1. A liquid level sensor arrangement for detecting a level of a liquid in a tank, comprising:
a tank defining a volume in which a liquid having a top surface is holdable;
a structure that defines a chamber including opposed sidewalls that, at least in part, define the chamber;
a non-spherical float that is arranged for movement in the chamber relative to the tank and to be positively buoyant in the liquid so as to adjust in position based on changes in location of the top surface of the liquid, the float being arranged to present only a single point or single approximately horizontal line of contact with each of the sidewalls; and
a sensor that detects a position of the float;
wherein the structure includes at least one vertical rib adapted to contact the float in the chamber.
2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the structure defines a box-shaped area in which the float is movable.
3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tank includes a bottom wall and the chamber extends below the bottom wall.
4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tank includes an outlet, and the chamber extends below the outlet.
5. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage from liquid in the tank, and wherein the tank is separable from the beverage forming apparatus.
6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the float includes a magnetic element.
7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the float includes a magnet located at a geometric center of the float.
8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a reed switch actuated by a magnetic element associated with the float.
9. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a body that supports the sensor, and wherein the float is supported by the tank and the tank and float are separable from the body.
10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the float and sensor are arranged to provide a hysteresis distance for movement of the float in regions adjacent a central region.
11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tank includes a bottom wall, and further comprising a structure attached to a wall of the tank that defines a chamber for movement of the float, the chamber extending above and below the bottom wall.
12. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the float has a disc-like shape.
13. A liquid level sensor arrangement for detecting a level of a liquid in a tank, comprising:
a tank having a bottom wall and defining a volume in which a liquid having a top surface is held, and having an outlet for the liquid;
a float that is arranged for movement relative to the tank and to be positively buoyant in the liquid so as to adjust in position based on changes in location of the top surface of the liquid in the tank, the float being movable within a range of motion such that at least a portion of the float is movable below at least a portion of the bottom wall of the tank, wherein the float includes a magnetic element and the float is positioned apart from the outlet; and
a sensor that detects a position of the float relative to the tank.
14. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising: a structure that defines a chamber in which the float is movable relative to the tank.
15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the structure defines a box-shaped area in which the float is movable.
16. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the bottom wall is substantially flat and the chamber extends below the bottom wall.
17. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the chamber extends below the outlet.
18. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the structure includes at least one vertical rib adapted to contact the float in the chamber.
19. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a housing that at least partially encloses a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage from liquid in the tank, and wherein the tank is separable from the housing.
20. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the float includes a magnet located at a geometric center of the float.
21. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes a reed switch actuated by magnetic element associated with the float.
22. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a body that supports the sensor, and wherein the float is supported by the tank and the tank and float are separable from the body.
23. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the float and sensor are arranged to provide a hysteresis distance for movement of the float in regions adjacent a central region.
24. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a structure attached to a wall of the tank that defines a chamber for movement of the float, the chamber extending above and below the bottom wall.
25. The arrangement of claim 24, wherein the structure includes a top portion removably mounted to the structure to allow the float to be placed in or removed from the chamber.
26. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the float has a disc-like outer shape.
27. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the sensor is arranged to provide a low liquid level indication when the liquid depth in the tank is 25 mm or less.
28. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the sensor is arranged to provide a low liquid level indication when the tank contains 4oz. or less of liquid.
29. A liquid level sensor arrangement for detecting a level of a liquid in a tank, comprising:
a tank defining a volume in which a liquid having a top surface is holdable;
a float that is arranged for movement relative to the tank and to be positively buoyant in the liquid so as to adjust in position based on changes in location of the top surface of the liquid, the float having a disc-like outer shape;
a structure that defines a chamber in which the float is movable relative to the tank, the structure including opposed sidewalls, wherein the float being arranged to present only a single point or single approximately horizontal line of contact with each of the sidewalls of the structure; and
a sensor that detects a position of the float;
wherein the structure includes at least one vertical rib adapted to contact the float in the chamber.
30. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the structure defines a box-shaped area in which the float is movable.
31. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the tank includes a bottom wall and the chamber extends below the bottom wall.
32. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the tank includes an outlet, and the chamber extends below the outlet.
33. The arrangement of claim 29, further comprising a beverage forming apparatus adapted to form a beverage from liquid in the tank, and wherein the tank is separable from the beverage forming apparatus.
34. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the float includes a magnetic element.
35. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the float includes a magnet located at a geometric center of the float.
36. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the sensor includes a reed switch actuated by a magnetic element associated with the float.
37. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the float and sensor are arranged to provide a hysteresis distance for movement of the float in regions adjacent a central region.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A lighting cup comprising:
a cup body for containing drink therein;
a lighting module mounted on the cup body, the lighting module comprising a plurality of lighting elements; and
a power module supporting the cup body and electrically connecting with the lighting module to drive the lighting elements to emit light.
2. The lighting cup of claim 1, wherein the lighting module comprises a main body surrounding the cup body, and the lighting elements are received in the main body.
3. The lighting cup of claim 2, wherein the main body is transparent.
4. The lighting cup of claim 2, wherein the lighting module further comprises a connecting portion extending from the main body and electrically connecting with the power module.
5. The lighting cup of claim 4, wherein two electrodes are formed on the connecting portion, two mounting holes are defined in the power module, and the electrodes are received in the mounting holes and electrically connect with the power module.
6. The lighting cup of claim 4, wherein a protrusion is formed on an outer surface of the connecting portion, configured for hanging a tea bag thereon.
7. The lighting cup of claim 1, wherein each of the lighting elements is a light emitting diode.
8. The lighting cup of claim 1, wherein a heating module electrically connects with the power module and thermally contacts the cup body for heating the drink in the cup body.
9. The lighting cup of claim 8, wherein a recess is defined in the power module and the heating module is received in the recess.
10. The lighting cup of claim 9, wherein a top surface of the power module is coplanar with a top surface of the heating module, and the top surface of the heating module thermally contacts the cup body.
11. The lighting cup of claim 1, wherein the power module includes a supercapacitor.
12. The lighting cup of claim 1, wherein a power interface is defined in the power module and configured for electrically connecting with a power source.
13. A lighting cup comprising:
a cup body for containing drink therein;
a lighting module for emitting light being mounted on the cup body;
a power module supporting the cup body and electrically connecting with the lighting module; and
a heating module electrically connecting the power module and thermally contacting the cup body for heating the drink in the cup body.
14. The lighting cup of claim 13, wherein the lighting module comprises a plurality of lighting elements driven by the power module.
15. The lighting cup of claim 14, wherein the lighting module comprises a main body and a connecting portion extending from the main body and communicating with an interior of the main body, the lighting elements are received in the main body and the connecting portion electrically connects with the power module.
16. The lighting cup of claim 15, wherein the connecting portion is attached to an outer surface of the cup body.
17. The lighting cup of claim 15, wherein the cup body comprises a base and a sidewall extending from the base, the main body surrounds the sidewall, and the heating module thermally contacts the base.
18. The lighting cup of claim 17, wherein the cup body is transparent.
19. The lighting cup of claim 17, wherein the base is electrically insulating.