Abstract: A latching assembly for a refrigerator appliance having inner and outer doors includes a catch and a latch. The latch is operable to engage the catch. As a result of such engagement, the inner and outer doors are latched together when the latch is engaged with the catch. The latching assembly also includes a trigger connected to the latch. The trigger is movable within a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction from a first position to a secondary position. The latch moves within the plane perpendicular to the vertical direction when the trigger moves to the secondary position. As a result, the latch is disengaged from the catch by moving the trigger within the plane perpendicular to the vertical direction to the secondary position.

Abstract: A drawer assembly for an appliance includes a drawer front including a retainer post extending from the drawer front, a handle including an indicator assembly, an attachment assembly for removably attaching the handle to the drawer front, and an electrical connection assembly passing through the attachment assembly to provide electrical power to the indicator assembly.

Abstract: A latching assembly for a refrigerator appliance having inner and outer doors includes a catch and a latch. The latch is operable to engage the catch. As a result of such engagement, the inner and outer doors are latched together when the latch is engaged with the catch. The latching assembly also includes a trigger connected to the latch. The trigger is movable within a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction from a first position to a secondary position. The latch moves within the plane perpendicular to the vertical direction when the trigger moves to the secondary position. As a result, the latch is disengaged from the catch by moving the trigger within the plane perpendicular to the vertical direction to the secondary position.

Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a filter cartridge removably mounted to a manifold. An RFID tag is positioned at an outer surface of the filter cartridge. The water filter assembly also includes a liquid collector positioned below the filter cartridge. The liquid collector is positioned for receiving liquid leaking from the water filter assembly. A system for detecting liquid is also provided.

Abstract: An assistive control attachment for an appliance can include features for sensing the position or orientation of the assistive control attachment, determining the mode of operation of the appliance based at least in part on the position of the assistive control attachment, communicating the mode of operation of the appliance to a user, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An assistive control attachment for an appliance can include features for sensing the position or orientation of the assistive control attachment, determining the mode of operation of the appliance based at least in part on the position of the assistive control attachment, communicating the mode of operation of the appliance to a user, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a contamination status of an ultrasonic sensor assembly included in a refrigeration appliance are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic sensor configured to receive the ultrasonic signal. The refrigerator is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether the sensor assembly is contaminated based on one or more characteristics of the received ultrasonic signal. An exemplary method includes monitoring a change in a characteristic of a plurality of crosstalk components of a plurality of ultrasonic signals of over a period of time to detect a contaminated state of an ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted.

Abstract: An improved sensor assembly is provided that allows for close proximity detection of one or more objects by isolating a first sensor from a second sensor within the sensor assembly using isolation boots and a unique mounting structure. Each sensor has at least a portion positioned within an isolation boot, and the isolation boots are supported between a base plate and a support plate by one or more base plate ribs and one or more support plate ribs. The sensor is therefore prevented from otherwise contacting the base plate or the support plate.

Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a filter cartridge removably mounted to a manifold. An RFID tag is positioned at an outer surface of the filter cartridge. The water filter assembly also includes a liquid collector positioned below the filter cartridge. The liquid collector is positioned for receiving liquid leaking from the water filter assembly. A system for detecting liquid is also provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a contamination status of an ultrasonic sensor assembly included in a refrigeration appliance are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic sensor configured to receive the ultrasonic signal. The refrigerator is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether the sensor assembly is contaminated based on one or more characteristics of the received ultrasonic signal. An exemplary method includes monitoring a change in a characteristic of a plurality of crosstalk components of a plurality of ultrasonic signals of over a period of time to detect a contaminated state of an ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. The methods include activating an auto-fill feature of the refrigerator appliance and receiving a signal from a sensor of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes displaying a message on a display of the refrigerator appliance if the sensor does not detect the container within the dispenser recess. The message can provide a user with feedback regarding the auto-fill feature and assist the user with properly operating the auto-fill feature.

Abstract: An improved sensor assembly is provided that allows for close proximity detection of one or more objects by isolating a first sensor from a second sensor within the sensor assembly using isolation boots and a unique mounting structure. Each sensor has at least a portion positioned within an isolation boot, and the isolation boots are supported between a base plate and a support plate by one or more base plate ribs and one or more support plate ribs. The sensor is therefore prevented from otherwise contacting the base plate or the support plate.

Abstract: Methods for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. In the methods, at least one of a detection threshold of the sensor, a power output of a transducer of the sensor, or a gain of an amplifier of the sensor can be adjusted. Through such adjustments, accuracy and precision of measurements taken with the sensor can be improved.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. The methods include activating an auto-fill feature of the refrigerator appliance and receiving a signal from a sensor of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes displaying a message on a display of the refrigerator appliance if the sensor does not detect the container within the dispenser recess. The message can provide a user with feedback regarding the auto-fill feature and assist the user with properly operating the auto-fill feature.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a dishwashing appliance having a flow of air through an air passageway defined between an inner panel and an outer panel of the dishwasher appliance. The inner panel has a condensation surface for assisting in drying dishes in the dishwasher appliance. A dampening baffle causes at least one change of direction in the flow of air through the air flow passageway.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a transcritical heat pump water heater system is provided, as well as the corresponding system. The refrigerant, such as CO2, is compressed to a supercritical point and passed through a gas cooler that is wrapped at least partially around a water storage tank, wherein the refrigerant transfers heat to water stored in the tank. The hot water is discharged from the storage tank proximate to a top of the tank, and cold water is introduced into the tank proximate to a bottom of the tank. The supercritical refrigerant is directed to flow through the gas cooler from a top point to a lowermost point in a flow direction such that the refrigerant exits the gas cooler proximate to the bottom of the tank at a location of the coldest water within the storage tank.

Abstract: Tines that can provide a spray into the interior of containers placed onto a rack of a dishwasher are provided. More particularly, hollow tines or tines having an internal fluid path for feeding washing fluid to one or more openings at or near an upper end of the tines are described. As a fluid is sprayed or ejected from the opening(s), it provides for the cleaning of the interior of glasses, containers, and other dishes placed over the tines.

Abstract: A heat pump water heater system includes a water storage tank and a sealed heat pump cycle with a compressor, a condenser or gas cooler, an evaporator, and a refrigerant. The condenser/gas cooler is disposed in a heat exchange relationship with at least a portion of the water storage tank for heating water within the tank. The tank includes an outlet through which hot water is discharged, and a cold water inlet that is disposed so as to introduce cold water into the tank at a location of a bottommost portion of the condenser/gas cooler. The cold water introduced into the tank is not pre-heated by hot water in the tank so as to establish a thermodynamically efficient temperature differential between the cold water and hot water in the tank.