Abstract: An appliance includes a camera for calibrating and determining whether the door of the appliance is in a closed position. A controller is operably coupled to the camera. The controller is configured for obtaining one or more images of the appliance chamber or door. An artificial intelligence image recognition process is used to perform image classification and establish a baseline image to determine whether subsequent closing of the appliance door is successful. In the event of a failure to obtain the baseline image or a determination that the door is not closed, operation of the appliance may be disabled.

Abstract: Methods and systems for executing tracking and monitoring manufacturing data of a battery are disclosed. One method includes: receiving, by a server system, sensing data of the battery from a sensing system; generating, by the server system, mapping data based on the sensing data; generating, by the server system, identification data of the battery based on the sensing data; generating, by the server system, monitoring data of the battery based on the sensing data, the identification data, and the mapping data; and generating, by the server system, display data for displaying a simulated electrode of the battery on a graphical user interface based on the monitoring data of the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a substrate are provided. The apparatus includes at least one first process chamber configured to supply a developer onto the substrate; at least one second process chamber configured to treat the substrate using a supercritical fluid; a transfer chamber configured to transfer the substrate from the at least one first process chamber to the at least one second process chamber, while the developer supplied in the at least one first process chamber remains on the substrate; and a temperature and humidity control system configured to manage temperature and humidity of the transfer chamber by supplying a first gas of constant temperature and humidity into the transfer chamber.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a water supply valve for regulating a flow of water into the chamber, and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller is configured to determine that the water supply valve is open to permit the flow of water into the chamber, identify an anticipated fog condition within the chamber based at least in part on the water supply valve being open, obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, analyzing the one or more images of the chamber to determine an actual fog condition in the chamber, and implementing a responsive action if the actual fog condition is different than the anticipated fog condition, e.g., providing a user notification.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber, and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller is configured to initiate an automatic self-clean cycle, the method comprising determining that the door is closed, obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, determining that there is no load in the chamber based at least in part on the one or more images, determining that a self-clean condition is satisfied, and commencing the self-clean cycle.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber, and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller is configured to initiate an automatic self-clean cycle, the method comprising determining that the door is closed, obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, determining that there is no load in the chamber based at least in part on the one or more images, determining that a self-clean condition is satisfied, and commencing the self-clean cycle.

Abstract: An appliance includes a camera for calibrating and determining whether the door of the appliance is in a closed position. A controller is operably coupled to the camera. The controller is configured for obtaining one or more images of the appliance chamber or door. An artificial intelligence image recognition process is used to perform image classification and establish a baseline image to determine whether subsequent closing of the appliance door is successful. In the event of a failure to obtain the baseline image or a determination that the door is not closed, operation of the appliance may be disabled.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a tub, a motor assembly for selectively rotating the basket, and a wash fluid dispenser for selectively providing a flow of wash fluid into the tub. A controller is configured to receive a command to initiate a self-clean cycle, determine that a cycle adjustment condition exists based at least in part on historical data related to the performance of self-clean cycles, generate a set of adjusted self-clean cycle parameters by adjusting an operating parameter of the self-clean cycle, and perform the self-clean cycle in accordance with the adjusted self-clean cycle parameters.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller is configured to implement a leftover load detection method including determining that an operating cycle of the laundry appliance has been completed and that a user has removed the load of clothes. A camera then obtains one or more images of the chamber and the images are analyzed to determine whether any articles of clothing remain in the chamber. If the image analysis identifies a leftover article remaining in the chamber, the method includes implementing a responsive action, such as providing a user notification.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a water supply valve for regulating a flow of water into the chamber, and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller is configured to determine that the water supply valve is open to permit the flow of water into the chamber, identify an anticipated fog condition within the chamber based at least in part on the water supply valve being open, obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, analyzing the one or more images of the chamber to determine an actual fog condition in the chamber, and implementing a responsive action if the actual fog condition is different than the anticipated fog condition, e.g., providing a user notification.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller of the laundry appliance implements a method for improving appliance operation based on the load size, the method including obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, estimating a load size of the load of clothes based at least in part on the one or more images, obtaining a start size threshold, determining that the load size exceeds the start size threshold, and commencing an operating cycle in response to determining that the load size exceeds the start size threshold.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a cabinet and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, and a camera assembly mounted within the cabinet in view of the chamber. A controller of the laundry appliance implements a method for detecting living things in the chamber and initiates a responsive action, for example, by disturbing the chamber by adjusting at least one operating parameter of the laundry appliance, obtaining one or more images of the chamber using the camera assembly, and determining that there is movement in the chamber based at least in part on the one or more images using an image processing algorithm and a machine learning image recognition process.

Abstract: A brewing assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a dispensing assembly for selectively dispensing a flow of water within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. A pitcher is removably positioned below the dispensing assembly and includes an upper reservoir for receiving, storing, and slowly distributing the flow of water into a brew module positioned below the upper reservoir and comprising a plurality of canisters for receiving brewing contents and the flow of water to create a brewed beverage. A lower reservoir is positioned below the brew module for receiving the brewed beverage from the plurality of canisters.

Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The method includes obtaining image data of the cooktop surface and displaying a first user interface at an interactive assembly associated with the appliance. The first user interface displays the image data of the cooktop surface. The method further includes determining that cookware is present on the cooktop surface based on the image data, and displaying a second user interface at the interactive assembly. The second user interface displays an enlarged image of the cookware based on determining that the cookware is present on the cooktop surface.

Abstract: A user engagement system for an oven appliance, as provided herein, may include a camera assembly, an image monitor, and a controller. The camera assembly may be directed at a cooking zone. The image monitor may be spaced apart from the cooking zone. The controller may be configured to initiate a directed cooking operation including generating an oven avatar on the image monitor to provide a virtual representation of the oven appliance. The oven avatar may include a virtual zone corresponding to the cooking zone. The directed cooking operation may further include receiving a video signal of the cooking zone from the camera assembly and presenting a real-time feed of the cooking zone at the virtual zone. The directed cooking operation may still further include receiving a control input at the oven avatar, and directing the oven appliance based on the control input received at the oven avatar.

Abstract: A consumer appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a user input, and a controller. The user input may be positioned on an exterior of the cabinet. The controller may be mounted to the cabinet. The controller may be configured to initiate an inheritance operation. The inheritance operation may include establishing a local use-based data set of the consumer appliance, storing the local use-based data set in an internal primary stack within the controller, transmitting the local use-based data set to a wirelessly-connected remote appliance, receiving a remote use-based data set from the wirelessly-connected remote appliance, and storing the remote use-based data set in an internal secondary stack within the controller.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance with smart automatic washing functionality is provided. The washing machine automatically senses the amount of articles within a wash chamber defined by the washing machine appliance and runs the wash cycle automatically when the amount of articles within the wash chamber is greater than a minimum load size threshold and less than a maximum load size threshold. Methods for providing such smart automatic washing functionality are also provided.

Abstract: A cooking engagement system and methods therefore are provided. The method includes obtaining image data of the cooktop surface and displaying a first user interface at an interactive assembly associated with the appliance. The first user interface displays the image data of the cooktop surface. The method further includes determining that cookware is present on the cooktop surface based on the image data, and displaying a second user interface at the interactive assembly. The second user interface displays an enlarged image of the cookware based on determining that the cookware is present on the cooktop surface.

Abstract: A brewing assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a dispensing assembly for selectively dispensing a flow of water within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. A pitcher is removably positioned below the dispensing assembly and includes an upper reservoir for receiving, storing, and slowly distributing the flow of water into a brew module positioned below the upper reservoir and comprising a plurality of canisters for receiving brewing contents and the flow of water to create a brewed beverage. A lower reservoir is positioned below the brew module for receiving the brewed beverage from the plurality of canisters.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance includes an electric heating element positioned on a cooktop surface and a controller operably connected thereto. The controller is configured for monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor, adjusting a power level of the electric heating element based at least in part on the monitored temperature over a first period of time, and deactivating the electric heating element for a second period of time based at least in part on the monitored temperature. The controller is also configured for storing the first period of time, an average power level over the first period of time, and the second period of time in a memory. When the controller detects a disconnection of the temperature sensor, the controller operates the heating element at the stored average power level for the stored first period of time and deactivates the heating element for the stored second period of time.