Patents by Inventor Heather Rae Posthauer

Heather Rae Posthauer 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).

  • System and method for safely powering an appliance user interface without external power
    Patent number: 9334599
    Abstract: Systems and methods for safely powering an appliance user interface without external power are provided. One exemplary method includes receiving power generated by rotation of a rotor. The method further includes monitoring for the presence of a safety condition and disabling passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present such that the user interface of an appliance is powered. An exemplary washing machine can include a basket and a motor which includes a rotor, the motor being configured to rotate the basket by rotating the rotor. The washing machine can further include a user interface and a motor control circuit configured to drive the motor. The motor control circuit can be further configured to receive power generated by rotation of the rotor, monitor for the presence of a safety condition, and disable passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Michael Gelber, Steven Michael Recio, Richard D. Suel, II, Jonathan Blair Talmadge, Heather Rae Posthauer, Ryan James Scheckelhoff, Abhijeet A. Bhandwale, Byron Lee Boylston
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFELY POWERING AN APPLIANCE USER INTERFACE WITHOUT EXTERNAL POWER
    Publication number: 20140196508
    Abstract: Systems and methods for safely powering an appliance user interface without external power are provided. One exemplary method includes receiving power generated by rotation of a rotor. The method further includes monitoring for the presence of a safety condition and disabling passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present such that the user interface of an appliance is powered. An exemplary washing machine can include a basket and a motor which includes a rotor, the motor being configured to rotate the basket by rotating the rotor. The washing machine can further include a user interface and a motor control circuit configured to drive the motor. The motor control circuit can be further configured to receive power generated by rotation of the rotor, monitor for the presence of a safety condition, and disable passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Michael Gelber, Steven Michael Recio, Richard D. Suel, II, Jonathan Blair Talmadge, Heather Rae Posthauer, Ryan James Scheckelhoff, Abhijeet A. Bhandwale, Byron Lee Boylston