Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a power controller for an AC load comprises: a user interface adapted to interact with a user to produce at least one user interface signal; and a control module adapted to electrically couple a line voltage supply, electrically couple the AC load, and provide electrical power to the AC load as a function of the at least one user interface signal by implementing a low-flicker, cycle-skipping control algorithm, the control algorithm comprising a plurality of cycle patterns, the cycle patterns comprising a plurality of main power levels.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for resiliently mounting a photomultiplier tube. The tube is sequentially tapped to move a debris particle therein. The tube is initially inclined for moving the particle to a staging site. The tube may then be re-oriented horizontally for moving the debris particle from the staging site to a target site for subsequent laser blasting thereof.

Abstract: A rotary doser valve includes a stator with a plurality of ports therein which cooperates with a rotor having a plurality of channels therein. The rotor is rotatable against the stator in first and second positions which alternately channel water to and from a doser for refilling an icemaker in a preferred use.

Abstract: A washing machine having a variable speed motor. The washing machine has a basket for holding articles to be washed and has a first axis of rotation. A basket drive shaft connected to the basket drives the basket. An agitator disposed in the basket along the first axis of rotation agitates the article in the basket. An agitator drive shaft connected to the agitator drives the agitator. A variable speed motor, having a second axis of rotation which is not coincident with the first axis of rotation, drives the basket drive shaft and the agitator drive shaft. A coupler couples motion of the variable speed motor to the agitator drive shaft and basket drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting movement of a vessel positioned on a cooktop surface. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit that has at least an inductive loop positioned proximate to the cooktop surface. A signal conditioner is connected to the resonant circuit for conditioning signals received from the resonant circuit. A processor is connected to the signal conditioner and compares the conditioned signals received from the signal conditioner to a reference signal whereby detecting movement of the vessel.

Abstract: A splice connector includes a first coupling electrically connected to a first cable or conductor and a second coupling electrically connected to a second cable or conductor. Both couplings include at least one electrically conductive spade. The second coupling engages the first coupling so that the respective spades contact each other, thereby electrically connecting the two cables or conductors. Due to its construction and mass, this connector can be used in high temperature, high-G environments.

Abstract: A washing machine having a variable speed motor. The washing machine has a basket for holding articles to be washed and has a first axis of rotation. A basket drive shaft connected to the basket drives the basket. An agitator disposed in the basket along the first axis of rotation agitates the article in the basket. An agitator drive shaft connected to the agitator drives the agitator. A variable speed motor, having a second axis of rotation which is not coincident with the first axis of rotation, drives the basket drive shaft and the agitator drive shaft. A coupler couples motion of the variable speed motor to the agitator drive shaft and basket drive shaft.

Abstract: A temperature sensor system for a household appliance, such as a microwave oven, that provides for a non-contact self-calibrating measurement of the temperature of an object disposed in a chamber of the appliance. The system comprises an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, as well as a distribution apparatus for coupling the transmitter and receiver to the appliance chamber. A scan pattern of infrared radiation is provided for the chamber and the detected infrared radiation from the chamber is used by a processor to generate an accurate measure of the temperature of the object in the chamber.

Abstract: A washing machine with an improved mode shifter comprises a basket for holding an article to be washed, a basket collar coupled to the basket, an agitator disposed within the basket, an agitator collar coupled to the agitator, a brake for reducing a rotational velocity of the basket, a brake collar coupled to the brake, a first spring disposed around the basket collar and the agitator collar, and a second spring disposed around the first spring, the basket collar, and the brake collar. The mode shifter provides a mechanically simple, inexpensive, and reliable mechanism for shifting from the agitation mode to the spin mode to the brake mode in a wash cycle.

Abstract: An imager control system with contact detection capability for positioning a movable imaging element structure with respect to a subject includes a collar assembly disposed around at least a portion of the imaging element structure disposed towards a subject region; a plurality of sensor elements disposed in a sensing pattern in the collar assembly, each sensor element having a number elastomeric electrodes coupled together in series; and a processing unit coupled to the sensor elements so as to detect contact between the collar assembly and a subject of examination as a function of a change in resistance in one or more elastomeric electrode resulting from deformation of the electrode upon contact with the subject. The elastomeric electrodes are made of a flexible material in which conductive particles have been embedded such that electrode exhibits a change in electrical resistance in response to physical deformation.

Abstract: An energy-efficient refrigerator includes a refrigerator control system for generating refrigerator control signals responsive to cooling demands of respective refrigerator compartments; a refrigeration apparatus coupled to the control system; and a multiplex damper system disposed to selectively direct the cooling-air from the refrigeration apparatus to compartments in response to the refrigerator control signals. The multiplex damper system comprises a single movable control damper disposed to direct cooling-air flow to a single or multiple compartments. The evaporator and its associated fan and a variable speed compressor are independently controlled by the refrigerator control system. The variable speed compressor typically comprises a continuously variable speed motor such as an electronically commutated motor.

Abstract: An energy efficient washing machine includes a control system that provides a cleansing fluid level that is optimized for effective cleaning of the soiled articles and includes a closed loop adaptive water level controller that controls the addition of water into the machine. The adaptive water level controller includes an agitator load signature monitor and an agitator work-determining processor, the processor being coupled to the agitator load signature monitor and a cleansing fluid supply system and adapted to generate a fluid supply control signal in correspondence with an agitator work signal, which signal is generated by the processor in correspondence with iterative respective agitator load signature values corresponding to strokes of the agitator.

Abstract: An energy efficient washing machine includes a cleansing fluid supply system, a washer basket having an agitator device for displacing the articles to be cleansed within the basket, and a closed loop water level controller coupled to the cleansing fluid supply system and to the drive system for the agitator. The fluid supply system includes a fill nozzle designed to provide a clothes-positioning spray pattern that serves to maintain the articles evenly distributed in the basket to enables the load sensing systems of the closed loop adaptive water level controller to function to accurately provide the optimal water level for cleansing. To accomplish this positioning of the articles to be cleansed, the fluid fill nozzle typically provides a fan discharge of fluid passing therethrough and is disposed at a cant angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the basket such that the fan discharge covers an area between the agitator assembly and the sidewall of the basket.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity detection system for positioning a movable radiation imaging element support structure with respect to a subject includes a plurality of sensor plates disposed in a collar assembly around a portion of an imaging component disposed towards a subject; a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of capacitive plate elements and adapted to selectively electrically couple the sensor plate elements in one of a plurality of sensing range modalities; and a capacitive sensing processor coupled to the sensor plate elements via the multiplexer so as to detect proximity of object to the sensor plate as a function of the capacitance between the sensor plates and the subject. The imaging system typically further includes a shield system coupled to the multiplexer and disposed so as to focus the capacitive sensing of the sensor plate elements towards the subject.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes at least a first compartment cooled to a first temperature and a second compartment cooled to a second temperature, and a multiplex damper system disposed in a cooling-air passage so as to selectively direct the cooling-air flow from the refrigeration apparatus to the compartments. The multiplex damper system comprises a single movable control damper mounted in the cooling-air passage and a drive control system responsive to the cooling demands of the respective compartments and that is coupled to the single control damper so as to selectively dispose the control damper in a plurality of respective air flow positions. The range of air flow positions includes a first compartment-only air flow position, a second compartment-only air flow position, and at least one divided-flow position in which cooling air flow is proportionally directed into both the first and the second compartments.

Abstract: An energy-efficient refrigeration system includes an electrically controlled refrigerant storage device that is coupled to the refrigeration system to selectively receive refrigerant from and dispense refrigerant to the operating loop of the refrigeration system. The refrigerant storage device includes a storage vessel, means for selectively displacing refrigerant from the storage device into the operating loop, and a refrigerant storage device controller coupled to the means for displacing refrigerant so as to control the mass of refrigerant in the storage vessel in correspondence with the cooling demand on the refrigeration system so that the compressor drive motor is loaded for optimal efficiency for a given cooling demand on the system. The means for displacing refrigerant from the vessel of the storage device typically comprises a temperature control element, such as a heating element or solid state heat pump, that is electrically coupled to the controller and thermally coupled to the vessel.

Abstract: An energy-efficient refrigeration system includes a dual cylinder compressor and a compressor controller coupled to the compressor to control compressor capacity by selection of a predetermined refrigerant flow path through the compressor. The dual cylinder compressor includes first and second cylinders with respective first and second pistons that are horizontally opposed and coupled together by a fixed and non-pivoting connecting rod. The void volume of one cylinder is typically greater than the void volume of the other cylinder, and the compressor typically is a scotch-yoke drive apparatus or, alternatively, a linear voice coil drive apparatus.

Abstract: A household appliance having a serial bus control system includes a system controller, a plurality of slave nodes, and a serial bus connector. Each slave node is a sensor, an actuator, or the like, that is coupled to the serial bus connector and is responsive to a particular slave node address code generated by a master communications module that is part of the system controller. The serial bus connector is a loop of conductor which is attached at each end of the loop to the master communication module, with the slave nodes coupled to the loop at intermediate positions along the loop. The master communications module includes an interrogation circuit for generating digital transmissions to one or more of said slave node address codes and a receiver circuit for receipt of digital transmissions from the slave nodes coupled to said serial bus connector.

Abstract: A load measuring device includes a sensor for detecting power consumption surges by detecting a zero voltage point in the alternating voltage of an electrical apparatus, detecting the zero current point in the alternating current of the apparatus least remote in time from the detected zero voltage point, and measuring the interval between the two zero points. The zero-current point is detected by a current sensor which comprises a first rectifier coupled in series with the apparatus, a second rectifier coupled in parallel opposition with the first rectifier, and a voltage sensor coupled in parallel with both rectifiers.

Abstract: A turbidity sensing mechanism for a dishwasher is connected in the fluid circulation conduit between the pump and the spray mechanism. The mechanism includes a hollow housing enclosing a hollow transparent tube connected in fluid flow relationship with the conduit. A source of electromagnetic radiation and a radiation-to-frequency sensor are positioned inside the housing on opposite sides of the tube.