Abstract: Water heater appliances and methods for operating water heater appliances are provided. A water heater appliance includes a tank defining an interior volume, and a sealed system for heating water within the interior volume. The sealed system includes a compressor operable to compress refrigerant, a first condenser downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor, and a second condenser downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor. The first and second condensers are each operable to heat water within the interior volume using energy from the refrigerant. The sealed system additionally includes a valve in fluid communication with the first and second condensers and configured to vary a ratio of refrigerant flow through the first and second condensers.

Abstract: A method for operating a water heater appliance includes establishing a standby recovery temperature for the heat pump water heater appliance based at least in part on a set temperature of the heat pump water heater appliance and activating a sealed system of the heat pump water heater appliance if a temperature measurement from a tank temperature sensor is less than the standby recovery temperature. An ambient temperature may also be used to establish the standby recovery temperature for the heat pump water heater appliance. A related water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A water heater appliance includes a sealed system and an electric heating element. The sealed system and electric heating element are configured for heating water within an interior volume of a tank. A temperature sensor is mounted to the tank. The electric heating element is positioned below the temperature sensor within the interior volume of the tank.

Abstract: A method for operating a water heater appliance is provided. The method includes establishing a temperature drop of water within a tank of the water heater appliance during a time interval. A volume of heated water within the tank is estimated based at least in part on the temperature drop of water within the tank of the water heater appliance during the time interval and a set temperature of the water heater appliance. A related water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment agent, a liquid crystal alignment film made by the liquid crystal alignment agent and a liquid crystal display element having the liquid crystal alignment film. The liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer (A) and a solvent (B). The polymer (A) is synthesized by reacting a mixture that includes a tetracarboxylic dianhydride compound (a) and a diamine compound (b). According to the specific diamine compound (b) and an amount of the same, the aforementioned liquid crystal alignment agent has better pretilt angle stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment agent having low ion density, and a liquid crystal alignment film formed thereby and a liquid crystal display element having the liquid crystal alignment film. The liquid crystal alignment agent according to the invention which provides a polymer (A), a benzotriazole compound (B) and a solvent (C); wherein the polymer (A) is obtained by reacting a mixture comprising a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride component (a) and a diamine component (b).

Abstract: A method for defrosting an evaporator of a water heater appliance is provided. The method includes initiating a defrost cycle of the water heater appliance, deactivating a compressor of the water heater appliance during the defrost cycle of the water heater appliance, and operating a fan of the water heater appliance during the defrost cycle of the water heater appliance. A related water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A system for protecting an electrical junction having a first pin and a second pin is provided. The system includes a first circuit protection device coupled to the first pin and configured to sense at least a first current and a second circuit protection device coupled to the second pin and configured to sense at least a second current. Each of the first circuit protection device and the second circuit protection device includes a trip mechanism configured to interrupt current flowing through a respective circuit protection device and a trip unit operatively coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip unit is configured to activate the trip mechanism based on a determination that a respective current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment agent, a liquid crystal alignment film made by the liquid crystal alignment agent and a liquid crystal display element having the liquid crystal alignment film. The liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer composition (A) and a solvent (B). The polymer composition (A) is synthesized by reacting a mixture that includes a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component (a) and a diamine component (b). The aforementioned liquid crystal alignment agent has a better process stability, and the liquid crystal alignment film made by the liquid crystal alignment agent could improve the reliability of the liquid crystal display element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment agent, a liquid crystal alignment film made by the liquid crystal alignment agent and a liquid crystal display element having the liquid crystal alignment film. The liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer (A) and a solvent (B). The polymer (A) is synthesized by reacting a mixture that includes a tetracarboxylic dianhydride compound (a) and a diamine compound (b). According to the specific diamine compound (b) and an amount of the same, the aforementioned liquid crystal alignment agent has better pretilt angle stability.

Abstract: A water heater appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The method includes receiving a first temperature measurement from a temperature sensor of the water heater appliance, receiving a second temperature measurement from the temperature sensor of the water heater appliance, and establishing if water is flowing through a conduit of the water heater appliance based at least in part on the first and second temperature measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment agent, a liquid crystal alignment film made by the liquid crystal alignment agent and a liquid crystal display element having the liquid crystal alignment film. The liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer composition (A) and a solvent (B). The polymer composition (A) is synthesized by reacting a mixture that includes a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component (a) and a diamine component (b). The aforementioned liquid crystal alignment agent has a better long-term printability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low voltage detection for a heat pump water heater are disclosed. A current sensor can be used to monitor current supplied to a inductive load, such as a compressor or evaporator fan, of the heat pump water heater. The current sensor can be coupled to a controller which receives and processes information from the current sensor to determine whether a low voltage condition of the heat pump water heater has occurred. An alert can be provided to an installer/user of the heat pump water heater that a low voltage condition has occurred. The controller can also disconnect the heat pump water heater from the power source to prevent damage to the heat pump water heater.

Abstract: A dual fuel—gas fuel and electric heat pump—water heater is provided that captures waste heat from the exhaust flue of the gas fuel heating system and utilizes it in the evaporator of the electric heat pump. Multiple mechanisms are disclosed for the transfer of heat from the exhaust flue gases to the evaporator. Heat from the exhaust gas that would otherwise be lost is used to help heat refrigerant in the evaporator to improve the efficiency of the system. This heat can also be used to prevent or remove frozen condensate on the evaporator.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer and an organic solvent for dissolving the polymer. The polymer is obtained by subjecting a diamine composition and a tetracarboxylic dianhydride compound to a polymerization reaction. The diamine composition includes a first diamine compound, a second diamine compound, and a third diamine compound as defined in the specification. A liquid crystal alignment film formed from the liquid crystal alignment agent and a liquid crystal display element including the liquid crystal alignment film are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment agent contains a polymer and a solvent. The polymer is obtained by subjecting a mixture including a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component and a diamine component to a reaction. The diamine component includes a diamine compound of formula (I) defined herein, a benzimidazole-group-containing diamine compound, and a diamine compound other than the diamine compound of formula (I) and the benzimidazole-group-containing diamine compound. The liquid crystal alignment agent has superior processing stability, and a liquid crystal display element made from the aforesaid liquid crystal alignment agent has superior reliability.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic apparatus has a sensor module. A space operation mode is enabled when an operation object is detected in a sensor space by the sensor module. A controlling function corresponding to one of a plurality of using spaces divided from the sensor space in which the operation object is located is enabled. Movement information of the operation object is detected by the sensor module, and an operation action corresponding to the enabled controlling function is executed.

Abstract: A system for protecting an electrical junction having a first pin and a second pin is provided. The system includes a first circuit protection device coupled to the first pin and configured to sense at least a first current and a second circuit protection device coupled to the second pin and configured to sense at least a second current. Each of the first circuit protection device and the second circuit protection device includes a trip mechanism configured to interrupt current flowing through a respective circuit protection device and a trip unit operatively coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip unit is configured to activate the trip mechanism based on a determination that a respective current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment agent including a polymer composition and a solvent. The polymer composition is obtained by subjecting a mixture including a tetracarboxylic dianhydride component, a multi-amine component of formula (I) defined herein, and a diamine component to a reaction. The diamine component includes a diamine compound of formula (II) defined herein.

Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) alignment agent is disclosed, which comprises polymer (A), tertiary hydramine (B) and epoxy group-containing compound (C). The LC alignment agent is added with a tertiary hydramine (B) and has an epoxy value of 0.065 to 0.900. The LC alignment agent can be employed to form a LC alignment film for enhancing the resulted LC alignment film with better rubbing resistance. A LC display (LCD) device that uses the LC alignment film has better voltage holding ratio (VHR) and process stability.