Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc

Paul Goodjohn

Craig Iung-Pei Tsai

Joseph Wilson Latham

Michael Lee McIntyre

Andrew Leroy Reder

Timothy Dale Worthington

Richard Dustin Henderson

Shaun Michael Ward

Robert Jules LaFleur

Thomas Charles Zimmer

Jacob Wells

Cheikh Tine

A communication system for an appliance is provided. The communication system includes a modular communication device, a clock device, and a controller operably coupled to the modular communication device and the clock device. The modular communication device is operable to communicate with a remote server over a communication and is configured to receive demand response signals from the remote server. The clock device is configured to perform clock estimation operations to estimate a true time for the communication system. The clock device includes a real-time clock chip and a low voltage direct-current (DC) power supply that is configured to supply low voltage power signals to the real-time clock chip based at least in part on an operating condition of the appliance. The controller is configured to operate the appliance based at least in part on the demand response signals received over the communication network.

Real-time tracking provision for communication devices in household appliances

Systems and methods for detecting activity include a first domestic appliance and a second domestic appliance. Such methods may include detecting a first interaction with one of the first domestic appliance and the second domestic appliance and increasing an activity counter by a first amount based on the first interaction. The methods also include detecting a second interaction with one of the first domestic appliance and the second domestic appliance and increasing the activity counter by a second amount based on the second interaction. The methods further include providing a user notification when the activity counter crosses a predetermined threshold.

Domestic appliances activity monitoring systems and methods

A water heater appliance may include a casing, a tank, a temperature sensor, a heating system, and a controller. The controller may be in operative communication with the heating system. The controller may be configured to initiate a heating cycle. The heating cycle may include determining a future standby event and determining a contemporary depletion state from a plurality of set depletion states. The plurality of set depletion states may include a steady state and one or more depleted states. The heating cycle may further include calculating a recharge period according to a set formula corresponding to the determined contemporary depletion state and directing, prior to the future standby event, the water heater appliance to the steady state based on the recharge period.

Water heater appliance and methods for anticipating recharge

A water heater appliance may include a casing, a tank, a temperature sensor, a heating system, and a controller. The temperature sensor may be attached to the casing in thermal communication with the tank to detect a temperature thereof. The controller may be in operative communication with the heating system. The controller may be configured to initiate a heating cycle that includes receiving a setpoint request comprising a requested temperature value, detecting a first tank temperature value at the temperature sensor, generating a first modified temperature value less than the first tank temperature value, determining the requested temperature value is less than the first modified temperature value, setting a target setpoint to the first modified temperature value in response to determining the requested temperature value is less than the first modified temperature value, and directing the heating system according to the target setpoint.

Water heater appliances and methods for mitigating false fault detection

A water heater appliance, as provided herein, may include a casing, a tank, an inlet conduit, an electric heating system, a mixing valve, and a controller. The electric heating system may be in thermal communication with the tank to heat water within the tank. The mixing valve mounted to the casing downstream from the tank. The controller may be operably coupled to the electric heating system and the mixing valve to initiate a Sabbath cycle. The Sabbath cycle may include determining an anticipated Sabbath condition at the water heater appliance, directing a lower portion of the tank of the water heater appliance to a sub-cooking Sabbath temperature below 45 degrees Celsius based on the anticipated Sabbath condition, determining the sub-cooking Sabbath temperature is met, and directing a mixing valve of the water heater appliance to a Sabbath set-point temperature in response to determining the sub-cooking Sabbath temperature is met.

Water heater appliances and methods of sabbath operation

A method for operating a consumer appliance, as provided herein, may include detecting a preliminary first conversion value from a first sensor input pin electrically connected to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and detecting a preliminary second conversion value from a second sensor input pin electrically connected to the ADC in electrical parallel with the first sensor input pin. The method may further include determining a preliminary variation between the preliminary first and second conversion values is less than or equal to a predetermined preliminary threshold. The method may still further include activating a pull-up resistor in electrical communication with the first sensor input pin, identifying a fault state in response based on a conversion value variation following activating the pull-up resistor, and directing the appliance based on the determined fault state.

Methods for detecting sensor faults in a consumer appliance

A method for controlling a water heater appliance includes energizing the heating element for an energization period, such as less than two seconds. During the energization period, the appliance controller measures the electrical current passing through the heating element. The measured electrical current and a base signal are passed through a correlation filter to determine a correlation value. The base signal may correspond to the electrical current passing through the heating element when the tank is full or when the tank is empty, and the correlation value may be used to determine to which base signal the measured electrical current more closely correlates. In this manner, the correlation value is used to determine whether the heating element is submerged in water.

Dry tank detection method for a water heater appliance

A water heater appliance and methods for operating the same, as provided herein, may include a casing, a tank, an inlet conduit, an electric heating system, a mixing valve, and a controller. The electric heating system may be in thermal communication with the tank. The mixing valve may be mounted to the casing downstream from the tank. The controller may be operably coupled to the electric heating system and the mixing valve. The controller may be configured to initiate a mixing cycle. The mixing cycle may include detecting a flow demand at the water heater appliance, directing the mixing valve to a programmed park position in response to detecting the flow demand, determining expiration of a park period following directing the mixing valve to the programmed park position, and releasing the mixing valve from the programmed park position in response to determining expiration of the park period.

Water heater appliances and methods for controlling a mixing valve with a park period

A water heater appliance includes a cold water conduit and a hot water conduit. The water heater appliance also includes a mixing valve and a controller. The controller may be configured for and/or methods of operating the water heater appliance may include detecting a start of a flow event from the water heater appliance and detecting a water temperature in the mixed water conduit of the water heater that is outside of tolerance limits after detecting the start of the flow event. The controller may be further configured for and/or the method may further include verifying that the flow event has not ended after detecting the water temperature in the mixed water conduit is outside of the tolerance limits. After verifying that the flow event has not ended, a count is added to a fault counter.

Water heater mixing valve fault detection

A method of operating a motor driving a rotating member includes directing rotation of the rotating member at the motor at an initial speed, determining a first frequency of a first noise component generated by the rotating member at the initial speed, determining a second noise component having a second frequency phase shifted 180&#xb0; with respect to the first frequency, determining a torque modifier of the motor to generate the second noise component from the motor, and directing activation of the motor according to the determined torque modifier.

Noise cancellation of a domestic appliance using a motor control

An appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a control board, an intermediate dongle, and an electrical feature. The control board may be mounted within the cabinet to selectively direct one or more operation of the appliance. The intermediate dongle may be spaced apart from the control board within the cabinet. The intermediate dongle may include a connector body and a memory device housed within the connector body. The intermediate dongle may be in electrical communication with the control board. The electrical feature may be connected to the intermediate dongle within the cabinet of the appliance. The electrical feature may be in electrical communication with the control board through the intermediate dongle.

Appliances and methods for off-board data storage

A water heater appliance, including methods of operation, is provided herein. The water heater appliance may include a casing, a tank, an inlet conduit, an electric heating system, and a controller coupled to an auxiliary power generator. The tank may be disposed within the casing and define an inlet and an outlet. The inlet conduit may be mounted to the tank at the inlet of the tank. The controller may be operably coupled to the electric heating system and configured to initiate a heating cycle. The heating cycle may include identifying a daily peak auxiliary power period, determining a contemporary voltage reading at the water heater appliance, predicting an occurrence of the daily peak auxiliary power period from the auxiliary power generator, and heating water within the water heater at the predicted occurrence of the daily peak auxiliary power period.

Water heater appliance and methods of operation

A method of operating a rolling piston rotary compressor includes obtaining an angular position and an angular speed of a rolling piston of the compressor, for example, using a tachometer or shaft encoder or observer. The method further includes obtaining an electromagnetic torque applied by an electric motor that is mechanically coupled to the rolling piston. The method further includes calculating a load torque exerted on the rolling piston based on these obtained values by using a load torque observer model that is formulated using known geometries of the compressor and thermodynamic models for the gas compression process. The operation of the electric motor is then adjusted such that the electromagnetic torque applied by the motor is equivalent to the calculated load torque such that noise and vibrations are minimized.

Method for operating a rolling piston compressor

A method for operating an air conditioner includes transmitting a plurality of signals between a remote user interface and the air conditioner through a plurality of wires that extend between the remote user interface and the air conditioner when the air conditioner is in a diagnostic mode. Each signal of the plurality of signals corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of wires. The method also include sequentially presenting a respective one or more characters on a display of a user interface of the air conditioner in response to each signal of the plurality of signals being received at the air conditioner.

Diagnostic display method for an air conditioner unit

A method of operating a synchronous motor includes using a rotor angle observer model to calculate an observed rotor angle and a speed estimator model to calculate an observed angular speed of the rotor. The observed rotor angle may be used to ensure that the stator magnetic field generated by the stator is oriented 90&#xb0; ahead of the rotor magnetic field. The observed angular speed may be used to regulate the motor operation to achieve the desired speed.

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Crestwood, KY, United States of America

Paul Goodjohn