Household appliance having antennas

• US 9,375,125 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• 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., Plach, Daniel, Porter, Robert E., Lieto, Gregory S., Smith, Blayne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CORMIER, DAVID G
• Application Number:
  US13/721,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20140174489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 for treating an item 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 household appliance for treating items according to at least one automatic cycle of operation, comprising:

a treating chamber for receiving items for treatment according to the at least one automatic cycle of operation;

a housing supporting the treating chamber and having a front and a rear and having an azimuth plane extending through the front and rear of the housing;

at least one controllable component configured to implement the at least one automatic cycle of operation;

a controller coupled to the at least one controllable component and configured to control the at least one controllable component according to the at least one automatic cycle of operation; and

a radio system in communication with the controller for transmitting and receiving data and having a first antenna with a first radiation pattern and a second antenna with a second radiation pattern, wherein the first and second radiation patterns collectively form a combined radiation pattern;

wherein the first and second antennas are located on the household appliance such that a substantially spherical coverage pattern is provided, with the first antenna providing approximately a first hemisphere of coverage and the second antenna providing approximately a second hemisphere of coverage.

2. The household appliance of claim 1 wherein the first antenna is located proximate the front of the housing and the second antenna is located proximate the rear of the housing.

3. The household appliance of claim 2 wherein the first antenna is located at a higher elevation relative to the household appliance than the second antenna.