Whirlpool Corporation

Cyberonics, Inc.

Saadat Hussain

Anthony W Cowley

Ameresh Babu Viswanathan

Barry E Tuller

Mark W Baldwin

Marcus Roland Fischer

Anthony B Welsh

David L Thompson

Demetrius J Schaaf

Justin D McIver

Bryan M Topp

Duane M Kobos

Blayne C Smith

Eric Y Chow

Mike S Hemry

James L Flesher

Jianxiang Shen

Elizabeh A Moit

Rodney Michael Welch

Alvaro Vallejo Noriega

Rexford W Cordill

Jared Brandon Floyd

Andrew T Middleton

Robert J Chilton

Brett Dibkey

Elizabeth A Moit

A dishwasher includes a door with at least a first part and a second part. The first part may be pivotally mounted to the dishwasher. The second part may be configured to be coupled to the first part for cooperative pivoting of the first part and the second part in one mode of operation. The second part may also be configured to move independently of the first part in another mode of operation.

Dishwasher with transforming door

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to detect impurities in flow-through water heaters are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flow-through water heater having a conduit to conduct a fluid flowing therethrough, a heating element extending around at least a portion of the conduit, and first and second temperature measuring elements to determine respective first and second temperatures at different locations on the conduit; and a computing unit to at least detect an impurity deposit in the conduit based on a difference between the first and second temperatures.

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufactures to detect impurity deposits in flow-through water heaters

A case for an implantable medical device includes a metal case portion, having an inside and an outside, configured to attach to at least one other case portion to define a biocompatible case for the implantable medical device. The metal case portion has a plurality of grooves disposed on at least one of the inside and the outside, the grooves being oriented substantially perpendicular to an expected direction of eddy currents produced by an inductive recharging coil in proximity thereto.

Inductively rechargeable implantable device with reduced eddy currents

A dishwasher may include a closure element, such as a door, a user interface on the closure element, and a controller. A data communication link having a first data connector may be coupled to the controller, and a second data connector may be coupled to the user interface. The first and second data connectors may communicatively couple when the closure element is in the closed condition to establish data communication between the controller and the user interface. The communication link may also form a power link to provide power to the user interface across an electrical link.

System for establishing communication between a user interface and a controller of a dishwasher

A dishwasher includes an open-face tub and a closure element selectively closing the open face of the tub and housing a user interface powered by a rechargeable power supply, such as a battery, operatively coupled to a power charger. In one embodiment, the user interface is not removable from the closure element, and the power charger may be remote from the closure element to selectively provide power to the rechargeable power supply. In another embodiment, the closure element may include a first door and a second door, with each door having an inductive part for formation of an inductive coupling to charge the rechargeable power supply when the doors are in juxtaposition.

System for charging a power supply in a closure element of a household appliance

The invention relates to a method of operating an electric heater having a resistive heating element selectively coupled to an AC power supply by a first pair of contacts of a first relay having opened and closed state conditions and by a second pair of contacts of a second relay having opened and closed state conditions and a switch coupled in parallel to the second pair of contacts. The method includes changing a state condition of one of the first and second relays while maintaining the state condition of the other of the first and second relays; upon the changing of the state condition, shunting the output of the second relay contacts coupled with the resistive heating element to the switch; and changing the state condition of the other of the first and second relays after completion of debounce for the one of the first and second relays.

Method of operating a heater in a dishwasher

Apparatus and methods for estimating the remaining life of a battery in an implantable medical device ('IMD') are disclosed herein. The terminal voltage of the battery is measured and the measurements create a baseline curve of the battery voltage depletion. The points along the baseline curve can be linearly extrapolated to calculate the voltage depletion rate, which can estimate the remaining life of the battery.

Battery life estimation based on voltage depletion rate

A lead for an implantable device includes a flexible, implantable tether, electrically connectable to an implantable device, and a plurality of control elements, disposed along the tether. The control elements are electrically interconnectable to the implantable device and configured to transmit one of power and communication signals thereto.

Recharging and communication lead for an implantable device

A method for estimating capacity of a battery in an implantable medical device includes obtaining a characteristic curve of voltage versus resistance for the battery, periodically determining voltage and resistance of the battery, and comparing the resistance with a third derivative function of the characteristic curve, the third derivative function having roots representing near depletion of the battery and end of service of the battery, respectively. Remaining time of service of the battery can also be determined by comparing the resistance value with a curve of battery capacity versus resistance for the battery.

System and method for estimating battery capacity

Apparatus and methods for charging a power cell in an implantable medical device ('IMD') are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an electrical pulse to an inductor external to the IMD. A frequency of an oscillation signal induced in the inductor by the current pulse is measured. The inductor is driven with an oscillating signal having a frequency based on the measured frequency of the oscillation signal. The power cell is charged using current induced in the IMD by the driving of the inductor.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Saadat Hussain