Appliance with presence detection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11725871-B2
Application number	US-202117483864-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2021
Priority date	Sep 24, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

An appliance including a control device in operative communication with a user input panel and a sensor provided. The control device is configured to emit, via the sensor, a first plurality of signals defining a first operating mode. The first operating mode includes one or more of a first scan rate or a first scan interval. The control device is configured to switch between the first operating mode and a second operating mode based on one or more of detection of a container, detection of a user, or a user input. The control device is configured to emit, via the sensor, a second plurality of signals defining the second operating mode. The second operating mode includes one or more of a second scan rate or a second scan interval different from the first operating mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance, comprising:
a user input panel;
a dispenser comprising a nozzle for dispensing a fluid, and further comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to emit and receive one or more signals indicative of a distance from the sensor; and
one or more control devices in operative communication with the user input panel, the dispenser and the sensor, the one or more control devices configured to:
emit from the sensor a first plurality of signals defining a first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode comprises one or more of a first scan range, a first scan rate, or a first scan interval;
switch between the first operating mode and a second operating mode based on one or more of detection of a container, detection of a user, or a user input; and
emit from the sensor a second plurality of signals defining the second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode comprises one or more of a second scan range, a second scan rate, or a second scan interval.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to: change an angle of emission of the second plurality of signals relative to the first plurality of signals.

3. The appliance of claim 2 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to change the angle of emission of the second plurality of signals based on one or more of detection of the container, detection of the user, or the user input.

4. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the second scan range is less than the first scan range.

5. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the one or more control devices is further configured to:
detect the container within a dispensing recess at the dispenser based at least in part on receiving the first plurality of signals and the second plurality of signals;
determine a proximity of received signals; and
correspond the proximity of the received signals to presence of the container.

6. The appliance of claim 5 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to correspond the proximity of the received signals to a threshold range indicative of presence of the container, wherein the presence of the container is detected when the received signals are at or below the threshold range.

7. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to:
operate the dispenser to initiate a flow of fluid into a dispensing recess through the nozzle in response to a user input at the user input panel and when the presence of the container is detected.

8. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to:
receive the second plurality of signals from the sensor after operating the dispenser to initiate the flow of fluid into the dispensing recess.

9. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first scan interval is at least approximately 2 times greater than the second scan interval.

10. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first scan range is at least approximately 13.6 inches, and wherein the second scan range is less than approximately 13.6 inches.

11. The appliance of claim 10 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to:
determine a proximity of received signals; and
compare a rate of change of the proximity of the received signals.

12. The appliance of claim 1 , the appliance comprising:
an articulating plate positioned at a dispensing recess of the dispenser, wherein the articulating plate comprises an actuation structure configured to pivot the articulating plate between approximately 0 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.

13. The appliance of claim 12 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to emit, from the sensor toward the articulating plate, the first plurality of signals.

14. The appliance of claim 13 , wherein the articulating plate is pivoted between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 45 degrees when emitting the first plurality of signals toward the articulating plate.

15. The appliance of claim 13 , wherein the one or more control devices is configured to change an angle of emission of the second plurality of signals relative to the first plurality of signals via pivoting the articulating plate.

16. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a pivot member configured to change an angle of emission of the second plurality of signals relative to the first plurality of signals.

17. A controller for an appliance, the controller comprising:
one or more memory devices configured to store instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the controller to perform operations, the operations comprising:
emitting, from a sensor, a first plurality of signals defining a first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode comprises one or more of a first scan rate or a first scan interval;
switching between the first operating mode and a second operating mode based on one or more of detection of a container, detection of a user, or a user input; and
emitting, from the sensor, a second plurality of signals defining the second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode comprises one or more of a second scan rate or a second scan interval.

18. The controller of claim 17 , the operations comprising:
changing an angle of emission of the second plurality of signals relative to the first plurality of signals when the presence of the container is detected.

19. The controller of claim 18 , the operations comprising:
receiving the first plurality of signals and the second plurality of signals;
determining a proximity of received signals; and
corresponding the proximity of the received signals to presence of the container.

20. The controller of claim 17 , wherein switching between the first operating mode and the second operating mode is based on when a received signal is determined to be within or beyond a threshold range.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Root Steven Keith

Classifications

• F25D23/126 Primary

  Water cooler · CPC title

• G01V8/26

  using mechanical scanning systems · CPC title

• F25D2700/04

  Sensors detecting the presence of a person · CPC title

• F25C5/22

  particularly adapted for household refrigerators · CPC title