Whirlpool Corporation

Whirpoll Corporation

Brian P Janke

Farhad Ashrafzadeh

Kevin Michael Chase

Shreecharan Kanchanavally

Peter E Zasowski

Stephen L Keres

Peter Richmond

James Kerner

Joseph M Keres

Christopher L Borlin

Adrian A Rodriguez

Guilherme Bencke Teixeira Da Silva

Ronald L Voglewede

Bradley D Morrow

Nicholas C Fugal

Erol D Sumer

Davide Parachini

Gianpiero Santacatterina

Diego Neftali Gutierrez

Jurij Paderno

Francesco Del Bello

Marcelo C Silva

Ran Zhao

Rodrigo Stanziola Teixeira

Alexander Joseph Halbleib

Rodrigo S Teixeira

Marcelo Campos Silva

Horacio B Polli

Michael J Hand, Iii

Frencesco Del Bello

Diego Gutierrez

A method for controlling an induction heating system, particularly an induction heating system of a cooktop on which a cooking utensil with a certain contents is placed for heating/cooking purposes, comprises the steps of carrying out a predetermined number 'n' of electrical measurements of a first electrical parameter of the heating system on the basis of a predetermined electrical value of a second electrical parameter, “n” being ≥2, repeating the above set of measurements at a predetermined time after the first measurements, and estimating at least one thermal parameter of the heating system, particularly of the contents of the cooking utensil, on the basis of the above set of measurements.

Method for controlling an induction heating system

Apparatus and methods of reducing a likelihood of contact between a rotating laundry-container, such as a basket or drum, located within a tub of a laundry treating appliance where the method includes rotating the drum during a measurement period, determining a torque, speed, acceleration, and position of the drum, using a parameter estimator to estimate the position of a mass relative to an imbalance of laundry and accelerating the rotation of the drum when the mass is determined to be angularly spaced from the relative position of the imbalance of laundry.

Laundry treating appliance and methods of operation

Methods of reducing a likelihood of contact between a rotating laundry-container, such as a basket or drum, located within a tub of a laundry treating appliance where the method includes rotating the drum during a measurement period, determining a torque, speed, acceleration, and position of the drum, using a parameter estimator to estimate the position of a mass relative to an imbalance of laundry and accelerating the rotation of the drum when the mass is determined to be angularly spaced from the relative position of the imbalance of laundry.

A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

Hands free, controlled autofill for a dispenser

A method for controlling an induction heating system, particularly an induction heating system of a cooktop on which a cooking utensil with a certain contents is placed for heating/cooking purposes, comprises the steps of carrying out a predetermined number 'n' of electrical measurements of a first electrical parameter of the heating system on the basis of a predetermined electrical value of a second electrical parameter, 'n' being &#x2265;2, repeating the above set of measurements at a predetermined time after the first measurements, and estimating at least one thermal parameter of the heating system, particularly of the contents of the cooking utensil, on the basis of the above set of measurements.

A laundry treating appliance includes a drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment according to a cycle of operation, a motor operably coupled with the drum to rotate the drum, a controller coupled to the motor for controlling the motor and for determining at least one input sensed from the motor, and a processor operably coupled with the controller and having a parameter estimator to estimate parameter values of a laundry load based upon the at least one input. The processor is configured to send an excitation signal to the controller that randomly fluctuates an acceleration command to affect acceleration of the motor while the parameter values of the laundry load are estimated. The cycle of operation can then be adjusted based on the estimated parameter values of the laundry load.

A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting multiple physical characteristics of ice cubes produced therein. The system includes a digital image capture device coupled to a digital image analyzing system which captures digital images of the ice in the refrigerator and analyzes the images to detect characteristics associated with the ice. A notification arrangement can be employed to convey information about the ice to a user of the refrigerator.

Ice imaging system

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance includes controlling rotation of a drum during a cycle of operation by a controller communicably coupled to a motor, sending an excitation signal to a controller that randomly fluctuates an acceleration command to affect acceleration of the motor, determining, by the controller during excitation, one or more inputs sensed from the motor, and estimating with a parameter estimator parameter values of a laundry load in the drum based on the inputs. The cycle of operation can then be adjusted based on the estimated parameter values of the laundry load.

Methods of reducing a likelihood of contact between a rotating laundry-container, such as a basket or drum, located within a tub of a laundry treating appliance where the method includes accelerating a rotational speed of the rotating laundry-container during an extraction cycle speed ramp, monitoring the friction associated with the rotating laundry-container during the speed ramp and comparing to a threshold and altering the accelerating of the rotational speed of the rotating laundry-container when the comparing indicates the threshold is satisfied.

Laundry treating appliance and methods of reducing tub contact therein

A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well based on image data. The image data can used to detect at least one of a presence of a container in the dispenser well, a height of liquid within the container, a height of ice within the container and a shape of the container within the dispenser well, as well as to adjust a dispensing rate of product.

Select fill sensor system for refrigerator dispensers

A laundry treating appliance has a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment according to at least one cycle of operation and operated such that the extraction of liquid from the laundry load is controlled based on the inertia of the laundry load. A method for operating the laundry treating appliance to control the liquid extraction based on the detected inertia.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Joseph, MI, United States of America

Brian P Janke