Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a size of a load in a basket that is rotatably supported is presented. The method comprises determining an acceleration energy (AE) required to accelerate the basket; determining a friction energy (FE) required to maintain a stable rotational speed of the basket; subtracting the friction energy (FE) from the acceleration energy (AE) to obtain a load inertial energy (LE); and determining a load size from the load inertial energy (LE).

Abstract: A method of improved reduced energy let through (RELT) mode selection in a switching apparatus includes receiving a request to disable a RELT mode of the switching apparatus, and, if the RELT mode of the switching apparatus is active, increasing a current threshold of the switching apparatus after a configurable amount of time has elapsed from the receipt of the request to disable the RELT mode.

Abstract: An electrical equipment assembly includes at least one electrical device provided with an identifier member. The identifier member includes a measurement tolerance data associated with the electrical device. The electrical assembly also includes a meter electrically coupled to the electrical device. The meter includes a memory device, a processor device operatively coupled to the memory device, a communication link member operatively coupled to the processor device, and a selectively updatable measurement tolerance indicator stored in one of the memory device, the processor device. The processor device being configured and disposed to establish measurement accuracy of the meter based on the tolerance indicator stored in the memory device.

Abstract: A modular water treatment system includes a plurality of water treatment components including selected from a group of a particulate filter component, a taste and odor filter component, a lead and mercury filter component, a water softener component, and a water disinfection component. A plurality of interfaces are provided for coupling to the selected water treatment components. Plumbing lines provide flow communication between the selected water treatment components, and the plumbing lines include a system water inlet and a system water outlet. A controller is configured to control the flow of water through the system, and a sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the controller.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board includes providing a board including a plurality of electrical traces, a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The method further includes providing at least one surface mount component having a plurality of electrical terminals. The method also includes applying an adhesive on the first surface of the board, and adhering the surface mounting component to the first surface. The method also includes wave soldering the surface mount component on the first surface to the board to encapsulate at least a portion of the electrical terminals of the surface mount component with a lead-free solder.

Abstract: A faucet mounted water filtration system includes a base having an inlet, a water receiving chamber, and at least one outlet. The inlet is configured to be coupled to a faucet. A body is coupled to the base. The body includes a filter compartment configured to house a filter cartridge. A cover is rotatably coupled to the body. A cam is operatively coupled to the cover. A valve operatively engages a surface of the cam. The cam is rotatable to move the valve to open and close a passageway to the filter compartment. A biasing element biases the cover to a default position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a size of a load in a basket that is rotatably supported is presented. The method comprises determining an acceleration energy (AE) required to accelerate the basket; determining a friction energy (FE) required to maintain a stable rotational speed of the basket; subtracting the friction energy (FE) from the acceleration energy (AE) to obtain a load inertial energy (LE); and determining a load size from the load inertial energy (LE).

Abstract: A washing machine is provided that includes measuring a load in a washer with a motor, the method comprising: a) accelerating a load in the washer b) providing a first input voltage and running the motor until a first speed of the motor is stable; c) providing a second input voltage, d) starting a timer, upon providing the second input voltage, and obtaining a first time measurement; e) operating the motor until the load speed responds to the second input voltage to the motor and is stable; f) stopping the timer and obtaining a second time measurement; g) calculating a time differential between the first time measurement and the second time measurement; and h) determining the load size using a load size equation and the time differential.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining a measurement of a portion of a load in a basket that is rotatably supported provided, the method includes: a) determining, a dry load measurement; b) spinning, the basket that is rotatably supported in order to gradually remove the liquid from the load, wherein the liquid is removed substantially by centrifugal force on the basket that is rotatably supported; c) determining a wet load measurement, wherein the dry load measurement is less than the wet load measurement; d) comparing the dry load measurement to the wet load measurement to determine a remaining liquid measurement; and e) repeating c) and d) until the remaining liquid measurement substantially is within a predetermined percentage threshold of about 0 percent to about 50 percent of the wet load measurement.

Abstract: A method of operating a motor, the method comprising: operating a motor at a first speed; operating the motor in negative slip; imbalancing at least one phase of the motor to dissipate regeneration energy using windings of the motor; and wherein a next motor speed is decreased to a speed less than the first speed. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also presented.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus rectifies the signal; and phase-shifts the rectified signal so that it leads or lags the line voltage. The shifted output signal is fed to a processor that detects the opening of the door based upon the shifted signal. Signals output by a plurality of switches that generate a signal when activated mixed using an opto-coupler. Relative impedance of the lead and lag circuits may be adjusted to differentiate a phase shift of one shifted signal relative to another signal. The processor converts a value in degrees of phase shifting of the mixed signal to a time value, and based upon the time value, the processor determines which of the doors is open.

Abstract: Appliances (102, 102, 106 and 108) are controlled by providing a source (2016, 112) of command fields (CMD, FIG. 2) that include a context subfield (Community, FIG. 4) defining operating modes and a command subfield (Command, FIG. 4) defining operations to be performed within the context subfield. A network (119) transmits the command fields between the source and the appliance. A controller (112, 116) processes the command fields so that an operation defined by one of the command subfields is performed.

Abstract: A control system for an appliance utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices includes a controller and a communications bus coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices and to the controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the peripheral devices over the communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data received. The communications bus reduces overall wiring requirements due to elimination or reduction of power wiring of the peripheral devices, facilitates distributed displays and human machine interfaces, and allows model differentiation with late point identification by a population of bus connections with a sensor, display, interface, or a blank. A data collision detection scheme is also provided to ensure proper communication along the bus.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food section and a freezer section, wherein at least one of the fresh food section and freezer section includes a door. The door includes an external surface and an internal surface, and a light mounted to the external surface, wherein the light is electrically coupled to a processor-free light fade-out circuit.

Abstract: A method for controlling speed in a pulse-width-modulation-controlled motor powered by a load voltage source is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring the motor load voltage, and setting a pulse-width-modulation duty cycle based on the measured voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling locking of a washing machine lid are described. The washing machine includes an agitation element and a basket. The method, in one example embodiment, comprises the steps of sensing a spin speed associated with a spin speed of at least one of the agitation element and the basket, and causing the lid to be locked when the sensed spin speed exceed a first predetermined speed.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an appliance control system includes a controller having a processor and a memory including at least a first memory area and a second memory area so that a multiple write architecture may be used for storing data. The processor is configured to acquire appliance status data on a periodic basis, write the refrigerator status data to the first memory area and to the second memory area, and perform error detection upon the written data during refrigerator power-up. Upon power up, the controller determines the validity of data in one of the memory locations, or pages. If the data is determined to be invalid on one memory page, another memory page is used. Thus, by storing data redundantly in multiple memory pages with appropriate security measures, data may be retained for use on power-up without the expense of additional electronic components.

Abstract: An appliance control system is configured to operate an appliance in at least a normal mode and a holiday mode wherein normal mode operation of appliance feature elements is altered to better conform to religious customs, such as Orthodox Jewish customs. In response to user manipulation of a control interface panel, the control system is configured to enter the holiday mode upon user manipulation of the control interface panel with a designated key sequence. When in the holiday mode, response to user manipulation of the control interface panel is delayed for a randomly determined time, and appliance features of the normal mode that violate religious custom are disabled.

Abstract: A reduced error measurement system for use in, for example, an appliance control system includes a multiplexor, a plurality of sensors coupled to the multiplexor, and a single amplifier circuit having an impedance path. The multiplexor is configured to selectively place one of the sensors into the impedance path of the amplifier. A transfer function of an amplifier circuit is dependent upon a selected sensor response when placed into the circuit, thereby allowing a controller to make control decisions based upon a voltage output of the single amplifier, thereby reducing errors attributable to a plurality of amplifier channels. An adjacent channel calibration technique is used to calibrate a hard mounted sensor to an integrated circuit that applies a calibrated offset value determined with a removable sensor coupled to the integrated circuit to the hard mounted sensor.

Abstract: A method for changing a control program that controls at least some operations of an appliance is provided. The appliance includes at least one electronic control that executes the control program. The method includes connecting the electronic control to a communication device configured to communicate with at least one user device via a network. The method also includes changing the control program via the user device and the network.