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: 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 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: 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 and a method for operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a chamber for receiving laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the mechanical energy due to the falling action of the laundry.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance treating laundry according to a cycle of operation having by determining a parameter indicative of a change in packing density of the laundry in a treating chamber and taking an operating action based on the determined parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the degree of engagement between a clothes mover and fabric items during a wash process, and a method for setting the liquid level in the automatic washer based on the degree of engagement between a clothes mover and the fabric items.

Abstract: An appliance includes an appliance housing, an interface adapted to receive power information, a plurality of sensors for sensing environmental conditions, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the appliance, and an intelligent control. The intelligent control is disposed within the appliance housing and operatively connected to the interface and the plurality of sensors and adapted to dynamically select control values associated with the plurality of controls based on at least one of the power information, the environmental conditions, or a combination thereof to increase energy efficiency of the appliance.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a chamber for receiving laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the mechanical energy due to the falling action of the laundry.

Abstract: A safety system for an ice and liquid dispenser of a refrigerator is used to sense the presence of human skin in a dispensing well. The safety system includes a digital image capture device focused on a dispenser well for capturing images of objects, such as hands, in the dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device. The digital image analyzer evaluates the digital images captured by the digital image capture device to determine if human skin color is detected in the image of the object in the dispensing well. If human skin color is detected, thus indicating a hand in the dispensing area, any dispensing operation will be prevented and an alert will be provided.

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 comprising a treating chamber by determining the presence of a bulky laundry item based on image data of the laundry.

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: The invention relates to a method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber. The laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a state of dryness of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the determined state of dryness.

Abstract: A modular device for determining attributes of a substance stored in a container having a sensing module, a transmitter module and a power source module. The sensing module is capable of sensing attributes of a substance and providing an output. The transmitter module is configured to transmit an output of the at least one sensing module when operably coupled to the sensing module. The power source module is capable of being operably connected to the sensor module and the transmitter module to power the sensor module and the transmitter module.

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: An apparatus and method for determining an inertia of a laundry load for a laundry treating appliance during an acceleration phase.

Abstract: Reciprocating laundry treating appliances are disclosed. An example 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 drum may be reciprocated to distribute laundry within the drum. The rotation and reciprocation may be independent and/or simultaneous.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating the appliance to supply air into a treating chamber through an air inlet and controlling the supplied air by varying the effective area of the air inlet.