Method for authenticating a filter cartridge for a refrigerator appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsBradford Gasior, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Jose Rafael Padron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter assembly for authenticating a filter cartridge includes a filter housing and an optical scanner mounted to the filter housing. A controller uses the optical scanner to take one or more digital images of the filter cartridge and obtain digital coded data identifying the filter cartridge. Specifically, the controller locates a functional locator on the filter cartridge, determines a location of an identifying region on the filter cartridge, reads the digital coded data by interrogating the identifying region with the optical scanner, and determines that the filter cartridge is authentic based at least in part on the digital coded data.
Claims18
A method of using a filter assembly to authenticate a filter cartridge, the method comprising:
- locating a functional locator on the filter cartridge using an optical scanner;
- determining a location of an identifying region on the filter cartridge, the identifying region containing digital coded data;
- reading the digital coded data by interrogating the identifying region with the optical scanner;
- performing digital image processing of a digital image obtained by the optical scanner, wherein the digital image processing comprises at least one of eroding a digital image, dilating a digital image, eroding and dilating a digital image, and summing a plurality of eroded or dilated digital images;
- and
- determining that the filter cartridge is authentic based at least in part on the digital coded data.
A filter assembly for authenticating a filter cartridge, the filter assembly comprising:
- a filter housing configured for receiving the filter cartridge;
- an optical scanner for obtaining one or more digital images of the filter cartridge;
- and
- a controller in operative communication with the optical scanner, the controller being configured for:
- locating a functional locator on the filter cartridge using the optical scanner;
- interrogating an identifying region with the optical scanner, the identifying region containing digital coded data;
- performing digital image processing of a digital image obtained by the optical scanner, wherein the digital image processing comprises at least one of eroding a digital image, dilating a digital image, eroding and dilating a digital image, and summing a plurality of eroded or dilated digital images;
- and
- determining whether the filter cartridge is authentic based at least in part on the digital coded data read within the identifying region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.