# US 8,788,853 B2 · Method and apparatus for closing a pathway of a power supply circuit by configuring a door lock in locked position to pre-charge a motor drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,853 B2 - Document ID: US8788853B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/216,758 - Filed: 2011-08-24 - Published: 2013-02-28 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-24 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Jonathan Blair Talmadge; Steven Michael Recio; Douglas Laurence Robertson - Inventors: Jonathan Blair Talmadge; Steven Michael Recio; Douglas Laurence Robertson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788853B2 ## CPC - D06F 37/42: Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract An appliance including a motor drive, a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply, a cabinet having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet, and a door lock. When the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock is configured to secure the door and close a pathway of the power supply circuit thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the motor drive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An appliance comprising: a motor drive; a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply; a precharge circuit electrically coupled in series between the power supply and the motor drive; a relay electrically coupled in parallel with the precharge circuit; a cabinet having an opening; a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet; a door lock configured to secure the door when the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock further configured to close a pathway of the power supply circuit when the door lock is in the locked position thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through the pre-charge circuit to the motor drive; and a controller configured to: detect a request to begin an operation of the appliance; initiate a door locking process to secure the door with the door lock; detect when a pre-charge of the motor is complete; and close the relay to bypass the precharge circuit and electrically couple the power supply to the motor supply. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An appliance in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit comprises at least one resistor configured to limit the motor drive current below a current threshold level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein the current threshold level is about 10 Amps. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least one resistor comprises a plurality of resistors in series. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An appliance in accordance with claim 2, wherein the power supply circuit comprises a relay configured to bypass the at least one resistor after the motor drive is charged thereby enabling a non-limiting current to reach the motor drive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An appliance in accordance with claim 5, wherein the motor drive is a variable speed motor drive. ### Claim 7 An appliance in accordance with claim wherein the appliance is a horizontal axis washing machine. ### Claim 8 A controller configured to pre-charge a device for an appliance, the controller comprising: a computer-readable memory for storing data indicative of current threshold levels; and a computer processor programmed to: receive instructions to begin an operation based on user defined settings; initiate a pre-charging of the device by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, configured to close a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device; detecting when the pre-charge of the device is complete; and closing a relay to bypass the pre-charge circuit and provide electrical power directly to the device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A controller in accordance with claim 8, wherein the power supply circuit comprises at least one resistor configured to limit the current to the device below a current threshold level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A controller in accordance with claim 9, wherein the at least one resistor comprises a plurality of resistors in series. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A controller in accordance with claim 9, wherein the computer processor is further programmed to: determine when the pre-charging of the device is complete; and once the device has been pre-charged, utilize the relay on the power supply circuit to bypass the at least one resistor thereby enabling a non-limiting current to reach the device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A controller in accordance with claim 11, wherein the device is a variable speed motor drive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A controller in accordance with claim 8, wherein the power supply circuit comprises at least one resistor configured to limit the current below about 10 Amps. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: receiving instructions to begin an operation in an appliance; and initiating, by a computer processor, a pre-charging of a device for the appliance by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, configured to close a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device; detect when the pre-charge of the device is complete; and close a relay to bypass the pre-charge circuit and provide electrical power directly to the device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising limiting the current being supplied to the device by way of a resistor configured to limit the current below a current threshold level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising limiting the current being supplied to the device by a plurality of resistors in series, the plurality of resistors configured to limit the current below a current threshold level. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising: determining when the pre-charging of the device is complete; and once the device has been pre-charged, utilizing the relay on the power supply circuit to bypass the at least one resistor thereby enabling a non-limiting current to reach the device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising limiting the current supplied to the device using a resistor configured to limit the current below about 10 Amps. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the device is a motor drive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the motor drive is a variable speed motor drive.