The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 27, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2007
Rodrigo C. Castaldo, Joinville, BR;
Matthew P. Ebrom, Holland, MI (US);
Wallace J. Elston, Paw Paw, MI (US);
Gale R. Horst, Watervilet, MI (US);
Randy L. Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Anthony E. Jenkins, Stevensville, MI (US);
Richard A. Mccoy, Stevensville, MI (US);
Christopher S. Moes, Sodus, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nibbelink, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Andre O. Pires, Joinville, BR;
Randy A. Voss, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Andrew D. Whipple, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Rodrigo C. Castaldo, Joinville, BR;
Matthew P. Ebrom, Holland, MI (US);
Wallace J. Elston, Paw Paw, MI (US);
Gale R. Horst, Watervilet, MI (US);
Randy L. Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Anthony E. Jenkins, Stevensville, MI (US);
Richard A. McCoy, Stevensville, MI (US);
Christopher S. Moes, Sodus, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nibbelink, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Andre O. Pires, Joinville, BR;
Randy A. Voss, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Andrew D. Whipple, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A network includes a smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, and an appliance configured to perform an operation on a physical article. The appliance is one that consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation. The network also includes a source of information about the resource. The smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to request a change to the operation of the appliance in response to a resource parameter or a request communicated by the source.