Abstract: A hub for managing networked household appliances is provided. The hub may include a network communication interface for wirelessly connecting to a wireless access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a wireless repeater for receiving and rebroadcasting signals from the wireless access point. The hub may include an appliance communication interface for wirelessly connecting the hub to a plurality of household appliances and establish a wireless local appliance network over which the hub and the plurality of household appliances are configured to communicate with one another. The hub may also include a control module coupled to the appliance communication interface and configured to provide a user interface to enable a user to interact with the plurality of household appliances from the hub over the wireless local appliance network, and view status information associated with the household appliance.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing system may include a fluid cup configured to receive a fluid, and processing circuitry and a capacitive sensor coupled to one another, the capacitive sensor is a distance separated from and in parallel with a top surface of the fluid in the fluid cup, the distance the capacitive sensor is separated from the top surface of the fluid being variable with a fill level of the fluid in the fluid cup. The capacitive sensor and the fluid in the fluid cup may form elements of a capacitor with a capacitance that is a function of at least the distance the capacitive sensor is separated from the top surface of the fluid. The processing circuitry may be configured to measure a change in signal corresponding to a change in capacitance of the capacitor and determine the fill level based on a magnitude of the change in signal.

Abstract: An appliance knob stabilization device includes a bushing defining a first passage receiving an appliance knob shaft of an appliance knob therein. The device includes a flange having a radially extending first surface with the bushing being integral therewith and extending axially therefrom. The first surface of the flange is mountable behind a front panel of an appliance such that the bushing extends outwardly through an opening defined in the front panel. The flange defines a second passage receiving an appliance shaft operably engaged with an actuatable component in the appliance. The first passage and the second passage cooperate to form a continuous passage. The appliance knob shaft engages the appliance shaft along the continuous passage to reduce lateral movement of the appliance knob perpendicularly to the appliance shaft during rotational actuation of the actuatable component by the appliance knob. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing system may include a fluid cup configured to receive a fluid, and processing circuitry and a capacitive sensor coupled to one another, the capacitive sensor is a distance separated from and in parallel with a top surface of the fluid in the fluid cup, the distance the capacitive sensor is separated from the top surface of the fluid being variable with a fill level of the fluid in the fluid cup. The capacitive sensor and the fluid in the fluid cup may form elements of a capacitor with a capacitance that is a function of at least the distance the capacitive sensor is separated from the top surface of the fluid. The processing circuitry may be configured to measure a change in signal corresponding to a change in capacitance of the capacitor and determine the fill level based on a magnitude of the change in signal.

Abstract: A self-centering mechanism for an appliance knob includes a shaft member defining a central axis, and a rotatable member engaged and rotatable with the shaft member about the central axis. The rotatable member defines a first arcuate slot opposed to a second arcuate slot. A first stationary pin extends through the first arcuate slot and a second stationary pin extends through the second arcuate slot. A centering member is pivotably engaged with the rotatable member about a pivot location, and is configured to contact the first and second stationary pins with the rotatable member disposed in a centered rotational position. A biasing member is configured to bias the centering member about the pivot location toward the shaft member and the first and second stationary pins to urge the rotatable member to the centered rotational position.

Abstract: A system includes at least a computing apparatus including a communication interface coupled or coupleable to a sensor in contact with a heatable liquid contained in a vessel, the sensor being configured to obtain measurements of a property of the liquid or the sensor; and a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to receive the measurements of the property of the liquid or the sensor. The processor is programmed to at least determine a height of the liquid in the vessel, and in at least one instance oscillation of the height of the liquid in the vessel, from the measurements, determine an amplitude of the oscillation, determine a level of boil of the liquid from the amplitude of the oscillation and a viscosity of the liquid, and output an indication of the level of boil for display or control of the heat to which the liquid is subjected.

Abstract: A self-centering knob assembly comprising a back disk, a pair of rotary arms, a spring, and a circuit board fixed to the knob shaft, is provided, with the pair of rotary arms and spring disposed between the back disk and circuit board. Each rotary arm defines first and second slots at opposing ends and a center aperture therebetween that rotatably engages the knob shaft. The first slot engages the end stop pin to limit rotation of the rotary arm. The spring defines opposing arms that engage and oppose rotation of respective rotary arms of the pair. The circuit board includes circuitry configured to provide positioning data of the knob shaft, and including a drive pin that, for each rotary arm, engages and carries the second slot in a respective direction of an opposing direction when the knob shaft and thereby the circuit board is rotated in the respective direction.

Abstract: An apparatus such as an appliance with a printed circuit board, PCB, (202) mounted haptic feedback device (200) is provided. The apparatus comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having an opening (204) defined therein, and a spool (206) affixed to the PCB and having a shaft with a coil (208) wound thereabout. The shaft defines an opening aligned with the opening of the PCB. The apparatus also comprises a spring-loaded plunger positioned and movable within the opening of the shaft. The spring-loaded plunger includes a metallic disk operatively coupled to an end of the plunger and distally positioned to the spool. A control component of the apparatus is configured to energize the coil according to a haptic feedback pattern, and thereby cause the coil to at tract the metallic disk and move the plunger within the opening of the shaft of the spool, and through the opening of the PCB.

Abstract: An appliance knob stabilization device includes a bushing defining a first passage receiving an appliance knob shaft of an appliance knob therein. The device includes a flange having a radially extending first surface with the bushing being integral therewith and extending axially therefrom. The first surface of the flange is mountable behind a front panel of an appliance such that the bushing extends outwardly through an opening defined in the front panel. The flange defines a second passage receiving an appliance shaft operably engaged with an actuatable component in the appliance. The first passage and the second passage cooperate to form a continuous passage. The appliance knob shaft engages the appliance shaft along the continuous passage to reduce lateral movement of the appliance knob perpendicularly to the appliance shaft during rotational actuation of the actuatable component by the appliance knob. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a power transmitter, data receiver, and an antenna operatively coupled to the power transmitter and data receiver. The antenna being configured to switchably transmit energy from the power transmitter to power a sensor, and receive data to the data receiver from the sensor in which a frequency being used by the antenna is the same for both transmission of the energy and reception of the data.

Abstract: An appliance is provided that includes a control unit, a plurality of components, and a touchscreen in which the plurality of components and touchscreen are configured to operate under control of the control unit. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be generated for display by the touchscreen. The GUI may include graphical control elements for respective components of the plurality of components. For each graphical control element of the graphical control elements, a touch gesture to drag the graphical control element may be detected for a component of the respective components. In response, a mode or setting of a plurality of modes or settings of the component may be adjusted.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product for customizing an appliance display are disclosed. A method may include receiving an indication of a selected image and an indication of a target appliance on which the selected image is to be displayed. The method may additionally include determining one or more display characteristics of a display of the target appliance. The method may also include processing the selected image based on the one or more display characteristics to generate a customized image formatted for display as a background image on the display of the target appliance. The method may further include configuring the target appliance, via a network, to display the customized image as a background image underlying a graphical user interface that may be displayed on the display during operation of the target appliance.

Abstract: A self-centering mechanism for a rotatable shaft includes first and second centering members. Each centering member defines a first and second arcuate slot. A stationary pin extends through the first arcuate slots of the centering members. A rotatable shaft member extends through the centers of the centering members and is disposed between the first and second arcuate slots. A support member extends radially from and is fixed to the shaft member so as to be rotatable therewith. An actuating pin extends from the support member and through the second arcuate slots, and engages the second arcuate slots to rotate one of the first and second centering members. At least one biasing member is in communication with an anchoring structure and rotationally biases at least one of the first and second centering members to a registration position upon release of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus such as an appliance with a printed circuit board, PCB, (202) mounted haptic feedback device (200) is provided. The apparatus comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having an opening (204) defined therein, and a spool (206) affixed to the PCB and having a shaft with a coil (208) wound thereabout. The shaft defines an opening aligned with the opening of the PCB. The apparatus also comprises a spring-loaded plunger positioned and movable within the opening of the shaft. The spring-loaded plunger includes a metallic disk operatively coupled to an end of the plunger and distally positioned to the spool. A control component of the apparatus is configured to energize the coil according to a haptic feedback pattern, and thereby cause the coil to at tract the metallic disk and move the plunger within the opening of the shaft of the spool, and through the opening of the PCB.

Abstract: A self-centering mechanism for an appliance knob includes a shaft member defining a central axis, and a rotatable member engaged and rotatable with the shaft member about the central axis. The rotatable member defines a first arcuate slot opposed to a second arcuate slot. A first stationary pin extends through the first arcuate slot and a second stationary pin extends through the second arcuate slot. A centering member is pivotably engaged with the rotatable member about a pivot location, and is configured to contact the first and second stationary pins with the rotatable member disposed in a centered rotational position. A biasing member is configured to bias the centering member about the pivot location toward the shaft member and the first and second stationary pins to urge the rotatable member to the centered rotational position.

Abstract: A self-centering knob assembly comprising a back disk, a pair of rotary arms, a spring, and a circuit board fixed to the knob shaft, is provided, with the pair of rotary arms and spring disposed between the back disk and circuit board. Each rotary arm defines first and second slots at opposing ends and a center aperture therebetween that rotatably engages the knob shaft. The first slot engages the end stop pin to limit rotation of the rotary arm. The spring defines opposing arms that engage and oppose rotation of respective rotary arms of the pair. The circuit board includes circuitry configured to provide positioning data of the knob shaft, and including a drive pin that, for each rotary arm, engages and carries the second slot in a respective direction of an opposing direction when the knob shaft and thereby the circuit board is rotated in the respective direction.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is provided for measuring a temperature of a liquid contained in a cooking vessel. The temperature sensor includes a first housing containing processing and wireless communication circuitry, a second housing containing a temperature probe, and a connecting member carrying wiring that connects the processing and wireless communication circuitry to the temperature probe. The temperature sensor also includes a fastener coupled to the first housing and configured to removably affix the temperature sensor to a sidewall of a cooking vessel such that the first housing is exterior to the cooking vessel, and the second housing extends over an interior bottom surface of the cooking vessel. The temperature probe is extendible from or retractable into the second housing to an adjustable height above the interior bottom surface of the cooking vessel and configured to measure a temperature of a liquid contained in the cooking vessel.

Abstract: A self-centering mechanism for a rotatable shaft includes first and second centering members. Each centering member defines a first and second arcuate slot. A stationary pin extends through the first arcuate slots of the centering members. A rotatable shaft member extends through the centers of the centering members and is disposed between the first and second arcuate slots. A support member extends radially from and is fixed to the shaft member so as to be rotatable therewith. An actuating pin extends from the support member and through the second arcuate slots, and engages the second arcuate slots to rotate one of the first and second centering members. At least one biasing member is in communication with an anchoring structure and rotationally biases at least one of the first and second centering members to a registration position upon release of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a power transmitter, data receiver, and an antenna operatively coupled to the power transmitter and data receiver. The antenna being configured to switchably transmit energy from the power transmitter to power a sensor, and receive data to the data receiver from the sensor in which a frequency being used by the antenna is the same for both transmission of the energy and reception of the data.

Abstract: An appliance is provided that includes a control unit, a plurality of components, and a touchscreen in which the plurality of components and touchscreen are configured to operate under control of the control unit. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be generated for display by the touchscreen. The GUI may include graphical control elements for respective components of the plurality of components. For each graphical control element of the graphical control elements, a touch gesture to drag the graphical control element may be detected for a component of the respective components. In response, a mode or setting of a plurality of modes or settings of the component may be adjusted.