WIRELESS BLENDING DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20140269154A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Inventors: Kolar, David, Sems, Paul G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,328,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/142
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/042 Mechanically-driven liquid shakers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/08 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/1805 Kitchen, household equipment for mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/212 of the driving system data, e.g. torque, speed or power data
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2205 Controlling the mixing process from a remote server, e.g. by sending commands using radio, telephone, internet, local network, GPS or other means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2206 Use of stored recipes for controlling the computer programs, e.g. for manipulation, handling, production or composition in mixing plants B01F33/846 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2209 Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/221422 Speed of rotation of the mixing axis, stirrer or receptacle during the operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A blending device includes a motor, a motor controller, and a wireless controller configured to receive a wireless signal. The motor controller may be configured to alter the operations of the motor based the wireless signal. The wireless signal may include a blending program to be carried out by the blending device. The blending device may include one or more sensors configured to sense parameters of the blending device. The wireless signal may include information related to the sensed parameters. A blending device network may be formed by providing a second blending device having a wireless controller in communication with the first blending device wireless controller. The first and second blending devices may share information over the network.

Claims

1. A blending device comprising:

a motor;

a motor controller configured to control operations of said motor;

a wireless controller configured to receive a wireless signal; and

wherein said motor controller is configured to alter the operations of said motor based on information received in said wireless signal.

2. The blending device of claim 1, further comprising a memory and a processor.

3. The blending device of claim 2, wherein said wireless controller is configured to communicate using one of a Wi-Fi signal, Bluetooth signal, ZigBee signal, or cellular network signal.

4. The blending device of claim 1, wherein said wireless controller is integrally formed with said blending device.

5. The blending device of claim 1 further comprising a communication port configured to receive said wireless controller.

6. The blending device of claim 5, wherein said communication port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

7. The blending device of claim 5, wherein said wireless controller comprises a dongle removably connectable to said communication port.

8. The blending device of claim 1, wherein said wireless controller is configured to receive a blending program.

9. The blending device of claim 8, wherein said blending program comprises a motor speed and a time interval for said motor speed.

10. The blending device of claim 8, wherein said blending device includes a memory for storing said blending program.

11. The blending device of claim 1, wherein said wireless controller is configured to receive a wireless signal from a mobile device.

12. The blending device of claim 1, wherein said wireless controller is configured to receive a wireless signal from a Wi-Fi network.

13. A blending device comprising:

a motor;

one or more sensors connected to said blending device and configured to sense parameters of said blending device;

a wireless controller configured to send a wireless signal; and

wherein said wireless signal includes information related to one or more parameters of said blending device.

14. The blending device of claim 13, wherein said one or more sensors includes a temperature sensor;

15. The blending device of claim 14, wherein said temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of said motor.

16. The blending device of claim 13, wherein said one or more parameters of said blending device includes one or more of a temperature, cycle time, or cycle count.

17. A blending device network comprising:

a first blending device comprising;

a first motor;

one or more sensors connected to said first blending device;

a first wireless controller configured to send and receive a first wireless communication; and

wherein said first wireless communication includes information related performance of said first blending device;

a second blending device comprising;

a first motor;

one or more sensors connected to said second blending device; and

a second wireless controller configured to send and receive a second wireless communication; and

wherein said second wireless communication includes information related performance of said second blending device; and

wherein said first wireless controller is in wireless communication with said second wireless controller.

18. The blending device network of claim 17, wherein said one or more sensors connected to said first blending device includes a thermistor connected to a coil of said first motor and said one or more sensors connected to said second blending device includes a thermistor connected to a coil of said second motor.

19. The blending device network of claim 18, wherein said blending device network is configured to compare the temperature of said first motor coil with the temperature of said second motor coil to determine the coolest blending device.

20. The blending device network of claim 19, further comprising a first display on said first blending device and a second display on said second blending device.

21. The blending device network of claim 20, wherein said first display is configured to indicate when said first blending device is the coolest blending device in said blending device network and said second display is configured to indicate when said second blending device is the coolest blending device in said blending device network.