US 12232681

An analysis of United States Patent 12,232,681 reveals the following details regarding the invention and its legal status.

Summary of U.S. Patent 12,232,681

• Title: Dishwasher with a dish rack.
• Assignee: Whirlpool Corp.
• Inventors: Mark S. Feddema, William J. Snell, Sachie Kakehi.
• Filing Date: December 11, 2023.
• Issue Date: February 25, 2025.
• Abstract: The patent describes an automatic dishwasher with a specially designed dish rack. This rack features a bottom wall with two distinct sections: a substantially flat portion and a depressed or lowered portion.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

An independent claim represents the broadest definition of the invention.

• Claim 1: This claim outlines an automatic dishwasher that includes a tub and a dish rack. The dish rack's key feature is its bottom wall, which has a mostly flat, horizontal section and a second section that is angled downwards from the flat part. The flat section is designed with a first type of utensil holder, while the angled section has a series of spaced-apart pins that create slots for holding other utensils.

• Claim 14: This claim also describes a dishwasher with a tub and a unique dish rack. This rack has a bottom wall with a flat, horizontal area at one end. At the other end, there is an angled, depressed section that is lower than the flat part. This depressed area is designed to hold cups. The flat portion of the rack is equipped with utensil holders.

Litigation

U.S. Patent 12,232,681 is currently the subject of a patent infringement lawsuit. In October 2025, Whirlpool Corp. filed a complaint against [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.) Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%20Ltd.) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Whirlpool alleges that certain Samsung dishwashers, particularly those with an "enhanced top rack," infringe on the technology protected by this patent. The lawsuit seeks both monetary damages and an injunction to prevent further sales of the accused products. As of the current date, a search of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not yield any public information regarding an appeal in this case.

Litigation Status of U.S. Patent 12,232,681

As of April 30, 2026, U.S. Patent 12,232,681 is involved in one known litigation proceeding.

Case Details:

• Case Name: Whirlpool Corporation v. [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.), and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
• Plaintiff: Whirlpool Corporation
• Defendants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-01042
• Filing Date: October 10, 2025
• Status: The case is currently active. Whirlpool is seeking both monetary damages and an injunction to prevent Samsung from producing and selling the allegedly infringing products.

The lawsuit, filed by Whirlpool, alleges that certain Samsung dishwashers, specifically those featuring an "enhanced top rack," infringe on claims of U.S. Patent 12,232,681 and U.S. Patent 10,512,385. Whirlpool contends that its own dishwashers, sold under the KitchenAid brand, utilize the technology protected by these patents. The complaint asserts that Samsung's infringement is willful and deliberate.

Proceedings overview

There is one active AIA trial proceeding on U.S. Patent 12,232,681, currently in the "Pending" status. This means no claims have been invalidated or sustained by the PTAB yet. Therefore, the patent's defensive posture for a defendant remains largely untested in the PTAB context.

IPR2026-00336 — [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.) v. Mark S. Feddema et al

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-04-13
• Status: Pending
• Judge panel: Not yet publicly available.
• Petition grounds: Not yet publicly available.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not yet issued.
• Settlement / termination: No settlement or termination recorded.
• Appeal: No appeal has been filed as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is actively challenging the validity of U.S. Patent 12,232,681. While currently pending, a favorable outcome for Samsung (i.e., claims invalidated) would significantly weaken the patent owner's assertion position.

Strategic summary

As of May 29, 2026, all claims of U.S. Patent 12,232,681 remain untested by a Final Written Decision from the PTAB. The ongoing IPR2026-00336, filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., is the sole PTAB challenge to this patent. This means that, at present, all claims of the patent are "UNTESTED" by the PTAB, and none have been "CANCELED" or "SUSTAINED."

Regarding estoppel, if IPR2026-00336 proceeds to a Final Written Decision, § 315(e)(2) will bar Samsung (and its privies) from raising any ground that was raised or reasonably could have been raised in the IPR. For a defendant currently being asserted against, this means that prior-art grounds not asserted by Samsung in this IPR, or those that could not have been reasonably raised, would remain available for a future challenge. Given the early stage of the proceeding, the specific prior-art grounds asserted by Samsung are not yet public.

The filing of an IPR by Samsung, who is also a defendant in a district court litigation involving this patent, signals an aggressive defensive strategy. This could indicate Samsung's belief that strong prior art exists to challenge the patent's validity. There is no information available to suggest a pattern of multiple IPR filings by the same petitioner on this specific patent, nor any indication of appeals by the patent owner from PTAB decisions, as no Final Written Decision has been issued yet.

Recommended next steps

Since IPR2026-00336 is in the early stages, the key upcoming milestone will be the institution decision. The PTAB has a statutory deadline of one year from the filing date (April 13, 2026) to issue an institution decision. This means an institution decision for IPR2026-00336 is anticipated by April 13, 2027. We recommend closely monitoring the PTAB E2E docket for IPR2026-00336 to track the institution decision, petition grounds, and any subsequent developments. The absence of any other PTAB activity for this patent might suggest that prior art challenges against it are relatively recent, aligning with its recent issuance date of February 25, 2025.

Inventors

• Mark S. Feddema (Whirlpool Corp.)
• William J. Snell (Whirlpool Corp.)
• Sachie Kakehi (Whirlpool Corp.)

All named inventors were employed by Whirlpool Corp. at the time of the initial assignment.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Whirlpool Corp. Whirlpool Corp. is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, including dishwashers, and ships products embodying the claims of the patent. Whirlpool Corp. is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

A direct search of the USPTO Patent Assignment Search database for patent number US12232681 yielded no records. However, the legal events section for US12232681 on Google Patents, which draws from USPTO records, indicates two assignments related to the application leading to this patent, both transferring ownership to Whirlpool Corporation. These represent the initial assignments from the inventors to the company.

• 2020-03-25 to 2020-03-30 (executed) / recorded 2023-12-11 — Reel 065829/0088

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Kakehi, Sachie; Feddema, Mark S.; Snell, William J.
  • Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Michigan
  • Correspondent: Not determinable from provided snippet.
  • Context: Initial assignment from inventors to the original assignee.

• 2025-09-23 to 2025-09-25 (executed) / recorded 2025-10-02 — Reel 072454/0544

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Balinski, Steven B.; Brightbill, David Jason; Roderick, Frederick Thomas; Ferencevich, Joseph T.; Naik, Sujit S.; Roth, Ryan Kevin
  • Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Michigan
  • Correspondent: Not determinable from provided snippet.
  • Context: Assignment from additional assignors (likely inventors on related applications) to the original assignee.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12232681
    2020 : Priority date
    2023 : Inventors assigned to Whirlpool
         : Application filed
    2025 : Issued to Whirlpool
         : Additional assignors to Whirlpool
         : Whirlpool sued Samsung

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. All recorded assignments are to Whirlpool Corporation, a known operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Whirlpool Corporation is an operating company, not a known NPE.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. The correspondent information is not determinable from the provided Google Patents snippets for the listed assignments.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There are only two assignments, both to the same operating company, with sufficient time between them.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The patent was issued to Whirlpool in February 2025, and the litigation was filed in October 2025 by Whirlpool, indicating Whirlpool is asserting its own patent. The assignments recorded are to Whirlpool, not from it.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Whirlpool Corp. is an active, operating company.
7. Privateering — not present. Whirlpool is directly asserting the patent.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent remains with Whirlpool Corp., an operating company actively asserting it.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion
The patent remains assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, a large operating company that manufactures and sells dishwashers. Whirlpool itself filed an infringement lawsuit against [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) in October 2025, demonstrating that this is an assertion by an operating company against a competitor. The recorded assignments show transfers to Whirlpool, not from it to another entity (Reel 065829/0088, Reel 072454/0544).

Search USPTO Patent Assignment Records for US12232681

Analysis of Prior Art for U.S. Patent 12,232,681

Based on a review of the patent file for U.S. Patent 12,232,681, the following references were cited during its prosecution. These patents constitute the most relevant prior art considered by the USPTO examiner. An analysis of each reference and its potential relevance to the claims of patent '681 is detailed below.

A core inventive concept of U.S. Patent 12,232,681, as defined in independent claims 1 and 14, involves a dishwasher rack with a bottom wall constructed of two distinct sections: a "substantially horizontal-planar portion" and a "second portion" that is angled relative to the first, often forming a depression. This dual-geometry bottom is designed to hold different types of items, with the planar section supporting utensil holders and the angled or depressed section creating cup seats or supporting other utensil holders like "spaced pins."

The following prior art references disclose features related to adjustable or multi-level dish racks and various types of utensil and cup holders.

Prior Art and Potential Anticipation Analysis

1. US Patent 9,901,240 B2

• Full Citation: US Patent 9,901,240 B2, "Tine adjustment and adaptable wash cycle control," assigned to [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.)
• Publication Date: February 27, 2018 (Filed August 26, 2013).
• Brief Description: This patent describes a dishwasher rack with adjustable tines that can be moved or reconfigured to accommodate different types of dishware. The system allows a user to change the layout of the rack and, in some embodiments, the dishwasher can automatically adapt the wash cycle based on the tine configuration. The rack structure itself can have varied heights and sections for different items.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference is relevant to the general concept of a configurable dish rack but does not appear to explicitly disclose the specific two-part bottom wall structure claimed in '681, namely a planar portion seamlessly connected to an angled portion that extends downwards. While it shows racks with varied heights, it does not describe the specific combination of a horizontal-planar area for utensils and an angled depression for cups or additional utensils as described in claims 1 and 14 of U.S. Patent 12,232,681. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the claims on its own.

2. US Patent Application Publication 2015/0245762 A1

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication 2015/0245762 A1, "Glasses rack for dishwasher," assigned to Whirlpool Corporation.
• Publication Date: September 3, 2015 (Filed February 28, 2014).
• Brief Description: This document details a rack specifically designed for holding glassware. It features a base and multiple supports and holders configured to securely hold glasses, including stemware. The rack has sections at different elevations to accommodate the height of various glasses.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference discloses a dish rack with varied vertical heights to accommodate specific items (glasses), which relates to the concept of a multi-level rack bottom. However, the structure described is primarily focused on supports for glassware rather than the specific combination of a broad, horizontal-planar surface for general utensils and an integrated, angled depression for cups as claimed in '681. The specific geometric arrangement of the bottom wall as a combination of a horizontal plane and an angled plane is not clearly taught.

3. US Patent Application Publication 2019/0290094 A1

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication 2019/0290094 A1, "Low profile rack and wash assembly for dishwasher," assigned to Whirlpool Corporation.
• Publication Date: September 26, 2019 (Filed March 21, 2018).
• Brief Description: This publication describes a low-profile "third level" rack for a dishwasher, designed to hold utensils and other small items. The rack works with a dedicated wash assembly. The design focuses on maximizing space in the upper part of the dishwasher tub.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference is highly relevant as it comes from the same assignee and deals with third-level utensil racks. It teaches a rack for holding utensils in a generally horizontal orientation. However, the key distinction lies in the claimed structure of U.S. Patent 12,232,681. The '094 application does not appear to describe the specific bottom wall geometry featuring both a "substantially horizontal-planar portion" and an "angled second planar portion" defining a depression for cups or alternative utensil holders as laid out in claims 1 and 14. Its focus is more on the overall low-profile design and its interaction with the spray system.

4. US Patent Application Publication 2019/0298146 A1

• Full Citation: US Patent Application Publication 2019/0298146 A1, "Modular dishwasher rack with interchangeable and customizable basket inserts," assigned to BSH Home Appliances Corporation.
• Publication Date: October 3, 2019 (Filed March 29, 2018).
• Brief Description: This document discloses a modular dish rack system with interchangeable baskets and inserts. This allows the user to customize the rack to hold different types of items, including utensils, cups, and other cookware. The base rack is designed to receive these various modules.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): This reference teaches a highly configurable rack. While a user could potentially create sections with different functions and effective heights by inserting various modules, it does not inherently disclose the claimed monolithic bottom wall structure of patent '681. The invention in '681 resides in the fixed, integrated geometry of the bottom wall (horizontal-planar plus angled portions), whereas the '146 application achieves variability through separate, modular components. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific structural limitations of the claims.

Obviousness Analysis of U.S. Patent 12,232,681

Under 35 U.S.C. § 103, a patent claim is invalid if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA). This analysis considers whether a POSA would have been motivated to combine the teachings of existing prior art references to arrive at the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success.

The core concept of U.S. Patent 12,232,681 involves a dish rack with an integrated, multi-level bottom wall, comprising a flat, horizontal portion for some items and an angled, depressed portion for others. This dual-geometry design aims to increase loading versatility within a single, monolithic rack structure.

Obviousness of Independent Claim 14

Claim 14 describes a dish rack with a "substantially horizontal planar portion" supporting utensil holders and a second, "angled" portion "defining a depression" that serves as a "cup seat."

Proposed Combination: US Patent Application Publication 2015/0245762 A1 ('762) in view of US Patent Application Publication 2019/0290094 A1 ('094).

• US '762 as a Primary Reference: The '762 application teaches the core concept of a dish rack with sections at different elevations specifically designed to accommodate glassware, which includes cups. It discloses creating depressed or lowered areas to securely hold such items. This reference directly teaches the "cup seat" in a "depression" element of claim 14.

• US '094 as a Secondary Reference: The '094 application discloses a low-profile, third-level dish rack with a generally flat, planar surface designed for holding utensils horizontally. This reference provides the "substantially horizontal planar portion" for supporting utensils, as required by claim 14.

• Motivation to Combine: A person of ordinary skill in the art of dishwasher design is constantly seeking to maximize the utility and loading flexibility of the available space, particularly in a third-level rack. The '094 reference shows a solution for utensils, while the '762 reference shows a solution for cups/glasses. It would have been obvious to a POSA to combine these known features into a single, more versatile rack. The motivation would be to create a single third-level rack that can accommodate both flat utensils and small cups or bowls, thereby eliminating the need for a user to choose one type of item over the other. Integrating the planar utensil surface of '094 with the depressed cup-holding geometry of '762 would be a predictable and straightforward design convergence to achieve this enhanced functionality.

Obviousness of Independent Claim 1

Claim 1 is similar to claim 14 but broader in that the angled portion supports a "plurality of spaced pins defining spaced slots for supporting one or more utensils," rather than a cup seat.

Proposed Combination: US Patent Application Publication 2019/0290094 A1 ('094) in view of US Patent 9,901,240 B2 ('240) and US Patent Application Publication 2015/0245762 A1 ('762).

• US '094 as a Primary Reference: The '094 application provides the foundational design of a third-level rack with a flat, planar surface for holding a "first set of utensil holders."

• US '762 and US '240 as Secondary References:

  • The '762 application teaches the concept of creating an angled, depressed section within a rack to accommodate items of a different shape or size than those on a flat surface.
  • The '240 patent teaches the use of configurable tines (pins) and rack sections with varied heights to hold different types of dishware. The use of pins to create slots for holding items is a well-established concept in dish rack design, as shown in this reference.

• Motivation to Combine: A POSA, starting with the planar utensil rack of '094, would recognize its limitation in securing non-flat or bulky utensils like ladles, whisks, or large knives. The '240 patent teaches that providing varied holding mechanisms, such as adjustable tines or pins, enhances a rack's versatility. Furthermore, the '762 patent teaches that creating an angled, depressed section is a known method for adding depth and stability within a rack.

  A POSA would be motivated to improve the '094 design by incorporating an angled section, as suggested by the general principle in '762, to better secure these non-flat utensils. To hold items within this new angled section, it would be a routine and obvious design choice to implement "spaced pins defining spaced slots," a common holding feature explicitly contemplated in the art, as demonstrated by '240. The combination of these elements would result in a single rack with two distinct, integrated zones for different types of utensils, achieving a more flexible and efficient design. This represents a predictable application of known design principles to solve a known problem (improving utensil loading options).

Patent Term and Application History of US 12,232,681

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) and Extensions (PTE)

As of today's date, May 1, 2026, there is no public record of any Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) or Patent Term Extension (PTE) for U.S. Patent 12,232,681. Patent Term Adjustment is intended to compensate for delays caused by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) during the prosecution of a patent. The absence of an adjustment suggests the patent's examination was completed within the standard timeframes set by the USPTO.

Application History and Relationship to Other Patents

U.S. Patent 12,232,681, which was filed on December 11, 2023, is part of a series of related applications, known as a patent family. It is a continuation of a prior application, a common strategy used to pursue protection for different aspects of an invention.

The direct lineage of this patent is as follows:

• This Patent: Application number US18/535,327, filed on December 11, 2023, which resulted in U.S. Patent 12,232,681 B2.
• Parent Application: It is a continuation of application US17/830,947, filed on June 2, 2022, which issued as U.S. Patent 11,864,712 B2.
• Grandparent Application: The '947 application is itself a continuation of application US16/833,984, filed on March 30, 2020, which issued as U.S. Patent 11,375,874 B2.

Because of this relationship, U.S. Patent 12,232,681 shares the earliest priority date of the family, which is March 30, 2020.

Patent Family Members

The patent family for U.S. Patent 12,232,681 includes several U.S. applications and patents, as well as international counterparts. All applications in this family claim priority to the original March 30, 2020 filing date.

• U.S. Patents:
  • US 11,375,874 B2
  • US 11,864,712 B2
  • US 12,232,681 B2 (the patent in question)
  • US 12,543,922 B2
• U.S. Patent Applications:
  • US 2025/0169672 A1 (from application US19/039,228)
• Foreign Counterparts:
  • EP 3888522 B1 (European Patent Office)
  • CN 113455987 B (China National Intellectual Property Administration)

No divisional applications related to U.S. Patent 12,232,681 were found in the provided documentation.

Projected Expiration Date

The term for a U.S. utility patent filed after June 8, 1995, is 20 years from the earliest non-provisional filing date to which it claims priority. For U.S. Patent 12,232,681, the earliest priority date is March 30, 2020.

Therefore, the anticipated expiration date for U.S. Patent 12,232,681 is March 30, 2040. This date is contingent on the timely payment of all required maintenance fees to the USPTO.

Defensive Disclosure and Prior Art Publication

Title: Dish Rack and Utensil Containment Systems with Multi-Zonal Geometries and Integrated Technologies
Publication Date: May 1, 2026
Reference Patent: U.S. Patent 12,232,681

Preamble: This document describes various embodiments, modifications, and applications of a dish and utensil rack system featuring a multi-level or multi-angled bottom wall structure. The purpose of this disclosure is to place these concepts into the public domain, thereby establishing prior art against future patent applications that may seek to claim these or obvious variations thereof. The following descriptions are intended to be enabling for a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) of appliance design, mechanical engineering, and integrated systems.

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Derivative 1: Material and Component Substitution

1.1. Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuated Tines

• Enabling Description: The static "spaced pins" of claim 1 are replaced with active tines fabricated from a Nickel-Titanium (Nitinol) shape-memory alloy. In its martensitic state at room temperature, the tines are malleable or retracted, allowing for easy loading of bulky utensils. During the wash cycle, the heated water (above the SMA's austenite transition temperature, e.g., >60°C) causes the tines to revert to a pre-programmed "memory" shape. This shape is an upright, rigid position that securely separates utensils for optimal cleaning. As the rack cools post-cycle, the tines return to their malleable state. The tines are electrically isolated and mounted into a high-temperature thermoplastic base (e.g., PEEK) integrated into the angled portion of the rack.

• Mermaid Diagram: State Transition

  stateDiagram-v2
      [*] --> Malleable
      Malleable: Low Temperature (<60°C) - Easy Loading
      Malleable --> Rigid: Apply Heat (Wash Cycle >60°C)
      Rigid: High Temperature (>60°C) - Utensil Separation
      Rigid --> Malleable: Remove Heat (Cooling Phase)
      Rigid --> [*]
  

1.2. Magnetorheological Polymer Rack with Adaptive Damping

• Enabling Description: The entire dish rack frame is constructed from a composite polymer impregnated with magnetorheological (MR) fluid particles. The dishwasher tub is lined with a grid of individually addressable electromagnets. A controller, using input from an accelerometer on the rack, detects vibrations caused by water jets or user interaction. By selectively energizing the electromagnets, the controller can instantly and locally increase the stiffness of the rack's polymer structure. This actively damps vibrations, preventing delicate glassware in the "cup seat" depression from rattling against utensils in the "planar portion" and reducing overall operational noise.

• Mermaid Diagram: Control Flow

  graph TD
      A[Accelerometer Detects Vibration] --> B{Vibration > Threshold?};
      B -- Yes --> C[Controller Identifies Vibration Zone];
      C --> D[Energize Corresponding Electromagnets];
      D --> E[MR Fluid Stiffens Rack Locally];
      E --> F[Vibration Damped];
      F --> A;
      B -- No --> A;
  

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Derivative 2: Operational Parameter Expansion

2.1. Cryogenic Cleaning Rack for Medical Implants

• Enabling Description: This embodiment adapts the dual-geometry rack for use in a cryogenic cleaning chamber utilizing liquid nitrogen (-196°C) and pressurized CO2 pellets for precision de-burring and sterilization of medical implants (e.g., titanium hip joints). The rack is machined from a single billet of cryo-treated 316L stainless steel to prevent thermal shock-induced fracturing. The "planar portion" features machined grooves for securing femoral stems, while the angled "depression portion" is shaped to cradle the acetabular cup component, ensuring all surfaces are exposed to the cleaning medium.

• Mermaid Diagram: Component Diagram

  graph TD
      subgraph Cryogenic Cleaning Chamber
          A[Liquid Nitrogen Inlet] --> R;
          B[Pressurized CO2 Pellet Injector] --> R;
      end
      subgraph Cryo-Treated 316L Steel Rack
          P[Planar Portion with Grooves for Femoral Stems]
          D[Angled Depression for Acetabular Cups]
      end
      R[Rack Assembly] --> P;
      R --> D;
  

2.2. Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip Cleaning Cassette

• Enabling Description: The invention is scaled down to a microfluidic cassette for cleaning and preparing multiple "lab-on-a-chip" devices simultaneously. The cassette, molded from transparent polycarbonate, is approximately 10cm x 10cm. It features a flat section where up to five standard-sized glass slides (the "utensils") are held by spring-loaded clips. An adjacent depressed, angled section holds custom-shaped microfluidic chips (the "cups"), orienting their input/output ports towards integrated fluid channels within the cassette. A peristaltic pump flushes reagents and cleaning solutions through these channels, performing a parallelized wash cycle at the microliter scale.

• Mermaid Diagram: Flowchart

  graph LR
      A[Load Glass Slides onto Planar Section] --> C;
      B[Load Microfluidic Chips into Angled Depression] --> C;
      C[Place Cassette in Cleaning Apparatus] --> D[Engage Fluidic Manifold];
      D --> E[Pump Reagent 1 through Cassette];
      E --> F[Pump Wash Solution through Cassette];
      F --> G[Pump Drying Agent through Cassette];
      G --> H[Eject Cleaned Devices];
  

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Derivative 3: Cross-Domain Application

3.1. Aerospace: Turbine Blade Inspection and Cleaning Jig

• Enabling Description: A robust jig for use in automated Nondestructive Testing (NDT) and cleaning stations for jet engine turbine blades. The jig is made from a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. The planar section securely holds the blade's root and airfoil using custom-fitted clamps. The angled, depressed section is contoured to support the delicate tip and shrouded sections of the blade, preventing stress and ensuring precise orientation for robotic ultrasonic probes and high-pressure cleaning nozzles.

• Mermaid Diagram: System Architecture

  graph TD
      Jig[Turbine Blade Jig]
      subgraph Jig
          P[Planar Section - Clamps Blade Root/Airfoil]
          D[Angled Depression - Supports Blade Tip/Shroud]
      end
      Jig --> P & D
      Blade[Turbine Blade] --> Jig
      subgraph NDT & Cleaning Cell
          RoboticArm[Robotic Arm] -- Mounts --> Probe[Ultrasonic Probe] & Nozzle[Cleaning Nozzle]
      end
      RoboticArm -- Interacts with --> Blade
  

3.2. AgTech: Vertical Farm Seed Pod Germination and Sanitization Tray

• Enabling Description: A tray for use in an automated vertical farming system. The tray is molded from antimicrobial, food-grade polypropylene. A large planar area is perforated to allow even water flow and holds a nutrient film or substrate. An integrated, depressed channel (the angled section) features precisely spaced conical seats ("cup seats") that hold biodegradable seed pods. This dual-geometry allows a single tray to serve as both a germination station for new pods and a hydroponic bed for mature, substrate-grown leafy greens, optimizing space within a vertical farming rack. The entire tray can be run through an industrial washer between growth cycles.

• Mermaid Diagram: Functional Diagram

  graph LR
      T[Dual-Function Tray]
      subgraph Tray
          PS[Planar Section - Perforated]
          DS[Depressed Channel with Conical Seats]
      end
      T --> PS & DS
      Substrate[Nutrient Film for Mature Plants] --> PS
      Pods[Seed Pods] --> DS
      Water[Water/Nutrient Flow] --> T
  

3.3. Consumer Electronics: Post-Soldering PCB Defluxing Cassette

• Enabling Description: A cassette for an automated batch cleaning system for removing solder flux from Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). The cassette is made from an ESD-safe polymer (e.g., carbon-filled ABS). The main planar area holds a motherboard via adjustable edge guides. A secondary, angled portion contains a series of fine-pitched slots ("spaced pins") designed to hold smaller daughterboards or flexible PCBs at a 45-degree angle. This orientation prevents fluid pooling and ensures the cleaning solvent effectively penetrates under dense BGA and QFN components on the smaller boards.

• Mermaid Diagram: PCB Cassette Layout

  graph BT
      subgraph ESD-Safe Cassette
          direction LR
          A[Planar Section] -- Holds --> B(Main PCB);
          C[Angled Section with Slots] -- Holds --> D(Daughterboards at 45°);
      end
      E[Cleaning Solvent Spray] --> A;
      E --> C;
  

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Derivative 4: Integration with Emerging Tech

4.1. IoT-Enabled Rack with Load-Sensing Tines

• Enabling Description: The dish rack is equipped with piezoelectric sensors embedded at the base of the tines in both the planar and angled sections. These sensors measure the weight and distribution of the dish load. This data is transmitted wirelessly (via LoRaWAN or Bluetooth Low Energy) to the dishwasher's central controller. An AI algorithm uses this real-time load map to dynamically adjust water pressure, spray arm rotation speed, and cycle duration for maximum efficiency. The data is also sent to a cloud service, allowing the system to learn optimal loading patterns and provide feedback to the user via a mobile app ("Tip: Unblock the lower spray arm by rearranging plates").

• Mermaid Diagram: Data Flow

  sequenceDiagram
      participant User
      participant RackSensors
      participant DishwasherECU
      participant CloudAI
      participant MobileApp
  
      User->>+RackSensors: Loads Dishes
      RackSensors->>+DishwasherECU: Transmit Weight & Distribution Data
      DishwasherECU->>+CloudAI: Send Load Data for Analysis
      CloudAI-->>DishwasherECU: Return Optimized Cycle Parameters
      DishwasherECU->>DishwasherECU: Adjust Water Pressure & Duration
      CloudAI-->>MobileApp: Send Loading Feedback/Tips
      MobileApp-->>User: Display Notification
  

4.2. Blockchain-Verified Sterilization for Commercial Kitchens

• Enabling Description: For commercial or healthcare applications, the rack is given a unique, cryptographically secure identity (e.g., a PUF-based ID). Integrated temperature, pH, and turbidity sensors monitor the wash cycle. Upon successful completion of a validated sterilization cycle (e.g., reaching 82°C for 30 seconds), the rack's onboard microcontroller signs a data packet containing the cycle parameters, a timestamp, and the rack's unique ID. This packet is broadcast to a distributed ledger (blockchain). This creates an immutable, auditable record of sanitation compliance for health inspections, associating a specific batch of utensils with its verified cleaning event.

• Mermaid Diagram: Blockchain Transaction Flow

  graph TD
      A(Start Wash Cycle) --> B{Sensors Monitor Parameters};
      B --> C{Cycle Meets Sterilization Criteria?};
      C -- Yes --> D[Microcontroller Signs Data Packet];
      D -- Packet: {RackID, Timestamp, Temp, pH} --> E[Broadcast to Blockchain Network];
      E --> F[Transaction Added to Ledger];
      F --> G(Immutable Record Created);
      C -- No --> H(Cycle Fails - Log Error);
  

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Derivative 5: The "Inverse" or Failure Mode

5.1. Frangible, Color-Indicating Safety Tines

• Enabling Description: The utensil-holding pins on the angled rack portion are molded from a brittle, engineered polymer with a low shear strength threshold. If a heavy object is improperly placed or dropped onto the rack, these pins are designed to snap off cleanly, preventing transfer of the damaging force to the main rack structure or the object itself. The polymer is also doped with a thermochromic pigment. If the dishwasher malfunctions and overheats, the pins permanently change color (e.g., from grey to bright red), providing a clear visual indicator that the rack's integrity may be compromised and that it should be inspected or replaced.

• Mermaid Diagram: State Diagram

  stateDiagram-v2
      state "Normal Operation (Grey)" as Normal
      state "Structurally Compromised (Broken)" as Broken
      state "Heat Damaged (Red)" as Damaged
  
      [*] --> Normal
      Normal --> Broken: On Overload Event
      Normal --> Damaged: On Overheat Event (>100°C)
      Broken --> [*]
      Damaged --> [*]
  

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Combination with Open-Source Standards

Scenario 1: MQTT for Smart Home Integration
The IoT-enabled rack (Derivative 4.1) can be configured to publish its data using the ISO/IEC 20922 (MQTT) protocol. A user could integrate the dishwasher into an open-source home automation platform like Home Assistant. This would enable custom automations, such as flashing smart lights in the kitchen when a cycle is complete or sending a notification to a family message group if the AI detects a suboptimal load that requires rearranging.

Scenario 2: RISC-V Embedded Controller
The onboard microcontroller used in the Blockchain-Verified Sterilization rack (Derivative 4.2) is based on the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture. This allows for a transparent, auditable, and low-cost hardware implementation, which is critical for security applications. The firmware for signing and broadcasting transactions could be open-sourced to allow third-party security audits, building trust in the verification system.

Scenario 3: 3D-Printable Custom Inserts via STEP/3MF Files
The rack's planar and angled sections are designed with a standardized grid of mounting points. An open-source library of CAD files in standard formats like STEP (ISO 10303) or 3MF is provided for various custom inserts: a holder for baby bottle parts, a secure mount for reusable straws, or a delicate-wine-glass stem holder. Users can download and 3D print these inserts using standard FDM or SLA printers with food-safe materials like PETG or specialized resins, enabling infinite customization of the rack's layout.