Appliance communication and control system and appliances for use in same

• US 6,587,739 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thalia Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Glen, Abrams, Vincent D., Izzard, Alexander Edwin III, Parker, Kenneth R., Woods, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US09/676,710
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 711/0, 388/936, 700/2-4, 700/82-83, 700/9, 725/79, 340/310.01, 710/110, 709/208, 993/25
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/936 Food preparation equipment

Abstract

A system of intelligent appliances coupled by common household power lines or wireless links. In particular, the system includes one of more of a kitchen console, a breadmaker, a slow cooker, and a rice cooker/steamer. One or more of the appliances serves as a system controller and may include a further communications interface for coupling to an external communications network, such as the telephone network. The system can thus be accessed and controlled remotely. The system can also communicate with and obtain information from remote sources such as Internet-based facilities.

Claims

1. A food preparation system comprising:

a first programmable controller device having a first processor and a first power line interface coupled to the first processor and a power distribution system; and

at least one programmable food preparation device having a second processor and a second power line interface coupled to the second processor and the power distribution system;

wherein the first programmable controller device and the at least one programmable food preparation device communicate with each other, under the control of the first and second processors, via the power distribution system and the first and second power line interfaces; and

wherein the first programmable controller device may program the at least one programmable food preparation device to operate in accordance with food preparation parameters programmed in the first programmable controller, wherein the food preparation parameters include at least one of a recipe, a recipe modification, a desired time of food preparation completion, and a modification to the desired time of food preparation completion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first programmable controller includes a network communications interface coupled to the first processor and to a communications network, and the first programmable controller may transmit and receive programming communications via one of the communications network by the network communications interface and the power distribution system by the power line interface.

3. The system of claim 2, the system further comprising a second programmable controller device having a third processor and a third power line interface coupled to the third processor and the power distribution system;

wherein the second programmable controller device communicates with the first programmable controller and the at least one programmable food preparation device, under the control of the first, second and third processors, via the power distribution system and the first, second and third power line interfaces; and

wherein the first and second programmable controller devices may program each other and the at least one programmable food preparation device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second programmable controller includes a second network communications interface coupled to the third processor and to the communications network, and the second programmable controller may transmit and receive programming communications via one of the communications network by the second network communications interface and the power distribution system by the third power line interface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first programmable controller device includes a kitchen console and the second programmable controller device includes one of a personal computer and an alarm clock.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one programmable food preparation device includes at least one of a breadmaker, a coffee maker, a slow cooker, a steamer and a rice cooker.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the steamer and the rice cooker are combined to create a rice cooker/steamer combination.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one programmable food preparation device includes a control panel, heating control and monitoring circuitry, and at least one condition sensor coupled to the second processor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one condition sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a liquid sensor, a weight sensor, a torque sensor, and a lid sensor.

10. A food preparation appliance comprising:

a processor;

a power line interface coupled to the processor and coupleable to a power distribution system;

a control panel coupled to the processor;

at least one food preparation compartment for preparing food;

a heater coupled to the processor and in thermal conductive contact with the at least one food preparation compartment;

at least one condition sensor coupled to the processor; and

a housing containing the processor, the power line interface, the control panel, the at least one food preparation compartment, the heater, and the at least one condition sensor;

wherein the processor may communicate via the power line interface when coupled to the power distribution system;

the control panel programs and interacts with the processor;

the processor controls and monitors the heater;

the heater heats the at least one food preparation compartment;

the processor monitors the at least one condition sensor; and

the at least one condition sensor detects at least one condition associated with one of the at least one food preparation compartment, the ingredients, and the housing.

11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the food preparation appliance comprises one of a breadmaker, a coffee maker, a slow cooker, a steamer and a rice cooker.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the steamer and the rice cooker are combined to create a rice cooker/steamer combination.

13. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the at least one condition sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a liquid sensor, a wight sensor, a torque sensor, and a lid sensor.

14. The appliance of claim 10, further comprising

a motor coupled to the processor and contained in the housing; and

a stirring attachment removably attached to the motor and extending into the at least one food preparation compartment;

wherein the processor controls and monitors the motor;

the motor rotates the stirring attachment; and

the stirring attachment agitates ingredients within the at least one food preparation compartment.

15. A method of preparing food comprising

selecting a recipe to be prepared and a desired time of food preparation completion;

programming the recipe and the desired time of food preparation completion into a programmable controller device;

receiving instructions from the programmable controller regarding preparation of ingredients for use in the recipe;

executing the instructions regarding the preparation of the ingredients;

placing the ingredients into at least one food preparation appliance having a processor in communication with the programmable controller device;

notifying the programmable controller device of the execution of the instructions regarding the preparation of the ingredients and of the placement of the ingredients into the at least one food preparation appliance;

activating the programmable controller device to execute aspects of the programming of the recipe and the desired time of food preparation completion that involve operating the at least one food preparation appliance containing the ingredients; and

allowing the programmable controller device to operate the at least one food preparation appliance so that the food preparation is completed at the desired time of food preparation completion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the programmable controller device electronically receives the recipe and the instructions from one of an attached electronic data storage medium, a removable electronic data storage medium, a personal digital assistant, a locally networked personal computer, and a remotely networked computer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the programmable controller device electronically receives the desired time of food preparation completion from at least one of a control panel, an audible communication, a telephonic communication, an electronic communication, a wireless communication, and an internal algorithmic computation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic communication is one of an e-mail message, a signal from an alarm clock in communication with the programmable controller device, a direct network communication from a local computer, and a direct network communication from a remote computer.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the programmable controller device is one of a kitchen console, an alarm clock, a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer, and the at least one food preparation appliance is at least one of a breadmaker, a coffee maker, a slow cooker, a steamer and a rice cooker.