Dishwasher with integrated closure element having an antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271709-B2
Application number	US-201715841566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 7, 2014
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A dishwasher with an integrated closure element, such as a pivoting door or sliding drawer front, having a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the closure element includes a control console located at an upper end of the closure element. The control console includes an antenna located adjacent a user interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:
a housing;
a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber having an open face within the housing for receiving dishes for treatment according to the at least one automatic cycle of operation;
a closure element movable to selectively close the open face of the treating chamber, the closure element including a metallic front panel extending from an upper edge of the closure element to a lower edge of the closure element; and
a control console located at an upper end of the closure element and comprising:
a console body located behind the metallic front panel and having a top;
a non-metallic top plate, separate from the console body, mounted to the top of the console body and forming an upper face of the closure element, wherein when the closure element closes the open face of the treating chamber, the non-metallic top plate faces upwardly and is inaccessible to a user;
a user interface printed circuit board assembly positioned between the console body and non-metallic top plate; and
an antenna mounted between the non-metallic top plate and the console body, positioned adjacent the user interface printed circuit board assembly, and mounted to the non-metallic top plate and wherein a location of the antenna is configured to allow a wireless communication signal to pass therethrough.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the antenna is in contact with a lower surface of the non-metallic top plate.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the antenna is spaced below a lower surface of the non-metallic top plate.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3 wherein the at least a portion of the antenna is spaced about 1 mm below the lower surface of the non-metallic top plate.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the non-metallic top plate is a planar body extending the width of the closure element.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a straight F-antenna.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a radio in communication with the antenna; and
a cable coupling the antenna to the radio;
wherein the cable comprises a cable section routed through the console body.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 , and further comprising an additional antenna located on a side of the dishwasher opposite the closure element.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the antenna and the additional antenna together provide complete spherical antenna coverage around the dishwasher.

10. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the combination of the antenna and the additional antenna provide WiFi signal coverage of nearly 360 degrees around the dishwasher with a minimum signal strength of about −17 dBi.

11. The dishwasher of 8 wherein the additional antenna is mounted at a lower rear side of the dishwasher.

12. The dishwasher of claim 11 , and further comprising a communication module with a radio at the lower rear side of the dishwasher in communication with the antenna and the additional antenna, wherein the radio comprises a radio printed circuit board, and the additional antenna is embedded on the radio printed circuit board.

13. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the closure element is one of:
a door mounted for pivoting movement relative to the tub; or
a portion of a drawer slidable relative to the housing.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the tub is metallic.

15. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the tub is open at its front side such that the open face of the treating chamber faces forwardly, and the closure element is a door mounted for pivoting movement relative to the tub to selectively close the open face.

16. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the tub is open at its upper side such the open face of the treating chamber faces upwardly, and the tub forms a drawer slidable relative to the housing with the closure element moving with the tub to selectively close the open face when the tub is received within housing.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 wherein the closure element forms a drawer housing that surrounds at least a portion of the tub.

18. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the non-metallic top plate is a planar body having a downwardly extending stud that the antenna is mounted to.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Gary Jr Wyndham F
• Smith Blayne C

Classifications

• A47L15/0084

  of drawer-type · CPC title

• A47L15/4257

  Details of the loading door · CPC title

• A47L15/4274

  Arrangement of electrical components, e.g. control units or cables (A47L15/4293 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47L15/4293

  Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels · CPC title

• A47L15/46

  Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning {; Controlling devices (A47L15/449 takes precedence)} · CPC title