A water filter system includes a removable filter unit having a body portion including a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is adapted to be inserted into a filter head assembly. A laterally extending key member is disposed on the body portion and adapted to engage a key slot in the filter head assembly. An engagement protrusion extends from the proximal end. The engagement protrusion includes a first portion that has a first radius of curvature and a second portion opposing the first portion that includes a second radius of curvature that is larger than the first radius of curvature.

A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

A coffee machine is disclosed having a water system intended to be connected to a water supply system, a filter unit disposed at the inlet of the water system, a pump, a tank disposed in the water system between the filter unit and the pump, a sensor unit disposed in the tank and suitable for measuring at least one quality parameter of the water contained in the tank, a monitoring unit electrically connected to the sensor unit to receive electrical signals that are indicative of the measured water quality parameters, transduce the electrical signals in numerical values and compare the numerical values of the measured parameters with preset threshold ranges, and a user interface operatively connected to the monitoring unit and having an alarm to indicate when a water parameter is out of the preset threshold range.

Systems and methods related to communication with and control of network-enabled water devices and sensors of various water systems are disclosed. Such water systems may include water filtration systems, water reclamation systems, sump pump systems, pool or spa systems, water softening systems, and plumbing systems. Such water devices may include chemical controllers, smart valves, pool pumps, sump pumps, water softeners, residential appliances, and manifolds. Such sensor devices may include flow meters, splash detectors, motion sensors, moisture sensors, humidity sensors, chemical sensors, water level sensors, pressure sensors, and cameras. Data received from network-enabled water devices and sensors may be processed at a remote server or a local controller, which may cause corresponding alerts or maintenance requests to be sent to one or more user devices or service providers or may automatically control one or more of the water devices and sensors based on analysis of the data.

Disclosed is a system and method for cleaning an ice machine, a cleaning apparatus comprising an ozone generator, at least one fluid line connecting an output from the ozone generator to at least one of a water inlet, a water recirculatory line, and a water reservoir, wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured for use with an ice machine. In some embodiments, one or more sensors are provided and may be configured to detect a call for new ice formation. The one or more sensors may comprise (i) a flow valve sensor, (ii) a sensor configured to detect if water is flowing through a water inlet, (iii) a sensor configured to detect a beginning of new ice formation, and/or (iv) a sensor configured to detect an end of new ice formation.

Systems and methods are described, which relate to the control of additive dispensers to provide defined amounts of one or more additive compounds to water to produce customized water. A given additive dispenser may include multiple inputs and/or outputs. Predefined water profiles may be stored in memory. A given water profile may define the amounts of additives to be delivered by the additive dispensers to achieve desired water characteristics. A controller may determine actual water characteristics of input water based on corresponding sensor data, and may compare the actual water characteristics to desired water characteristics in order to determine the amount of additive or additives that should be delivered to the input water to achieve the desired water characteristics. The additive dispensers may be network-enabled and may include transceivers configured to receive instructions related to production of customized water from a user device.

An authentication system for authenticating a water filter cartridge at an appliance is provided. The water filter cartridge comprises a connection assembly having one or more connection devices that are structured for engaging an electrical connector of an appliance water filter manifold assembly of an appliance, to establish an electrical connection between the connection assembly and a controller of the appliance. A method of use of the water filter cartridge at the appliance comprises inserting the water filter cartridge into a receptacle of an appliance water filter manifold assembly. A method of authentication of the water filter cartridge comprises establishing an electrical communication link between a memory device of a water filter cartridge and an appliance water filter manifold assembly of the appliance, and retrieving, via the electrical communication link, a unique identifier associated with the water filter cartridge from the memory device.

A wire harness assembly including a first connector, a second connector, and conductors extending between the first connector and the second connector. Contacts are provided on the second connector. The contacts have termination sections which are mounted on the second connector, compliant sections which extend from the termination sections, and substrate engagement sections which extend from the compliant sections. The substrate engagement sections have curved contact sections which are configured to be positioned in mechanical and electrical engagement with circuit pads of a mating printed circuit board. Embossments are provided on the curved contact sections to provide additional strength and stability to the curved contact sections.

Provided are a filter unit which may easily replace a filter, and a refrigerator including the same. To this end, a filter unit according to the present disclosure includes a filter which purifies water, a filter head which is disposed on one end portion of the filter, and includes an inlet port which supplies raw water to the filter and is formed to protrude from one side thereof, and an outlet port which discharges pure water purified by the filter and is formed to protrude from the other side thereof, a filter housing which is formed with a filter accommodation space in which the filter is accommodated, a filter bracket which is coupled to the filter housing, and includes an inlet port coupling part to which the inlet port is coupled rotatably, and an outlet portion coupling part to which the outlet port is coupled rotatably, and a filter door which is coupled to the filter housing to open and close the filter accommodation space.

A substrate subject to degradation at temperatures above 100° C. is coated with a nanostructured ceramic coating having a thickness in excess of 100 nm, formed on a surface of the substrate, wherein a process temperature for deposition of the nanostructured coating does not exceed 90° C. The coating may be photocatalytic, photovoltaic, or piezoelectric. The coating, when moistened and exposed to ultraviolet light or sunlight, advantageously generates free radicals, which may be biocidal, deodorizing, or assist in degradation of surface deposits on the substrate after use. The substrate may be biological or organic, and may have a metallic or conductive intermediate layer.