Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet, an interior cavity defined by the cabinet, a storage compartment positioned within the interior cavity that supports a temporarily stored item, a temperature control system, a gas detector, and a scanning apparatus that has at least one camera and is configured to record and store image data associated with a user's preference. The scanning apparatus conducts first and second data capturing phases. A difference between first and second data sets is analyzed to produce a current inventory manifest. The appliance also includes a weight scale and a controller. The controller evaluates a location of the temporarily stored item based on the image data and determines remaining contents of the temporarily stored item based on data from the weight scale. The controller determines a preferred air velocity for the storage compartment based upon data collected from the gas detector and the weight scale.

Abstract: An appliance includes a compartment defined within a cabinet. A cartridge is selectively received within the compartment. The cartridge includes a self-actuating pump for dispensing a consumable from an interior of the cartridge. A fluid dispenser is upstream of the self-actuating pump and dispenses a base fluid that carries the dispensed portion to a processing chamber contained within the cabinet.

Abstract: An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.

Abstract: A refrigerating or food storage appliance for receiving containers within the appliance for storing a substance, the appliance including a cabinet at least partially defining an interior with an access opening, a door movably mounted to the cabinet to selectively open/close the access opening and at least partially defining the interior when the door selectively closes the access opening, at least one thermal imaging device for obtaining thermal image data of at least one container within the interior, and a control unit receiving the thermal image data.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a compartment defined within a cabinet. A cartridge is selectively received within the compartment. The cartridge includes a self-actuating pump for dispensing a consumable from an interior of the cartridge. A mixing chamber is positioned under the self-actuating pump. The mixing chamber receives a dispensed portion of the consumable. A fluid dispenser dispenses a base fluid into the mixing chamber. The fluid dispenser is upstream of the self-actuating pump and the base fluid carries the dispensed portion to a processing chamber contained within the cabinet.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a body having a first cavity. A sensor is operably coupled with the first cavity to obtain a first data. A humidifier is in fluid communication with the first cavity to control a relative humidity within the first cavity. A controller is in electric communication with the sensor to receive the first data. The controller detects at least one of a surface condition and a growth condition of a food substrate using the first data.

Abstract: A refrigerating or food storage appliance for receiving containers within the appliance for storing a substance, the appliance including a cabinet at least partially defining an interior with an access opening, a door movably mounted to the cabinet to selectively open/close the access opening and at least partially defining the interior when the door selectively closes the access opening, at least one thermal imaging device for obtaining thermal image data of at least one container within the interior, and a control unit receiving the thermal image data.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an exterior configured for resting on a surface and an interior and a plurality of feet coupled with the cabinet along a bottom surface thereof. The refrigerator also includes a plurality of load transducers disposed between and in opposing contact with the cabinet and respective ones of the feet. The refrigerator further includes electronic circuitry including a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to receive a signal corresponding with a gross weight of the cabinet from the plurality of load transducers and to determine the quantity of articles retained within the interior of the cabinet.

Abstract: A method of cooking a food item in a cooking appliance having a cooking chamber and a user interface with a selector that allows a user to set a target degree of browning includes imaging, by an imaging device for capturing a real-time image, the food item inside the cooking chamber. A computing device in communication with the imaging device, and having a software module that receives the captured image, receives the captured real-time image from the imaging device.

Abstract: Example human-machine interface (HMI) assemblies are disclosed. One example HMI assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a backer selectively flexible between a first curved state and a second flexed state, and attached to the fascia in the second flexed state to bias the PCB against the fascia.

Abstract: Example human-machine interface (HMI) assemblies are disclosed. One example HMI assembly includes a fascia, a touch film having a first raised contact, a PCB having a second raised contact, and a piercing member passing through the first and second contacts to electrically couple the first and second contacts.

Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a water system. The water system has a fluid circuit and valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to control flow through the fluid circuit. The valve assembly has a valve, at least one actuator disposed on the valve, and a framework configured to secure the at least one actuator to the valve. The framework has first and second upright members, a crossmember, and an electrical connector. The first and second upright members secured to the valve on opposing sides of the at least one actuator. The crossmember is secured to opposing ends of the first and second upright members relative to the valve such that the valve, first upright member, second upright member, and crossmember form a closed loop around the at least one actuator. The electrical connector is electrically connected to the at least one actuator and is secured to the crossmember.

Abstract: An oven can include an oven body including a set of interior panels. A set of exterior panels are spaced from the set of interior panels such that a channel is defined between the set of interior panels and the set of exterior panels. The set of interior panels includes an interior panel peripheral wall and an interior panel top wall that at least partially define a cooking cavity. Each interior panel of the set of interior panels has an inner surface and an outer surface. The oven further includes an imaging device with a field of view including at least a portion of the cooking cavity. The oven also comprises a damper coupled to the oven body and to the imaging device for absorbing mechanical vibrations associated with airflow generated by the fan.

Abstract: A method of cooking a food item in a cooking appliance having a cooking chamber and a user interface with a selector that allows a user to set a target degree of browning includes imaging, by an imaging device for capturing a real-time image, the food item inside the cooking chamber. A computing device in communication with the imaging device, and having a software module that receives the captured image, receives the captured real-time image from the imaging device.

Abstract: A cooking assistance appliance can include a body, at least one camera, at least one sensor, and an imaging device for capturing an image of a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance can provide for monitoring use of the cooking appliance, as well as assisting the user in operating the cooking appliance. Additionally, the cooking assistance appliance can be integrated into a hood or a microwave oven and vent combination above a stovetop.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and method of initiating a sanitization cycle in a laundry treating appliance includes sensing at least one of a presence of an article within a sanitizing compartment, an identification of the article within the sanitizing compartment, or a chemical property within the sanitizing compartment, and determining, in a controller, a need for initiating a sanitization cycle.

Abstract: A refrigerating or food storage appliance for receiving containers within the appliance for storing a substance, the appliance including a cabinet at least partially defining an interior with an access opening, a door movably mounted to the cabinet to selectively open/close the access opening and at least partially defining the interior when the door selectively closes the access opening, at least one thermal imaging device for obtaining thermal image data of at least one container within the interior, and a control unit receiving the thermal image data.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a cooking chamber, a user interface with a selector that allows a user to set a target degree of browning, an imaging device that captures an image of a food item inside the cooking chamber, a computing device in communication with the imaging device and has a software module that receives the captured image from the imaging device and computes a target image based on the captured image and the target degree of browning, and where the target image and the target degree of browning are displayed on the user interface.

Abstract: A food storage system is disclosed. The system comprises an appliance having a cabinet defining an interior, the interior comprising at least one of a shelf, compartment, or drawer configured to store at least one food item, a vision system comprising at least one imager configured to record image data related to the at least one food item stored within the interior, and a controller in communication with the vision system. The controller can be operable to generate an augmented reality representation of the interior.