Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120024240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGULATING TEMPERATURE IN A HOT WATER HEATER - A hot water heater, and method of regulating the same, which includes a PID control. The PID control is responsive to inputs such as water temperature in the hot water heater and the flow rate of water such as through inlets and outlets coupled to the hot water heater. In one embodiment, the PID control generates an output that modifies the operating parameters of a heating device to accommodate changes in the temperature of the fluid in the hot water heater. The output results from one or more modules of a three-term control structure, wherein the modules comprise one or more of a proportional control module, an integral control module, and a derivative control module. Each of the modules is assigned at least one term, wherein the term is defined in accordance with gain parameters such as a proportional gain, an integral gain, and a derivative gain. | 02-02-2012 |
20120060525 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING SUPER-HEATING OF REFRIGERANT TO IMPROVE COMPRESSOR EFFICIENCY AND LOWER ENERGY USAGE - Apparatus and methodologies are provided to monitor temperature from at least two locations on an evaporator in a refrigeration system. Operational characteristics of one or more of the compressor, condenser and evaporator cooling fans are adjusted based on the difference in temperature between the two locations on the evaporator. In some systems a second evaporator may be provided along with a refrigerant control valve. Cooling air flow across the second evaporator and refrigerant distribution between the plural evaporators may also be control. | 03-15-2012 |
20120060526 | REFRIGERATOR ENERGY AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Apparatus and methodologies are provided to improve the refrigeration system by precisely controlling refrigerator compartment and heat exchanger temperatures through continuous modulation of device speeds or positions to match capacity with instantaneous load. A controller in a refrigerator is configured to provide a plurality of control loops to control various operational aspects of selected components in the refrigerator. A first loop controls the operating speed of a compressor based on temperature of the evaporator or based on the desired speed of an evaporator fan. A second control loop controls speed of an evaporator fan to maintain a prescribed freezer compartment temperature. A third control loop maintains a prescribed temperature in a fresh food compartment. In certain embodiments selected of the control loops may be thermodynamically coupled by way of thermal interaction between the various cooled compartments rather than being electrically coupled. The control loops may be individually configured as one of a proportional, proportional-integral, or proportional-integral-derivative control loop. | 03-15-2012 |
20120119660 | LIGHTING COMPENSATION FOR APPLIANCES - Apparatus and methodology is provided to control lighting associated with an appliance. Ambient light proximate the appliance and/or light from one or more lighting devices associated with the appliance is monitored and used to control the energization of the appliance lighting devices. Lighting device may include illumination devices as well as indicia display devices. The controller is configured to compensate lighting levels over the lifetime of the lighting devices to provide consistent lighting from the appliance lighting under all operating conditions. | 05-17-2012 |
20120175365 | LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A MICROWAVE OVEN - A microwave oven includes a top wall, side walls, and a bottom wall at least partially defining a cavity of the microwave oven, and a table coupled to the bottom wall. The table has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface. The top surface is configured to support an item within the cavity. A light source directs light to the table. The table is configured to diffuse light emitted from the light source into the cavity. | 07-12-2012 |
20120266387 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING AND ADDING DETERGENT TO WATER FOR A WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCE - A method and apparatus for determining the amount of detergent in water used in a washing machine and to supplementing such water as needed for a wash load is provided. The amount of detergent present in grey water that is reused for washing, as well as the amount released from clothes or other articles to be washed, can also be determined. | 10-25-2012 |
20130030552 | OPTICALLY-PROJECTED USER INTERFACE FOR APPLIANCES - An apparatus comprises a front projection system operatively mounted as part of an appliance and configured to optically project a virtual user interface; an optics system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to direct the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system onto a given surface; a user input system operatively mounted as part of the appliance and configured to receive one or more input selections made by a user in correspondence with one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface optically projected by the front projection system on the given surface via the optics system; and a controller operatively coupled to the front projection system and the user input system, and configured to control operation of one or more components of the appliance in response to the one or more input selections made by the user in correspondence with the one or more features that are part of the virtual user interface. | 01-31-2013 |
20150361608 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING AND ADDING DETERGENT TO WATER FOR A WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCE - A method and apparatus for determining the amount of detergent in water used in a washing machine and to supplementing such water as needed for a wash load is provided. The amount of detergent present in grey water that is reused for washing, as well as the amount released from clothes or other articles to be washed, can also be determined. | 12-17-2015 |