Patent · US Active

Network for changing resource consumption in an appliance

US8027752B2 · kind B2 · utility

64Cited by

114References

18Claims

0Family size

Assignee

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION · US

Inventors

Rodrigo C. Castaldo · Joinville, BR
Matthew P. Ebrom · Holland, US
Wallace J. Elston, III · Paw Paw, US
Gale R. Horst · Benton Harbor, US
Randy L. Jeffery · Stevensville, US
Anthony E. Jenkins · Stevensville, US
Richard A. McCoy · Stevensville, US
Christopher S. Moes · Stevensville, US
Matthew J. Nibbelink · Three Rivers, US
Andre O. Pires · St. George, US
Randy A. Voss · Three Rivers, US
Andrew D. Whipple · Three Rivers, US

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 31, 2007
Grant date	Sep 27, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Nov 23, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02B40/00
WIPO fieldDigital communication
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A network includes a smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, and an appliance configured to perform an operation on a physical article. The appliance is one that consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation. The network also includes a source of information about the resource. The smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to request a change to the operation of the appliance in response to a resource parameter or a request communicated by the source.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.