Abstract: An induction stirring apparatus for an apparatus such as a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooking surface is equipped with a transmitter coil, and the induction stirring apparatus comprises a stirring paddle, motor, receiver coil and transformer. The motor is configured to drive a gear to turn the stirring paddle. The receiver coil is inductively coupleable with the transmitter coil of the cooking surface to transfer electrical energy from the transmitter coil to the receiver coil. The transformer is coupled to and between the motor and the receiver coil. The transformer is configured to transfer the electrical energy from the receiver coil to the motor and thereby power the motor to drive the gear.

Abstract: A knob assembly is provided that includes a knob having a rotatable shaft, a rotatable first circuit board rigidly attached to the rotatable shaft, and a fixed second circuit board positioned near the first circuit board. The first circuit board includes an encoding portion configured to provide positioning data of the knob, and an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motor mounted to the rotatable, first circuit board with a shaft of the ERM motor perpendicular to the rotatable shaft of the knob. The ERM motor is configured to produce and transfer vibration to the rotatable shaft of the knob. The second circuit board includes a sensor configured to determine a position of the first circuit board and thereby the knob at least in part from the positioning data provided by the encoding portion.

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 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: Systems and methods are described for simulating an internal antenna within a telemetry device. The simulator device includes a housing having at least one opening, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate close proximity placement of the telemetry device. The simulator device also includes a simulator or test antenna within the housing that corresponds to an internal antenna within a housing of the telemetry device. The simulator device further includes a radio frequency (RF) connector coupled to the simulator housing, for connection to a communication device. The simulator device also includes a fastening mechanism to secure the simulator device over the telemetry device so that the simulator antenna is adjacent to the internal antenna. The proximity of the simulator antenna to the internal antenna provides simulator device RF characteristics that simulate internal antenna RF characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for simulating an internal antenna within a telemetry device. The simulator device includes a housing having at least one opening, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate close proximity placement of the telemetry device. The simulator device also includes a simulator or test antenna within the housing that corresponds to an internal antenna within a housing of the telemetry device. The simulator device further includes a radio frequency (RF) connector coupled to the simulator housing, for connection to a communication device. The simulator device also includes a fastening mechanism to secure the simulator device over the telemetry device so that the simulator antenna is adjacent to the internal antenna. The proximity of the simulator antenna to the internal antenna provides simulator device RF characteristics that simulate internal antenna RF characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for simulating an internal antenna within a telemetry device. The simulator device includes a housing having at least one opening, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate close proximity placement of the telemetry device. The simulator device also includes a simulator or test antenna within the housing that corresponds to an internal antenna within a housing of the telemetry device. The simulator device further includes a radio frequency (RF) connector coupled to the simulator housing, for connection to a communication device. The simulator device also includes a fastening mechanism to secure the simulator device over the telemetry device so that the simulator antenna is adjacent to the internal antenna. The proximity of the simulator antenna to the internal antenna provides simulator device RF characteristics that simulate internal antenna RF characteristics.