Abstract: An appliance includes an external communication port, such as an RJ45 port, and a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network. In addition, a controller includes a boot loader segment and is configured to receive a request to access the boot loader segment of the controller, transmit a notification of the request to the remote server using the wireless communication module, receive an access determination from the remote server, e.g., such as an access authorization or denial from an owner, and regulate access to the boot loader segment based at least in part on the access determination.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical direction, the lateral direction, and the transverse direction are mutually perpendicular. The cooktop appliance includes a top panel with a gas burner disposed on the top panel. A terminal block is positioned on the top panel adjacent to the burner. The cooktop appliance also includes a grate with a plurality of fingers removably positioned above the gas burner. The plurality of fingers include a sensor finger. A temperature sensor is rotatably mounted to the sensor finger of the plurality of fingers of the grate whereby the temperature sensor is movable along the vertical direction between an elevated position and a lowered position.

Abstract: Systems, appliances, and methods for operating a cooking result inference system are provided herein. The cooking engagement system can include a controller in operable communication with a camera assembly, a mass sensor assembly, and a thermal sensor assembly. An image signal including an image of an object can be accessed. A mass signal including a mass of the object can be accessed from the mass sensor assembly. A temperature signal including a temperature of the object can be accessed from the thermal sensor assembly. An inferred cooking result can then be generated based on a machine-learned model that can perform operations on input including the image signal, the mass signal, and the temperature signal. The inferred cooking result can include an inferred image depicting the object as it is predicted to appear after a recommended cooking time at a recommended temperature.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash basket that is rotatably mounted within a wash tub and that defines a wash chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A basket speed sensor monitors the speed of the wash basket and a camera assembly is mounted within the wash tub for taking images of the load of clothes during and/or after a wash or rinse cycle. A controller determines the basket speed, adjusts a frame rate of the camera assembly to match the basket speed, obtains a still image from the camera assembly, analyzes the image using a machine learning image recognition process to determine a remaining moisture content (RMC) of the load of clothes, and adjusts at least one operating parameter of the washing machine appliance based on the remaining moisture content, e.g., such as ending the drain cycle when a target RMC is reached.

Abstract: Air conditioner units and methods of operating the same are provided. A method of operating an air conditioner unit includes activating a makeup air system of the air conditioner unit. The makeup air system directs a flow of outside air from the makeup air system to an indoor portion of a housing of the air conditioner unit. The method also includes activating an indoor fan disposed in the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit at a fan speed at least equal to a minimum circulation threshold speed in response to the makeup air system being activated. Activating the indoor fan causes the flow of outside air from the makeup air system to be urged through the indoor portion of the housing. An air conditioner unit may include a controller, and the controller may be configured for performing the method.

Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet and a user interface. The user interface includes an illuminable indicator. The appliance also includes a circuit board with an LED mounted on the circuit board. The appliance further includes a flexible light guide extending from the LED to the illuminable indicator. The flexible light guide provides optical communication from the LED to the illuminable indicator, such that the LED is operable to illuminate the illuminable indicator when the LED is activated.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket that is rotatably mounted within a cabinet and that defines a chamber for receiving a load of clothes. A camera assembly is mounted within the cabinet for taking images of the chamber and a controller obtains an image of the chamber when the basket is empty and not rotating. The image is analyzed using an autoencoder neural network process to determine an image quality and a responsive action is implemented when an image quality drops below a quality threshold.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module rotatably mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A drive assembly is provided for selectively rotating the grow module within the grow chamber, and includes a turntable assembly configured for receiving the grow module, a bi-directional motor assembly, and a clutch assembly mechanically coupling the motor assembly and the turntable assembly, the clutch assembly having a torque slip threshold beyond which the clutch assembly disengages the motor assembly from the turntable assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating an ice maker appliance includes directing liquid water to a mold body of the ice maker appliance. The method also includes determining that at least a portion of the liquid water escaped based on at least one of an ice making time, a harvest motor torque, or a temperature change rate. The method further includes providing a user notification in response to determining that at least the portion of the liquid water escaped.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance or agitator may include an impeller base and an extended post. The impeller base may be rotatably mounted within and define a rotation axis. The impeller base may include a mounting face with one or more dovetail joints. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body base body extending along the rotation axis between a bottom end proximal to the impeller base and a top end distal to the impeller base. The extended post may also include an auger fin extending radially from the base body between the bottom end and the top end. The extended post may further include a mating face disposed on the bottom end. The mating face may define one or more receiver slots corresponding to and selectively receiving the one or more dovetail joints.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance includes a cooktop panel defining a cooktop surface and an aperture defined through the cooktop surface. A heating element is positioned below the cooktop panel for selectively heating a cooking utensil placed on the cooktop surface and a temperature sensing assembly is configured for monitoring the temperature of the cooking utensil, e.g., to facilitate a closed loop cooking process. The temperature sensing assembly includes a temperature sensor slidably mounted within the aperture of the cooktop panel and a drive member operably coupled to the temperature sensor for selectively moving the temperature sensor between the extended position and the retracted position.

Abstract: A gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and defining a grow chamber, a grow tower rotatably mounted within the liner and defining a root chamber, a sealed system including an evaporator, and a hydration system. The hydration system includes a supply conduit for providing a flow of liquid into the root chamber, a condensate collection tray positioned below the evaporator and defining a condensate collection reservoir for collecting condensate formed by the evaporator while the sealed system is operating, and a condensate return conduit fluidly coupling the condensate collection reservoir and the supply conduit for supplying the condensate into the supply conduit.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber, a sump housing defining a sump for collecting wash fluid, the sump housing defining a drain basin, and a fluid circulation assembly positioned within the sump. The fluid circulation assembly includes a drain cover seated within the drain basin, a wash pump assembly seated on top of the drain cover, a filter cleaning manifold positioned over the wash pump assembly, and a plurality of mechanical fasteners that pass through filter cleaning manifold and into the sump housing to attach the filter cleaning manifold to the sump housing and to secure the wash pump assembly and the filter cleaning manifold within the sump.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance in a commercial laundromat setting includes receiving a request to start a new wash cycle from a user of the washing machine appliance, determining that a self-clean condition exists, identifying an anticipated laundromat capacity, determining that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below a predetermined capacity threshold, prompting the user to initiate a self-clean cycle in response to determining that the self-clean condition exists and that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below the predetermined capacity threshold, receiving a command to initiate the self-clean cycle from the user, and initiating the self-clean cycle and providing the user with an incentive for initiating the self-clean cycle.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance is provided including a door pivotally mounted to a cabinet to provide selective access to a wash chamber and a user interface panel mounted to the door. A controller is in operative communication with the user interface panel and is configured to detect an abnormal button interaction with the user interface panel, determine that at least one cycle operating parameter has changed in response to the abnormal button interaction, and implement a responsive action, such as providing a user notification, seeking user confirmation, and reverting to prior settings if the abnormal button interaction was unintentional and resulted in a change in the cycle operating parameters.

Abstract: An air conditioning assembly for a recreational vehicle may include a sealed refrigeration system, a display screen, and a controller. The sealed refrigeration system may be mounted to the recreational vehicle. The display screen may be mounted to the recreational vehicle. The controller may be in operable communication with the sealed refrigeration system and the display screen. The controller may be configured to initiate a system operation. The system operation may include detecting the corresponding condition of the air conditioner assembly, presenting a variable field value at the discrete output field based on the detected corresponding condition, determining an anomaly at the air conditioner assembly, and changing the discrete output field to present a predetermined field value in response to determining the anomaly.

Abstract: A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet; a wash tub provided within the cabinet, the wash tub comprising an axial column, the axial column configured to receive multiple wash baskets stacked axially; and a controller provided within the cabinet. The controller is configured for receiving wash cycle requests from a plurality of unique users, each of the wash cycle requests having a corresponding set of wash parameters; matching a first unique user and a second unique user from the plurality of unique users according to the corresponding set of wash parameters; determining a first individual cost for the first unique user and a second individual cost for the second unique user; receiving a confirmation from each of the first and second unique users; and generating a joint washing operation in accordance with the set of washing parameters.

Abstract: Methods of operating a refrigerator appliance are provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a food storage chamber with a drawer slidably mounted within the food storage chamber. The refrigerator appliance also includes a sensor operable to detect an atmospheric condition within the food storage chamber of the drawer and a camera assembly positioned and configured for monitoring the drawer. The methods generally include obtaining an image using the camera assembly and analyzing the image to identify a first food item and a second food item in the food storage chamber of the drawer.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance includes a top panel with a gas burner disposed on the top panel. The cooktop appliance also includes a grate with a plurality of fingers. The grate is removably positioned above the gas burner. The plurality of fingers includes a sensor finger. The cooktop appliance also includes a temperature sensor extending from the top panel adjacent to the gas burner. The temperature sensor is positioned outside of a footprint of the gas burner. The cooktop appliance further includes a thermally conductive probe extending from the temperature sensor to the sensor finger above the gas burner.

Abstract: An icemaker appliance includes a container defining a liquid reservoir, an ice mold selectively received within a portion of the liquid reservoir, a temperature sensor provided within the liquid reservoir and configured to monitor a temperature of the liquid, a water level sensor provided within the liquid reservoir and configured to determine a level of the liquid within the container, and a controller attached to the container, the controller being operably connected with the temperature sensor and the water level sensor, the controller including a wireless communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote terminal.