Patents by Inventor Brooke L. Lau
Brooke L. Lau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10653289Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher includes receiving a user-input signal indicative of a hidden operating mode, selecting the hidden operating mode of a dishwasher based on the user-input signal, accessing a plurality of pre-programmed dishwashing cycles associated with the selected hidden operating mode, and operating the dishwasher in accordance with one of the plurality of pre-programmed dishwashing cycles.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Vincent A. Ireland, Traci L. Kachorek, Brooke L. Lau
-
Publication number: 20170340185Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher includes receiving a user-input signal indicative of a hidden operating mode, selecting the hidden operating mode of a dishwasher based on the user-input signal, accessing a plurality of pre-programmed dishwashing cycles associated with the selected hidden operating mode, and operating the dishwasher in accordance with one of the plurality of pre-programmed dishwashing cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Vincent A. IRELAND, Traci L. KACHOREK, Brooke L. LAU
-
Publication number: 20160353964Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an automatic dishwasher having at least one cycle of operation and a sensor that indicates a degree of turbidity of liquid in the dishwasher includes repeatedly determining a correction value for the sensor related to the scaling of the sensor and executing a de-scaling cycle of operation based thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BRENT A. DEWEERD, BROOKE L. LAU, ROBERT J. PINKOWSKI, ROBERT J. ROLEK
-
Patent number: 9420937Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an automatic dishwasher having at least one cycle of operation and a sensor that indicates a degree of turbidity of liquid in the dishwasher includes repeatedly determining a correction value for the sensor related to the scaling of the sensor and executing a de-scaling cycle of operation based thereon.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brent A. Deweerd, Brooke L. Lau, Robert J. Pinkowski, Robert J. Rolek
-
Patent number: 9272314Abstract: A steam purge method for a dishwasher includes a washing cycle, a steam purge cycle and a rinse cycle. During the steam purge cycle, a dishwasher tub is filled with fluid to a level below a heating element in a wash chamber, heated and at least partially converted to steam in the wash chamber. After the steam purge cycle, the dishwasher is drained and the rinse cycle commences. Optionally, a heated drying cycle may be performed upon termination of the rinse cycle. A single heating element arranged in the wash chamber is utilized for heating washing fluid during each of washing, purging and steam generation cycles, as well as for the heated drying cycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brooke L. Lau, Julio C. Moreira, Michelle L. Oakes, Ryan K. Roth
-
Patent number: 8968486Abstract: A dishwashing machine configured to detect the presence of rinse aid in fluid in a washing chamber of the dishwashing machine. An electronic controller selects the drying stage of the dishwashing cycle based on whether rinse aid is present.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas T. Allen, Jonathan D. King, Brooke L. Lau, Jacek Szostak
-
Publication number: 20140014147Abstract: A dishwashing machine configured to detect the presence of rinse aid in fluid in a washing chamber of the dishwashing machine. An electronic controller selects the drying stage of the dishwashing cycle based on whether rinse aid is present.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: DOUGLAS T. ALLEN, JONATHAN D. KING, BROOKE L. LAU, JACEK SZOSTAK
-
Patent number: 8540820Abstract: A dishwashing machine configured to detect the presence of rinse aid in fluid in a washing chamber of the dishwashing machine. An electronic controller selects the drying stage of the dishwashing cycle based on whether rinse aid is present.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Douglas T. Allen, Jonathan D. King, Brooke L. Lau, Jacek Szostak
-
Publication number: 20110271984Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher includes receiving a user-input signal indicative of a hidden operating mode, selecting the hidden operating mode of a dishwasher based on the user-input signal, accessing a plurality of pre-programmed dishwashing cycles associated with the selected hidden operating mode, and operating the dishwasher in accordance with one of the plurality of pre-programmed dishwashing cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2010Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: VINCENT A. IRELAND, TRACI L. KACHOREK, BROOKE L. LAU
-
Publication number: 20110146716Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a sensor that indicates a degree of turbidity of liquid in the dishwasher is dynamically controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BRENT A. DEWEERD, BROOKE L. LAU, ROBERT J. PINKOWSKI, ROBERT J. ROLEK
-
Publication number: 20110088724Abstract: A dishwashing machine configured to detect the presence of rinse aid in fluid in a washing chamber of the dishwashing machine. An electronic controller selects the drying stage of the dishwashing cycle based on whether rinse aid is present.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: DOUGLAS T. ALLEN, JONATHAN D. KING, BROOKE L. LAU, JACEK SZOSTAK
-
Patent number: 7909936Abstract: An overall dishwasher operation cycle includes a washing cycle and a final rinse cycle including steam generation. During the final rinse cycle, a dishwasher tub is filled with fluid, heated and utilized to rinse dishware within the dishwasher. After partially draining the tub, a heating element is actuated so as to transform fluid in the tub into steam for cleansing dishware within the dishwasher. After the steam cycle, the final rinse cycle is completed, with the dishwasher being drained. Optionally, when a heated dry cycle is actuated, the heating element continues to operate to provide drying heat to dishware for a period of time before being deactivated. With this arrangement, a single heating element is utilized for heating washing fluid for washing, rinsing and steam generation, as well as for the heated dry cycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Brooke L. Lau, Julio C. Moreira, Michelle L. Oakes, Ryan K. Roth
-
Publication number: 20100154830Abstract: An overall dishwasher operation cycle includes a washing cycle and a final rinse cycle including steam generation. During the final rinse cycle, a dishwasher tub is filled with fluid, heated and utilized to rinse dishware within the dishwasher. After partially draining the tub, a heating element is actuated so as to transform fluid in the tub into steam for cleansing dishware within the dishwasher. After the steam cycle, the final rinse cycle is completed, with the dishwasher being drained. Optionally, when a heated dry cycle is actuated, the heating element continues to operate to provide drying heat to dishware for a period of time before being deactivated. With this arrangement, a single heating element is utilized for heating washing fluid for washing, rinsing and steam generation, as well as for the heated dry cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BROOKE L. LAU, JULIO C. MOREIRA, MICHELLE L. OAKES, RYAN K. ROTH
-
Publication number: 20100154827Abstract: A steam purge method for a dishwasher includes a washing cycle, a steam purge cycle and a rinse cycle. During the steam purge cycle, a dishwasher tub is filled with fluid to a level below a heating element in a wash chamber, heated and at least partially converted to steam in the wash chamber. After the steam purge cycle, the dishwasher is drained and the rinse cycle commences. Optionally, a heated drying cycle may be performed upon termination of the rinse cycle. A single heating element arranged in the wash chamber is utilized for heating washing fluid during each of washing, purging and steam generation cycles, as well as for the heated drying cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: BROOKE L. LAU, JULIO C. MOREIRA, MICHELLE L. OAKES, RYAN K. ROTH