Devices and methods for beverage brewer regulation

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling pressure in a brewing system during a brew cycle can include a sensor for reading a temperature of a fluid in a heater tank and means, coupled to the sensor, for selectively activating a heater element in the heater tank based at least in part on the temperature reading. The apparatus can also include means, coupled to the sensor, for determining if the temperature of the fluid in the heater tank has reached a desired temperature. The apparatus can also include a pump for displacing the fluid in the heater tank with additional fluid from a reservoir, means for measuring a current drawn by the pump, means for comparing the measured current drawn by the pump to a threshold current, and means for selectively changing a voltage supplied to the pump to displace a desired amount of fluid in the heater tank.

1 . An apparatus for controlling pressure in a brewing system during a brew cycle, comprising:
 a sensor for reading a temperature of a fluid in a heater tank;   means, coupled to the sensor, for selectively activating a heater element in the heater tank based at least in part on the temperature reading;   means, coupled to the sensor, for determining if the temperature of the fluid in the heater tank has reached a desired temperature;   a pump for displacing the fluid in the heater tank with additional fluid from a reservoir; means for measuring a current drawn by the pump;   means for comparing the measured current drawn by the pump to a threshold current; and   means for selectively changing a voltage supplied to the pump to displace a desired amount of fluid in the heater tank.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing the voltage supplied to the pump when the measured current is above the threshold current. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold current is based at least in part on a desired pressure in the brewing system. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing the voltage supplied to the pump when the measured current is below the threshold current. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively changing the voltage supplied to the pump includes a microcontroller. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller is selected from a group comprising a proportional controller, an integrating controller, a derivative controller, and a combination of proportional, integrating, and derivative controllers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold current is a variable threshold current. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the variable threshold current is varied during the brew cycle. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the variable threshold current is based, at least in part, on a type of cartridge used in the brewing system. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the variable threshold current is based, at least in part, on a brew cartridge pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for measuring the temperature of the fluid in the heater tank while the pump is operating. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature is measured at a plurality of times while the pump is operating. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for selectively changing the voltage supplied to the pump includes a voltage regulator. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a microcontroller configured to control the voltage regulator. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the microcontroller is selected from a group comprising a proportional controller, an integrating controller, a derivative controller, and a combination of proportional, integrating, and derivative controllers.