Programmable wireless control system for mixers
A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.
1. A programmable food preparation system, comprising:
a food preparation apparatus, comprising:
a base;
a mixing container oriented at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the base, the mixing container having an upper rim and a bottom, the mixing container comprising a plurality of interlocking members that engage corresponding interlocking members on a base portion of a drive shaft that allow the mixing container to be attached to the base portion in multiple orientations relative to the base;
a mixing tool having a first end and a second end, the first end of the mixing tool being connected to a distal end of the drive shaft, the distal end of the drive shaft being positioned within the upper rim of the mixing container, the second end of the mixing tool extending from the upper rim to the bottom of the mixing container;
a motor positioned in the base and configured to apply a torque to the mixing tool;
controller electronics connected to the motor and configured to control an operational setting of the motor;
a first wireless communication interface in communication with the controller electronics;
a remote control device, comprising:
a transducer configured to transduce a physical characteristic of at least one food ingredient and to produce a measurement signal;
a computer configured to receive the measurement signal;
a second wireless communication interface configured to connect to the first wireless communication interface to transfer the measurement signal or related operational parameters to the controller electronics using the computer;
wherein the controller electronics are configured to control the operational setting of the motor according to the measurement signal or the related operational parameters for preparing food in the mixing container using the mixing tool, the operational setting being based at least in part on the non-orthogonal angle of the mixing container relative to the base.
2. The programmable food preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the remote control device comprises a connection to the Internet and is configured to receive the related operational parameters of the motor via the connection to the Internet.
3. The programmable food preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the remote control device comprises a user interface and is configured to receive the related operational parameters of the motor via the user interface.
4. The programmable food preparation system of claim 3 , wherein the user interface is touch-sensitive and positioned within a housing of the food preparation apparatus.
5. The programmable food preparation system of claim 1 , wherein the remote control device is portable.
6. A programmable food preparation system, comprising:
a food mixer, comprising:
a base;
an annular mixing container positioned on the base, the mixing container having an upper rim and a bottom internal surface;
a mixing tool having a first end and a second end, the first end of the mixing tool being connected to a distal end of a drive shaft via an attachment surface defined by the distal end of the drive shaft to directly drive the mixing tool, the distal end of the drive shaft extending through an opening in the annular mixing container and being positioned within the upper rim of the mixing container, the second end of the mixing tool extending into the mixing container from the upper rim to the bottom internal surface;
a motor configured to apply a torque to the mixing tool by directly driving the drive shaft, the motor positioned in the base;
controller electronics connected to the motor and configured to control an operational setting of the motor;
a first wireless communication interface in communication with the controller electronics;
a remote control device, comprising:
a transducer configured to transduce a physical characteristic of at least one food ingredient and to produce a measurement signal;
a computer configured to receive the measurement signal;
a second wireless communication interface configured to connect to the first wireless communication interface to transfer the measurement signal or related operational parameters to the controller electronics using the computer;
wherein the controller electronics are configured to control the operational setting of the motor according to the measurement signal or the related operational parameters for preparing food in the mixing container using the mixing tool.