IP Library Granted Patent US 12,640,956
Granted Patent B2
US 12,640,956 · App. 18/444,212 · Granted May 26, 2026

Sink device

Inventors: Rafael Rexach (Sheboygan, WI); Jessica Schroeder (Sheboygan, WI); Miguel Arciniega (Sheboygan, WI); Ashley Springer (Sheboygan, WI); Shi Chao Zhang (Sheboygan, WI); Marwan Estiban (Mequon, WI); Anne Krauter (Sheboygan Falls, WI); Perry Erickson (Sheboygan, WI); Anil Pendyala (Grafton, WI); Erin Geiger (Cedarburg, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
H04L12/282A47K5/1217A47K13/305E03C1/055E03C1/057E03D5/105E03D9/002G05B15/02G10L15/1822G10L15/22G10L21/06H04L12/2816A47K2010/3226A47K2010/3668A47K2201/00G05B2219/2642G06F3/167G10L2015/223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,640,956
App. No.
18/444,212
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A voice controlled device comprises a housing, a dock, a coupling mechanism, and a microphone. The dock is configured to connect the housing to a plurality of host appliances. The coupling mechanism is configured to receive an identification value indicative of docking between the voice controlled device and a currently connected host appliance of the plurality of host appliances. The microphone is configured to receive one or more voice inputs for the currently connected host appliance. A command is provided based on the one or more voice inputs and the identification value.

Claims (27)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a microphone configured to receive data indicative of at least one voice command from a user; and

a network device configured to send data indicative of the at least one voice command from the user to a server configured to perform an analysis of the data indicative of the at least one voice command from the user and, in response to the analysis, generate at least one instruction to control one or more valves to control a temperature of water.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network device is configured to package the data indicative of the at least one voice command in a predetermined format for the server.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one instruction to control one or more valves to control the temperature of water includes a first instruction for a first appliance and a second instruction for a second appliance.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voice command includes user identification data.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controlled temperature is selected in response to the user identification data.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voice command includes data for a type of appliance.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controlled temperature is selected in response to the data for the type of appliance.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voice command includes configuration data, and wherein the configuration data is based on the identification of the user or detection of the user and preferences previously established by the user.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controlled temperature is selected in response to the configuration data.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a flow sensor configured to generate sensor data indicative of a flow of water, wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more valves in response to the sensor data.

11 . An apparatus comprising:

a data collection interface configured to communicate with a network and receive data indicative of at least one voice command from a user; and

a controller configured to perform an analysis of the data indicative of the at least one voice command from the user and, in response to the analysis, generate at least one instruction for one or more valves to control a temperature of a flow of water.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instruction to control one or more valves to control the temperature of water includes a first instruction for a first appliance and a second instruction for a second appliance.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the voice command includes user identification data.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controlled temperature is selected in response to the user identification data.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the voice command includes data for a type of appliance.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the controlled temperature is selected in response to the data for the type of appliance.

17 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the voice command includes configuration data, and wherein the configuration data is based on the identification of the user or detection of the user and preferences previously established by the user.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controlled temperature is selected in response to the configuration data.

19 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the voice command includes a trigger word.

20 . A system comprising:

a home hub communication device configured to send data for at least one voice command from a user; and

a server including a controller configured to perform an analysis of the data for the at least one voice command from the user and, in response to the analysis, generate at least one instruction to control one or more valves to control a temperature of water.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2024
From: REXACH, RAFAEL; SCHROEDER, JESSICA; ARCINIEGA, MIGUEL; SPRINGER, ASHLEY; ZHANG, SHI CHAO; ESTIBAN, MARWAN; KRAUTER, ANNE; ERICKSON, PERRY; PENDYALA, ANIL; GEIGER, ERIN
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 068861/0577 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17129604 · Dec 21, 2020
Division 16126942 · Sep 10, 2018
Provisional Application 62559199 · Sep 15, 2017
Related Publication 20240195652A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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