Abstract: A cooktop appliance includes a cooktop panel defining a cooktop surface and an aperture defined through the cooktop surface. A heating element is positioned below the cooktop panel for selectively heating a cooking utensil placed on the cooktop surface and a temperature sensing assembly is configured for monitoring the temperature of the cooking utensil, e.g., to facilitate a closed loop cooking process. The temperature sensing assembly includes a temperature sensor slidably mounted within the aperture of the cooktop panel and a drive member operably coupled to the temperature sensor for selectively moving the temperature sensor between the extended position and the retracted position.

Abstract: An appliance and methods for operating the appliance in a safety-critical operation are provided. The appliance and methods for operating the appliance include features that provide safe and intuitive ways to initiate and cancel safety-critical operations performed by the appliance.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance including a sensor assembly including a body, a centerbody, a sensor, a first wire, and a second wire is provided. The body forms a plenum, a first wire path, a second wire path, and a sensor cavity. The body forms the first wire path and the second wire path each extending from the plenum from a first end to the sensor cavity at a second end distal to the first end. The centerbody forms a fluid path extending in fluid communication from the plenum to each of the first wire path and the second wire path. The body forms a top wall separating the sensor cavity from the fluid path. The sensor is positioned at the sensor cavity. The first wire extends through the first wire path and the second wire extends through the second wire path. The first and second wires operably couple to the sensor.

Abstract: An automatic control system for a cooking appliance monitors and adjusts a cooking operation on the cooking appliance. The automatic control system includes at least one control knob assembly, an image capturing device, and a controller operably coupled to the at least one control knob assembly and the image capturing device. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving a desired temperature of a food item; capturing a first image of the food item; analyzing, by one or more computing devices using a machine learning image recognition model, the first image to determine one or more features of the food item; generating an input state of the food item based on the first image analysis; and determining an output action via a reinforcement learning system.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance includes a cooktop panel defining a cooktop surface and an aperture defined through the cooktop surface. A heating element is positioned below the cooktop panel for selectively heating a cooking utensil placed on the cooktop surface and a temperature sensing assembly is configured for monitoring the temperature of the cooking utensil, e.g., to facilitate a closed loop cooking process. The temperature sensing assembly includes a temperature sensor slidably mounted within the aperture of the cooktop panel and a drive member operably coupled to the temperature sensor for selectively moving the temperature sensor between the extended position and the retracted position.

Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive touch sensor, the capacitive touch sensor including an electrode, includes monitoring raw count data from the capacitive touch sensor and recording a first value of the raw count data when the raw count data exceeds a first threshold. The method also includes supplying a driven shield signal to the electrode after the raw count data exceeds the first threshold and recording a second value of the raw count data while supplying the driven shield signal to the electrode. The method further includes calculating a difference between the first value and the second value and registering a touch when the calculated difference between the first value and the second value is less than a second threshold.

Abstract: An appliance and methods for operating the appliance in a safety-critical operation are provided. The appliance and methods for operating the appliance include features that provide safe and intuitive ways to initiate and cancel safety-critical operations performed by the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance is provided herein. The appliance may include a power supply configured to receive Alternating Current (AC) power and supply Direct Current (DC) power, a driver circuit configured to receive the DC power and illuminate one or more light emitting diodes (LED), and a fade control circuit configured to direct the driver circuit to fade the one or more LEDs from an on-state to an off-state in a fade-out operation. The appliance may further include a first switching device configured to direct the fade circuit to perform a fade-out operation while the first switching device is in a first state, and a second switching device configured to maintain AC power to the power supply during the fade-out operation, and further configured to sever AC power to the power supply upon completion of the fade-out operation.

Abstract: An appliance and methods for operating the appliance in a safety-critical operation are provided. The appliance and methods for operating the appliance include features that provide safe and intuitive ways to initiate and cancel safety-critical operations performed by the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance and methods for operating the appliance in a safety-critical operation are provided. The appliance and methods for operating the appliance include features that provide safe and intuitive ways to initiate and cancel safety-critical operations performed by the appliance.

Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive touch sensor, the capacitive touch sensor including an electrode, includes monitoring raw count data from the capacitive touch sensor and recording a first value of the raw count data when the raw count data exceeds a first threshold. The method also includes supplying a driven shield signal to the electrode after the raw count data exceeds the first threshold and recording a second value of the raw count data while supplying the driven shield signal to the electrode. The method further includes calculating a difference between the first value and the second value and registering a touch when the calculated difference between the first value and the second value is less than a second threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for safely powering an appliance user interface without external power are provided. One exemplary method includes receiving power generated by rotation of a rotor. The method further includes monitoring for the presence of a safety condition and disabling passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present such that the user interface of an appliance is powered. An exemplary washing machine can include a basket and a motor which includes a rotor, the motor being configured to rotate the basket by rotating the rotor. The washing machine can further include a user interface and a motor control circuit configured to drive the motor. The motor control circuit can be further configured to receive power generated by rotation of the rotor, monitor for the presence of a safety condition, and disable passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying appliance information to a user is provided. Reverse mount LEDS may be used in a seven segment configuration and correlating to any other icon or indicator. The reverse mount LEDs may be mounted on single sided printed circuit board to form an appliance user display.

Abstract: An appliance including a motor drive, a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply, a cabinet having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet, and a door lock. When the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock is configured to secure the door and close a pathway of the power supply circuit thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the motor drive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for safely powering an appliance user interface without external power are provided. One exemplary method includes receiving power generated by rotation of a rotor. The method further includes monitoring for the presence of a safety condition and disabling passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present such that the user interface of an appliance is powered. An exemplary washing machine can include a basket and a motor which includes a rotor, the motor being configured to rotate the basket by rotating the rotor. The washing machine can further include a user interface and a motor control circuit configured to drive the motor. The motor control circuit can be further configured to receive power generated by rotation of the rotor, monitor for the presence of a safety condition, and disable passive braking of the rotor when the safety condition is present.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying appliance information to a user is provided. Reverse mount LEDS may be used in a seven segment configuration and correlating to any other icon or indicator. The reverse mount LEDs may be mounted on single sided printed circuit board to form an appliance user display.

Abstract: An appliance including a motor drive, a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply, a cabinet having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet, and a door lock. When the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock is configured to secure the door and close a pathway of the power supply circuit thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the motor drive.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for measuring energy usage in an appliance, particularly a washing appliance. A display, that may be a home energy monitor, is associated with the appliance. The appliance may include an AC-DC power supply and a controllable inverter configured to supply power to a motor associated with the appliance. Real power consumption is calculated by a controller that may also be used to control the inverter and other operational aspects of the appliance and causes the calculated real power to be displayed on the display.