Programmable Hand Mixer Speed Feedback and Auto Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional household hand mixers lack speed stability and accuracy, especially at low speeds under heavy loading, leading to inconsistent mixing results and potential motor overheating, and they often lack an auto shut-off feature, posing safety hazards when left unattended.
Innovation Solution
An electronic hand mixer with a microprocessor-controlled power system that adjusts motor speed based on workload and includes user-defined mixing courses, a countdown timer, and an auto shut-off feature, ensuring consistent mixing and safety by automatically turning off after a predetermined period of inactivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mechanical switches are used for speed selection, then the device structure is simple, but speed stability and accuracy deteriorate under heavy loading conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a speed sensor detects the actual motor speed and feeds this information back to the microprocessor. The microprocessor compares the actual speed with the target speed and adjusts the power supplied to the motor accordingly, ensuring accurate speed maintenance even under heavy loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical switches with an electronic control system consisting of a microprocessor, power control device, and speed sensor. This substitution eliminates the limitations of mechanical switches and enables precise speed control through electronic regulation.
2Reliability
If the hand mixer runs continuously without timer control, then operational flexibility is maintained, but safety hazards increase when left unattended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a timer function that allows the user to pre-set the operating duration before starting the mixing process. The microprocessor automatically controls the motor to run for the predetermined time and then shuts it off, preventing unattended operation while maintaining user convenience through programmable settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand mixer performs the shutdown action automatically based on the pre-programmed timer setting, eliminating the need for continuous user monitoring. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the operational duration and safety shutdown.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual speed control is used for complicated mixing courses, then device simplicity is maintained, but mixing consistency deteriorates due to user memory and observation limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously monitors motor speed and makes real-time adjustments to maintain the target speed for each mixing stage, ensuring consistent mixing results regardless of load variations or user intervention errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual speed control with an automated microprocessor-based system that electronically regulates motor speed according to pre-programmed mixing courses, eliminating the variability introduced by manual operation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If no auto shut-off feature is implemented, then device simplicity is maintained, but harmful factors increase due to potential motor overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The timer function allows the user to pre-set the maximum operational duration before starting the mixing process. The microprocessor automatically shuts off the motor when the predetermined time elapses, preventing motor overheating and ensuring safe operation without requiring additional temperature sensors or complex thermal management systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electronic hand mixer provides consistent mixing results by maintaining motor speed within a predetermined range and automatically shutting off, reducing the risk of overheating and ensuring user safety by preventing unattended operation.
Implementation Method 1
The power control device is responsive to a speed error signal to adjust the electronic power supplied to the drive motor resulting in an actual speed of the drive motor being within a predetermined speed range
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic hand mixer for processing food materials is provided. The electronic hand mixer includes one or more beaters, a housing, and a drive motor mounted in the housing. The drive motor is adapted to apply rotational force to the beaters. The electronic hand mixer also includes a power control device for controlling electrical power supplied to the drive motor, a keypad for receiving instructions entered by users, a microprocessor for processing and carrying out the instructions and sending signals to the power control device, and a memory for storing the instructions. The instructions include at least one user-defined mixing course for conducting a mixing operation. The user-defined mixing course includes one or more mixing operations, and each of the mixing operations includes a user-defined running speed of the drive motor associated with a user-defined running period of time of the drive motor.