A consumer appliance or touch panel interface, as provided herein, may include a substrate panel, a flexible capacitance touch circuit, a deformable conductive joint, and a rigid circuit board. The flexible capacitance touch circuit may be joined to the substrate panel. The deformable conductive joint may extend from a first end to a second end. The first end may be bonded to the flexible capacitance touch circuit. The rigid circuit board may be bonded to the deformable conductive joint at the second end, the rigid circuit board being positioned behind the substrate panel along the axial direction.

A washing machine and an operating method thereof are disclosed. A washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a washing tub; a touch screen for outputting a graphical object corresponding to a washing-related function which can be performed by the washing tub; a detergent supplying unit which is formed to receive a laundry detergent in an inner space thereof and supply the received laundry detergent to the washing tub through a supply fluid path; and a control unit which detects a load and a contamination level of laundry in response to input of a washing start command and determines an input quantity of the laundry detergent received in the detergent supplying unit on the basis of the detected load and contamination level. In addition, the control unit displays a graphical object related to the determined laundry detergent input quantity on the touch screen.

Provided is a method for preventing an accident related to children or pets that may occur by a home appliance using artificial intelligence. According to the present disclosure, the method for preventing the accident comprises comparing a distance between the home appliance and a generation position of the voice signal and a reference distance when the generation position of the voice signal is outside of the home appliance. Then, the present disclosure enables switching a door of the home appliance to a lock state when a distance between the home appliance and the generation position of the voice signal is less than the reference distance. Thus, the present disclosure may enable controlling the home appliance to prevent children or pets from entering an inside of the home appliance.

Embodiments of this application disclose an intelligent electric appliance and a control method. The intelligent electric appliance includes: a first controller, where the first controller is configured to: receive a first instruction of a user, and convert the first instruction into a second instruction; and a second controller, where the second controller is connected to the first controller by using a communication interface. The first controller is further configured to send the second instruction to the second controller by using the communication interface, where the second controller is configured to control, based on the second instruction, the intelligent electric appliance to run. The first controller is configured to be independently upgraded when the intelligent electric appliance is connected to a network.

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A door is coupled to the cabinet. The door is operable between a closed position and an opened position. A microphone assembly is coupled to the door. The microphone assembly is configured to receive a voice command. A microcontroller is coupled to the door. The microcontroller is operably coupled to the microphone assembly and the microcontroller. A proximity sensor is coupled to the microphone assembly. The proximity sensor defines a sensor field that extends outward from the door.

Aspects of the invention may involve systems, methods, and computer readable medium. In an embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented method for paying for usage of a pay per use device may be provided. The method may transmit device identification information from the device to a server. Device setup information and vend price may be received and the vend price may be displayed. User identification may be received and transmitted to the server. An account balance value may be received and displayed on the display. A start request may be received and transmitted to the server. The device may start and an updated account balance may be displayed.

A connector for electrical contacting that includes a body configured to mechanically retain at least one electrically conductive contact, which is accessible on an exit side of the body for electrically contacting at least one other electrical contact. The body is constructed from at least two different components, with a first component of the at least two different components at least substantially forming the exit side and being made from a fire-retardant plastic, and a second component of the at least two different components having an ignition point which is lower than an ignition point of the first component of the at least two components, and the second component of the at least two different components having an elasticity which is greater than an elasticity of the first component of the at least two different components.

A consumer appliance or touch panel interface, as provided herein, may include a substrate panel, a flexible capacitance touch circuit, a deformable conductive joint, and a rigid circuit board. The flexible capacitance touch circuit may be joined to the substrate panel. The deformable conductive joint may extend from a first end to a second end. The first end may be bonded to the flexible capacitance touch circuit. The rigid circuit board may be bonded to the deformable conductive joint at the second end, the rigid circuit board being positioned behind the substrate panel along the axial direction.

Systems and methods for controlling one appliance using another appliance communicatively coupled thereto are provided. In one example aspect, a system includes a first appliance and a second appliance communicatively coupled thereto. The first appliance includes features that allow a user to control the first appliance and the second appliance from a single user interface.

Systems and methods for controlling one appliance using another appliance communicatively coupled thereto are provided. In one example aspect, a system includes a first appliance and a second appliance communicatively coupled thereto. The first appliance includes features that allow a user to control the first appliance and the second appliance from a single user interface.