Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, and a plurality of heater modules. A turntable and an upper pan are rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The turntable and the upper pan are configured for positioning a plurality of food items thereon in a predetermined food arrangement. The plurality of food items collectively make up a meal. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, rotating the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking chamber and activating at least one of the plurality of heater modules while the turntable and the upper pan are rotating within the cooking cavity, such that differing amounts of energy are provided to each food item of the plurality of food items based on a spatial location of each food item in the predetermined food arrangement on the turntable and the upper pan during a meal cook cycle.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, and a turntable rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. An upper pan is mounted above the turntable. The cooking appliance also includes a motor operatively coupled to the turntable to rotate the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking cavity.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, and a turntable rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. An upper pan is mounted above the turntable. The cooking appliance also includes a motor operatively coupled to the turntable to rotate the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking cavity.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, and a plurality of heater modules. A turntable and an upper pan are rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The turntable and the upper pan are configured for positioning a plurality of food items thereon in a predetermined food arrangement. The plurality of food items collectively make up a meal. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, rotating the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking chamber and activating at least one of the plurality of heater modules while the turntable and the upper pan are rotating within the cooking cavity, such that differing amounts of energy are provided to each food item of the plurality of food items based on a spatial location of each food item in the predetermined food arrangement on the turntable and the upper pan during a meal cook cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bypassing a centrifugal switch are disclosed. The systems may include a bypass relay operatively connected to the heating element and configured to bypass the centrifugal switch prior to the drum reversing rotational direction, and allow the heating element to remain energized during the drum reversing rotational direction. The centrifugal switch bypass circuit further includes a relay hold circuit operatively connected to the bypass relay and configured to cause the bypass relay to continue bypassing the centrifugal switch during the drum reversing rotational direction. The method may include, once the drum begins reversing the rotational direction, utilizing a bypass relay to bypassing the centrifugal switch. Finally, the method may include utilizing a relay hold circuit to cause the bypass relay to continue bypassing the centrifugal switch during reversal of the rotational direction.

Abstract: An energy management system is provided for an appliance comprising: an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode. A controller includes a memory for storing the schedule and firmware to determine whether there is any off-peak time segments and other time sub-segments between a current time and a deadline for completing the operation. Upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller is arranged to initiate the operation, including a reduction in power consumption to complete the operation, when an amount of time required to complete the operation maximizes the off-peak time segment and sub-segments between the current time and the deadline.

Abstract: An energy management system is provided for an appliance comprising: an interface to receive a schedule having an off-peak time segment and an on-peak time segment; a control to determine an operation to be performed by the appliance; a mode selecting device to select between an energy management mode and an immediate start mode; and a controller connected to the interface, the control, and the mode selecting device; the controller includes a memory for storing the schedule and firmware to determine whether there is any off-peak time segments and overnight time periods between a current time and a deadline for completing the operation; wherein upon selection of the energy management mode, the controller is arranged to initiate the operation when an amount of time required to complete the operation maximizes the off-peak time segment between the current time and the deadline; and upon selection of the immediate start mode, the controller is arranged to initiate the operation immediately; and, deactivating an e

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a clothes dryer to provide a stationary drying cycle are disclosed. The systems may include a dryer having a drying compartment, a heating element configured to supply heat to the drying compartment and a controller for controlling operation of the dryer. The controller may be configured to cause the drum to remain stationary during the stationary drying cycle, and cause the heating element to supply heat to the drying compartment at a level appropriate for stationary drying. The methods may include receiving, at the controller, a stationary drying cycle setting and receiving, at the controller, an indication to start a drying cycle, wherein the drum remains stationary during the drying cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bypassing a centrifugal switch are disclosed. The systems may include a bypass relay operatively connected to the heating element and configured to bypass the centrifugal switch prior to the drum reversing rotational direction, and allow the heating element to remain energized during the drum reversing rotational direction. The centrifugal switch bypass circuit further includes a relay hold circuit operatively connected to the bypass relay and configured to cause the bypass relay to continue bypassing the centrifugal switch during the drum reversing rotational direction. The method may include, once the drum begins reversing the rotational direction, utilizing a bypass relay to bypassing the centrifugal switch. Finally, the method may include utilizing a relay hold circuit to cause the bypass relay to continue bypassing the centrifugal switch during reversal of the rotational direction.