Amana Refrigeration, Inc.

Maytag Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation

Brian M Midlang

Robert L Wetekamp

Lester J Ott

Nelson J Ferragut, Ii

David M Christensen

Richard N Walker

Daniel L Johnson

Bruce A Kopf

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet having at least one door, an ice dispenser operatively connected to one of the at least one door having an opening for dispensing ice, an ice storage receptacle for storing ice disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice crusher, an ice transfer mechanism for moving ice from the ice storage receptacle to the ice crusher, an ice chute for conveying ice from the ice crusher to the ice dispenser, and an intrusion barrier positioned within the ice chute to assist in preventing objects entering the ice chute through the ice dispenser from reaching the ice crusher without stopping ice flow through the ice chute. The ice dispenser may include a first switch and a second switch, the first switch being spaced apart from the second switch, and the ice dispenser adapted to require simultaneous activation of the first switch and the second switch to dispense ice. The ice dispenser may also include one or more sensors in the ice chute to detect objects moving toward the ice crusher.

Icemaker external intrusion protection

A control system for a refrigerator ice/water dispenser includes an actuation switch, at least one drive unit for releasing either ice or water, a motor activation relay that controls operation of the drive unit, and a power system having multiple power supplies for operating the control system, motor activation relay and drive unit(s). Preferably, the dispenser includes multiple actuation switches, e.g. a water activation switch and a water/ice activation switch, each having an associated activation relay for independently controlling the release of water and/or ice respectively. Current for initiating the drive unit activation relays must pass through a corresponding actuation switch in order to prevent unintended release of water and/or ice. Multiple processor circuits are preferably employed, with one processor circuit relaying to another processor circuit to enable drive unit activation. Preferably, the actuation switches constitute membrane switches so as to maintain minimum voltage levels at the dispenser.

Control system for a refrigerator ice/water dispenser

The illumination intensity of light emitting diode in an appliance display is maintained over time by automatically increasing an amount of electric current supplied to the light emitting diode, preferably incrementally, over the life of the light emitting diode. The automatic increase in current compensates for the gradual decay of the light emitting diodes over time, thereby allowing the light emitting diodes to maintain a constant illumination for the lifetime of the appliance.

Maintaining illumination intensity of a light emitting diode in a domestic appliance

An input command system for an electronic refrigerator control wherein dedicated function keys are provided for inputting commands to the processor. The processor will not accept inputs from the dedicated function keys unless an enable key is pressed first. The enable key is hidden on the control panel so as to avoid unauthorized inputting of commands. Once enabled, the processor receives commands for a predetermined time period that is extended when commands are input.

Commands system for electronic refrigerator control

An electronic control mounted in the door of a refrigerator. In fabrication, a compartment is formed within the refrigerated food door by positioning a tub behind a vertically elongated aperture near the edge of the door, and inserting locator pins of the tub through corresponding holes in the door panel so as to provide alignment between the two. The trim mounting bracket also has holes aligned to receive the locator pins, and the trim mounting bracket is screwed through the door panel to the tub. The control board is inserted into the compartment through the aperture and mounted to the tub. A plate is mounted over the aperture and provides a flame barrier in addition to having a side lever that reenforces the portion of the panel peripheral to the aperture so as to prevent oil canning. Finally, the decorative trim which integrally includes a control panel is positioned over the plate and mounted to the trim mounting bracket. The control panel and plate have windows that self-align with the visual display of the control board.

Electronic control mounting apparatus for refrigerator

Apparatus and method for defrosting a refrigerator in an operator actuated vacation mode wherein, after the operator actuation, the next defrost cycle is executed in accordance with the previously existing schedule in the normal defrost mode. If the time duration to execute the next defrost cycle is greater than a predetermined time period, the controller continues to defrost in the normal mode. However, if the next of a subsequent defrost cycle is executed in a relatively short time duration, the interval between defrost is significantly increased to a fixed interval of compressor run time hours.

Apparatus and method for defrosting refrigerator in vacation mode

A refrigerator ice dispenser light having a control including a photosensitive switch which applies half wave rectified line voltage when there is little or no ambient room light thereby dimly lighting the bulb at night. In response to the dispenser being activated, the photosensitive switch is shunted and line voltage is applied across the bulb.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Brian M Midlang