US 12,290,200 B2
Code and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff
Andre Noth, Pully (CH)
Assigned to Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey (CH)
Appl. No. 16/078,917
Filed by SOIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A., Vevey (CH)
PCT Filed Feb. 23, 2017, PCT No. PCT/EP2017/054146
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 22, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/144575, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 31, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 16156866 (EP), filed on Feb. 23, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0177191 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 31/44 (2006.01); B65D 85/804 (2006.01); G06K 19/06 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/4492 (2013.01) [G06K 19/06168 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a plurality of codes, each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes is formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset, each code comprising:
a reference portion and a data portion, and each code has a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm, wherein a ratio of the peripheral length of the code to a diameter of the container is 0.006 to 0.08:
the reference portion comprising:
three reference units uniquely defining a reference point; and
a reference line extending from the reference point,
the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area; and
the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on a virtual line, the virtual line extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle α to the reference line, the data unit arranged a distance from the reference point, and the distance encoding a parameter of the preparation information;
wherein the plurality of codes is formed in a tessellating pattern.