Abstract: A knife station includes a knife block defining a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of cutlery objects. A locking assembly selectively locks the cutlery objects in their respective slot, e.g., using a locking pin that passes through an aperture in the blade. A controller is operably coupled to an audio device, such as a microphone, for receiving voice commands. The voice commands are converted to text commands using AI-based speech recognition technology and the text commands are compared to a database of text commands to identify a target cutlery object from the cutlery objects in the knife block. The controller may then illuminate a light emitting diode next to the target cutlery and unlock only that piece of cutlery so that the user may withdraw it from the knife block.

Abstract: A laundry folding appliance includes one or more folding panels mechanically coupled to a cabinet and at least partially defining a folding surface for receiving articles of clothing. An actuating assembly selectively pivots the folding panels to fold the articles of clothing and a camera assembly is positioned in view of the folding surface. A controller obtains one or more images using the camera assembly, identifies the laundry articles positioned on the folding surface by analyzing the one or more images using a laundry identification model, adds the laundry articles to a closet inventory list, and subsequently provides a clothing recommendation selected from the closet inventory list based at least in part on a recommendation model.

Abstract: A laundry folding appliance includes one or more folding panels mechanically coupled to a cabinet and at least partially defining a folding surface for receiving articles of clothing. An actuating assembly selectively pivots the folding panels to fold the articles of clothing and a camera assembly is positioned in view of the folding surface. A controller obtains one or more images using the camera assembly, identifies the laundry articles positioned on the folding surface by analyzing the one or more images using a laundry identification model, determines a folding protocol for folding the laundry article, and operates the actuating assembly to fold the laundry article in accordance with the folding protocol.

Abstract: A tea making appliance may include a base, a particulate guide, a tea leaf container, a motorized leaf distributor, a reservoir, a water pump, a heating element, and a controller. The base may define a dispenser cavity. The particulate guide may be directed at the dispenser cavity. The motorized leaf distributor may be provided to selectively provide tea leaves to the particulate guide. The water pump may be in fluid communication with the reservoir upstream from the dispenser cavity to direct water thereto. The controller may be configured to initiate an automated brewing operation that includes receiving one or more data points regarding a physical user condition, selecting a personalized tea style based on the received one or more data points, and dispensing a predetermined tea mass of the personalized tea style automatically in response to selecting the personalized tea style.

Abstract: A system for infusing hydrogen into water dispensing from a refrigerator appliance includes a tank defining an interior volume no greater than one liter. An electrolysis system includes an anode and a cathode disposed within the interior volume of the tank. The anode and cathode are configured to decompose water within the interior volume of the tank when a voltage differential is applied across the anode and cathode during a hydrogen infusion cycle of the electrolysis system. An audio emitter is configured to emit an audio alert in response to completion of the hydrogen infusion cycle.

Abstract: An automatic control system for a cooking appliance monitors and adjusts a cooking operation on the cooking appliance. The automatic control system includes at least one control knob assembly, an image capturing device, and a controller operably coupled to the at least one control knob assembly and the image capturing device. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving a desired temperature of a food item; capturing a first image of the food item; analyzing, by one or more computing devices using a machine learning image recognition model, the first image to determine one or more features of the food item; generating an input state of the food item based on the first image analysis; and determining an output action via a reinforcement learning system.

Abstract: A method of operating a home appliance includes generating raw data on the appliance, transmitting the raw data to a remote computing device, receiving a data analysis from the remote computing device, and implementing a responsive action based on the data analysis

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet with a fresh food chamber, a freezer chamber, and an aging chamber each defined in the cabinet. The refrigerator appliance also includes an aging chamber door mounted to the cabinet and movable between a closed position and an open position. A method of operating the refrigerator appliance includes receiving a meat aging input from a user interface of the refrigerator appliance and moving a lock configured to retain the aging chamber door in the closed position to a locked position whereby the aging chamber door is retained in the closed position in response to the meat aging input. The method also includes activating a dedicated humidity control system in fluid communication with the aging chamber and fluidly isolated from the fresh food chamber and the freezer chamber for an aging time after moving the lock to the locked position.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for amassing and interpreting data from a home appliance includes obtaining a plurality of data points that respectively correspond to user data descriptive of usage of a plurality of home appliances, each of the plurality of home appliances being associated with a different user among a plurality of users, processing, by one or more computing devices using a neural network, the plurality of data points to generate a plurality of embeddings associated with the plurality of data points, categorizing the plurality of embeddings to generate clusters of the plurality of users, and determining a predicted event for a new home appliance, the predicted event being based on a categorization of the new home appliance among the clusters of the plurality of users.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a plant support frame defining a plurality of apertures for supporting one or more plant pods above a collection reservoir that collects excess water. A pump recirculates water from the collection reservoir onto the plant support frame where it is distributed among plants through distribution channels. A light assembly is positioned above the plant support frame and selectively illuminates the plant support frame based on ambient lighting conditions as measured by a light sensor.

Abstract: A laundry folding appliance includes one or more folding panels mechanically coupled to a cabinet and at least partially defining a folding surface for receiving articles of clothing. An actuating assembly selectively pivots the folding panels to fold the articles of clothing and a camera assembly is positioned in view of the folding surface. A controller obtains one or more images using the camera assembly, identifies the laundry articles positioned on the folding surface by analyzing the one or more images using a laundry identification model, adds the laundry articles to a closet inventory list, and subsequently provides a clothing recommendation selected from the closet inventory list based at least in part on a recommendation model.

Abstract: A tea making appliance may include a base, a particulate guide, a tea leaf container, a motorized leaf distributor, a reservoir, a water pump, a heating element, and a controller. The base may define a dispenser cavity. The particulate guide may be directed at the dispenser cavity. The motorized leaf distributor may be provided to selectively provide tea leaves to the particulate guide. The water pump may be in fluid communication with the reservoir upstream from the dispenser cavity to direct water thereto. The controller may be configured to initiate an automated brewing operation that includes receiving one or more data points regarding a physical user condition, selecting a personalized tea style based on the received one or more data points, and dispensing a predetermined tea mass of the personalized tea style automatically in response to selecting the personalized tea style.

Abstract: A laundry folding appliance includes one or more folding panels mechanically coupled to a cabinet and at least partially defining a folding surface for receiving articles of clothing. An actuating assembly selectively pivots the folding panels to fold the articles of clothing and a camera assembly is positioned in view of the folding surface. A controller obtains one or more images using the camera assembly, identifies the laundry articles positioned on the folding surface by analyzing the one or more images using a laundry identification model, determines a folding protocol for folding the laundry article, and operates the actuating assembly to fold the laundry article in accordance with the folding protocol.

Abstract: A toaster includes a cabinet defining a toasting cavity for receiving a bread product and one or more heating elements positioned within the cabinet for selectively heating the toasting cavity. A camera assembly is mounted in view of the toasting cavity and a controller is configured to obtain a desired toast level, initiate a toasting cycle by energizing the one or more heating elements, obtain one or more images of the bread product within the toasting cavity using the camera assembly, analyze the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine an actual toast level of the bread product, and stop the toasting cycle when the actual toast level has reached the desired toast level.

Abstract: A laundry appliance system includes a cabinet that is supported by a pedestal defining a pedestal chamber. A sterilization module is mounted within the pedestal chamber for sterilizing unsterilized items placed into the pedestal chamber. The sterilization module includes a sterilization housing defining a sterilization chamber and a sterilization light source, such as a UV-C ultraviolet light, that is positioned therein for illuminating the sterilization chamber. One or more walls may be positioned within the sterilization chamber to prevent direct line of sight of the sterilization light source from a housing inlet or outlet and an air handler is positioned in the sterilization housing for urging a flow of air through the sterilization chamber so that the flow of air is sterilized by the sterilization light source.

Abstract: A knife station includes a knife block defining a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of cutlery objects. A locking assembly selectively locks the cutlery objects in their respective slot, e.g., using a locking pin that passes through an aperture in the blade. A controller is operably coupled to an audio device, such as a microphone, for receiving voice commands. The voice commands are converted to text commands using AI-based speech recognition technology and the text commands are compared to a database of text commands to identify a target cutlery object from the cutlery objects in the knife block. The controller may then illuminate a light emitting diode next to the target cutlery and unlock only that piece of cutlery so that the user may withdraw it from the knife block.

Abstract: A pill dispenser includes a housing and a slidable drawer with a dispenser cup therein. A storage cup is fixed within the housing. The pill dispenser also includes a movable probe, a flexible tip on the probe, and a suction pump in fluid communication with the flexible tip. The pill dispenser may be configured for and/or methods of operating the pill dispenser may include rotating the probe a position above the storage cup, translating the probe downward into the storage cup, and activating the suction pump. While the suction pump is active, the probe is translated to the position above the storage cup, rotated to a position above the dispenser cup, and translated downward into the dispenser cup. The suction pump is deactivated when the flexible tip is within the dispenser cup.

Abstract: A water dispensing system for a refrigerator comprising a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly, a monitoring device coupled to the manifold assembly and including at least one sensor, and a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly. The filter assembly is configured to be compatible with a plurality of suitable filter media. At least two indicators are in signal communication with the at least one sensor when the filter housing is mounted onto the manifold assembly. A controller is operatively coupled to the monitoring device. The controller is configured to identify the filter assembly and the filter medium based on a signal received from the at least one sensor and operate the water dispensing system based on the identification of the filter assembly and the filter medium.

Abstract: Extracellular domains of transmembrane heterodimeric proteins, particularly T cell receptor and major histocompatibility complex proteins, can be covalently linked to the heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin molecules to provide soluble multivalent molecular complexes with high affinity for their cognate ligands. The molecular complexes can be used, inter alia, to detect and regulate antigen-specific T cells and as therapeutic agents for treating disorders involving immune system regulation, such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, tumors, infections, and transplant rejection.

Abstract: Extracellular domains of transmembrane heterodimeric proteins, particularly T cell receptor and major histocompatibility complex proteins, can be covalently linked to the heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin molecules to provide soluble multivalent molecular complexes with high affinity for their cognate ligands. The molecular complexes can be used, inter alia, to detect and regulate antigen-specific T cells and as therapeutic agents for treating disorders involving immune system regulation, such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, tumors, infections, and transplant rejection.