Food processing device and food processing accessory for a food processing device

Abstract

The food processing device includes a base housing having an accessory receiver arranged to receive a food processing accessory configured to perform a food processing operation. The accessory receiver includes an electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts. The device includes a first processor having a plurality of ports, where each port of the plurality of ports is in electrical communication with each electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts. The first processor is configured to: i) receive an identification signal from a second processor in a received food processing accessory at a first port of the plurality of ports via the electrical connector to identify the received food processing accessory, and ii) monitor a voltage at each port of the plurality of ports to identify the received food processing accessory when no identification signal is received.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a food processing apparatus, and more specifically to a food processing apparatus capable of identifying and connecting different types of attachments. Background Technology

[0002] A wide variety of devices exist for food processing. However, each food processing device can often only meet a limited number of food processing needs. This is likely due to limitations in the mechanical layout of each device, which restricts how comfortably it can be gripped and operated in different orientations, and limits its effective use in various food processing situations. Furthermore, food processing devices are limited in the extent to which they allow the attachment of different mixing, stirring, beating, or other types of food processing ends, which can be attached for various purposes. This necessitates individuals or businesses purchasing and maintaining many different devices to effectively meet all possible food processing needs.

[0003] Certain existing kitchen tools have been developed that allow interchangeable connection of various types of attachments capable of performing different types of food processing functions. Typically, such kitchen tools can recognize the type of attachment when connected to them. However, the number of attachments that can be recognized, or the ability to recognize the type of new attachments and / or provide backward compatibility with new attachments, is limited. Therefore, there is a need for a single food processing device or kitchen tool that can recognize and interact with attachments in a more scalable, evolving, and flexible manner. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention addresses technical problems associated with existing food processing apparatuses and / or kitchen tools by providing scalable and backward-compatible accessory recognition. It should be understood that food processing apparatuses are not limited to devices commonly referred to as "food processing apparatuses," but can include any apparatus that performs any form of food processing, for example, by performing one or more of the foregoing methods: mixing, stirring, pureeing, slicing, dicing, chopping, grinding, scraping, peeling, milling, extruding, folding, kneading, other forms of food processing, or any suitable combination of the foregoing methods. Exemplary food processing apparatus accessory detection, recognition, and / or control systems and methods for implementing passive and / or active accessory detection are described. Passive accessory detection can be achieved via one or more electrical contacts at an accessory interface of the food processing apparatus accessory, while active accessory detection can include communication exchanged between a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, controller, or programming circuitry) of the food processing apparatus and a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, controller, or programming circuitry) within the food processing accessory via a communication connection at the accessory interface and accessory receiver. In some embodiments, food processing apparatuses and / or kitchen tools include passive and active accessory detection and / or recognition. In some embodiments, the attachment includes a processor and a memory arranged to enable the food processing attachment to recognize itself to the food processing apparatus when the attachment is connected to the food processing apparatus.

[0005] In one aspect, the food processing apparatus includes a base housing having an accessory receiver arranged to receive a food processing accessory configured to perform food processing operations. The accessory receiver includes an electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts. The apparatus also includes a first processor having a plurality of ports, such that each of the plurality of ports is electrically connected to each of the plurality of electrical contacts. The first processor is configured to: i) receive an identification signal at a first port of the plurality of ports via the electrical connector from a second processor of the received food processing accessory to identify the received food processing accessory; and ii) when no identification signal is received, monitor the voltage at each of the plurality of ports to identify the received food processing accessory.

[0006] The first processor can be configured to periodically transmit a polling signal to the received food processing accessory via the electrical connector from a second port of the plurality of ports. The identification signal can be received by the first processor via the electrical connector in response to the transmission of the polling signal. The base housing can be configured to provide a power signal to the food processing accessory via the electrical connector. The base housing can be configured to provide a ground connection to the food processing accessory via the electrical connector.

[0007] The identification signal may include an identifier for the type of food processing attachment. The attachment type includes one of the following: mixer, chopper, blender, immersion mixer, foamer, vacuum sealer, pasta roller, grinder, food processor, and direct pre-cutting machine. The identification signal can be received via asynchronous serial communication.

[0008] The first processor can be configured to receive motor control signals from the second processor at the first port via the electrical connector. The first processor can also be configured to transmit motor status data to the second processor from the second port of the plurality of ports via the electrical connector.

[0009] On the other hand, a food processing accessory for a food processing apparatus includes an accessory interface arranged to be detachably connected to an accessory receiver in a base housing of the food processing apparatus. The accessory interface includes an electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts. The food processing accessory also includes an accessory processor having a plurality of ports, such that each of the plurality of ports is electrically connected to each of the plurality of electrical contacts. The accessory processor is configured to transmit an identification signal via the electrical connector from a first port of the plurality of ports of the accessory processor to a base processor in the base housing of the food processing apparatus when the accessory interface is connected to the accessory receiver.

[0010] The accessory processor can be configured to receive a polling signal from the base processor at a second of the plurality of ports via the electrical connector. The accessory processor can transmit the identification signal in response to receiving the polling signal. The food processing accessory can be configured to receive a power signal from the base housing via the electrical connector. The food processing accessory can be configured to receive a ground connection from the base housing via the electrical connector.

[0011] The identification signal may include an identifier for the type of food processing accessory. The identification signal may be transmitted via asynchronous serial communication. The accessory processor may be configured to transmit motor control signals via the electrical connector to control a motor in the base housing. The accessory processor may be configured to receive motor status data from the base processor via the electrical connector.

[0012] In another aspect, a method for identifying food processing accessories includes: connecting the food processing accessory to a base housing of a food processing apparatus via an accessory receiver including an electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts; electrically connecting each of a plurality of ports of a first processor in the base housing to each of a plurality of electrical contacts; receiving an identification signal from a second processor of the received food processing accessory via the electrical connector at a first port of the plurality of ports to identify the received food processing accessory; and when no identification signal is received, monitoring the voltage at each of the plurality of ports by the first processor to identify the received food processing accessory. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To make it easier for those skilled in the art to understand how to manufacture and use the system, please refer to the following figures.

[0014] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a handheld food processing device based on the technology of this subject.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a side view of a handheld food processing device with a mixing attachment in use;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a side view of a handheld food processing device with a stirring attachment in use;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a side perspective view of the independent base handle used in food processing equipment;

[0018] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Top view of the base handle;

[0019] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A close-up perspective view of the base handle from below;

[0020] Figure 7a is a top perspective view of a mixing attachment for a food processing apparatus;

[0021] Figure 7b is a side view of the hybrid attachment of Figure 7a;

[0022] Figure 7c is a side perspective view of the hybrid attachment of Figure 7a;

[0023] Figure 7d is a bottom view of the mixed attachments in Figure 7a;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a bottom perspective view of the mixing attachment in Figure 7a, with the mixing end removed;

[0025] Figure 9This is a close-up perspective top view of the mixed attachment in Figure 7;

[0026] Figure 10a is a side view of a stirring attachment used in a food processing apparatus;

[0027] Figure 10b is a top view of the stirring attachment in Figure 10a;

[0028] Figure 10c is a bottom view of the stirring attachment in Figure 10a;

[0029] Figures 11a and 11b are side views of alternative stirring attachments for food processing apparatus;

[0030] Figures 12a and 12b are side views of alternative mixing end attachments for mixing attachments in food processing apparatus;

[0031] Figure 13 An exploded view of a food processing apparatus, including a functional block diagram associated with the apparatus's electronic components;

[0032] Figure 14 A block diagram of the computer system is shown;

[0033] Figure 15 A block diagram showing the electrical connection between the processor in the base housing and the accessory processor that facilitates active accessory identification;

[0034] Figure 16 A block diagram showing the electrical connections between the processor in the base housing and the accessories that facilitate passive accessory identification is illustrated.

[0035] Figure 17A This includes a form that associates electrical contact configurations with accessories;

[0036] Figure 17B It shows in Figure 17A The attachment touchpoint configuration identified in the table; and

[0037] Figure 18 Includes a flowchart of the process for detecting the connection between the accessory and the food processing equipment. Detailed Implementation

[0038] This subject matter overcomes many prior art problems associated with food processing apparatus and / or kitchen tools by enabling scalable and backward-compatible accessory recognition. This disclosure includes exemplary food processing apparatus accessory detection, recognition, and / or control systems and methods for implementing passive and / or active accessory detection. Passive accessory detection may be implemented via one or more electrical contacts at an accessory interface, while active accessory detection may include communication exchanged between a processor in the food processing apparatus and a processor within the accessory via a communication connection at the accessory interface. In some embodiments, the food processing apparatus and / or kitchen tools include passive and active accessory detection and / or recognition. In some embodiments, the accessory includes a processor and memory arranged to enable the accessory to recognize itself to the food processing apparatus when the accessory is attached to the food processing apparatus.

[0039] Furthermore, this subject matter provides a food processing apparatus that allows for the removable attachment of mixing attachments having various mixing ends, and also allows for the removable attachment of stirring attachments with different orientations. The advantages and other features of the systems and methods disclosed herein will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating representative embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used herein to denote the same parts. Furthermore, terms indicating orientation, such as “upper,” “lower,” “farther,” and “near,” are used only to help describe the position of components relative to each other. For example, the “upper” surface of a part is used only to describe a surface separate from the “lower” surface of the same part. No terms indicating direction are used to describe absolute orientation (i.e., the “upper” part must always be at a higher height).

[0040] Now for reference Figures 1 to 3 This document illustrates a kitchen tool and / or handheld food processing device 100 according to the present subject matter. While exemplary handheld food processing devices are described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of kitchen tools and / or food processing devices can be configured to interchangeably receive, identify, and / or control various types of food processing attachments. Figure 1 An exploded view of the handheld food processing device 100 is shown, while Figures 2 to 3A perspective view of a food processing apparatus 100 in use is shown. The food processing apparatus 100 typically includes a motorized base housing 102, which can be connected to various attachments depending on the desired food processing action. In the given example, the base housing 102 can be removably attached to a manual mixing attachment 104 or a stirring attachment 106. When attached, a motor assembly (not explicitly shown) within the base housing 102 drives the rotational movement of the mixing end 108 of the corresponding attachment. Typically, the mixing attachment 104 is designed to allow attachment of various mixing ends 108, such as single or dual mixers, beaters, or dough hooks. Furthermore, the food processing apparatus 100 may include various stirring attachments 106, which can be connected for different purposes. The various types of mixing ends and stirring attachments will be discussed in more detail below.

[0041] Figure 2 A schematic orientation of a food processing apparatus 100 in use is shown, in which a mixing attachment 104 is attached. The mixing attachment 104 is directly attached to the base housing 102 and includes an additional proximal handle portion 110 at its proximal end 111, which extends substantially parallel to the base housing 102 once the mixing attachment 104 has been attached to it. The mixing attachment 104 includes a mixing end attachment portion 112 that allows for removable attachment of the mixing end 108, such as... Figure 2 As shown. The mixing attachment 104 is designed such that the mixing end 108 will be held in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to both the base housing 102 and the handle 110 of the mixing attachment 104. Therefore, a user can grip the handle portion 110 of the mixing attachment 104 with one hand 114 and the base housing 102 with the other hand (not explicitly shown). This provides the user with better control over the food processing apparatus 100, as they can more easily manipulate the apparatus 100 while keeping it in contact with the food being processed.

[0042] Figure 3 A schematic orientation of a food processing apparatus 100 in use is shown, in which a stirring attachment 106 is attached. The stirring attachment 106 is directly attached to the base housing 102 in a fixed orientation such that the stirring attachment 106 is substantially axially aligned with the base housing 102. Therefore, a user can manipulate the stirring attachment 106 by gripping the base housing 102 from the side (e.g., as shown by hand 114).

[0043] As shown in more detail in Figures 10a to 10c, the stirring attachment 106 includes a stirring attachment end 116, which may include blades 118, ridges 120, grooves 122, or other additionally shaped areas to process food as needed. In use, a motor assembly drives the entire stirring attachment end or a portion of the stirring attachment to achieve rotary motion for food processing. This can be achieved, for example, by connecting a shaft 124 within the stirring attachment 106 that drives the blade assembly 126 to a motor assembly within the base housing 102.

[0044] Now for reference Figures 4 to 6 The diagram shows a base housing 102 separate from the food processing apparatus 100. Although not explicitly shown, the base housing 102 includes a motor assembly that ultimately enables rotational movement within either attachment (i.e., 104, 106) for food processing. This can be achieved using conventional motors known in the art. For example, the motor assembly could include an electric motor powered by DC voltage from a battery or AC voltage from a battery within the base housing 102. Power can drive a motor shaft, which can be converted into the shaft of the attached mixing or stirring ends 104, 106 via a drive coupling 130, a gear assembly, or other mechanisms within the base housing 102.

[0045] The food processing apparatus 100 may include two different operating settings for controlling the motor. In a first operating setting, the base housing 102 controls the motor assembly. This first operating setting allows the base housing 102 to attach to and control a mixing attachment 106, or other similar attachments without their own control mechanisms. Alternatively, as will be discussed in more detail below, when the base housing 102 is connected to a mixing attachment 104, the controller on the mixing attachment 104 can disable the controller on the base housing 102, allowing the food processing apparatus 100 to operate in a second operating mode, wherein the food processing apparatus 100 is controlled by a user controller of the mixing attachment 104.

[0046] In this regard, refer again Figures 4 to 6The base housing 102 includes a set of user controllers 132 that allow the user to control the power settings and variable speeds of the motor assembly in a first operating setting to drive the stirring attachment 106. In the given example, a first user input / output (I / O) 134 provides power control, while a second I / O 136 provides motor speed control. The first I / O 134 is a simple button that allows switching the power supply and moving the food processing device 100 between "on" and "off" states. The second I / O 136 includes a touch-sensitive pad that displays multiple numbers around the circumference of the proximal end 140 of the base housing 102. Each number corresponds to the motor speed, which in turn indicates the rotational speed of the attachment. For example, the number "1" could correspond to the slowest motor speed, while the number "5" corresponds to the fastest motor speed, and the numbers "2", "3", and "4" represent speeds increasing from the slowest to the fastest. The I / O 136 is configured such that once the power is on, the user can touch the desired speed, and the motor speed will change according to the selected speed. Therefore, I / O 136 allows users to easily change the current speed of the motor and view the current speed settings.

[0047] The distal end of the base housing 102 and / or the accessory receiver 142 includes mechanisms for mechanically attaching the base housing 102 to the mixing accessory 104, the stirring accessory 106, or another accessory type. Specifically, the base housing 102 may include outwardly biased tabs 144 (note that, although in Figure 4 Only one tab 144 is visible in the original image, but the base housing 102 may include multiple tabs 144 (e.g., two, three, four, or more tabs 144). The tabs 144 are angled outward from the distal end 142 of the base housing 102 to the proximal end 140. The mixing attachment 104 and the stirring attachment 106 may include corresponding attachment regions 148, 150, which include grooves designed to retain the tabs 144. The attachment regions 148, 150 of the mixing attachment 104 or the stirring attachment 106 may slide on the distal end 142 of the base housing 102, thereby allowing the tabs 144 to be pressed inward. Once the tabs 144 are aligned with the grooves, the tabs are biased (e.g., by a spring or other means) to extend outward and into the grooves, locking in place and securing the base housing 102 to the attachments 104, 106. The base housing 102 may also include a quick-release mechanism, such as a button on the user controller 132, which can be actuated to press down the tab 144 and release the mixing attachment 104 and / or the stirring attachment 106 from the base housing 102. In this way, the base housing 102 allows the mixing attachment 104 or the stirring attachment 106 to be quickly and efficiently attached to or removed from the base housing 102. This allows for rapid switching between various food processing options.

[0048] Additionally, the distal end of the base housing 102 and / or the attachment receiver 142 may include a rib 149 that engages with recesses 146, 153 within the attachment areas and / or attachment interfaces 148, 150 of the mixing attachment 104 and / or the stirring attachment 106 (see Figures 7c and 10b). The rib 149 protrudes from the distal end of the base housing 102 and / or the attachment receiver 142 and extends downward along the length axis of the base housing 102. The recesses 146 are correspondingly shaped channels that allow the recesses 146, 153 to receive the rib 149 to guide the distal end of the base housing 102 and / or the attachment receiver 142 into the corresponding attachment area and / or attachment interface 148. After the mixing attachment 104 or the stirring attachment 106 is attached to the base housing 102, the engagement between the rib 149 and the recesses 146, 153 also helps to rotatably lock the housing of the base housing 102 to the housing of the corresponding attachment 104, 106. Note that although it has been found that three ribs 149 and corresponding grooves 146 and 153 are effective, it should be understood that other quantities, such as two, four or six, can also be used.

[0049] To facilitate ergonomic gripping, the base housing 102 may have a generally cylindrical shape extending from the proximal end 140 through the center 161, wherein the recess 159 (i.e., the portion with a diameter smaller than the center portion 161 of the base housing 102) lies just before the proximal end 140. At the proximal end 140, the base handle may include an end knob 163 that extends back to a diameter substantially the same as the center 161 of the base housing 102. This improves stability when the base housing 102 is rested on its end 104 between processes, particularly when the device 100 is used as a manual mixer (e.g., with a stirring attachment 106).

[0050] Now refer to Figure 7a to Figure 9 The diagram shows a mixing attachment 104 separate from the food processing apparatus 100. The mixing attachment 104 includes a mixing end attachment portion 112, which can be attached to one or more different mixing ends for different purposes. See Figures 7a to 7d and... Figure 9 In the example, dual stirring ends 108 are attached. Each stirring end 108 has a shaft 152 that can be inserted into an opening 165 in the mixing end attachment portion 112 (see [link]). Figure 8 (The mixing end 108 is omitted). A locking pawl mechanism or other mechanical locking mechanism may be used to releasably connect the mixer 108 to the mixing attachment 104. When attached to the base housing 102 for use, the mixing attachment 104 holds the mixing end 108 perpendicular to the base housing 102 (and perpendicular to the proximal handle 110 of the mixing attachment 104). Other exemplary mixing attachment ends 154, 156 are shown in Figures 12a and 12b and are described in more detail below.

[0051] The mixing attachment 108 also includes a proximal handle 110 that extends substantially parallel to the base housing 102 and perpendicular to the mixing end 108 during use. The proximal handle 110 provides another gripping position, allowing the user to grip the food processing device 100 with one hand on the proximal handle 110 and the other hand on the base housing 102. The mixing attachment 104 includes a curved U-shaped segment 158 ​​extending between the mixing attachment body portion 160, which is attached to the base housing 102, and the proximal handle 110. The proximal handle 110 includes a gripping portion 162, which is a substantially straight portion primarily used by the user to grip the proximal handle 110. The proximal handle 110 may terminate at a tilted handle end 164, which helps orient the user towards the end of the proximal handle 110. Above the gripping portion 162 and adjacent to the U-shaped segment 158, the mixing attachment 104 includes a second user controller 166.

[0052] The second user controller 166 may function similarly to the first user controller 132, unless otherwise shown and described herein. Specifically, while the power state and motor speed of the food processing apparatus 100 are generally controlled by the first user controller 132 on the base housing 102, attaching the mixing attachment 104 to the base housing 102 automatically disables the first user controller 132 (and the first operating mode) and enables the second user controller 166 (and the second operating mode). In the second operating mode, the second user controller 166 controls the power state and motor speed of the food processing apparatus 100. This is achieved by including electrical contacts (e.g., electrodes, pins, pads, etc.) 155 on the base attachment area and / or attachment interface 148 of the mixing attachment 104, and corresponding electrodes and / or electrical contacts 151 on the distal end of the base housing 102 and / or attachment receiver 142. When the mixing attachment 104 and the base housing 102 are attached, the electrical contacts establish an electrical connection between the base housing processor and the attachment processor, enabling the processor to coordinate to switch the food processing apparatus 100 to the second operating mode.

[0053] In one example, such as Figure 9 As best shown, the second user controller 166 may include a power toggle button 168 that can be activated to switch the device 100 between an on and off state. The roller 170 can roll up or down to increase or decrease the motor speed, respectively. The roller 170 is positioned to roll axially along the handle 110, allowing the user's thumb to easily control the roller 170. The second user controller 166 may include an indicator light 174 or other markings that display the current motor speed or other settings to the user. The second user controller 166 may also include a pop-out button 172 that can be activated to release the mixing end 108.

[0054] Referring now to Figures 11a and 11b, alternative stirring attachments 176 and 178 are shown. Stirring attachments 176 and 178 may function similarly to stirring attachment 106 unless otherwise shown and described. Specifically, stirring attachments 176 and 178 are connected to a base housing 102 axially aligned with the base housing 102, as described above for stirring attachment 106, and each includes shafts 180 and 182 driven by a motor of the base housing 102. However, the alternative attachments are suitable for meeting additional food processing needs.

[0055] Specifically, the mixing attachment 176 includes a central rotating member 188 comprising a plurality of separate, vertically offset blades 184. The central rotating member 188 is surrounded by a container 186. Food can be placed inside the container 186 for slicing, and then the container 186 can be sealed to the upper portion 190 of the mixing attachment 176 via threads 192. The mixing attachment 176 can be used for a range of types of food processing, including chopping vegetables such as onions or plant-based spices, or even mincing meat. This can be advantageous when making foods such as sauces and dips like guacamole. The mixing attachment 178 includes an upper housing 194 for attachment to the base housing 102, and an opposite end having a circular foaming end 196. This is particularly useful for foaming milk, wherein the shaft 182 is removable for storage and cleaning of the foaming end 196.

[0056] Referring now to Figures 12a and 12b, alternative mixing ends 154 and 156 are shown, which can be attached to the mixing end attachment portion 112 of the mixing attachment 104. The alternative mixing ends 154 and 156 function similarly to the mixing end 108, unless otherwise shown and described herein. Specifically, mixing end 154 is a single mixer or beater that can be centrally attached to the mixing end attachment portion 112. Mixing end 156 is a set of two kneading hooks, which can be used as a substitute for providing hook-shaped ends for kneading dough.

[0057] In this manner, as described above, the food processing apparatus 100 provides an electrically operated base handle 100, which allows for a wide range of different food processing options. Many different mixing attachments (e.g., 106, 176, 178) can be directly attached to the base housing 102 for various food processing needs. Alternatively, a mixing attachment 104 can be attached to the base housing 102, with a controller 166 for the mixing attachment 104 controlling the processing apparatus 100. The mixing attachment 104 allows for the removable attachment of various mixing ends (e.g., 108, 153, 156) according to given food processing needs, thus achieving greater versatility. Furthermore, the mixing attachment 104 provides an additional handle 110, maintaining the mixing end perpendicular to both the handle 110 and the base housing 102. Therefore, the apparatus offers various attachment orientations for easier control of different applications. Additionally, the food processing apparatus 100 can be controlled by a convenient control device, the operation of which depends on the current attachment to the base housing 102.

[0058] Figure 13 An exploded view 1300 of a food processing apparatus 100 including a functional block diagram of the electronic devices associated with the apparatus 100 and the mixer attachment 104. Figure 13 The base housing 102 is shown to include an electrical contact 151, which may be a spring pin or an electrode, and a hybrid accessory 104 includes a corresponding and / or mating electrical contact 155 that engages with the electrical contact 151 when the hybrid accessory 104 is received by the base housing 102 at the accessory receiver 142. The handle 110 of the hybrid accessory 104 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 1302 having an accessory processor 1304, one or more user-operable switches 1306, and one or more user indicators 1308, such as LEDs. The base housing 102 includes a base processor PCB 1310 having a base processor 1312, a user-operable switch 1314, and a power switch 1316. The base housing 102 may also include a power supply PCB 1320 having a phase angle regulating transistor (TRIAC) and / or AC switch 1324 for alternating current, a motor control relay 1326, and a power supply unit (PSU) 1328 arranged to receive an AC power input 1318.

[0059] Figure 14 This is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system 1400. Computer system 1400 may represent a processing system within an apparatus, such as a food processing apparatus, kitchen utensil, micro-purifier, blender, ice cream maker, immersion blender, or any accessory to such an apparatus. Computer system 1400 may include a system-on-a-chip (SoC), client devices, and / or physical computing devices, and may include hardware and / or virtual processors. In some embodiments, such as Figure 14The computer system 1400 and its components shown each relate to physical hardware, and in some embodiments, one, more, or all of the components may be implemented using an emulator or virtual machine. In any case, the computer system 1400 can be implemented on physical hardware.

[0060] Similarly, Figure 14 As shown, computer system 1400 may include a user interface 1412 having, for example, a keyboard, keypad, touchpad, or sensor readout device (e.g., a biometric scanner) and one or more output devices, such as a display, audio speaker, LED indicator, and / or light indicator. Computer system 1400 may also include a communication interface 1410, such as a network communication unit that may include wired and / or wireless communication components, communicatively coupled to processor 1402. The network communication unit may utilize any of a variety of proprietary or standardized network protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP / IP, or some of the many protocols listed, to enable communication between processor 1400 and another device, network, or system. The network communication unit may also include one or more transceivers utilizing Ethernet, power line communication (PLC), Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or other communication methods.

[0061] Computer system 1400 includes processing elements such as processor 1402, which comprises one or more hardware processors, each of which may have single or multiple processor cores. In one embodiment, processor 1402 includes at least one shared cache that stores data (e.g., compute instructions) used by one or more other components of processor 1402. For example, the shared cache may be local cached data stored in memory for faster access by the components that make up the processing elements of processor 1402. Examples of processors include, but are not limited to, central processing unit (CPU) and / or microprocessor. Processor 1402 may utilize computer architectures based on, but not limited to, Intel® 8051 architecture, Motorola® 68HCX, Intel® 80X86, etc. Processor 1402 may include, but is not limited to, 8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, or 64-bit architectures. Although Figure 14 Not shown, but the processing elements comprising processor 1402 may also include one or more other types of hardware processing components, such as graphics processing unit (GPU), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and / or digital signal processor (DSP).

[0062] Figure 14The memory 1404 is shown to be operatively and communicatively coupled to the processor 1402. The memory 1404 can be a non-transitory medium configured to store various types of data. For example, the memory 1404 may include one or more storage devices 1408, which include non-volatile storage devices and / or volatile memory. Volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), can be any suitable non-persistent storage device. The non-volatile storage devices in storage device 1408 may include one or more disk drives, optical disk drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), magnetic tape drives, flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), and / or any other type of memory designed to maintain data for a duration following a power outage or shutdown operation. In some configurations, if the allocated RAM is insufficient to hold all working data, the non-volatile storage device 1408 may be used to store overflow data. The non-volatile storage device 1408 may also be used to store programs loaded into RAM when these programs are selected for execution.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will recognize that software programs can be developed, coded, and compiled for various software platforms and / or operating systems in various computing languages, and subsequently loaded and executed by processor 1402. In one embodiment, the compilation process of a software program can translate program code written in a programming language into another computer language, enabling processor 1402 to execute the programming code. For example, the compilation process of a software program can generate an executable program that provides processor 1402 with encoded instructions (e.g., machine code instructions) to implement specific, non-general-purpose, particular computational functions.

[0064] Following the compilation process, the encoded instructions may be loaded as computer-executable instructions or process steps from storage device 1408, from memory X04, into processor 1402, and / or embedded within processor 1402 (e.g., via cache or onboard ROM). Processor 1402 may be configured to execute the stored instructions or process steps to transform the computing device into a non-general-purpose, specific, specially programmed machine or device. Stored data (e.g., data stored by storage device 1408) may be accessed by processor 1402 during the execution of the computer-executable instructions or process steps to instruct one or more components within computing system 1400 and / or other components or devices outside system 1400.

[0065] User interface 1412 may include a display, a positional input device (such as a mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, etc.), a keyboard, keypad, one or more buttons, or other forms of user input and output devices. User interface components may be communicatively coupled to processor 1402. When the user interface output device is or includes a display, the display may be implemented in various ways, including via a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), or a light-emitting diode (LED) display, such as an OLED display. Input / output interface 106 may be connected to one or more sensors for detecting and / or monitoring environmental conditions within or around system 1400. Environmental conditions may include, but are not limited to, magnetic field levels, rotation and / or movement of a device or component, temperature, pressure, acceleration, vibration, motion, radiation levels, position of a device or component, and / or presence of a device or component. Those skilled in the art will recognize that computer system 1400 may include other components known in the art, such as power supplies and / or analog-to-digital converters. Figure 14 It is not explicitly shown in the document.

[0066] In some implementations, computing system 1400 and / or processor 1402 include a SoC having multiple hardware components, including but not limited to:

[0067] Microcontroller, microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) core and / or multiprocessor SoC (MPSoC) with more than one processor core.

[0068] Storage areas include a choice of read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory;

[0069] Timing sources include oscillators and phase-locked loops;

[0070] Peripheral devices include counters, timers, real-time timers, and power-on reset generators;

[0071] External interfaces include industry standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, Ethernet, Universal Synchronous / Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (USART), and Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI);

[0072] Analog interfaces, including analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converters (DACs); and

[0073] Voltage regulator and power management circuit.

[0074] A System-on-a-Chip (SoC) comprises the hardware described above, along with the software controlling the microcontroller, microprocessor, and / or DSP cores, peripherals, and interfaces. Most SoCs are developed from pre-qualified hardware blocks (e.g., modules or components referred to as IP cores or IP blocks) and the software drivers that control their operation. The hardware components listed above are not exhaustive. SoCs may include protocol stacks that drive industry-standard interfaces such as Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[0075] Once the overall architecture of a SoC has been defined, the individual hardware components can be described using an abstract language called RTL, which stands for Register Transfer Level. RTL is used to define circuit behavior. Hardware components are connected together using the same RTL language to create a complete SoC design. In digital circuit design, RTL is a design abstraction that simulates synchronous digital circuits based on the flow of digital signals (data) between hardware registers and the logical operations performed on these signals. RTL abstractions are used in hardware description languages ​​(HDLs) such as Verilog and VHDL to create high-level representations of circuits from which low-level representations and the final actual wiring can be derived. RTL-level design is typical practice in modern digital design. Verilog is standardized as IEEE 1364 and is an HDL used for modeling electronic systems. Verilog is most commonly used for digital circuit design and verification at the RTL abstraction level. Verilog can also be used for verifying analog and mixed-signal circuits, as well as designing genetic circuits. In some implementations, some or all components of the computer system X00 are implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB). One or more features of system X00 can be defined in relation to… Figure 13 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 Figure 17 and Figure 18 The system and processor implementation described.

[0076] Figure 15A block diagram 1500 shows an electrical connector 1502 between a base processor 1312 and an accessory processor 1304 in a base housing 102. This accessory processor facilitates active accessory identification, for example, of a mixer accessory 104. The base processor 1312 includes multiple data ports 1504, 1506, 1508, and 1510. Data ports 1504, 1506, 1508, and 1510 are electrically connected to electrical contacts 1512, 1514, 1516, and 1518 in the electrical connector 1502, respectively. The accessory processor 1304 includes data ports 1520, 1522, 1524, and 1526, which are electrically connected to electrical contacts 1528, 1530, 1532, and 1534 in the electrical connector 1502, respectively. When the two halves engage, electrical connectors 1512-1518 form the first half of electrical connector 1502, and electrical connectors 1528-1534 form the second half of electrical connector 1502. This occurs when the accessory interface 148 of the food processing apparatus accessory 104, such as a mixer accessory, is received by the base housing 102 via the accessory receiver 142. Electrical connectors 1512-1518 can be male connectors, such as spring pins, while electrical connectors 1528-1534 can be female connectors, and vice versa.

[0077] When electrical connectors 1512-1518 are engaged with electrical connectors 1528-1534, electrical communication is established between the base processor 1312 and the accessory processor 1304, for example, via data ports 1520, 1522, 1524, and 1526 and data ports 1504, 1506, 1508, and 1510, respectively. Port 1508 can be configured as a data receiver (Rx) to enable the processor 1312 to receive identification information or identification signals, control commands, and / or status information from the accessory processor 1304. Identification signals and / or identification information may include data packets or sequences of data pulses, which include data bits arranged to uniquely identify a specific accessory and / or identify the type of food processing accessory (e.g., serial number, accessory number, or model). Port 1510 can be configured as a data transmitter (Tx) to enable the processor 1312 to send motor status data and / or control commands to the accessory processor 1304. Port 1526 of the accessory processor 1304 can be configured as a data receiver (Rx) to enable the processor 1304 to receive control commands and / or status information from the base processor 1312. Port 1524 can be configured as a data transmitter (Tx) to enable the processor 1304 to send status data and / or control commands to the base processor 1312.

[0078] In some implementations, ports 1508, 1510, 1524, and 1526 enable full-duplex communication between the base processor 1312 and the accessory processor 1304. Communication between processors 1312 and 1304 can enable other functions, such as supporting software and / or firmware updates for the food processing apparatus 100 from accessory 104, or enabling software and / or firmware updates for accessory 104 from the food processing apparatus 100. Therefore, manufacturers may be able to facilitate software and / or firmware updates for food processing apparatuses sold to customers by distributing software / firmware updates through new and / or updated accessories subsequently obtained by the user. Processor 1312 can provide a power signal, such as 5V, from port 1504 via electrical connector 1502 to accessory processor 1304 and / or other components in the accessory (such as mixer accessory 104). In some implementations, the power signal can be provided by a power source other than processor 1312. A ground signal, such as 0V, can be provided from processor 1312 and / or another source to processor 1304 and / or other components in the accessories via electrical connection 1502.

[0079] Figure 16 A schematic diagram 1600 illustrates the electrical connection between a base processor 1312 in a base housing 102 and an accessory that facilitates passive accessory identification. In this example, the accessory may not include a processor capable of communicating with the processor 1312 and therefore cannot send an accessory identification signal. Instead, the accessory may include a unique connector 1502 configuration of its electrical contacts, such as contacts 1530, 1532, and 1534. For example, for accessory type A, contacts 1530 and 1532 of the electrical connector 1502 may be shorted together, causing the base processor 1312 to sense 0V at ports 1506 and 1508 to identify the connected accessory as a type A accessory. For accessory type B, contacts 1530 and 1534 may be shorted together, causing the base processor 1312 to sense 0V at ports 1506 and 1510 to identify the connected accessory as a type B accessory. For accessory type C, electrical contacts 1530, 1532, and 1534 can be shorted together, causing the base processor 1312 to sense 0V at ports 1506, 1508, and 1510 to identify the connected accessory as a type C accessory. Although only the connections between the various contacts and 0V are shown, various contact connections to a 5V port can be implemented to facilitate identification of the attached accessory type, which will... Figure 17A and Figure 17B Further discussion is needed.

[0080] Figure 17ATable 1700 associates electrical contact configurations 1702-1718 with different accessory types in column 1720. Table 1700 may also include configuration data for each accessory type, such as the motor speed listed in columns 1722 and 1724. Table 1700 may be stored in a memory such as storage device 1408 and may be accessed by processor 1312. Columns 1726-1732 show which electrical contacts are connected together in the food processing accessory to identify the accessory type in column 1720. Columns 1724 and 1726 show whether the Rx and Tx ports 1508 and 1510 of the base processor 1312 are connected to 0V, 5V, or not connected to the accessory half of the electrical connector 1502. By not making a connection, the voltage sensed by the base processor 1312 at the Rx and Tx ports (e.g., ports 1508 and 1510) will not be at 0V or 5V, and therefore, the base processor 1312 can use this third voltage level to identify the accessory. As shown in Table 1700, the dock processor 1312 is capable of passively identifying up to nine different accessory types. In some embodiments, the dock processor 1312 may include internal or external biasing circuitry to set the voltage level at port 1508 and / or 1510 to an intermediate voltage between 0V and 5V when there is no electrical connection at electrical connector 1502. In configuration 1718 of Table 1700, no port has an electrical connection at electrical connector 1502, which may indicate that no accessory is connected to the food processing apparatus 100.

[0081] Figure 17B It shows the relationship with Figure 17A The set of accessory types and their configurations identified in Table 1700 (1702-1718) and the different physical arrangements and / or electrical contact configurations at the associated accessory interfaces (1752-1766) (1750).

[0082] Figure 18This document includes a flowchart of process 1800 for detecting the connection of an accessory (e.g., accessory 104) to the food processing apparatus 100 and operating the food processing apparatus 100 in response. Process 1800 begins with power-on and / or processor 1312 startup (step 1802). The motor drive of motor 1322 can initially be disabled (step 1804). Processor 1312 initially configures ports 1508 and 1510 as serial communication ports and transmits a polling signal from Tx port 1510 to electrical contact 1518 (step 1806). Processor 1312 may transmit "polling" and / or polling signals to the food processing accessory at regular intervals upon initial power-on and thereafter. Processor 1312 monitors Rx port 1508 via electrical connector 1502 to obtain a response from accessory processor 1304 (step 1810). If processor 1312 receives a response including an accessory identification signal, processor 1312 configures the food processing apparatus 100 to operate with the identified accessory type. Processor 1312 can configure and / or control motor 1322 based on settings stored in data memory 1408. Depending on the detected attachment type, processor 1312 can transfer control of food processing apparatus 100 to processor 1304 and / or switch 1306 in food processing attachment 104 (e.g., mixer attachment) (step 1812).

[0083] Processor 1312 may continue to monitor Rx port 1508 to detect the presence and / or operation of food processing accessory 104 (step 1814), and if detected, return to step 1812. If processor 1312 does not receive a response in step 1810, processor 1312 enters passive accessory detection mode and configures ports 1508 and 1510 as port lines to sense voltage levels (step 1816). Processor 1312 may drive each port line 1508 and 1510 high and low, and then sense and / or read the voltage level on each line (step 1818). Processor 1312 then determines the voltage at ports 1508 and 1510 and identifies the connected food processing accessory based on the voltage values ​​in columns 1734 and 1736 of table 1700, which may be stored in data memory 1408. For example, if processor 1312 reads 0V at port 1508 and 0V at port 1510, processor 1312 determines that the connected accessory is a shredder. If processor 1312 reads neither 0V nor 5V at port 1508 (i.e., no electrical connection) and reads 0V at port 1510, processor 1312 determines that the connected accessory is a fryer (step 1820). Once the type of food processing accessory is identified and / or detected, processor 1312 can configure and / or control motor 1322 based on the settings in columns 1722 and / or 1724 of Table 1700.

[0084] All orientations and arrangements of the components shown herein are for illustrative purposes only. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that in alternative embodiments, the function of several elements may be performed by fewer elements or a single element. Similarly, in some embodiments, any functional element may perform fewer or different operations than those described with respect to the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, functional elements shown as different for illustrative purposes may be incorporated into other functional elements in a particular embodiment.

[0085] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain aspects of the operation of the food processing apparatus 100 and its accessories (such as mixer accessory 104) and their respective processors (if present) can be embodied in a computer program product comprising computer-usable and / or readable media. For example, a computer-usable medium may comprise read-only memory, such as a CD-ROM or conventional ROM device, or random access memory, such as a hard disk drive or computer disk, or a flash memory device on which computer-readable program code is stored. While the subject matter has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand that various changes and / or modifications can be made to the subject matter. For example, each claim may be dependent on any or all of the claims in a multi-dependent manner, even if those claims were not originally claimed.

Claims

1. A food processing apparatus, characterized in that, The food processing apparatus includes: Base housing, the base housing comprising: An accessory receiver, arranged to receive a food processing accessory configured to perform a food processing operation, the accessory receiver including an electrical connector having multiple electrical contacts; and A first processor includes a plurality of ports, each of which is electrically connected to each of a plurality of electrical contacts. The first processor is configured to: i) receive an identification signal from a second processor among the received food processing accessories via the electrical connector at a first port of the plurality of ports to identify the received food processing accessory, and ii) when no identification signal is received, monitor the voltage at each of the plurality of ports to identify the received food processing accessory.

2. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first processor is configured to periodically transmit polling signals from a second of the plurality of ports to the received food processing attachment via the electrical connector.

3. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The identification signal is received by the first processor via the electrical connector in response to transmitting the polling signal.

4. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The base housing is configured to provide power signals to the food processing accessory via the electrical connector.

5. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The base housing is configured to provide a grounding connection to the food processing accessory via the electrical connector.

6. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The identification signal includes an identifier for the type of food processing accessory.

7. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The accessory types include one of the following: mixer, chopper, blender, immersion mixer, foamer, vacuum sealer, pasta roller, grinder, food processor, and direct pre-cutting machine.

8. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The identification signal is received via asynchronous serial communication.

9. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first processor is configured to receive motor control signals from the second processor at the first port via the electrical connector.

10. The food processing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first processor is configured to transmit motor status data to the second processor from a second port of the plurality of ports via the electrical connector.

11. A food processing accessory for a food processing apparatus, characterized in that, The food processing accessories include: An accessory interface, arranged detachably to an accessory receiver within the base housing of the food processing apparatus, the accessory interface including an electrical connector having multiple electrical contacts; and An accessory processor, the accessory processor including multiple ports, each of the multiple ports being electrically connected to each of the multiple electrical contacts; The accessory processor is configured to transmit an identification signal from a first port of the plurality of ports of the accessory processor to a base processor in the base housing of the food processing apparatus via the electrical connector when the accessory interface is connected to the accessory receiver.

12. The food processing accessory as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The accessory processor is configured to receive a polling signal from the base processor at a second of the plurality of ports via the electrical connector.

13. The food processing accessory as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The accessory processor transmits the identification signal in response to receiving the polling signal.

14. The food processing accessory as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The food processing accessory is configured to receive a power signal from the base housing via the electrical connector.

15. The food processing accessory as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The food processing accessory is configured to receive a grounding connection from the base housing via the electrical connector.

16. The food processing accessory as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The identification signal includes an identifier for the type of food processing accessory.

17. The food processing accessory as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The identification signal is transmitted via asynchronous serial communication.

18. The food processing accessory as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The accessory processor is configured to transmit motor control signals via the electrical connector to control the motor in the base housing.

19. The food processing accessory as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The accessory processor is configured to receive motor status data from the base processor via the electrical connector.

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