US 12,397,249 B2 · Appliance water filter system having memory and authentication functionality

Abstract

A water filter system for an appliance includes a filter head assembly, a first appliance control unit positioned proximate the filter head assembly and a water filter having a memory storage unit. The water filter is selectively placed in communication with the first appliance control unit to define a filter use state. The filter use state is further defined by a first potential fluid-flow rate through the water filter and a predetermined lifetime fluid filtration amount. A data transfer mechanism defines a second data-transfer protocol between the memory storage unit and the first appliance control unit when an actual fluid filtration amount of the water filter reaches the predetermined lifetime fluid filtration amount. The second data transfer protocol defines a notification state defined by a second potential fluid flow rate, the second potential fluid flow rate being less than the first potential fluid flow rate.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A refrigeration appliance water filter comprising:

a housing having filter media therein;
a memory device disposed within or on the housing and wherein the memory device includes an initial startup protocol, a subsequent data transfer protocol that defines and updates a filter use state, and a non-authentication protocol stored therein and wherein the initial startup protocol comprises encrypted instructions used to authenticate the refrigeration appliance water filter that is configured to be executed a first time when the refrigeration appliance water filter is engaged with a filter head assembly of a refrigeration appliance;
and
wherein the initial startup protocol is overwritten such that it cannot be executed a second time after it is executed and a first fluid flow rate of filtered water is established by the refrigeration appliance water filter.

1 more element

An appliance water filter comprising:

a water filter housing having water filter media therein;
a memory device disposed within or on the water filter housing and wherein the memory device includes an initial startup protocol and a data transfer protocol, wherein the initial startup protocol is wirelessly transmitted using a wireless signal to a microprocessor based control with memory within a refrigeration appliance and the initial startup protocol comprises an encrypted authentication tag that is wirelessly transmitted to the microprocessor based control with memory and used to authenticate the appliance water filter that is configured to be executed when the appliance water filter is engaged with the refrigeration appliance, and the data transfer protocol defines and updates a filter use state;
and
wherein the initial startup protocol is configured to be overwritten after it is executed such that it cannot be executed a second time.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Appliance water filter system having memory and authentication functionality

Life of this patent

Appliance water filter system having memory and authentication functionality

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19