Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub and defining a wash chamber configured for receiving of a load of articles. A camera is positioned with a view of the wash chamber. The method includes obtaining one or more images of the wash chamber with the camera, analyzing the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine that the articles are tangled, and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the washing machine appliance in response to determining that the articles are tangled.

Abstract: A system and method for appliance communication is provided. The method includes connecting an initially-connected device to a server via a network; initiating, at a first appliance, a first appliance registration process; detecting, via the first appliance, a communications signal from a second appliance; communicatively coupling the second appliance to the server via the initially-connected device; and transmitting second appliance registration data from the second appliance to the server via communicative coupling of the second appliance to the initially-connected device connected to the network.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating the same are provided. Such methods may include, and/or appliances may be configured for, receiving a command to commence an operating cycle of the washing machine appliance and filling the wash tub with wash liquid from a fluid circulation system configured for providing fluid to the wash tub via an inlet of the fluid circulation system in response to the command. Methods may further include and/or appliances may be configured for, obtaining one or more images of the inlet of the fluid circulation system during the fill step using a camera mounted within the cabinet. The camera is positioned and oriented with the inlet within a field of vision of the camera. Based on the one or more images, a determination is made whether a water pressure provided to the fluid circulation system is above a predetermined minimum water pressure.

Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treatment apparatus includes receiving a tangle-free selection signal corresponding to a tangle-free option distinct from a default option, adjusting one or more parameters of an agitation cycle according to the tangle-free option in response to receiving the tangle-free selection signal, and initiating a washing operation incorporating the one or more adjusted parameters.

Abstract: A station (STA), which supports multiple spatial streams, can, and sometimes does, re-advertise the station as supporting less spatial stream (SS) than the actual number of spatial streams that the device does actually support. In some embodiments, a station's maximum advertised maximum number of spatial streams is proactively reduced based on the station's throughput being below one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the access point. In some other embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the station. The access point allocating its limited supported spatial streams among stations is able to more efficiently allocate the air link resources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the deployment of a wireless extender in combination with a base station at a customer premises are described. Support is provided for data rate testing in combination with configuring one or more aspects of the system such as wireless extender and/or base station transmission power level. By using testing a system can be deployed where one or more devices may use transmission power levels which are less than the maximum permitted transmission power level while still supporting an expected data rate corresponding to a subscriber service level in a reliable manner. In various embodiments DFS channel black and/or white lists are generated for each link taking into consideration the determined transmit power to be used for a given link.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance may include a wash tub, a wash basket rotatably mounted in the wash tub, and a water supply configured to provide wash fluid as a fluid stream that is collected in the wash tub as a fluid bath. The washing machine appliance may further include a thermal sensor configured to obtain data of the fluid stream. A controller of the washing machine may be in operational communication with the thermal sensor and the water supply. The controller may be configured to obtain a fluid temperature of the fluid stream using the thermal sensor, compare the fluid temperature to a preset temperature, and adjust the water supply in response to comparing the fluid temperature to the preset temperature. The controller may also obtain a temperature of the fluid bath. Methods of making and using the washing machine appliance are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure features wireless power transfer systems that include a power transmitting apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit power, a power receiving apparatus connected to an electrical load and configured to receive power from the power transmitting apparatus, and a controller connected to the power transmitting apparatus and configured to receive information about a phase difference between output voltage and current waveforms in a power source of the power transmitting apparatus, and to adjust a frequency of the transmitted power based on the measured phase difference.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods of operating the same are provided. Such methods may include, and/or appliances may be configured for, receiving a command to commence an operating cycle of the washing machine appliance and filling the wash tub with wash liquid from a fluid circulation system configured for providing fluid to the wash tub via an inlet of the fluid circulation system in response to the command. Methods may further include and/or appliances may be configured for, obtaining one or more images of the inlet of the fluid circulation system during the fill step using a camera mounted within the cabinet. The camera is positioned and oriented with the inlet within a field of vision of the camera. Based on the one or more images, a determination is made whether a water pressure provided to the fluid circulation system is above a predetermined minimum water pressure.

Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treatment apparatus includes receiving a tangle-free selection signal corresponding to a tangle-free option distinct from a default option, adjusting one or more parameters of an agitation cycle according to the tangle-free option in response to receiving the tangle-free selection signal, and initiating a washing operation incorporating the one or more adjusted parameters.

Abstract: Methods for controlling temperature in an LED luminaire are disclosed. The LED luminaire has one or more sets of LED light engines disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB), some or all of which are activated in response to an instruction or set of instructions. A temperature of the PCB is measured in at least one location. If the temperature exceeds a threshold, the duty cycle of active sets of LED light engines is ramped down uniformly over time.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub and defining a wash chamber configured for receiving of a load of articles. A camera is positioned with a view of the wash chamber. The method includes obtaining one or more images of the wash chamber with the camera, analyzing the one or more images using a machine learning image recognition process to determine that the articles are tangled, and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the washing machine appliance in response to determining that the articles are tangled.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. The grow module defines a root chamber and a plurality of apertures for positioning a root end of the plant pod in the root chamber. A resonator may be positioned on each plant pod or at each of the plurality of apertures for generating a unique sound signature when a specific plant pod is inserted into a specific aperture. A detection device, such as a microphone, measures the sound waves generated by the resonator and a controller determines a location and/or a type of the plant pod based on the unique sound signature.

Abstract: The disclosure features wireless power transfer systems that include a power transmitting apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit power, a power receiving apparatus connected to an electrical load and configured to receive power from the power transmitting apparatus, and a controller connected to the power transmitting apparatus and configured to receive information about a phase difference between output voltage and current waveforms in a power source of the power transmitting apparatus, and to adjust a frequency of the transmitted power based on the measured phase difference.

Abstract: Methods for controlling power consumption and temperature in an LED luminaire are disclosed. The LED luminaire has one or more sets of LED light engines disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB), some or all of which are activated in response to an instruction or set of instructions. The instruction or set of instructions are processed to derive an indication of power consumption for each of the one or more sets of LED light engines. Power allocations for the one or more sets of LED light engines are adjusted to meet targets. This can be done by, e.g., ramping up or down the duty cycle of active sets of LED light engines by a uniform factor until the targets are met. Temperature control methods similarly ramp down the duty cycle of active sets of LED light engines uniformly over time if the measured temperature of the PCB exceeds limits.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the deployment of a wireless extender in combination with a base station at a customer premises are described. Support is provided for data rate testing in combination with configuring one or more aspects of the system such as wireless extender and/or base station transmission power level. By using testing a system can be deployed where one or more devices may use transmission power levels which are less than the maximum permitted transmission power level while still supporting an expected data rate corresponding to a subscriber service level in a reliable manner. In various embodiments DFS channel black and/or white lists are generated for each link taking into consideration the determined transmit power to be used for a given link.

Abstract: A station (STA), which supports multiple spatial streams, can, and sometimes does, re-advertise the station as supporting less spatial stream (SS) than the actual number of spatial streams that the device does actually support. In some embodiments, a station's maximum advertised maximum number of spatial streams is proactively reduced based on the station's throughput being below one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the access point. In some other embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the station. The access point allocating its limited supported spatial streams among stations is able to more efficiently allocate the air link resources.

Abstract: The disclosure features wireless power transfer systems that include a power transmitting apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit power, a power receiving apparatus connected to an electrical load and configured to receive power from the power transmitting apparatus, and a controller connected to the power transmitting apparatus and configured to receive information about a phase difference between output voltage and current waveforms in a power source of the power transmitting apparatus, and to adjust a frequency of the transmitted power based on the measured phase difference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the deployment of a wireless extender in combination with a base station at a customer premises are described. Support is provided for data rate testing in combination with configuring one or more aspects of the system such as wireless extender and/or base station transmission power level. By using testing a system can be deployed where one or more devices may use transmission power levels which are less than the maximum permitted transmission power level while still supporting an expected data rate corresponding to a subscriber service level in a reliable manner. In various embodiments DFS channel black and/or white lists are generated for each link taking into consideration the determined transmit power to be used for a given link.

Abstract: A station (STA), which supports multiple spatial streams, can, and sometimes does, re-advertise the station as supporting less spatial stream (SS) than the actual number of spatial streams that the device does actually support. In some embodiments, a station's maximum advertised maximum number of spatial streams is proactively reduced based on the station's throughput being below one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the access point. In some other embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the station. The access point allocating its limited supported spatial streams among stations is able to more efficiently allocate the air link resources.