Abstract: A computer-implemented method for operating a cooking appliance may include automatically recording, using a controller of a cooking appliance, a series of user inputs at the cooking appliance during a cooking process of a food item. Based on the plurality of sequential user inputs, a cooking session program is automatically generated, the cooking session program being configured to re-create the cooking process by automatically controlling the cooking appliance.

Abstract: A cooking program development system may include a cooking program developer tool configured to facilitate the creation of automated cooking programs, a cooking program feedback tool configured to facilitate utilizing user feedback to modify and improve the automated cooking programs, and a cooking program marketplace configured to facilitate the sharing of the automated cooking programs with a plurality of users. The cooking programs created utilizing the cooking program developer tool are configured to be utilized by a specific cooking appliance to cook a specific food item according to a user's personal preferences. The cooking programs may include instructions for the cooking appliance to automatically determine one or more cooking parameters to utilize to cook the food item based on characteristics of the food item sensed by one or more sensors of the cooking appliance.

Abstract: An appliance management system for facilitating the dispersal of parts of a chore among users may include an appliance configured to be controlled at least partially automatically according to a routine created by a primary user, who will be away from the appliance (e.g., out of the house) during at least part of the time the routine is being carried out. The routine includes at least one task to be performed by a secondary user, who is in the same general location as the appliance. The task comprises at least one action that cannot practically be performed remotely. Remote control of the appliance is assigned to the primary user in response to the task being completed. Accordingly, the secondary user performs a task that the remote primary user cannot practically perform, but has little or no input into other parts of the chore.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the management of cooking programs associated with one or more cooking appliances associated with a user. An electronic device receives one or more food purchase records including information relating to food items. Based on the food item information, one or more relevant cooking programs are determined, those programs being suitable for automatically preparing the food item(s) using the one or more cooking appliances. The electronic device communicates the cooking programs to the cooking appliance(s), and causes the cooking appliance(s) to display shortcuts to the one or more cooking programs on a user interface.

Abstract: A method for cleaning an oven may include automatically scheduling a cleaning event to occur during a period of user inactivity, by an electronic controller of an oven, based on an estimated cumulative soiling level and a predicted period of user inactivity. In this context, the cleaning event includes one or more automatic activities configured to clean an interior cavity of the oven. A user is notified of the scheduled cleaning event, by the electronic controller, and the cleaning event is executed automatically. Other smart home components (e.g., ventilation, windows, and/or doors) may be repositioned automatically to facilitate the event.

Abstract: A home appliance includes a housing and a temperature probe storage system, such as a deployable storage compartment assembly, configured to store a temperature probe in a position in which the temperature probe is concealed from view in a first instance and visible and accessible to a user in a second instance.

Abstract: An oven may include an image processing system configured to take images of an interior of a cavity of the oven. Images of the interior of the oven cavity captured by the image processing system are input into a machine learning model trained to identify food items in the image. The oven uses the identity of the food item output by the machine learning model to determine a cooking program for the food item and cooks the food item according to the cooking program. The oven may use the image processing system to monitor the cooking process of the food item and update the cooking program during the cooking process based on the observed progress.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance includes a housing having a cooking cavity and a door movable between a closed state and an open state for providing access to an opening of the cooking cavity. The door has a glass surface facing an interior of the cooking cavity when the door is in the closed state, and at least a portion of the door is configured to be retractable into a position adjacent to a wall of the cooking cavity upon moving the door into the open state. The appliance includes a surface cleaning mechanism on the housing and configured to remove debris from at least a portion of the glass surface during at least one of a retraction of the door into the position adjacent to the wall of the cooking cavity and an extraction of the door from the position adjacent to the wall of the cooking cavity.

Abstract: A virtual reality viewer reconfigured from a standard post card such that the post card is transformed into a three dimensional body and attached to a cell phone to view a three dimensional scene . The folds on the outside of the post card enable the post card to form the virtual reality viewer. The post card also includes a set of lenses and a locking mechanism to hold the viewer onto the cell phone.

Abstract: An improved cutting device including a mechanism for selectively guarding the edge of a cutting blade. According to various embodiments, a sliding mechanism is operatively connected to a blade guard, wherein the translational movement of the sliding mechanism causes a corresponding rotational movement of the blade guard. When the blade guard is in an extended position, the edge of the cutting blade is not exposed, thereby preventing a user from accidentally cut by the blade. Various embodiments also provide for an improved blade replacement system. According to various embodiments, a locking member is capable of lifting the cutting blade without the user having to touch the blade itself.

Abstract: An improved cutting device including a mechanism for selectively guarding the edge of a cutting blade. According to various embodiments, a sliding mechanism is operatively connected to a blade guard, wherein the translational movement of the sliding mechanism causes a corresponding rotational movement of the blade guard. When the blade guard is in an extended position, the edge of the cutting blade is not exposed, thereby preventing a user from accidentally cut by the blade. Various embodiments also provide for an improved blade replacement system. According to various embodiments, a locking member is capable of lifting the cutting blade without the user having to touch the blade itself.

Abstract: A rotary cutter, comprising a body, a trigger and an actuator member. The body includes a rear end and a forward end, the forward end including a cylindrical head. The trigger is rotatably connected at one end thereof to the rear end of the body, and the actuator member is also rotatably connected to the body. The actuator member is in at least selective contact with the trigger such that rotation of the trigger results in a reciprocal rotation of the actuator member. A blade assembly is removably coupled to the actuator member and is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. Actuation of the trigger results in the blade assembly moving towards the extended position. When the blade assembly is in the extended position, the blade assembly is capable of contacting a cutting surface.