Whirlpool Corporation

Daniel M Putnam

Mark L Herman

Garry L Peterman

Richard A McCoy

Matthew Peter Ebrom

Patrick J Glotzbach

Andrew D Whipple

David John Kmet

Joshua Paul Carroll

Mark Eugene Glotzbach

A method and apparatus for drying a wet textile article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes supplying a power level to the RF applicator to energize the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), determining a dynamic drying cycle of operation in the controller, and controlling the power level of the RF applicator according to the determination of the dynamic drying cycle of operation, wherein the wet article is dried.

Method and apparatus for drying articles

A method for indicating a cycle of operation in a laundry treating appliance having a space that includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method includes producing in the at least one electrically conductive element the voltage or the current in reaction to the energized e-field apart from the article. Receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element indicative of a value of a parameter associated with the voltage or the current of the at least one electrically conductive element. And, generating an indication, by the controller, indicative of a cycle of operation and wherein the indication increases or decreases in intensity proportional to the value of the parameter associated with the voltage or the current.

Method and apparatus for detecting an energized e-field

A method and apparatus for drying a wet textile article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), determining a dynamic drying cycle of operation in the controller, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the dynamic drying cycle of operation, wherein the wet article is dried.

A method for detecting the presence of an energized e-field in a space, wherein the space includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method including receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element, determining that an energized e-field occupies the space, and generating an indication, by the controller, indicative of the presence of the energized e-field in the space.

A method for detecting the presence of an energized e-field in a space, wherein the space includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method including receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element, determining that an energized e-field occupies the space, and sending a signal from the controller indicative of the presence of the energized e-field in the space.

A method for detecting the presence of an energized e-field in a space, wherein the space includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method including receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element, comparing the value to a threshold, and if the value exceeds the threshold, determining that an energized e-field occupies the space, and sending a signal from the controller indicative of the presence of the energized e-field in the space.

Method and apparatus for detecting an energized E-field

A method and apparatus for drying textile material with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), measuring a parameter related to the energization of the RF applicator, determining a drying cycle of operation in the controller based on the measured parameter, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the drying cycle of operation, wherein the textile material is dried.

An appliance has a communication network with a plurality of nodes for executing commands to enable operation by components. A firewall is provided to restrict access to the commands by the nodes without a password.

Network system with electronic credentials and authentication for appliances

A data acquisition method comprising looking into a memory heap of event structures having condition parameters of at least one of memory pointers, event operators, and arguments; identifying event conditions that evaluate as true by evaluating the condition parameters for the even structures; and generating a notification message when a true condition is found.

Data acquisition method with event notification for an appliance

A system comprising a memory heap generated dynamically by useful software and a data acquisition engine. The memory heap comprises a plurality of event structures, each including at least one each of pointers into memory external to the event structure, event operators, and arguments. The data acquisition engine is configured to look into the memory heap, evaluate event conditions as true or false based on the at least one each of the pointers, operators, and arguments, and generate a notification message when a true condition is found.

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Holland, MI, United States of America

Daniel M Putnam