Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

General Electric Company

Ryan James Scheckelhoff

Ryan Ellis Leonard

Richard Dean Suel, Ii

Joshua L Reeves

Aaron Lee Welch

John Gilman Chapman, Jr

Stephen Edward Hettinger

James Quentin Pollett

Je Kwon Yoon

Steven Keith Root

Shaun Michael Ward

Steven Michael Recio

JaeHyo Lee

Stannard Nathan Phelps

Ryan Michael Hartlage

Scott Michael Gelber

Nicholas Matthew Dillon

Kenneth G Rudolph

Sean Simpson

Abhijeet Bhandwale

Janghwan Hahn

Byron Lee Boylston

Mary Joy Frances Cardilino

Jonathan Blair Talmadge

Joshua Reeves

Heather Rae Posthauer

Jose Efren Rodriguez

Dale Pleasant Pepoon

A method of operating a dryer appliance includes determining a remaining moisture content of a load of articles to be dried in the dryer appliance and estimating an energy requirement for drying the load of articles based on the determined remaining moisture content of the load of articles. The method also includes activating a heating system of the dryer appliance during a dry cycle of the dryer appliance while tracking an energy output of the heating system during the dry cycle. The method further includes comparing the tracked energy output to the estimated energy requirement. When the tracked energy output is greater than a predetermined threshold percentage of the estimated energy requirement, a user notification is provided.

Dryer appliance dry time estimation

A method of operating a laundry appliance includes displaying a searchable and sortable list of available cycles for the laundry appliance on a user interface associated with the laundry appliance. The method also includes receiving a user input. The user input includes a selected cycle from the list of cycles. The method further includes downloading the selected cycle to the laundry appliance and activating the laundry appliance according to the downloaded cycle.

Laundry appliances with customized features

A method of operating a dryer appliance includes predicting a removal point at which a laundry load will be removed from the tub of the dryer, the removal point being a certain amount of time after the completion of a main drying operation, determining a length of time required to perform a conditioning operation on the laundry load, determining a start time for the conditioning operation, and implementing a responsive action at the start time.

Methods for determining and performing conditioning operations within a laundry treatment appliance

A method for operating a dryer appliance includes, after drying articles within the dryer appliance, receiving data corresponding to an activation signal for an extended tumble from a remote user device, tracking a number of cycles for which the extended tumble is not a default setting for the dryer appliance, and automatically adjusting the extended tumble to the default setting for the dryer appliance or transmitting data corresponding to an extended tumble alert based on the tracked number of cycles.

Default extended tumble activation in dryer appliances

Washing machine appliances and methods of operating the same are provided. Such methods may include, and/or appliances may be configured for, performing a wash operation on laundry articles received in the wash chamber of the wash basket. After the wash operation, it may be determined that the load of articles is still wet, e.g., that a remaining moisture content of the laundry articles is above a threshold. Based on and in response to determining that the load is still wet, a spin cycle is performed before a beginning of a subsequent wash operation.

Responsive spin cycle in a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, a valve, a spout, a dispenser, a motor, and a controller. The basket may be rotatably mounted and define a chamber for receipt of articles for washing. The valve may be disposed upstream from the tub. The spout may be directed at the tub downstream from the valve. The dispenser may be upstream from the tub for dispensing detergent into the tub. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket. The controller may be configured for controlling the washing machine appliance. The controller may be configured to initiate an oversuds-sensitive operation. The oversuds-sensitive operation may include detecting one or more resultant conditions from one or more previous wash cycles of the washing machine appliance, determining an adjusted operating parameter based on the detected resultant conditions, and directing detergent dispensing according to the adjusted operating parameter.

Washing machine appliance and a method for preventing oversuds events

A method of operating an appliance includes receiving an initiation trigger to perform a flush operation, supplying water to a container of the appliance, draining the supplied water from the container, measuring a temperature of the supplied water to the container, determining that the temperature of the supplied water is above a predetermined temperature threshold, and halting the supply of water to the container via the water supply.

Systems and methods for automatically performing a flush operation for a water supply

A method for associating a leak detector with an appliance includes receiving data from a leak detector; detecting a sound signature of the appliance based at least in part on the sound signal; identifying the appliance as one of a plurality of appliance types; and associating the leak detector with the one of the plurality of appliance types.

Method for associating a leak detector with an appliance

A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes filling a wash tub with a wash liquid during a first cycle. The method also includes receiving a pause input after filling the wash tub and before draining the wash tub during the first cycle. In response to the pause input, the first cycle is paused for a pause duration. The method further includes incrementing a pause counter in response to the pause input and storing the pause duration after pausing the first cycle. The method also includes filling the wash tub with a wash liquid during a second cycle after the first cycle and automatically pausing the second cycle after filling the wash tub with the wash liquid during the second cycle, based on the pause counter and the stored pause duration.

Responsive soak time in a washing machine appliance

An appliance includes an external communication port, such as an RJ45 port, and a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network. In addition, a controller includes a boot loader segment and is configured to receive a request to access the boot loader segment of the controller, transmit a notification of the request to the remote server using the wireless communication module, receive an access determination from the remote server, e.g., such as an access authorization or denial from an owner, and regulate access to the boot loader segment based at least in part on the access determination.

System and method for seeking owner authorization for an appliance to enter a boot loader for a software update

An appliance includes an external communication port, such as an RJ45 port, and a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network. A controller is configured to receive, using the wireless communication module, a secure unlock command from a remote server, the secure unlock command being generated when a remote service device transmits appliance identification data to the remote server, and unlock the external communication port to permit the remote service device to access operating software through the external communication port.

System and method for authorizing appliance access

A system and method for cleaning context detection and appliance operation are provided. The system includes a first appliance communicatively coupled to a second appliance to receive and transmit signals therebetween. The first appliance and the second appliance each include a controller configured to execute operations. The operations include receiving, at the first appliance, a first control signal corresponding to executing a cleaning mode at the first appliance; transmitting, from the first appliance, a second control signal to the second appliance, the second control signal corresponding to a cleaning state; and generating, at the second appliance, a third control signal corresponding to executing the cleaning mode at the second appliance.

Appliance and method for cleaning context detection

An appliance includes an external communication port, such as an RJ45 port, and a wireless communication module in wireless communication with a remote server through an external network. A controller is configured to detect port activity at the external communication port, e.g., by detecting a plug-in or data transfer, transmit a notification of the port activity to the remote server using the wireless communication module, receive an activity assessment, e.g., such as an activity approval or disapproval, from the remote server, and adjust at least one operating parameter of the appliance in response to the activity assessment.

System and method for detecting appliance tampering

A laundry system may include a washing machine appliance and a dryer appliance. The washing machine appliance may include a first controller configured to initiate a washing operation. The first controller may be configured store wash control information of a plurality of discrete washing operation occurrences of the washing machine appliance. The dryer appliance may include a second controller in operable communication with the first controller to receive one or more data signals therefrom. The second controller may be configured to initiate a drying operation. The first controller or the second controller may be configured to determine a combined load condition based on the wash control information of the plurality of discrete washing operation occurrences of the washing machine appliance. The second controller may be configured to adjust the drying operation according to the combined load condition.

Multiple load laundry appliance communication

A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid, a supply valve for supplying the wash fluid, a drain assembly for discharging the wash fluid from the sump, and a water level detection system for measuring sump pressures/fill levels. A controller is configured to perform an initial fill cycle and determine a first volume of wash fluid required to reach a target pressure. The drain assembly then drains the sump and the process is repeated to determine a second volume of wash fluid required to reach the target pressure. The difference between the first volume and the second volume is at least partially a result of wash fluid that the drain assembly could not discharge through the drain hose. The controller may determine that the external drain is elevated, and compensate accordingly, if a difference between the first volume and the second volume exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Ryan James Scheckelhoff