Appliance communication and control system and appliances for use in same
AssigneeSunbeam Products, Inc.
InventorsVincent D. Abrams, Alexander Edwin Izzard, III, Glen Cunningham, Kenneth R. Parker, Timothy E. Woods
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims19
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.