Blender base with food processor capabilities

Abstract

A blender base that may be used with a food processor container, a blender container, and a single use beverage container. The blender container includes a novel blade unit having a food processor-style blade and blender type blades. Programs with preprogrammed motor commands for desired operations are stored in memory and may be selected by a user on a user interface. The user interface may include a liquid crystal display, or function switches and light emitting diodes. Upon selection of a particular pre-defined function, the microcontroller retrieves the appropriate program from the read only memory and specifies the preprogrammed motor commands to accomplish the selected function.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A blender base, comprising:
 a drive for rotating a blade unit; and   a dual-wound motor configured to rotate the blade unit in reverse and forward directions.   
     
     
         54 . The blender base of  claim 53 , further comprising speed controls for setting the speed of the motor in both the reverse and forward directions. 
     
     
         55 . The blender base of  claim 54 , wherein the speed controls comprise at least one triac. 
     
     
         56 - 104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . A blender base, comprising:
 a drive for rotating a blade unit;   a dual-wound motor configured to rotate the blade unit in reverse and forward directions;   a user interface; and   a microcontroller in communication with the motor and the user interface, and comprising memory, the memory including preprogrammed motor routines, each associated with different sequences of motor functions, a first of the motor routines including both forward and reverse directions of the motor;   wherein the microcontroller is operative to retrieve the first preprogrammed motor routine from the memory in response to user selection of an input associated with the first preprogrammed motor routine, and to operate the first preprogrammed motor routine during which the motor operates in both reverse and forward directions in accordance with the first preprogrammed motor routine.   
     
     
         106 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of function switches associated, with the preprogrammed motor routines and a light emitting diode for each of the plurality of function switches, the light emitting diode illuminating when a respective one of the plurality of function switches is activated. 
     
     
         107 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein the user interface includes a progress indicator configured to display the progress of a preprogrammed motor routine that is currently operating. 
     
     
         108 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein the user interface includes a first manual speed switch, a second manual speed switch, and a manual speed indicator. 
     
     
         109 . The blender base of  claim 108 , wherein the manual speed indicator comprises at least one light emitting diode which is responsive to actuation by the first manual speed switch or the second manual speed switch. 
     
     
         110 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein the user interface includes a display. 
     
     
         111 . The blender base of  claim 110 , wherein the microcontroller is operative to display a menu of preprogrammed motor routines on the display, and wherein the menu of preprogrammed motor routines displayed is variable based upon one or more operating conditions of the blender base. 
     
     
         112 . The blender base of  claim 111 , wherein one operating condition of the blender base comprises most commonly chosen preprogrammed motor routines, so that the microcontroller is operative to display a menu of the most commonly chosen preprogrammed motor routines on the display. 
     
     
         113 . The blender base of  claim 112 , wherein the user interface includes a plurality of function switches, each associated with one of the preprogrammed motor routines shown on the display. 
     
     
         114 . The blender base of  claim 105 , further comprising a sensor assembly disposed in the blender base operative to detect which one of at least two different types of containers that may be mounted on the base, and wherein the microcontroller is operative to make available for implementation at least one of the preprogrammed motor routines upon detection of one type of container being mounted upon the blender base, and to make available for implementation at least one other of the preprogrammed motor routines upon detection of another type of container being mounted upon the blender base. 
     
     
         115 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein the user interface includes a pause switch and the microcontroller is operative to pause one of the preprogrammed motor routines upon a first activation of the pause switch and being operative upon a second activation of the pause switch to resume the preprogrammed motor routine. 
     
     
         116 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein each programmed motor routine is associated with a continuation routine that includes at least one motor function, and the user interface includes a pulse switch and wherein the microcontroller is operative to operate the motor in the continuation routine for a preprogrammed motor routine in response to activation of the pulse switch after the preprogrammed motor routine has been completed. 
     
     
         117 . The blender base of  claim 116 , wherein the continuation routine comprises a most recent motor speed and direction of the motor in the preprogrammed motor routine. 
     
     
         118 . The blender base of  claim 116 , wherein the continuation function for a preprogrammed motor routine comprises a subset of the sequence of the motor functions for the preprogrammed motor routine. 
     
     
         119 . The blender base of  claim 116 , wherein the continuation function for a particular preprogrammed motor routine comprises both forward and reverse rotation of the motor. 
     
     
         120 . The blender base of  claim 105 , wherein the memory is an E 2  PROM.