System and method for communicating with an appliance through a light emitting diode
First Claim
1. A system for communicating data between an appliance and a device external to the appliance comprising:
- a controller for controlling operation of an appliance;
an indicator light coupled to the controller, the indicator light providing a visible indication of an operator selection in response to the controller energizing the indicator light; and
a driver coupled to the controller and the indicator light so that the controller may communicate data through the indicator light by controlling the driver.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a controller for controlling operation of an appliance, an indicator light coupled to the controller to provide a visible indication of an operator selection in response to the controller energizing the indicator light, and a driver coupled to the controller and the indicator light so that the controller may communicate data through the indicator light by controlling the driver. The indicator light may be a light emitting diode or a segment of an alphanumeric display of an appliance control panel. A detector LED may also be coupled to the controller so the controller may receive data from an external device that communicates by flashing light on the detector LED. A terminal for communicating with the appliance may include a detector LED and a conductor that couples the detector LED to a diagnostic tool. The detector LED may receive data from an optical transmitter of the appliance control panel. The terminal may also include a LED that is coupled to the diagnostic tool by a conductor so the LED may be selectively energized by the diagnostic tool to communicate with an optical receiver of the appliance control panel. The detector LED and LED coupled to the diagnostic tool may be located within a housing having apertures for the transmission of visible light to and from the detector LED and LED. The housing may be mounted to the appliance control panel and aligned for communication by means of a magnet or engagement with supports on the appliance control panel.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A system for communicating data between an appliance and a device external to the appliance comprising:
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a controller for controlling operation of an appliance;
an indicator light coupled to the controller, the indicator light providing a visible indication of an operator selection in response to the controller energizing the indicator light; and
a driver coupled to the controller and the indicator light so that the controller may communicate data through the indicator light by controlling the driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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15. A system for communicating data between an appliance and a device external to the appliance comprising:
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a controller for controlling operation of an appliance;
a detector LED coupled to the controller, the detector LED for receiving data communicated by a visible light generating device and for providing the received data to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A terminal for communicating with an appliance comprising:
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a light emitting diode (LED); and
a conductor for coupling the LED to a diagnostic tool so that the diagnostic tool may selectively energize the LED for communication with an appliance. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A terminal for communicating with an appliance comprising:
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a detector light emitting diode (LED); and
a conductor for coupling the detector LED to a diagnostic tool so that the detector LED may provide data received by the detector LED from the appliance to the diagnostic tool. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for communicating data between an appliance and a device external to the appliance comprising:
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controlling operation of an appliance;
providing a visible indication of an operator selection for controlling operation of the appliance; and
communicating data through an indicator light used to provide the visible indication of an operation selection. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for communicating data between an appliance and a device external to the appliance comprising:
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controlling operation of an appliance; and
receiving data communicated by a visible light generating device. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for communicating data with an appliance from an external device comprising:
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coupling a light emitting diode (LED) to a diagnostic tool; and
selectively energizing the LED so that the diagnostic tool may communicate data with an appliance. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for communicating with an appliance comprising:
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coupling a detector light emitting diode (LED) to a diagnostic tool; and
receiving data transmitted from an indicator light of an appliance through the detector LED. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification