Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber that receives a laundry load for treatment according to a cycle of operation. The method includes determining the size of the laundry load in the treating chamber; supplying a predetermined amount of liquid to the treating chamber based on the determined load size; applying mechanical energy to the laundry treating chamber by driving a clothes mover with an electric motor; determining a difference between an in-rush current to the electric motor and a steady-state current of the electric motor during the applying of the mechanical energy; and determining a laundry load type of the laundry load based on the determined difference.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of determining inertia of a laundry load may comprise an extraction stabilization phase, where liquid is extracted from the laundry load by rotating the basket at first rotational speed, and a sensing phase. The sensing phase may include a deceleration phase, where the basket speed decreases to a second rotational speed, followed by an acceleration phase, where the basket speed increases back toward the first rotational speed. The inertia of the laundry load may be determined from data sensed during the deceleration and acceleration phases.

Abstract: A method of managing an inventory includes associating an identifier with a container system component such as a container, a sensor or a substance, where the sensor is configured to determine an indication of an attribute of the substance stored in the container. The method further may include associating an identifier with a container system member within a dataset remote to the container; remotely receiving container system data including the identifier and the indication of the attribute; and performing at least one data processing task associated with the container system data.

Abstract: A method of determining load type in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry, a rotatable laundry mover, and a motor operably coupled to the rotatable laundry mover includes steps to apply a perturbation force to the laundry in the treating chamber by rotating the laundry mover with the motor; determine the response of the motor torque to the perturbation force during the rotating of the laundry mover; and determine a load type based on the determined response.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of determining inertia of a laundry load may comprise an extraction stabilization phase, where liquid is extracted from the laundry load by rotating the basket at first rotational speed, and a sensing phase. The sensing phase may include a deceleration phase, where the basket speed decreases to a second rotational speed, followed by an acceleration phase, where the basket speed increases back toward the first rotational speed. The inertia of the laundry load may be determined from data sensed during the deceleration and acceleration phases.

Abstract: A method of determining a fabric type for a laundry load can include comparing the density of the laundry load in a first wetted state, which may be a dry state or a partially saturated state, to the density of the laundry load in a second wetted state, which may be a partially saturated, fully saturated, or beyond fully saturated state, and determining a fabric type based on the comparison.

Abstract: Example methods for determining an over-sudsing condition during a wash cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance containing a foamable liquid are disclosed. An example method includes rotating within a tub a drum defining a treating chamber while the tub contains a foamable liquid, determining, over time, a fluctuation in a signal from a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the tub while the drum is rotating, the signal representing an amount of water in the tub, determining an over-sudsing condition when the fluctuation satisfies a predetermined threshold, and altering a cycle of operation in response to the determination of an over-sudsing condition.

Abstract: A method of determining load type in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry, a rotatable laundry mover, and a motor operably coupled to the rotatable laundry mover includes steps to apply a perturbation force to the laundry in the treating chamber by rotating the laundry mover with the motor; determine the response of the motor torque to the perturbation force during the rotating of the laundry mover; and determine a load type based on the determined response.

Abstract: A method of determining a fabric type for a laundry load can include comparing the density of the laundry load in a first wetted state, which may be a dry state or a partially saturated state, to the density of the laundry load in a second wetted state, which may be a partially saturated, fully saturated, or beyond fully saturated state, and determining a fabric type based on the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber that receives a laundry load for treatment according to a cycle of operation. The method includes determining the size of the laundry load in the treating chamber; supplying a predetermined amount of liquid to the treating chamber based on the determined load size; applying mechanical energy to the laundry treating chamber by driving a clothes mover with an electric motor; determining a difference between an in-rush current to the electric motor and a steady-state current of the electric motor during the applying of the mechanical energy; and determining a laundry load type of the laundry load based on the determined difference.

Abstract: A modular device for determining attributes of a substance stored in a container having a sensing module, a transmitter module and a power source module. The sensing module is capable of sensing attributes of a substance and providing an output. The transmitter module is configured to transmit an output of the at least one sensing module when operably coupled to the sensing module. The power source module is capable of being operably connected to the sensor module and the transmitter module to power the sensor module and the transmitter module.

Abstract: A method for determining an over-sudsing condition during a wash cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance containing a foamable liquid.

Abstract: Methods for determining an attribute of a substance in a container in response to an access event. The methods include a method for determining an attribute of a substance including activating the sensor in response to an access event and transmitting, in response to the activating, an output of the sensor providing an indication of an attribute of the contents. The methods also include a method having the steps of associating a sensor having an identifier with the container; and receiving the identifier and an output of the sensor providing an indication of the amount of the contents.

Abstract: A modular device for determining attributes of a substance stored in a container having a sensing module, a transmitter module and a power source module. The sensing module is capable of sensing attributes of a substance and providing an output. The transmitter module is configured to transmit an output of the at least one sensing module when operably coupled to the sensing module. The power source module is capable of being operably connected to the sensor module and the transmitter module to power the sensor module and the transmitter module.

Abstract: A method of managing an inventory includes associating an identifier with a container system component such as a container, a sensor or a substance, where the sensor is configured to determine an indication of an attribute of the substance stored in the container. The method further may include associating an identifier with a container system member within a dataset remote to the container; remotely receiving container system data including the identifier and the indication of the attribute; and performing at least one data processing task associated with the container system data.

Abstract: Methods for determining an attribute of a substance in a container in response to an access event. The methods include a method for determining an attribute of a substance including activating the sensor in response to an access event and transmitting, in response to the activating, an output of the sensor providing an indication of an attribute of the contents. The methods also include a method having the steps of associating a sensor having an identifier with the container; and receiving the identifier and an output of the sensor providing an indication of the amount of the contents.

Abstract: A method of managing an inventory of a consumable substance stored in a portable container including sensing at least an indication of an attribute of the substance and generating data from said sensing. The method may further provide generating a notification based on the generating, such as by applying a notification trigger rule, receiving data including the indication of the attribute of the substance, evaluating the notification trigger rule using the data, and selectively generating an access notification based on the evaluating. The method may include sensing or generating in association with a container access event. The method may include associating an identifier with one of a container, a sensor or a substance. A system implementing this and other inventory management methods is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for determining the amount of a substance in a container includes an amount sensor disposed within the container, a transmitter coupled to the sensor and configured to transmit an output thereof, and an electrical power source powering the sensor and the transmitter.

Abstract: A method and system of managing inventory of consumables stored in containers including associating with a container a sensor configured to determine an indication of the amount of an attribute, such as an indication of an amount of substance stored in the container, and storing the indication of amount at various times as a usage history.