Abstract: A fluid metering system includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber, with a supply conduit providing a flow of fluid into the lower chamber. The flow of fluid lifts the float to a predetermined fluid volume and the float seals the lower chamber. A delivery conduit is coupled to the lower chamber and a dispensing valve. The dispensing valve is operated to dispense the predetermined fluid volume to a downstream assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining an insulation receiving space between an outer casing and an inner liner, a dividing wall positioned within the insulation receiving space to divide the insulation receiving space into a first portion and a second portion, a first injection site for a first foam, and a second injection site for a second foam. The dividing wall includes one or more apertures therethrough.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method of operating a refrigerator appliance to detect produce ripening. The refrigerator includes a camera assembly in a chilled chamber to obtain an image of a produce item and analyze the image for a ripeness value. Comparing the ripeness value of produce item to a predetermined value may be used to determine if the produce item has reached an optimal ripeness condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance can include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a controller configured to operate one or more components of the refrigerator appliance, and a camera assembly operable to monitor the chilled chamber. The camera assembly can include a camera module having a camera that is operable to capture data associated with the chilled chamber. The controller and the camera module can each be configured to respectively perform one or more operations of an authentication process to verify identity of the controller and the camera module. The camera module can be configured to operate the camera to capture the data associated with the chilled chamber and/or to transmit a redacted version of the data associated with the chilled chamber to the controller based at least in part on verification of the identity of the controller and the camera module.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided including a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, and an inventory management system mounted within the chilled chamber for monitoring objects positioned within the chilled chamber. The inventory management system includes a camera assembly that obtains images of food items as they are being added to or removed from the chilled chamber. A controller of the appliance analyzes the images using a machine learning image recognition process to identify an object and a corresponding confidence score related to the object identification. Historical inventory data is then be used to adjust the confidence score and modify an inventory list when the adjusted confidence score exceeds a high confidence threshold.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber and a plurality of camera assemblies mounted to the cabinet at a front portion of the fresh food chamber. The refrigerator appliance also includes a controller that is configured to perform a pixel statistical analysis of one or more video clips from the plurality of camera assemblies. The controller is configured to adjust one or both a brightness setting in the fresh food chamber of the refrigerator appliance and an exposure setting of the plurality of camera assemblies in response to the pixel statistical analysis of one or more video clips from the plurality of camera assemblies. The pixel statistical analysis of one or more video clips from the plurality of camera assemblies is triggered by an interaction with the refrigerator appliance.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing defining a sump for collecting lubricant, a pump for circulating the lubricant within the housing, the pump comprising a lubricant intake tube defining a pump inlet positioned within the sump, and a noise dissipation media positioned within the sump on a surface of the lubricant and above the pump inlet, wherein a media void is defined around the lubricant intake tube.

Abstract: An eyepiece for a telescope includes a body including a first end having a mounting barrel extending therefrom and a second end, opposite the first end, supporting an eyepiece cup. A digital display is disposed within the body adjacent to the eyepiece cup. A camera is disposed within the body adjacent to the mounting barrel. A controller is operably coupled to the digital display and to the camera. The controller actuates the camera to capture an image and depicts the image on the digital display in near real time.

Abstract: Methods of handling an image of a member of a household may include compressing the image of the member of the household using deep image compression and storing the compressed image in a remote database. Some methods may include storing a face annotation and a caption of the image of the member of the household in the remote database. Such methods may also include decompressing the image of the member of the household. The image may be decompressed using the face annotation and the caption. The image may be decompressed using a generative neural network file-tuned to images of members of the household.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, an ice making assembly comprising an ice mold, a mold temperature sensor, and a water supply spout, and a controller in operative communication with the mold temperature sensor. The controller is configured to fill the ice mold with water using the water supply spout, monitor an ice mold temperature using the mold temperature sensor, determine a mold cooling metric using the ice mold temperature, determine that the mold cooling metric falls below a predetermined threshold rate or is outside a target range, and implement a responsive action in response to determining that the mold cooling metric falls below the predetermined threshold rate or is outside the target range, e.g., by providing a user notification or changing a harvest count threshold for the ice making assembly.

Abstract: A video captured by a camera assembly of a household appliance includes a plurality of frames. Methods of analyzing the video may include calculating a plurality of median frames of the video, determining an area of one of the plurality of frames contains an object of interest, and isolating the determined area for analysis of the object of interest. Methods of analyzing the video may include identifying an object of interest in a minimum number of consecutive frames of the video, determining a motion vector of the object of interest based on the consecutive frames of the video, and comparing the motion vector with predetermined in and out vectors to determine whether the object of interest was added to or removed from the household appliance. Such methods may also include adding or removing the object of interest to or from a virtual inventory of the household appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet and having an inner liner surface that defines a chilled chamber. A door is rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber and a camera assembly is mounted to the liner for monitoring the chilled chamber. The camera assembly includes a camera housing, a camera mounted within the camera housing and being pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and a pivoting mechanism that is operably coupled to the door such that the camera is oriented in the first orientation when the door is in an open position and in the second orientation when the door is in a closed position.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include receiving one or more images for each of a plurality of capture sequences, detecting a pervasive obfuscation condition at the camera module based on the received one or more images, and directing a responsive action on the refrigerator appliance in response to detecting the pervasive obfuscation condition.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, a microphone, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet. The microphone may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include initiating a capture sequence at the camera module and the microphone, determining an internal location of a first stored item within the chilled chamber based on a two-dimensional image and a sound recording of the capture sequence, and recording the internal location of the first stored item.

Abstract: A method of operating an ice maker appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid water into a mold body of the ice maker appliance and forming an ice piece from the volume of liquid water in the mold body of the ice maker appliance. The method also includes estimating a volume of the fill of liquid water. The method may include determining an adjustment factor based on the estimated volume of the fill of liquid water or determining a harvest time based on the estimated volume of the fill of liquid water.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided including a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, and an audiovisual input assembly for monitoring the chilled chamber. A controller obtains a video stream and an audio stream using the audiovisual input assembly and analyzes these streams using a standard object weighting to generate a video-based inventory change and an audio-based inventory change. An inventory list is updated if the video-based inventory change and the audio-based inventory change match. Otherwise, the controller can reanalyze the streams using an updated object weighting to see if the audio and video streams generate matching proposed inventory changes.

Abstract: An automated precious metal portfolio selection system and method that promotes a self-assessment of risk tolerance which can be completed by an investor or third-party salesperson to input the same in an evaluation protocol which sets forth a level of risk tolerance, and the generation of a portfolio of precious metals items. Through an application of standardized protocol, the salesperson need not have experience of a numismatist or precious metals expert. The automated system and method provide a confirmation of the final calculation of the cost of the precious metal items as of the closing of a financial transaction. The precious metal items are transferred along with a suitable inventory for the various types and/or denominations of the precious metal items, and a depository account is created. The system and method can also facilitate reporting the then current value and any obligation to necessary parties, such as for an IRA.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided including a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, and a camera assembly positioned within the chilled chamber and being rotatable between a first position and a second position. A controller is configured to obtain one or more images using the camera assembly, determine a position of the camera assembly, and generate a modified image by cropping the one or more images based on a field of view associated with the position of the camera assembly.

Abstract: A domestic appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a hinge assembly, and a conductor assembly. The cabinet may define an internal chamber. The door may be movable relative to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position. The hinge assembly may rotatably secure the door to the cabinet. The conductor assembly may electrically connect the door to the cabinet. The conductor assembly may include a cabinet-side (CS) contact joined to the cabinet, a door-side (DS) contact joined to the door, and a first plate arm extending between the CS contact and the DS contact in electrical communication therewith. The first plate arm may be pivotable about a first conductor axis relative to the CS contact and a second conductor axis relative to the DS contact.

Abstract: A refrigerator is provided having a shelf assembly and a controller. The shelf assembly may include a shelf and a drive mechanism configured to move the shelf in at least a vertical direction. The refrigerator also includes an object detection system configured to detect an article placed adjacent to the shelf. The controller may be configured to determine the proximity of an article and the shelf using the object detection system, detect a shelf moving event, and move the shelf in response to the shelf moving event. The shelf moving event may be based, at least in part, on the proximity of the article and the shelf. The controller may also be configured to move the shelf in response to detecting a flow restriction above or below the shelf.