Posts Tagged: "refrigerator"

Inventing for convenience – Whirlpool focuses on optimizing home appliances

Whirlpool’s recent patent applications published by the USPTO continue to showcase a great deal of research and development focused on home appliances. We noticed a couple of inventions related to dishwashers, including one dishwasher with a lighting array designed to help a user better see the dishes carried by a rack. Cooking ranges were another area of R&D focus and we discuss one patent application that claims a suspended cooktop above an oven that may be raised or lowered. We also discuss a patent application discussing home networks to which appliances may be connected.

LG Patent Apps Point to Electric Cars and Solar Cell Manufacturing

LG has also made forays into the realm of alternative energies to design and develop solar cells to be manufactured by the company. One of these technologies has been filed with the USPTO through U.S. Patent Application No. 20140357008, entitled Method of Manufacturing Solar Cell and Method of Forming Doping Region. The method of manufacturing a solar cell claimed by this patent involves forming a doping region with portions containing different doping concentrations which are simultaneously formed while forming an electrode to the solar cell. This innovation was pursued to improve upon conventional solar cell manufacturing methods by providing a simpler means for forming a doping region which results in less risk of the forming of a manufacturing defect.

Whirlpool Appliances Detect Biometric Characteristics of the User

Featuring one patent application that may provide an incredible improvement to computer control systems on home appliances. This application would protect a system of analyzing user characteristics to determine the individual’s identity and bring up a personalized interface. Other patent applications have been filed for a kitchen composting device, a garbage disposal that allows for under-sink waste removal and a couple of improvements to dishwasher systems. The issued patents held by Whirlpool are also of great interest in this series, and we’ve found a couple that will intrigue scores of consumers. Whirlpool now owns the legal right to protect a dishwasher system with a display that allows a user to program the start and stop times for wash cycles. Another issued patent protects a grill cooking grate that is more effective at distributing heat when cooking. We also have a trio of patents related to innovative improvements to refrigerators, especially for flavor additives in water dispensers.