Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090133430 | DISPENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING FLUID IN AN APPLIANCE - A dispensing system and method for storing and dispensing a temperature controlled fluid from an appliance includes a tank for storing the temperature controlled fluid and a dispenser outlet for dispensing the temperature controlled fluid. A dispenser fluid line fluidly couples the tank and the dispenser outlet. A pump dispenses the temperature controlled fluid from the tank through the dispenser outlet upon receipt of a dispense signal and subsequently withdraws any residual temperature controlled fluid from the dispenser fluid line. | 05-28-2009 |
20100050663 | ICE PRODUCING METHOD - A method of forming ice in a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes cooling a first storage compartment to a first temperature, cooling a second storage compartment to a second temperature, cooling an interior volume defined in a door to a third temperature, wherein the door permits and impedes access to the second storage compartment, operating a fan disposed in the interior volume to circulate cool air through the interior volume, and cooling water to form ice in the interior volume. | 03-04-2010 |
20100050680 | ICE PRODUCING APPARATUS - An ice producing apparatus for a refrigerator is disclosed. The apparatus includes a door configured to permit and prohibit access to an interior volume of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, the door defining therein a door interior volume; a fan disposed in the door interior volume; and a mold disposed in the door interior volume and configured to receive water and to retain the water during freezing of the water into ice. | 03-04-2010 |
20100089909 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A microwave oven comprises a cooking cavity and a RF generation module configured to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity. A controller is operatively associated with the RF generation module. The controller receives and processes a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility for determining whether to operate the microwave oven in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least temporarily block the signal when the RF generation module is activated if a frequency of the signal is at least partially degraded by a frequency of the RF generation module. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092625 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A cooking appliance comprises one or more power consuming features/functions including at least one of a cooking cavity having a heating element and a cooking surface having a surface heating element. A controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the cooking appliance in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively delay, adjust and disable at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the cooking appliance in the energy savings mode. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094470 | DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES BEYOND ELECTRICAL - A system and method for communicating between a master and slave devices for managing home utility costs is provided. The system includes a measuring device for determining gas or water flow in the home, a memory that stores data relating to past usage, and that also receive data from the measuring device. A controller operatively communicates with the measuring device, memory, and at least one home appliance to provide a message to a homeowner, or transmit information to a utility, or display a proposed operational mode. The controller may include a lock-out feature to prevent a homeowner from overriding a proposed mode or operation, or the controller can shut-off gas or water flow based on a measured flow rate. | 04-15-2010 |
20100101254 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A refrigerator comprises a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment and one or more power consuming features/functions including a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of current state of an associated energy supplying utility. The controller operates the refrigerator in one of plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively schedule, delay, adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the refrigerator in the energy savings mode. | 04-29-2010 |
20100146712 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES WASHER APPLIANCE - A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes washer in the energy savings mode. | 06-17-2010 |
20100174668 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF CLOTHES DRYER APPLIANCE - A clothes dryer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the clothes dryer in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes dryer in the energy savings mode. | 07-08-2010 |
20100175719 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF DISHWASHER APPLIANCE - A dishwasher is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the dishwasher in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the dishwasher in the energy savings mode. | 07-15-2010 |
20100187219 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode. | 07-29-2010 |
20110154269 | HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT SCREENSAVER - A computer screensaver program runs a home energy manager application. The screensaver program is activated after a predetermined time and automatically runs a web browser by detecting the URL of the home energy manager application. The home energy manager interface is then displayed on the computer screen or a remote monitor. Preferably, the screensaver cycles through one or more various screens and remains active until a key is pressed or the mouse is activated. | 06-23-2011 |
20110202189 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDING USER CONTROL ARRANGEMENT IN A PLURALITY OF MODES - An energy data management control system is configured to allow a user to control operation of the data management among a plurality of modes. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202190 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEFINED IN A SINGLE UNITARY HOUSING - A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202195 | LOW COST HOME ENERGY MANAGER ADAPTOR - A home energy management (HEM) device for use in a HEM system including a plurality of energy consuming devices and a HEM gateway adaptor module connectable to a host device. The home energy gateway (HEG) module is configured to utilize services/components of existing household electronics. Accordingly, a HEM device for controlling a plurality of energy consuming devices in a HEM network comprises a host device having hardware for performing at least one service, and a HEG adaptor module connectable to the host device, the HEG module including at least a home energy usage database for storing data related to usage of energy consuming devices in the home energy management network. The HEG module is configured to utilize at least one service of the host to carry out at least one function related to controlling the plurality of energy consuming devices. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202196 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING MESSAGES AMONG A PLURALITY OF COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202198 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH A SCHEDULING CAPABILITY - A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202783 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONFIGURED IN A UNITARY HOUSING HAVING A DISPLAYLESS CONFIGURATION - A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202910 | LOW COST AND FLEXIBLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A premises data management system includes a first communication network configured to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface. Another communication network is configured to access data from and provides data to accessories within the premises management system. A gateway of the system includes a first interface channel and another interface channel. The gateway receives the data from the first communication network, via the first interface channel. The gateway reformats the data from the first communication network for communication to the other communication network via the other interface channel. The gateway also requests data from the accessories via the other interface channel and replies to the user interface via the first interface channel. | 08-18-2011 |
20120006525 | WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER DEMAND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE - An appliance for conditioning air of an associated room and an associated method for controlling an air conditioner are disclosed, the controller selectively adjusting operation of the air conditioning appliance based on historical operating data. The controller adjusts a set-point of the appliance for a preselected period of time in response to the historical operating data of the appliance when the appliance operates in an energy savings mode. In one arrangement, the controller is configured to receive and process data regarding whether the appliance has been operating over a predetermined time period before a utility demand state signal is received. The controller is configured to receive and process data relating to similar time periods of operation, and more particularly may include receiving data from the last two consecutive days where similar time periods of those days are analyzed. The controller may be configured to receive and process data relating to the rate of change in the temperature. Further, an override feature may be included to maintain operation of the appliance in a normal operation mode if ambient temperature reaches a predetermined threshold value. Another feature is that the controller determines whether the compressor has been operational less than a preselected period of time and, if so, the compressor is operated until such time period has elapsed. | 01-12-2012 |
20120019378 | APPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method and system for monitoring an appliance is disclosed. The method includes establishing a wireless communication connection between a communication module in an appliance and a communication network, transmitting operational data in real-time from the appliance to an external monitoring system over the communication network, determining a status of a component of the appliance from the real-time operational data, and if a failure mode of the component is detected, initiating a service protocol corresponding to the component. | 01-26-2012 |
20120029714 | HEG - SINGLE PRIMARY NETWORK TO MULTIPLE SECONDARY NETWORK ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A method and system is disclosed that includes a central controller that communicates data available from an Energy Services Interface (ESI) to devices over multiple secondary networks of a home in different communication protocols. The controller is a home energy gateway that includes multiple communication modules for binding to a meter on a primary network and to form multiple secondary networks. | 02-02-2012 |
20120055419 | DEMAND MANAGEMENT FOR WATER HEATERS - A water heating control and storage system, including an insulated tank for containing water to be heated. The storage system has a heat exchanger connected to the tank for using energy stored during off peak times as in water heated above normal storage temperature. An operation control device receives a demand response signal and enables water to be heated in a heat storing mode to heat water for usage. A method for controlling a water heating storage system includes providing an insulated tank for containing water to be heated; providing a heat exchanger coupled to the tank; and selectively operating in a heat storing mode in which water in the tank is heated to a higher than normal temperature and a heat exchange mode during which heat is extracted from the water stored in the tank by a heat exchanger for supplying stored energy to another energy consuming load in response to a demand response signal. | 03-08-2012 |
20130031617 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USE IN COMMUNICATING WITH AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT DEVICE IN AN ENERGY DEVICE NETWORK - System, method, and computer-readable instructions for use in communicating with an energy management device in a network that comprises one or more energy devices. First search results are created by searching for devices associated with a first energy management device identifier using a first discovery protocol. Second search results are created by searching for devices associated with a second energy management device identifier using a second discovery protocol. The first and second search results are combined to create a collection of candidate devices, and at least one candidate device of the candidate devices is validated to determine whether the candidate device is an energy management device. | 01-31-2013 |
20140052303 | ENERGY SMART SYSTEM - Apparatus and method for managing energy of a home or other structure are disclosed. An energy management system for a home network comprises a central device controller configured to communicate with energy consuming devices, energy generation devices and storage devices at a home. Power/energy measuring devices provide consumption measurements for the home and each device to the controller. A user interface has a client application configured to provide information to a user/consumer and to an energy provider/utility about energy consumption, energy generation and storage. An energy profile and a carbon footprint of an individual's home are generated along with recommendations for energy savings and/or possible addition of on site generation or energy storage. | 02-20-2014 |
20140072461 | LINEAR COMPRESSOR - A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes an electro-magnetic spring and a casing that defines a chamber. A piston is received within the chamber of the casing. The electro-magnetic spring can apply a non-linear force to the piston such that a total spring force applied to the piston during a compression stroke is substantially linear. | 03-13-2014 |
20140174996 | FILTER WITH AUDIBLE NOTIFICATION FEATURES - Audible features are provided for a fluid filter assembly and a filter cartridge for use with a fluid filter assembly. The audible features generate sound when the filter cartridge is installed in the filter system so as to provide a signal indicating proper installation. Sound can also be created when the filter cartridge is removed. The filter system can also be provided with features for reducing clogging of the fluid path leading to the filter element. | 06-26-2014 |
20140238382 | REDUCING PRE-HEAT TIME IN AN OVEN - A heating assembly is provided to reduce the pre-heat time of an oven. The heating assembly vaporizes a phase change fluid in an evaporator, allows the phase change fluid vapor to travel to a reactor in thermal communication with a cooking chamber of an oven appliance. In the reactor, the phase change fluid combines with a reaction substance and condenses, releasing latent heat and providing heat to the cooking chamber of the oven appliance. | 08-28-2014 |