Household appliance having antennas

• US 10,307,034 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Cottrell, Nicholas J., Gries, Jason R., Ireland, Vince A., Smith, Blayne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osterhout, Benjamin L
• Application Number:
  US15/980,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20180256000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0018 Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control for control of water softening or water softener regeneration A47L15/4229; for control of water level A47L15/4244; for control of bad smells or odours A47L15/4276; for control of water temperature A47L15/4287; for control of water pressure A47L15/4289; for control of condition of crockery or tableware A47L15/4295; for control of condition of washing water A47L15/4297
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0084 of drawer-type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0086 In-sink dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4257 Details of the loading door
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4274 Arrangement of electrical components, e.g. control units or cables A47L15/4293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4287 Temperature measuring or regulating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 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 Class Codes: A47L 15/4297 Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/46 Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning ; Controlling devices A47L15/449 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/36 Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving

Abstract

A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising:

a housing;

a tub located within the housing and at least partially defining a treating chamber configured for receiving items for treatment according to at least one automatic cycle of operation;

a first antenna proximate to the housing and defining a first artificial boundary;

a second antenna proximate to the housing in spaced relationship to the first antenna, the second antenna defining a second artificial boundary such that the first and second artificial boundaries define a bound area therebetween;

a radio located within the bound area;

a first cable connected between the radio and the first antenna; and

a second cable connected between the radio and the second antenna;

wherein location of the radio within the bound area is adapted to minimize lengths of the first cable and the second cable, respectively, and configured to reduce an amount of dissipation of signal due to resistance.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a kick plate on a front of the housing or a nameplate which visually displays a logo for the dishwasher and wherein the first antenna is located on the at least one of the kick plate or nameplate.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first antenna and the second antenna lie on opposite sides of a plane horizontally through and bisecting the housing.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the radio is at a different height than both of the first and the second antennas and the radio is between the first antenna and the second antenna.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the radio is spaced from and below the first antenna.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first and second cables are substantially equal in length.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least a first side and a second side, with the first antenna located on the first side and the second antenna located on the second side.

8. The dishwasher of claim 7 wherein the first and second sides are in an opposing relationship.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the first side comprises a front of the dishwasher and the second side comprises a rear of the dishwasher.

10. The dishwasher of claim 9, further comprising a control console located on the front of the dishwasher, with the first antenna located within the control console.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the second antenna is located on the rear of the dishwasher below the treating chamber.

12. The dishwasher of claim 10 wherein the housing further comprises a door defining the front of the dishwasher.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12 wherein the control console is provided on the door.

14. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the first antenna lies above the radio and the second antenna.

15. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the radio is located beneath the tub.

16. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a door assembly configured to selectively close an open face of the tub and wherein the radio is mounted in the door assembly.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16 wherein the door assembly includes a front panel and a rear panel which define an interior space, and wherein at least one of the first cable or the second cable extends through the interior space.

18. The dishwasher of claim 17 wherein the radio comprises a printed circuit board, and the first antenna is embedded on the printed circuit board of the radio.

19. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the radio comprises a printed circuit board, and the first antenna is embedded on the printed circuit board of the radio.

20. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a frame, which supports the tub on a ground surface and wherein the second antenna is mounted to the frame.