General Electric Company

Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Anthony A Cooper

James Lee Armstrong

Alexander Pinkus Rafalovich

Eric Kent Watson

Ramesh Janardhanam

Justin W Jackson

Martin Christopher Severance

Douglas Lawrence Robertson

Timothy Allen Hamel

Lorina June White

Daniel Stephen Renz

Kevin B Dagbay

Chris George Bissig

Christopher George Bissig

Scott Russell King

Jerrod Aaron Kapler

Rita Barksdale

Telema Harry

Joshua Paul Kopecky

Ashok Kumar Sannasi

Phillip Hombroer

Haralabos Alexander Vassos

Ranjan Damodar

Josh Kopecky

Alex Fernando Lobos

Gregory J Carven

Alan Buckler

Caitlin Stein

Susan Lin

Phillip Hombroek

Joshua Kopecky

Douglas Robertson

Abhishek Datta

A system and method of managing energy use in a home, and more particularly to energy management of household consumer appliances, are provided. Existing appliances can be modified with add-on features or modules, and likewise new energy saving features and functions can be incorporated into new appliances. Communication among a home energy manager, an appliance, and a utility meter measures energy usage and/or a local generator controls operation of various appliances such as a refrigerator, washer, dryer, oven/range, microwave oven, dishwasher, HVAC system hot water heater, and the like.

Energy management of household appliances

A system for locking control systems of an appliance includes a lock control that is configured to selectively place at least one of the user-controllable systems in a locked condition while allowing another of the user-controlled systems to remain in an unlocked condition. The system generally includes an appliance operation control, at least one interface and the lock control. The appliance operation control is configured to control user-adjustable controllable systems of the appliance in response to input received by the appliance operation control. The at least one interface is on the appliance and is in communication with the appliance operation control. The at least one interface is configured to receive input via the interface to control at least two of the user-controllable systems of the appliance. When a user-controllable system is in the locked condition, the locked control system is inoperative or unable to be adjusted. A method for selectively locking control systems of an appliance is also disclosed.

Method and system for locking control systems of an appliance and an appliance incorporating the system

A proximity detection system for an appliance is disclosed. The system includes an electrically conductive sensor for a capacitive proximity detection system, the sensor forming a part of an accessory device for the appliance; and an electrically conductive member disposed substantially opposite a location of the sensor and electrically connected to a ground potential to form a ground shield for the sensor.

Capacitive proximity detection system for an appliance

A dispensing apparatus for determining a location of a container into which at least one of a liquid and ice is dispensed from a refrigerator. A sensor is configured to sense a position of the container, without contacting the container, and to send a first signal indicating the sensed position. A microprocessor is configured to receive the first signal and to send a second signal based on the first signal. An indicator is configured to receive the second signal and to indicate the position of the container.

Dispensing apparatus and method for determining the location of a container

An ice maker assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an ice bucket that has a bottom wall, opposing side walls extending from the bottom wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The bottom wall, side walls, front wall, and back wall define an ice collection cavity. The ice bucket also includes a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom wall into the ice collection cavity, and a rotatable auger extending between the front and back walls.

Refrigerator and ice maker apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Anthony A Cooper