Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as performing a drain cycle; detecting a pressure (P1) during an activation period of the drain cycle; comparing the pressure to a first predetermined pressure limit; comparing the pressure to a second predetermined pressure limit; determining a target fill value based on a difference between a normal fill volume and a fluid volume corresponding to P1; and initiating a fill cycle based on the target fill value.

Abstract: A method of operating a plurality of household appliances connected to a data server includes applying a test value to one or more cycle parameters of the plurality of household appliances and performing a cycle according to the test value of the one or more cycle parameters with one or more household appliances of the plurality of household appliances. The method also includes collecting performance data related to the one or more household appliances of the plurality of household appliances during or after performing the cycle according to the test value of the one or more cycle parameters. An optimized value for each of the one or more cycle parameters is developed based on the performance data, and the optimized value for each of the one or more cycle parameters is applied to the plurality of household appliances.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance having a camera assembly. The dishwasher appliance is configured for obtaining an image of the door, determining the position of the door relative to a tub of the appliance; and using the position of the door in one or more dishwashing operations.

Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as measuring an initial pressure in a sump with a pressure sensor, activating a drain pump when the measured initial pressure in the sump is greater than or equal to a first pressure threshold, and starting a timer when the drain pump is activated. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for monitoring pressure within the sump with the pressure sensor after activating the drain pump, recording a value of the timer as a first time when the monitored pressure reaches a second pressure threshold, calculating a time limit based on the recorded first time value, and determining that the filter is clogged when the monitored pressure does not reach a third pressure threshold before the time limit expires.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance can include a basket configured for receipt of articles for washing and a camera assembly mounted within the wash chamber with a view of a rack assembly. A controller is operably coupled with the camera assembly and may be configured for obtaining an image of the rack assembly positioned in the wash chamber, determining whether the basket is positioned in the rack assembly, and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the dishwashing appliance based on whether the basket is positioned in the rack assembly.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a hot plate heater, a fan, and a conduit. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet and define a wash chamber. The hot plate heater may be in thermal communication with the tub. The hot plate heater may include a conductive body and a resistive heating element. The conductive body may have a chamber surface disposed within the wash chamber and an internal surface directed away from the wash chamber. The resistive heating element may be mounted outside of the wash chamber in thermal communication with the conductive body. The fan may be held within the cabinet outside of the wash chamber to motivate an airflow across the resistive heating element. The conduit may lead from an inlet disposed outside of the wash chamber to an outlet defined through the tub downstream from the fan.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance or variable spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, a diverter valve, and a driver. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first flow path, a second flow path, a first spray outlet, and a second spray outlet. The first and second flow paths may be downstream from the fluid inlet. The second flow path may be in fluid parallel to the first flow path. The second spray outlet may be spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The diverter valve may be mounted within manifold body and movable between a first zone position directing wash fluid to the first flow path and a second zone position directing wash fluid to the second flow path. The driver may be disposed outside of the manifold body to motivate the diverter valve between the first zone position and the second zone position.

Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as detecting a pressure (P1) at a pressure sensor upstream from a pump while maintaining the pump in an inactive state and activating the pump from the inactive state for an activation period during which the pump remains active to motivate a continuous fluid flow. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for detecting a pressure (P2) at the pressure sensor upstream from the pump during the activation period and initiating a response sequence at the pump based on P1 and P2.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller opens a water supply valve to provide a flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure using the pressure sensor. The controller determines when the water has reached the transition fill level corresponding to a known transition fill volume. The controller determines a fill flow rate based on the amount of time needed to reach the transition fill volume and uses the fill flow rate to determine a remaining fill time needed to reach a target volume.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that collects wash fluid and a circulation pump for urging the wash fluid through a supply conduit to a plurality of spray arms. A diverter assembly is operably coupled to the supply conduit for selectively diverting the flow of wash fluid to the plurality of spray arms and a rotation detection system monitors rotation of the spray arms. A controller detects rotation of the plurality of spray arms and determines a position of the diverter assembly based on the rotation.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a spray assembly, a circulation pump, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The circulation pump may be in fluid communication with a wash chamber defined by the tub. The pressure sensor may be upstream of the circulation pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation including activating the circulation pump, detecting movement of the door from a closed position, detecting return of the door to the closed position, calculating a modified time period for flood detection, determining pressure at the pressure sensor exceeds a pressure threshold following detecting return of the door to the closed position, initiating the modified time period in response to determining pressure at the pressure sensor exceeds the pressure threshold, and directing the circulation pump based on measuring the elevated pressure and expiration of the modified time period.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump, a water supply valve for providing a flow of water into the sump, and a circulation pump that circulates water that is collected in the sump to one or more spray arm assemblies. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller regulates the water supply valve to provide the flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure during the fill process. The controller further determines that the circulation pump is primed when the rate of increase of the sump pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold rate and stops further filling of the sump.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a hot plate heater, a fan, and a conduit. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet and define a wash chamber. The hot plate heater may be in thermal communication with the tub. The hot plate heater may include a conductive body and a resistive heating element. The conductive body may have a chamber surface disposed within the wash chamber and an internal surface directed away from the wash chamber. The resistive heating element may be mounted outside of the wash chamber in thermal communication with the conductive body. The fan may be held within the cabinet outside of the wash chamber to motivate an airflow across the resistive heating element. The conduit may lead from an inlet disposed outside of the wash chamber to an outlet defined through the tub downstream from the fan.

Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as activating the drain pump for an activation period and receiving a pump-status signal during the activation period. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for detecting a pressure (P1) upstream from the drain pump during the activation period, determining a condition at the filter based on the pump-status signal and P1, and directing the drain pump based on the determined condition.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller calibrates the pressure sensor by monitoring a sump pressure and determining when the wash fluid has reached the transition fill level. A measured transition pressure is taken at this point and compared to a target transition pressure that is known based on the sump geometry. A slope correction factor is calculated based on the measured transition pressure and the target transition pressure to obtain improved pressure readings and wash fluid level measurements.

Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as measuring a first pressure in a sump with a pressure sensor and storing the first pressure in a memory of the dishwashing appliance as a reference pressure. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for measuring a second pressure within the sump with the pressure sensor after measuring the first pressure, and determining that a check valve is failed when the second pressure exceeds the first pressure by at least a predetermined margin.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. A fan selectively urges air through the inlet in at least two different directions, including a first direction and a second direction. A diverter disk is proximate the inlet downstream of the fan and upstream of the wash chamber. The diverter disk defines an axial direction. The diverter disk is movable along the axial direction between a first position and a second position. The fan urges the diverter disk to move from the second position to the first position when the fan urges air through the inlet in the first direction, and the fan urges the diverter disk to move from the first position to the second position when the fan urges air through the inlet in the second direction.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance equipped with leak detection features and a method of detecting leak conditions during an operation cycle of a dishwasher are provided. In one aspect, the dishwasher appliance includes a tub having a sump. A pressure sensor is mounted to the sump and is configured to monitor the sump pressure during an operation cycle. If the sump pressure falls below a pressure threshold during a circulation cycle, corrective action can be taken. For instance, a circulation pump circulating wash fluid through the tub can deactivated and a static pressure reading can be taken by the pressure sensor. The static pressure reading can be compared to a static pressure reading taken prior to the circulation cycle. In response to whether the static pressure is within a predetermined range of the static pressure reading taken prior to the circulation cycle, the circulation cycle can be recommenced or aborted.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance and a spray assembly, as provided herein, may include a manifold body, and a cammed diverter valve. The manifold body may be mountable within a wash chamber. The manifold body may define a fluid inlet, a first spray zone, and a second spray zone. The first spray zone may include a first spray outlet. The second spray zone may include a second spray outlet spaced apart from the first spray outlet. The cammed diverter valve may be mounted within the manifold body and be movable between a first zone position and a second zone position. The first zone position may direct wash fluid to the first spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the second spray zone. The second zone position may direct wash fluid to the second spray zone and restrict wash fluid to the first spray zone.

Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber. An inlet is defined in the tub and provides air flow into the wash chamber. A diverter disk is proximate the inlet and upstream of the wash chamber. The diverter disk is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The diverter disk permits air flow into the wash chamber via the inlet in a first direction when the diverter disk is in the first position and in a second direction when the diverter disk is in the second position.