APPLIANCE WITH A SERVICE INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A CONSUMABLE HOLDER

• US 20100102076A1
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: LUCKMAN, JOEL A., MCCOY, RICHARD A., HENDRICKSON, MICHAEL S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/9
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/06 Type or material
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12

Abstract

An appliance configured to perform a physical operation on an article, using a resource, includes a process control apparatus to control a cycle of the physical operation, and a service interface in communication with the process control apparatus and configured to receive a consumable holder. The service interface has at least one coupling point for conveying the consumable from a consumable holder to the appliance.

Claims

1. An appliance configured to perform a physical operation on an article, using a resource, the appliance comprising:

a process control apparatus to control a cycle of the physical operation; and

a service interface in communication with the process control apparatus and configured to receive a consumable holder;

wherein the service interface has at least one coupling point for conveying the consumable from a consumable holder to the appliance.

2. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the service interface has a coupling point for exchanging data between the appliance and a consumable holder.

3. An appliance according to claim 2 wherein the coupling point for exchanging data disclosure is one of wireless and optical.

4. An appliance according to claim 2 wherein the data includes information about the cycle in a form for transmission to a consumable holder through the coupling point for exchanging data.

5. An appliance according to claim 2 wherein the data includes information associated with a consumable in a consumable holder.

6. An appliance according to claim 2 wherein the data includes a network message that can effect the configuration, enablement, functionality, or operation of a consumable holder.

7. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the service interface has at least one coupling point for coupling a circuit to a consumable holder.

8. An appliance according to claim 7 wherein the circuit is configured to deliver power to a consumable holder.

9. An appliance according to claim 7 wherein the circuit is configured to trigger an actuator in one of a consumable holder and the appliance.

10. An appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a power connection adapted to transmit power to a consumable holder.

11. An appliance according to claim 1 further comprising coupling points outside of the service interface for external coupling to a consumable holder.

12. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the process control apparatus enables the appliance to discover a consumable holder by using network messages.

13. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the process control apparatus has at least one functional identifier.

14. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the process control apparatus is enabled to propagate messages to enable discovery of functionalities.

15. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the process control apparatus is configured to direct functionalities of a consumable holder.

16. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the process control apparatus is configured to have its functionalities modified by a consumable holder.

17. An appliance according to claim 16 further comprising a cycle engine.

18. An appliance according to claim 1 wherein the process control apparatus is configured to have its functionalities directed by a consumable holder.

19. An appliance according to claim 1 comprising a user interface configured to interact with a consumable holder.

20. An appliance according claim 19 wherein the user interface is a source of information about the consumable or the source of the consumable supplied by user input.

21. An appliance according to claim 19 wherein the information includes at least one of amount, brand, type, composition, structural form, and concentration of a consumable

22. An appliance according to claim 1 further comprising a consumable holder.