Abstract: A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

Abstract: Laundry treating appliances and methods of controlling the same to determine an end-of-cycle condition are disclosed. An example method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber in which laundry is received for treatment, and a heated air system having a supply conduit coupled to the treating chamber and an exhaust conduit coupled to the treating chamber includes supplying heated air to the treating chamber via the supply conduit, exhausting air from the treating chamber via the exhaust conduit, repeatedly determining exhaust air temperatures of the air exhausted from the exhaust conduit, determining a windowed derivative of the exhaust air temperature values, determining a zero crossing of the windowed derivative, and initiating the termination of the supplying of heated air in response to the determination of the zero crossing.

Abstract: A method of boil and boil-dry detection for cooking appliances. The method includes the steps: detecting vibrations that correspond to cookware situated on a burner assembly; generating a vibration signal based on the vibrations; and performing signal processing on the vibration signal. The method also includes the steps: collecting vibration data related to the vibration signal; and detecting boiling and boil-dry conditions for a liquid contained within the cookware based at least in part on an evaluation of the vibration data.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance has a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment according to at least one cycle of operation and operated such that the extraction of liquid from the laundry load is controlled based on the inertia of the laundry load so that the total energy usage by the laundry treating appliance and a laundry drying appliance with which it is operably coupled may be minimized.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and method for controlling the operation of a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment in accordance with a treating cycle of operation by determining the presence of a bulky laundry item based on image data of the laundry within the treating chamber.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and method for controlling the operation of a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment in accordance with a treating cycle of operation by determining the presence of a bulky laundry item based on image data of the laundry within the treating chamber.

Abstract: A cooking sensor system that includes a burner assembly; and a vibration sensor assembly configured to generate a vibration signal that corresponds to vibrations of cookware situated on the burner assembly. The cooking sensor system also includes a processor to receive the vibration signal and determine at least one of a boiling condition and a boil-dry condition for a liquid contained within the cookware, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the vibration signal. The cooking sensor system further includes an indicator element coupled to the processor to indicate the at least one of a boiling condition and a boil-dry condition. The cooking sensor system may also include a control element coupled to the processor to operate the burner assembly based at least in part on the at least one of a boiling condition and a boil-dry condition.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber, where the laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a condition of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. A notification can be provided to a user based on the determined motion condition.

Abstract: A method of boil and boil-dry detection for appliances. The method includes the steps: detecting vibrations that correspond to cookware situated on a burner assembly; generating a vibration signal based on the vibrations; and performing signal processing on the vibration signal. The method also includes the steps: collecting vibration data related to the vibration signal; and detecting boiling and boil-dry conditions for a liquid contained within the cookware based at least in part on an evaluation of the vibration data. The method may also include the steps: indicating the boiling and boil-dry conditions; and controlling the burner assembly based at least in part on the boiling and boil-dry conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a fluffing state of laundry based on a determined temperature indicative of the surface of the laundry.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well based on image data. The image data can used to detect at least one of a presence of a container in the dispenser well, a height of liquid within the container, a height of ice within the container and a shape of the container within the dispenser well, as well as to adjust a dispensing rate of product.

Abstract: A method of operating a home appliance having a treating chamber for receiving an article for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation stored in memory of a programmable controller operably controlling one or more actuators to implement the cycle of operation, the method includes implementing the cycle of operation, receiving sensor feedback, calculating gradients from the sensor feedback, and controlling an actuator based thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence of a drying rack based on image data of the laundry located in a treating chamber of a laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber, where the laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a motion condition of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the determined motion condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting an imbalance in the laundry load within the treating chamber and forming a counterbalance to the imbalance.

Abstract: A reciprocating laundry treating appliance includes a motor to rotate a drum about the horizontal axis of rotation and an axial drive mechanism to reciprocate the drum relative to the horizontal axis of rotation. The dram can be reciprocated to distribute laundry within the drum. The rotation and reciprocation of the drum can occur independently or simultaneously.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance treating laundry according to a cycle of operation including determining a rotational speed of the drum corresponding to a predetermined movement of the laundry within the drum and setting an operating parameter for the cycle of operation based on the determined rotational speed of the drum corresponding to the predetermined movement of the laundry.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an inertia of a laundry load for a laundry treating appliance during an acceleration phase, wherein the rotational speed of a rotatable drum of the laundry is controlled based on the determined inertia.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container, such as the height and position of the container.