Product indication for filter status update

Abstract

A water filter communication system and method of using the system. A method of periodically reading water filter data associated with a water filter and retained by the water filter that has been positioned in an appliance includes the steps of: installing a water filter into an engaged position in a filter head assembly within an interior of a cabinet of an appliance that includes a water inlet and a water outlet and periodically, based upon and after a user's interaction with the appliance or the water filter, supplying power from the appliance to the filter read-write memory device engaged to the filter housing; transmitting water filter data to the appliance from the filter read-write memory device, which retains filter information.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of periodically reading water filter data associated with a water filter in an appliance comprising the steps of:
 installing a water filter into an engaged position in a filter head assembly within an interior of a cabinet of an appliance that includes a water inlet and a water outlet such that when a water filter is engaged in the filter head assembly, water passes through the water inlet of the filter head assembly and an inlet of the water filter and is treated by at least one filter media within a filter housing interior of the water filter forming treated water and the treated water passes through the outlet of the water filter and the outlet of the filter head assembly;   wherein the water filter is engaged to the filter head assembly by accessing the interior of the cabinet of the appliance; and   wherein the water filter comprises a filter read-write memory device engaged with the housing of the water filter and the water filter has at least one electrically conductive contact that receives electrical power from the appliance and provides electrical power to the filter read-write memory device and at least one contact that sends and receives data between the filter read-write memory device and the appliance; and   periodically, based upon and after a user's interaction with the appliance or the water filter, supplying power from the appliance to the filter read-write memory device engaged to the filter housing;   transmitting water filter data to the appliance from the filter read-write memory device;   displaying at least some of the water filter data to the user of the appliance on a display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the water filter from the filter head assembly of the appliance; 
 reinstalling the water filter with the same filter head assembly or installing the water filter into a different filter head assembly of a different appliance. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the read-write memory device is chosen from the group consisting of a read-write radio frequency identification device, an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory device, a controller, a microprocessor, a control board and a logic circuit; and
 wherein the user interaction is chosen from the group consisting of: removal of the filter, engagement of the filter, manual interaction with a reset initiating device, and powering of the appliance from an unpowered status.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of supplying power from the appliance to the filter controller is periodically done solely based upon and after a user interaction with the appliance or user interaction with the water filter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of periodically supplying power from the appliance to a filter controller comprises supplying power in an irregular manner based upon and after a user interaction with the appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interaction is a physical interaction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the user interaction is the removal or installation of the water filter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the user interaction is the opening of a door of the appliance that permits access to at least a portion of the interior of the appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of sensing the presence of the water filter using a filter presence sensing system that provides a signal to the appliance that the water filter is either present or absent from its engaged position within the filter head assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the filter presence sensing system comprises a reed switch within the filter head assembly that closes when the filter is in the installed position and the filter comprises a magnet engaged with the filter housing and wherein the magnet and the reed switch are positioned and configured to close the reed switch when the filter is installed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of the appliance receiving a signal from a signal generating device indicating that a user interaction has occurred prior to supplying power from the appliance to the filter read-write memory device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the signal is transmitted from a sensor engaged with a door of the appliance that moves between an open position that allows access to the interior of the appliance cabinet and access to the filter head assembly and a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a mechanical switch associated with the filter head assembly senses whether or not the filter is engaged with the filter head assembly and transmits this information to the appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical switch is positioned to be actuated by a door that includes the compartment of the appliance that contains a water filter access has been open or closed or the mechanical switch is positioned within a filter receiving cavity of the filter head assembly and is configured to be actuated when the water filter is positioned within the filter receiving cavity in the engaged position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a personal electronic device configured to send and receive communication signals that is remote and physically untethered from the appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water filter data is chosen from the group consisting of information about the water filter capacity, filter usage data, the number of days until a replacement water filter unit is needed, the volume of water until a replacement filter unit is needed, model information about the water filter, filter specification information and filter reordering information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display is chosen from an LED indicator on an exterior surface of the appliance, an LED indicator on an interior surface of the appliance, and a physical display on the exterior surface or interior surface of the appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the appliance further comprises a wireless communication system that communicates between the appliance and the personal electronic device using the wireless communication system. 
     
     
         19 . A method of preventing corrosion of contacts between a water filter with a filter read-write memory and a filter head assembly comprising the steps of:
 installing a water filter into an engaged position by accessing the interior of an appliance; and wherein the water filter comprises a filter read-write memory device and at least one data or electrical contact positioned in connection with the housing of the water filter such that, when the at least one data or electrical contact is operably connected to one or more contact associated with the appliance, the water filter has at least one electrically conductive contact that receives electrical power from the appliance and provides electrical power to the filter read-write memory device and at least one contact that allows data communication between the filter read-write memory device and the appliance;   engaging electrical power to the water filter in the engaged position, based upon a user's interaction with the appliance or the water filter, thereby supplying power from the appliance to the filter read-write memory device engaged to the filter housing for a time sufficient to allow for data communication between the appliance and the read-write device; and   disengaging electrical power to the water filter in the engaged position after the time sufficient to allow for data communication.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 transmitting filter data to the appliance from the filter read-write memory device; and 
 displaying at least some of the filter data to the user of the appliance on a display. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising the steps of:
 installing a water filter into an engaged position in a filter head assembly within an interior of a cabinet of an appliance that includes a water inlet and a water outlet such that when a water filter is engaged in the filter head assembly, water passes through the water inlet of the filter head assembly and an inlet of the water filter and is treated by at least one filter media within a filter housing interior of the water filter forming treated water and the treated water passes through the outlet of the water filter and the outlet of the filter head assembly;   wherein the water filter is engaged to the filter head assembly by accessing the interior of the cabinet of the appliance; and   wherein the water filter comprises a filter read-write memory device physically engaged with the housing of the water filter and the water filter has at least one electrically conductive contact that receives electrical power from the appliance and provides electrical power to the filter read-write memory device and at least one contact that sends and receives data between the filter read-write memory device and the appliance; and   periodically, based upon and after a user's interaction with the appliance or the water filter, supplying power from the appliance to the filter read-write memory device engaged to the filter housing.