Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods for the same may include authorizing a user of the washing machine appliance and loading testing software into a partitioned memory of a controller. The testing software may include a testing sequence. The method may further include receiving a single testing prompt from a remote device following loading testing software and executing the testing sequence of the testing software from the partitioned memory in response to receiving the single testing prompt, whereby a mechanical component of the washing machine appliance is operated. The method may still further include exiting a remote testing mode after executing the testing software and deleting the testing software from the partitioned memory when exiting the remote testing mode.

Abstract: A method of operating a household appliance, where the household appliance includes a camera assembly operable to obtain an image, is provided. The method includes downloading a protected user detection software from a remote computing device to the household appliance. The method also includes unlocking a user interface of the household appliance. The method further includes detecting, with the camera assembly, a user at the household appliance after unlocking the user interface and using the protected user detection software to determine that the detected user is a protected user. In response to detecting the protected user, the user interface is locked.

Abstract: An appliance includes a control panel with a dielectric substrate. A printed circuit board is spaced from a back surface of the dielectric substrate. A light emitter and a capacitive sensor are positioned on the printed circuit board. The capacitive sensor includes a pair of conductive bodies that extend between the dielectric substrate and the printed circuit board. The dielectric substrate is positioned on a cabinet such that the capacitive sensor is triggered when a user touches a front surface of the dielectric substrate and such that an appliance function indicator is illuminated at the front surface of the dielectric substrate during operation of the light emitter.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes operating a dispenser of the refrigerator appliance to initiate a flow of liquid water or ice into a container positioned within a dispensing recess of the dispenser in response to a user input at a user input panel of the refrigerator appliance, receiving one or more signals from a sensor positioned at the dispensing recess after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess, and detecting a presence of the container in the dispensing recess based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor only after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: An appliance includes a control panel with a dielectric substrate. A printed circuit board is spaced from a back surface of the dielectric substrate. A light emitter and a capacitive sensor are positioned on the printed circuit board. The capacitive sensor includes a pair of conductive bodies that extend between the dielectric substrate and the printed circuit board. The dielectric substrate is positioned on a cabinet such that the capacitive sensor is triggered when a user touches a front surface of the dielectric substrate and such that an appliance function indicator is illuminated at the front surface of the dielectric substrate during operation of the light emitter.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigerator appliance includes operating a dispenser of the refrigerator appliance to initiate a flow of liquid water or ice into a container positioned within a dispensing recess of the dispenser in response to a user input at a user input panel of the refrigerator appliance, receiving one or more signals from a sensor positioned at the dispensing recess after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess, and detecting a presence of the container in the dispensing recess based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor only after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of liquid water or ice into the dispensing recess. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: User interfaces and electrode assemblies are provided. A user interface includes a printed circuit board and an outer touch panel spaced from the printed circuit board. The user interface assembly further includes an electrode assembly disposed between the printed circuit board and outer touch panel. The electrode assembly includes a first conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel. The electrode assembly further includes a second conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel. The first and second electrodes are intertwined and define a gap therebetween. The gap is generally constant along the lengths of the first and second electrodes between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: User interfaces and electrode assemblies are provided. A user interface includes a printed circuit board and an outer touch panel spaced from the printed circuit board. The user interface assembly further includes an electrode assembly disposed between the printed circuit board and outer touch panel. The electrode assembly includes a first conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel. The electrode assembly further includes a second conductive compressible electrode extending along a length between a first end and a second end and from the printed circuit board to the outer touch panel. The first and second electrodes are intertwined and define a gap therebetween. The gap is generally constant along the lengths of the first and second electrodes between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing water or ice are provided. In particular, a dispensing system can include a sensor configured to detect the presence of a container proximate the dispensing system. The sensor can be further configured to detect a top lip of the container and a level of contents in the container relative to the top lip. When a container is detected, the dispensing system can be configured to dispense water or ice, for instance, responsive to a user input. The dispensing system can be further configured to cease dispensing water or ice when the level of water or ice reaches a threshold level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an open collector output at a general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of a microcontroller are provided. A pull-up resistor can be coupled between an external supply voltage and an output node associated with the GPIO pin. The microcontroller can be configured to provide an open collector high logic level at the output node by setting the GPIO pin as an input pin. In such configuration, the output at the output node can be determined based at least in part on the supply voltage. The microcontroller can be further configured to provide an open collector low logic level at the output node by setting the GPIO pin as an output pin and further configuring the GPIO pin to have a low logic output level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a contamination status of an ultrasonic sensor assembly included in a refrigeration appliance are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic sensor configured to receive the ultrasonic signal. The refrigerator is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether the sensor assembly is contaminated based on one or more characteristics of the received ultrasonic signal. An exemplary method includes monitoring a change in a characteristic of a plurality of crosstalk components of a plurality of ultrasonic signals of over a period of time to detect a contaminated state of an ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and a method for monitoring a water filter assembly within the same are provided. The method includes monitoring signal communication between an RFID tag of the water filter assembly and an RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance and terminating a flow of water to the water filter assembly if the signal communication between the RFID tag of the water filter assembly and the RFID reader of the refrigerator appliance is lost or disrupted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a contamination status of an ultrasonic sensor assembly included in a refrigeration appliance are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic sensor configured to receive the ultrasonic signal. The refrigerator is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether the sensor assembly is contaminated based on one or more characteristics of the received ultrasonic signal. An exemplary method includes monitoring a change in a characteristic of a plurality of crosstalk components of a plurality of ultrasonic signals of over a period of time to detect a contaminated state of an ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. The methods include activating an auto-fill feature of the refrigerator appliance and receiving a signal from a sensor of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes displaying a message on a display of the refrigerator appliance if the sensor does not detect the container within the dispenser recess. The message can provide a user with feedback regarding the auto-fill feature and assist the user with properly operating the auto-fill feature.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a printed circuit board positioned within a door of the refrigerator appliance above a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance. An orthogonal light emitting device is mounted to the printed circuit board and is configured for directing light into the dispenser recess.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. The methods include activating an auto-fill feature of the refrigerator appliance and receiving a signal from a sensor of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes displaying a message on a display of the refrigerator appliance if the sensor does not detect the container within the dispenser recess. The message can provide a user with feedback regarding the auto-fill feature and assist the user with properly operating the auto-fill feature.

Abstract: Methods for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. In the methods, at least one of a detection threshold of the sensor, a power output of a transducer of the sensor, or a gain of an amplifier of the sensor can be adjusted. Through such adjustments, accuracy and precision of measurements taken with the sensor can be improved.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a printed circuit board positioned within a door of the refrigerator appliance above a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance. An orthogonal light emitting device is mounted to the printed circuit board and is configured for directing light into the dispenser recess.