Patents by Inventor Darrin R. Smith

Darrin R. Smith 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: 11905643
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance is provided including a sump positioned at a bottom of a wash tub for collecting wash fluid, a drain pump assembly for selectively draining the sump, a measurement device configured for measuring movement of the wash tub, and a water level detection system comprising a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the sump. A controller is configured to operate the drain pump assembly to drain the wash fluid, measure the movement of the wash tub using the measurement device, measure a water level within the sump using the water level detection system, and identify a fault condition in the water level detection system upon determining that the measured movement indicates that the sump is empty and the measured water level indicates that the sump is not empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Derek Hibdon, Darrin R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230383454
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods of operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The washing machine appliance includes a motor and a rotatable basket. The motor is operated to rotate the basket. While operating the motor to rotate the basket, a power consumption and a balance condition of a load of articles in the basket are determined. A size of the load of articles in the basket of the washing machine appliance is determined based on the power consumption and the balance condition. Based on the determined size of the load, one or more operating parameters of the washing machine appliance are selected and an operation of the washing machine appliance is performed according to the one or more selected operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Stannard Nathan Phelps, Darrin R. Smith, Adam Berry
  • Publication number: 20230295861
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance is provided including a sump positioned at a bottom of a wash tub for collecting wash fluid, a drain pump assembly for selectively draining the sump, a measurement device configured for measuring movement of the wash tub, and a water level detection system comprising a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the sump. A controller is configured to operate the drain pump assembly to drain the wash fluid, measure the movement of the wash tub using the measurement device, measure a water level within the sump using the water level detection system, and identify a fault condition in the water level detection system upon determining that the measured movement indicates that the sump is empty and the measured water level indicates that the sump is not empty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Derek Hibdon, Darrin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11028517
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method of detecting and mitigating out-of-balance conditions includes obtaining a subwasher load weight after adding water to the wash tub and obtaining a displacement threshold based at least in part on the subwasher load weight. The wash basket is spun at a first, low speed and the displacement amplitude of the wash tub is measured using a measurement device, such as an accelerometer and gyroscope. The measured displacement amplitude is then compared to the displacement threshold and if the displacement amplitude exceeds the displacement threshold, an agitation element is rotated to agitate or redistribute the load of articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10975512
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method of preventing and mitigating out-of-balance conditions during a spin cycle are provided. In one example aspect, liquid is flowed into the tub and articles within a basket rotatably mounted in a tub of the washing machine appliance are agitated for a first time period. The movement of the tub during the first time period is measured and a trend line is calculated based on the movement of the tub over the first time period. A time remaining is calculated based at least in part on the trend line. If the time remaining is less than a time remaining threshold, and if the determined time remaining is less than the time remaining threshold, the articles within the basket are agitated by an extended agitation time period in which the washing machine appliance attempts to more evenly distribute the articles prior to a spin cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10801156
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating a pump thereof are provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, a nozzle, a measurement device mounted to the tub, a motor, a drain pump, and a controller. The basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The nozzle may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively flow liquid thereto. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The drain pump may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively motivate wash fluid therefrom. The controller may be operative communication with the measurement device, the motor, and the drain pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Quentin Pollett, Darrin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 10801154
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating a washing machine appliance, for instance, during a spin cycle are provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, a nozzle, a measurement device mounted to the tub, a motor, a drain pump, and a controller. The basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The nozzle may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively flow liquid thereto. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The drain pump may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively motivate wash fluid therefrom. The controller may be operative communication with the measurement device, the motor, and the drain pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: James Quentin Pollett, Darrin R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200109505
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method of preventing and mitigating out-of-balance conditions during a spin cycle are provided. In one example aspect, liquid is flowed into the tub and articles within a basket rotatably mounted in a tub of the washing machine appliance are agitated for a first time period. The movement of the tub during the first time period is measured and a trend line is calculated based on the movement of the tub over the first time period. A time remaining is calculated based at least in part on the trend line. If the time remaining is less than a time remaining threshold, and if the determined time remaining is less than the time remaining threshold, the articles within the basket are agitated by an extended agitation time period in which the washing machine appliance attempts to more evenly distribute the articles prior to a spin cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventor: Darrin R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200024787
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance and a method of detecting and mitigating out-of-balance conditions includes obtaining a subwasher load weight after adding water to the wash tub and obtaining a displacement threshold based at least in part on the subwasher load weight. The wash basket is spun at a first, low speed and the displacement amplitude of the wash tub is measured using a measurement device, such as an accelerometer and gyroscope. The measured displacement amplitude is then compared to the displacement threshold and if the displacement amplitude exceeds the displacement threshold, an agitation element is rotated to agitate or redistribute the load of articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Darrin R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190376222
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating a washing machine appliance, for instance, during a spin cycle are provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, a nozzle, a measurement device mounted to the tub, a motor, a drain pump, and a controller. The basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The nozzle may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively flow liquid thereto. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The drain pump may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively motivate wash fluid therefrom. The controller may be operative communication with the measurement device, the motor, and the drain pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: James Quentin Pollett, Darrin R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190376224
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating a pump thereof are provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, a nozzle, a measurement device mounted to the tub, a motor, a drain pump, and a controller. The basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The nozzle may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively flow liquid thereto. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The drain pump may be in fluid communication with the tub to selectively motivate wash fluid therefrom. The controller may be operative communication with the measurement device, the motor, and the drain pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: James Quentin Pollett, Darrin R. Smith