Automated beverage preparation apparatus capable of preparing sparkling drink

1 . An automated beverage preparation apparatus, comprising:

multiple pumps, respectively utilized for extracting multiple fluid materials stored in multiple material containers, and utilized for pushing corresponding fluid materials to move forward;

a fluid output device, comprising multiple fluid outlets, wherein the multiple fluid outlets are respectively coupled with the multiple pumps, and are respectively utilized for dispensing a corresponding fluid material to a beverage container;

a user control interface, arranged to operably generate a control command according to a user's manipulation;

a processing circuit, coupled with the user control interface, and arranged to operably generate a control signal according to the control command; and

a pump control circuit, coupled with the processing circuit and the multiple pumps, and arranged to operably control the multiple pumps according to the control signal;

wherein when the control command requests the automated beverage preparation apparatus to prepare a predetermined sparkling drink, the pump control circuit conducts a sparkling drink making operation under control of the processing circuit to cause the fluid output device to dispense different fluid materials of the multiple fluid materials to the beverage container in order, so as to automatically form the sparkling drink having a predetermined flavor within the beverage container;

wherein the sparkling drink making operation comprises:

actuating a first predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to dispense a first set of predetermined fluid materials having bubbles and having a density less than 120% of a density of water, so as to form an aerated liquid layer;

after forming the aerated liquid layer, actuating a second predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to dispense a second set of predetermined fluid materials having a color different from a color of the aerated liquid layer and having a density greater than a density of the aerated liquid layer, so as to form a first predetermined fluid layer having the color different from the color of the aerated liquid layer beneath the aerated liquid layer;

wherein a bubble layer is formed above the aerated liquid layer;

wherein the fluid output device dispenses the second set of predetermined fluid materials to the beverage container only after dispensing the first set of predetermined fluid materials, so as to slow down a rate at which carbon dioxide dissipates from the aerated liquid layer, and to prevent bubbles sticked with syrup from appearing in the bubble layer.

2 . The automated beverage preparation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first set of predetermined fluid materials comprises: an aerating water, a sparkling water, a beer, a soft drink, or a carbonated beverage.

3 . The automated beverage preparation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein during the operation of forming the aerated liquid layer, the pump control circuit does not actuate other pumps than the first predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to not simultaneously dispense other fluid material having a density greater than 125% of the density of water to the beverage container.

4 . The automated beverage preparation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sparkling drink making operation further comprises:

utilizing the second set of predetermined fluid materials to change the color of the aerated liquid layer within the beverage container.

5 . The automated beverage preparation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sparkling drink making operation further comprises:

after forming the first predetermined fluid layer, actuating a third predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to dispense a third set of predetermined fluid materials having a density greater than a density of the first predetermined fluid layer, so as to form a second predetermined fluid layer having a color different from the color of the first predetermined fluid layer beneath the first predetermined fluid layer.

6 . An automated beverage preparation apparatus, comprising:

multiple pumps, respectively utilized for extracting multiple fluid materials stored in multiple material containers, and utilized for pushing corresponding fluid materials to move forward;

a fluid output device, comprising multiple fluid outlets, wherein the multiple fluid outlets are respectively coupled with the multiple pumps, and are respectively utilized for dispensing a corresponding fluid material to a beverage container;

a user control interface, arranged to operably generate a control command according to a user's manipulation;

a processing circuit, coupled with the user control interface, and arranged to operably generate a control signal according to the control command; and

a pump control circuit, coupled with the processing circuit and the multiple pumps, and arranged to operably control the multiple pumps according to the control signal;

wherein when the control command requests the automated beverage preparation apparatus to prepare a predetermined sparkling drink, the pump control circuit conducts a sparkling drink making operation under control of the processing circuit to cause the fluid output device to dispense different fluid materials of the multiple fluid materials to the beverage container in order, so as to automatically form the sparkling drink having a predetermined flavor within the beverage container-;

wherein the sparkling drink making operation comprises:

actuating a first predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to dispense a first set of predetermined fluid materials having bubbles and having a density less than 120% of a density of water, so as to form an aerated liquid layer, wherein during the operation of forming the aerated liquid layer, the pump control circuit does not actuate other pumps than the first predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to not simultaneously dispense other fluid material having a density greater than 125% of the density of water to the beverage container;

after forming the aerated liquid layer, actuating a second predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to dispense a second set of predetermined fluid materials having a color different from a color of the aerated liquid layer and having a density greater than a density of the aerated liquid layer, so as to form a first predetermined fluid layer having a color different from the color of the aerated liquid layer beneath the aerated liquid layer; and

after forming the first predetermined fluid layer, actuating a third predetermined pump subset to cause the fluid output device to dispense a third set of predetermined fluid materials having a density greater than a density of the first predetermined fluid layer, so as to form a second predetermined fluid layer having a color different from the color of the first predetermined fluid layer beneath the first predetermined fluid layer;

wherein a bubble layer is formed above the aerated liquid layer;

wherein the fluid output device dispenses the second set of predetermined fluid materials to the beverage container only after dispensing the first set of predetermined fluid materials, so as to slow down a rate at which carbon dioxide dissipates from within the aerated liquid layer, and to prevent bubbles sticked with syrup from appearing in the bubble layer.