 150 so that they can be detected, read and decoded separately and independently of each other. The alignment of the second code element 52' relative to the outer edges 54 of the first code 50 or the second code 150 and the arrangement of the second code element 52' between each other, in particular their arrangement in at least an imaginary or virtual division into code fields 61, 62, 63, 64, code groups 60 and code words 70, can be essentially identical to the first code elements 52. In this way, both the first code 50 and the second code 150 can be identified, derived and decoded with the same image analysis.

The redundancy check is chosen in such a way that the code information can be decoded at a readability of 10 to 15% of the code area. The homogeneous distribution of code groups 60 and code words 70 over the area of code 50 makes the code information almost evenly distributed over the area of code 50. This makes code 50 particularly robust in the case of area-specific contamination or image errors.

The boundary condition that a code group 60 formed by code elements 61, 62, 63, 64 has exactly one code element 52 allows for integrity and plausibility checking of code words 70 directly at the bit and image levels. Furthermore, by distributing code elements within code groups homogeneously, a constant write time for code 50 at the bottom 12 of capsule cup 11 can be achieved. This can be achieved with a typewriter that has a write time proportional to the surface to be described. The typewriter can be equipped, for example, as a galvo laser scanner.

It is even conceivable to perform an integrity check of code 50 or code words 70 or code groups 60 contained in code 50 purely at the image level. The better an integrity check is done at the image level, the fewer test bits are added to the code words 70. It is even conceivable to perform an integrity check of code 50 entirely at the image level, so that test bits within code 50 can be largely omitted.

List of reference marks

10 capsule11 capsule cup12 floor13 outer edge14 sidewall15 rotating axis16 capsule lid18 flange section20 brewer21 recording22 brewing unit24 detection unit25 camera26 brewing chamber28 intake container29 outlet30 control 50 code52 code element52'code element52a line section52b line section53 code element53a arc section54 outer edge55 means56 pointer structure60 code group61 code62 codefield63 codefield64 codefield70 codeword150 code

Claims (15)

1. A capsule for drinks preparation in a brewing machine, wherein the capsule comprises a capsule beaker (11) which is filled with an extraction material and has an essentially square base (12), and a capsule cover (16) closing the capsule beaker (11), characterised by at least one first optically readable code (50) on the base (12) of the capsule beaker (11), said code comprising a two-dimensional arrangement of several first code elements (52, 53), which each comprises a two-dimensional design and a geometrical contour that permits for determination of the alignment of the code elements (52, 53) in the plane of the base, whereby comprising information, from which one of several possible alignments of the code (50) in the plane of the base (12) can be unambiguously derived.
2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the first code (50) comprises a number of essentially identical and essentially identically aligned first code elements (52, 53).
3. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first code elements (52) comprise at least two straight line sections (52a, 52b) which are adjacent to one another at a predefined angle.
4. The capsule according to claim 3, wherein at least one line section (52a, 52b) of the first code elements (52) runs essentially parallel to the outer edges (54) of the essentially rectangular or square code (50).
5. The capsule according to one of the claims 3 or 4, wherein at least one line section (52a, 52b) of the first code elements (52) runs essentially parallel to the outer edges (13) of the square base (12).
6. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first code elements (52) are essentially L-shaped.
7. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the first code elements (53) comprise at least one arch section (53a).
8. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the code elements (52, 53) are lasered onto the base (12) of the capsule beaker (11) or into the base (12).
9. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first code (50) comprises 50 - 400 code elements (52, 53), preferably 70 - 100 code elements (52, 53).
10. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first code (50) is subdivided into a regular, imagined arrangement of code fields (61, 62, 63, 64), which at least in pairs are grouped into code groups (60), wherein only a single code field (61, 62, 63, 64) within a code group (60) is provided with a code element (52, 53).
11. The capsule according to claim 9, wherein the local position of a code element (52, 53) within the code group (60) comprises information.
12. The capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one second optically readable code (150) on the base (12) of the capsule beaker (11), said second optically readable code comprising a two-dimensional arrangement of several second code elements (52') which lie radially outside the first code (50) with respect to a middle point (55) of the first code (50).
13. The capsule according to claim 12, wherein the first code elements (52) and the second code elements (52') are essentially identical and the first code elements (52) are aligned differently compared to the second code elements (52').
14. A system for preparing a drink from a capsule (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

    - a brewing machine (20) which comprises

    ° a brewing chamber (26) for receiving a capsule with a capsule beaker (11) with an essentially square base (12),

    ° as well as an optical detection unit (24) for reading out a code (50, 150) with a two-dimensional arrangement of several code elements (52, 53) on the base (12) whilst the capsule (10) is located in a read position (L) above the brewing chamber (26),

    wherein four different alignments of the capsule (10) are possible in the read position (L) and the detection unit (24) is designed in a manner such that it recognises the alignment of the code elements (52, 53) and derives the alignment of the code (50, 150) from this,

    wherein the system further comprises a capsule (10) according to any one of claims 1-13 from which the detection unit derives the alignment of the code.
15. A method for identifying a capsule (10) in a brewing machine (20) for preparing a drink, the capsule comprising a capsule beaker (11) with an essentially square base (12) and with a code (50, 150) with a two-dimensional arrangement of several code elements (52, 53) on the base (12), the code elements comprising a two-dimensional design and a geometrical contour that permits for determination of the alignment of the code elements (52, 53) in the plane of the base the method comprising the steps:

    - transferring the capsule (10) inserted into the brewing machine (20) by the user, into a read position (L),

    - recognising code elements (52, 53) and determining the alignment of the code (50, 150) on the basis of the alignment of the code elements (52, 53)

    - decoding the code (50, 150) and identifying the capsule type on the basis of the information contained in the code (50, 150).