Container, preparation machine and system using a binary code for encoding preparation information

1. Container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion;

the reference portion comprising three reference units defining a reference line, the three reference units being arranged at the vertices of an isosceles reference triangle having a reference apex angle; and

the data portion comprising discrete positions at locations determined relative to said reference line, each of the discrete positions either comprises or does not comprise a data unit to at least partially encode the preparation information, wherein the discrete positions are arranged at vertices of a grid of isomorphic tessellating isosceles data triangles, the data triangles having a data apex angle different from the reference apex angle.

2. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the data triangles are congruent.

3. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the data apex angle (β) is neither a multiple nor a divisor of said reference apex angle.

4. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the reference apex angle is 90°, the reference triangle being a right-angled isosceles triangle, and wherein the data apex angle is 60°, the data triangles being equilateral triangles.

5. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the discrete positions are arranged around the three reference units.

6. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the discrete positions are arranged on at least two concentric polygonal rows around three reference units.

7. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the reference triangle, the data triangles and the reference line are virtual.

8. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the code has a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm.

9. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the code is formed on a surface of the container or on an attachment, which is attached thereto.

10. Container according to claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of the codes arranged in a tessellating manner.

11. Beverage or foodstuff preparation system comprising a container containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion comprising three reference units defining a reference line, the three reference units being arranged at the vertices of an isosceles reference triangle having a reference apex angle, and the data portion comprising discrete positions at locations determined relative to said reference line, each of the discrete positions either comprises or does not comprise a data unit to at least partially encode the preparation information, wherein the discrete positions are arranged at vertices of a grid of isomorphic tessellating isosceles data triangles, the data triangles having a data apex angle different from the reference apex angle and a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the preparation machine comprising:

a container processing subsystem to receive the container and to prepare a beverage or foodstuff therefrom;

a code processing subsystem operable to: obtain a digital image of the code of the container, and process the digital image to decode the encoded preparation information;

a control subsystem operable to control the container processing subsystem using the decoded preparation information; and

wherein the code processing subsystem is configured to decode the encoded preparation information by: identifying the reference units of the code and determining therefrom a reference line; determining from the reference line the locations of the discrete positions; determining for each discrete position whether a data unit is arranged at the corresponding location or not; retrieving encoded preparation information from the result of the determining step.

12. Method of preparing a beverage or foodstuff using a system according to claim 11 , the method comprising:

placing the container in the container processing system;

obtaining a digital image of the code of the container and processing the digital image to decode the encoded preparation information with the code processing subsystem;

controlling the container processing subsystem with the control subsystem using a sequence of operations of said decoded preparation information;

wherein the decoding of the encoded preparation information comprises:

identifying the reference units of the code and determining therefrom a reference line;

determining from the reference line the locations of the discrete positions;

determining for each discrete position whether a data unit is arranged at the corresponding location or not; and

retrieving encoded preparation information from the result of the determining step.

13. Attachment configured for attachment to a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the beverage or foodstuff preparation machine comprising:

a container processing subsystem to receive a container containing beverage or foodstuff material and to prepare a beverage or foodstuff therefrom;

a code processing subsystem operable to: obtain a digital image of a code; process the digital image to decode preparation information encoded in the code; and

a control subsystem operable to control the container processing subsystem using the decoded preparation information;

wherein the attachment comprises:

an attachment member for attachment to the beverage or foodstuff preparation machine;

a carrier carrying a code comprising a reference portion and a data portion,

the reference portion comprising three reference units defining a reference line, the three reference units being arranged at the vertices of an isosceles reference triangle having a reference apex angle; and

the data portion comprising discrete positions at locations determined relative to the reference line, each of the discrete positions either comprises or does not comprise a data unit to at least partially encode the preparation information, wherein the discrete positions are arranged at vertices of a grid of isomorphic tessellating isosceles data triangles, the data triangles having a data apex angle different from the reference apex angle.

14. Method of encoding preparation information, the method comprising forming a code on:

a container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material; or

an attachment for attachment to the container or a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine;

the method further comprising:

arranging three reference units at the vertices of an isosceles reference triangle having a reference apex angle, to define a reference line of a reference portion; and

at least partially encoding a parameter of the preparation information by arranging data units on at least one of discrete positions whose locations are determined relative to said reference line, whereby the discrete positions are arranged at vertices of a grid of isomorphic tessellating isosceles data triangles, the data triangles having a data apex angle different from the reference apex angle.