Appliance control communication methods and apparatus

• US 6,919,815 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Peterson, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/264,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/539.24, 356/342, 356/219
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• 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: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

An apparatus includes an appliance control panel and a controller. The appliance control panel is disposed on an appliance. The appliance control panel has first and second optical communication devices that are in communication with an external surface of the appliance control panel. The controller is secured within the appliance. The controller is operably connected to the first and second communication devices to provide communication signals thereto, the communication signals including diagnostic information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an appliance control panel disposed on an appliance, the appliance control panel having first and second optical communication devices in communication with an external surface of the appliance control panel, at least one of the first and second optical communication devices being an indicator light for providing a visual indication of an operation of the appliance to a user of the appliance;

a controller secured within the appliance, the controller operably connected to the first and second optical communication devices to provide communication signals thereto, said communication signals including diagnostic information and information related to an operation of the appliance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicator light that is at least one of the first and second optical communication devices is a light emitting diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further operable to

monitor at least one of the first and second optical communication devices for a first signal;

and

transmit data via at least one of the first and second optical communication devices only after receiving the first signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive a data request signal after receiving the first signal; and

transmit the data via at least one of the first and second optical communication devices responsive to the data request signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further operable to transmit communication signals through the first optical communication device and receive communication signals through the second optical communication device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information related to an operation of the appliance is included in said communication signals at select times during the operation of the appliance.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information related to an operation of the appliance comprises information related to at least one of an operator selection and a cycle status.

8. An apparatus for obtaining communication signals from an appliance comprising:

first and second communication devices supported on a housing,

a plurality of conductors extending from the first and second communication devices to a location external to the housing, the plurality of conductors configured to be connected to a computing device;

a mounting means secured to the housing, the mounting means configured to removably secure the housing on an externally accessible panel of an appliance such that the first and second communication devices are in communication with communication devices electrically connected to a controller of the appliance.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mounting means comprises a magnetic component.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first and second communication devices comprise optical communication devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second communication devices comprise optical communication devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second communication devices are mounted within the housing.

13. A method comprising:

providing from a controller disposed within an appliance a first communication signal to a first communication device, the first communication signal including diagnostic information and information related to the operation of an appliance, the first communication device being an indicator light for providing a visual indication of an operation of the appliance to a user of the appliance in communication with an external surface of a control panel of the appliance;

receiving in the controller a second communication signal from a second communication device, the second communication device in communication with the external surface of the control panel of the appliance.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first communication device is a light emitting diode.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

monitoring the second communication device for the second communication signal; and

transmitting the first communication signal via the first

communication device only after receiving the second communication signal.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a data request signal after receiving the second communication signal, and wherein transmitting the first communication signal further comprises transmitting data via the first communication device responsive to the data request signal.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising

securing a housing proximate the external surface of the control panel of the appliance such that communication devices supported on the housing are in communication with the first and second communication devices.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein securing the housing further comprises:

employing a mounting means to secure the housing proximate the external surface of the control panel.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein securing the housing further comprises employing a magnetic device to secure the housing proximate the external surface of the control panel.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the information related to an operation of the appliance is included in said first communication signal at select times during the operation of the appliance.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said control panel includes said first communication device and said second communication device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the information related to an operation of the appliance comprises information related to at least one of an operator selection and a cycle status.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a control panel having a first optical communication device in communication with an external surface of the control panel; and

a controller operably connected to the first optical communication device to provide communication signals thereto, the first optical communication device being an indicator light for providing a visual indication of an operation of the appliance to a user of the appliance and said communication signals including diagnostic information and information related to an operation of the apparatus.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said control panel has a second optical communication device in communication with the external surface of the control panel, the controller operably connected to the second optical communication device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first optical communication device is a light emitting diode.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller is further operable to:

monitor at least one of the first and second optical communication devices for a first signal; and

transmit data via at least one of the first and second optical communication devices only after receiving the first signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive a data request signal after receiving the first signal; and

transmit the data via at least one of the first and second optical communication devices responsive to the data request signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller is further operable to transmit communication signals through the first optical communication device and receive communication signals through the second optical communication device.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the information related to an operation of the apparatus is included in said communication signals at select times during the operation of the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the information related to an operation of the apparatus comprises information related to at least one of an operator selection and a cycle status.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to selectively energize the first optical communication device to communicate the diagnostic information and the information related to an operation of the apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a driver coupled to the controller and the first optical communication device so that the controller may provide the communication signals to the first optical communication device by controlling the driver.

33. An arrangement for obtaining communication signals from an apparatus, said arrangement comprising:

first and second communication devices supported on a housing,

a plurality of conductors extending from the first and second communication devices to a location external to the housing, the plurality of conductors configured to be connected to a computing device; and

a mounting means secured to the housing, the mounting means configured to removably secure the housing on an externally accessible panel of an apparatus such that the first and second communication devices are in communication with communication devices electrically connected to a controller of the apparatus.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the mounting means comprises a magnetic component.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the first and second communication devices comprise optical communication devices.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first and second communication devices comprise optical communication devices.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first and second communication devices are mounted within the housing.

38. A method comprising:

providing from a controller disposed within an apparatus a first communication signal to a first communication device, the first communication device being an indicator light in communication with an external surface of a control panel of the apparatus; and

including diagnostic information and information related to an operation of the apparatus in the first communication signal.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the first communication device is a light emitting diode.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprising

providing a visual indication of an operation of the apparatus to a user of the apparatus using the first communication device.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said visible indication of an operation of the apparatus comprises at least one of a visible indication of an operator selection and a visible indication of a cycle status.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising

receiving in the controller a second communication signal from a second communication device, the second communication device in communication with the external surface of the control panel of the apparatus.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

monitoring the second communication devices for the second communication signal; and

transmitting the diagnostic information via the first communication device only after receiving the second communication signal.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising

receiving a data request signal after receiving the second communication signal, and wherein transmitting the first communication signal further comprises transmitting data via the first communication device responsive to the data request signal.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising

securing a housing proximate the external surface of the control panel of the apparatus such that communication devices supported on the housing are in communication with the first and second communication devices.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein securing the housing further comprises employing a mounting means to secure the housing proximate the external surface of the control panel.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein securing the housing further comprises employing a magnetic device to secure the housing proximate the external surface of the control panel.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein said control panel includes said first communication device and said second communication device.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein said control panel includes said first communication device.

50. The method of claim 38, wherein the information related to an operation of the apparatus is included in said first communication signal at select times during the operation of the apparatus.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein the information related to an operation of the apparatus comprises information related to at least one of an operator selection and a cycle status.