Patents by Inventor Rachael Acker

Rachael Acker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Appliance including an antenna using a portion of appliance as a ground plane
    Patent number: 11777190
    Abstract: An appliance, such as an oven, includes a housing having an internal compartment and an RF antenna. At least a portion of the housing comprises an electrically conductive portion. The antenna includes an active component and a connection to the electrically conductive portion, which serves as a ground plane of the antenna. The housing may include a door assembly having a window that includes the electrically conductive portion in the form of a transparent conductive layer. The door assembly may be detachable and the connection to the antenna may be made by way of capacitive coupling. In an alternative arrangement, the housing includes a light fixture for illuminating the internal compartment, wherein the active component of the antenna is disposed in the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Rachael Acker, Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Wyndham F. Gary, Jr., David W. Mundy
  • APPLIANCE INCLUDING AN ANTENNA USING A PORTION OF APPLIANCE AS A GROUND PLANE
    Publication number: 20170187091
    Abstract: An appliance, such as an oven, includes a housing having an internal compartment and an RF antenna. At least a portion of the housing comprises an electrically conductive portion. The antenna includes an active component and a connection to the electrically conductive portion, which serves as a ground plane of the antenna. The housing may include a door assembly having a window that includes the electrically conductive portion in the form of a transparent conductive layer. The door assembly may be detachable and the connection to the antenna may be made by way of capacitive coupling. In an alternative arrangement, the housing includes a light fixture for illuminating the internal compartment, wherein the active component of the antenna is disposed in the light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachael Acker, Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Wyndham F. Gary, JR., David W. Mundy