Whirlpool Corporation

Maytag Corporation

Viking Range Corporation

Jonathan D King

Dean A Werthman

Brooke L Lau

Douglas T Allen

Jacek Szostak

Tommy D Hollingsworth

A dishwashing machine configured to detect the presence of rinse aid in fluid in a washing chamber of the dishwashing machine. An electronic controller selects the drying stage of the dishwashing cycle based on whether rinse aid is present.

Rinse aid release detection method

A fill protection algorithm for determining whether the water level in a dishwasher is sufficient to enable operation of the wash pump of the dishwasher without burn-out or other damage to the wash pump and/or heating element of the dishwasher due to insufficient water level. A change in water temperature TEMPis detected and is compared to a predetermined water temperature change level or amount, TEMP, and if the detected change in water temperature TEMPis greater than or equal to the minimum water temperature change TEMP, operation of the dishwasher is allowed to proceed.

Fill protection algorithm

A dishwasher includes a plurality of electrical wash system components connected to a control system constituted by a user interface controller and a main controller. The user interface controller includes a plurality of user input selectors for establishing model dependent operational parameters for a washing operation. The main controller broadcasts an information packet regarding a desired washing operation in the form of a first set of instructions associated the model dependent operational parameters and a second set of instructions associated with other dishwasher models. The dishwasher is then operated based upon the first set of instructions, while the second set of instructions are automatically filtered out.

Dishwasher control system

A multi-compartment dishwasher includes first and second washing units defining corresponding first and second washing tubs or chambers. The dishwasher also includes first and second control boards operatively associated with the first and second washing units respectively. Preferably, the first and second control boards are joined by a communication link that serves as a conduit for sharing data. The dishwasher further includes at least one ID designator that identifies one of the first and second washing units as a primary washing unit and the other of the first and second washing units as a secondary washing unit. The primary and secondary washing units share certain system resources during an overall washing operation, with the primary washing unit having preference over the secondary washing unit.

Control system for a multi-compartment dishwasher

A universal controller is employed in a domestic appliance including a user interface. In order to determine the particular user interface utilized and, correspondingly, the available cycles, features and options of the appliance, a scan of a keypad matrix associated with the user interface is performed to determine the presence and/or absence of shorts used to reflect the existence of permanently closed keys of the matrix. In accordance with the invention, the shorts can be indicated individually, in sequence and/or in combination in order to indicate to the controller which firmware to execute for a particular user interface.

Appliance control identification system employing user interface scan matrix

An off-line switching power supply for generating negative voltages without a transformer, comprising a line voltage connection for receiving a line voltage, an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, a power MOSFET having a drain and a source, the drain electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor, the drain electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor, the source electrically connected to the voltage and the second terminal of the inductor providing a negative output voltage.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Grove, TN, United States of America

Jonathan D King