Whirlpool Corporation

Donald E Janke

William J Linstromberg

Joseph M Szynal

Jim J Pastryk

Ronald Wayne Guess

Steven John Kuehl

Edwin H Frohbieter

Mark H Nelson

Greg A Bradley

Larry J Manson

Devinder Singh

Jeffrey L Burk

James R Peterson

Gregory J Markert

Michael S Kauffman

Li Gong Ling

Richard C Spears

James R Giordano

Travis Michael Perkins

Michael Edward Stagg

Daryl Lee Harmon

Andrew Charles Reck

Chris A Scriber

Roger D Jewell

Susan Ridgley Keil

Wendeline Rodriguez

Rhonda K Hendrickson-Orman

Husein Allgayer

Linda A Zummer

Brian R McClure

Michele E Emig

Randall L Carnal

A power bus, connected to a 24V isolated power supply, is provided in a refrigerator where removable shelves can be selectively connected to it. Each shelf has a user interface and a circuit to control a microenvironment within the refrigerator, partially bounded by the shelf. Data between the shelf and a control circuit in the refrigerator can be transmitted over the power bus, or by other methods.

Power bus for removable refrigerator shelves

The invention relates to an automated liquid dispenser employing ultrasonic sensing to determine the level of a dispensed liquid with respect to the height of a container to be filled. In one aspect, the invention relates to a refrigerator with an automated liquid dispenser that utilizes ultrasonic sensing.

Refrigerator and automated liquid dispenser therefor

A liquid dispenser and self-filling container system, including a liquid supply line, a liquid container, a liquid dispenser positioned to deliver a supply of liquid to the container from the liquid supply line, a valve positioned in the liquid supply line to selectively deliver liquid to the liquid dispenser, an optical sensor positioned relative to the liquid container to detect the presence of the container and a level of liquid in the container, and a control circuit connecting the optical sensor and the valve to open the valve when the sensor detects the presence of the container and a level of liquid below a maximum desired liquid level in the container and to close the valve when the sensor detects at least one of the absence of the container and a maximum desired liquid level in said container. Such a liquid dispenser may be a water dispenser in a refrigerator.

Liquid dispenser with self-filling container

A system for protecting optical elements from moisture and/or ice build up when used in freezing environment, such as a freezer compartment of a refrigerator. The system includes a hood or sleeve which can be assembled to an optical element such as a light emitting or receiving elements used in a freezer compartment. The sleeve acts to trap air about the optic element such that warm humid air does not readily move into contact with the optic element. Moreover, the warm, humid air that does flow toward the optic element may be cooled by the sleeve such that moisture condenses out of the air and onto the sleeve. A heater may be provided adjacent the sleeve for heating the sleeve if the optic element is impaired due to ice or moisture build up.

Optic level sensing system for use in a refrigerator

The present invention is directed toward a control system for an ice making system. The ice making system includes an ice maker, and an ice storage bin for receiving ice pieces formed by the ice maker. The control system controls the ice maker and includes optic elements for emitting and receiving a beam of light directed across the upper portion of the bin. The control system senses when the ice maker is ready to harvest ice pieces and then directs a beam of light or light signal from a first side of the ice storage bin, across the bin toward a second side of the ice storage bin. The control system senses for the light signal at the second side of the ice storage bin and if ice pieces block the path of the light signal, the control system prevents ice harvesting from the ice maker. The optic elements of the control system include a light emitting element and a light receiving element. If the status of the light receiving element indicates that the optic elements are impaired due to ice or moisture build up, the optic elements are heated.

Refrigerator having an ice maker and a control system therefor

An ice level sensing system for use on a refrigerator including a freezer compartment having top wall, opposite side walls and an access opening. A door is provided for closing the access opening. An ice maker is disposed within the freezer compartment adjacent the top wall for forming ice pieces. An ice storage bin is removably mounted to the door below the ice maker for receiving ice pieces from the ice maker. An emitter element, supported on a side wall of the freezer, emits a beam of light across the upper portion of the bin. A receiver element, supported on a freezer side wall opposite the emitter element, receives the beam of light wherein beam of light travels between the emitter element and the receiver element along a line of sight path. A paddle is rotatably supported on a freezer side wall for blocking the line of sight when the door is open. In addition, a movable member may be provided, supported on a freezer side wall opposite the paddle, which may be selectively movable between an ON position and an OFF position wherein in the OFF position the movable member blocks the line of sight.

Ice level sensing system for an ice maker

A refrigerator having a middle fresh food compartment and a relatively large bottom freezer compartment arranged below the fresh food compartment and a relatively small freezer compartment arranged above the fresh food compartment. The bottom freezer compartment preferably supports a drawer including a frame and a removable bin. Cool air can be supplied to the compartments of the refrigerator by employing a two fan control system such that no electromechanical baffles are required. Alternatively, cool air can be directed to the compartments of the refrigerator by use of a baffle which requires only a single electromechanical device to control air flow into three different compartments. The baffle includes a main rotary damper which can be positioned to provide proportional amounts of chilled air to the three separate compartments based on the degree of cooling required.

Multi-compartment refrigeration system

A refrigerator having a middle fresh food compartment and a relatively large bottom freezer compartment arranged below the fresh food compartment and a relatively small freezer compartment arranged above the fresh food compartment. The bottom freezer compartment preferably supports a drawer including a frame and a removable bin. Cool air can be supplied to the compartments of the refrigerator by employing a two fan control system such that no electro-mechanical baffles are required. Alternatively, cool air can be directed to the compartments of the refrigerator by use of a baffle which requires only a single electro-mechanical device to control air flow into three different compartments. The baffle includes a main rotary damper which can be positioned to provide proportional amounts of chilled air to the three separate compartments based on the degree of cooling required.

A defrost controller for a refrigerator/freezer including one or more of the following features: (1) a timer module that can serve as a real time, cumulative time or variable time defrost timer; (2) an algorithm to control defrosting in view of frequent power outages; (3) a power up defrost cycle; (4) a default reaction to loss of compressor run information; (5) a simple manufacturing test initiator; (6) a test initialization via thermostat actuation; (7) a relay power supply which supplies two different energization voltages; (8) a relay energization signal which decays rapidly from a voltage in excess of the relay rated voltage to a voltage within the relay rated voltage; and (9) respective relay energization sequence to overcome light contact welding.

Defrost cycle controller

Refrigeration control circuit with self-test mode

An electronic control mounting system for a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a freezer compartment is defined by a freezer liner, a fresh food compartment is defined by a fresh food liner and a partition wall is disposed between the compartments. A mounting plate is disposed between the freezer liner and fresh food liner within the partition wall and includes a mounting boss and a conduit boss. The conduit boss joins a first opening provided in the freezer liner and a second opening provided in the fresh food liner such that a channel is formed between the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. A housing member, supporting a control printed circuit board (PC board), is secured to the bottom surface of the partition wall by attachment to the mounting boss provided on the mounting plate. The PC board further includes a first temperature sensor having a pair of extending electrical leads directly soldered or mounted onto the PC board. A support tube extending out from the housing member receives the first temperature sensor such that when the housing assembly is secured to the bottom of the partition wall. The support tube extends up through the channel formed in the partition wall and positions the first temperature sensing means within the freezer. A second temperature sensing means is mounted to the PC board and remains in the fresh food compartment for measuring the fresh food compartment temperature.

Electronic control mounting system for a refrigerator

A method of energizing a relay comprising the steps of applying an energization signal to the relay having a voltage in excess of a rated voltage of the relay and then allowing the energization voltage to rapidly decay to a level within the rated voltage of the relay.

Relay energizing circuit

A defrost cycle controller for a refrigeration system encompassing a compressor; a defrost heater; a thermostatic switch coupled in series with said compressor to control operation of said compressor; a bimetallic switch coupled in series with said defrost heater to control operation of said defrost heater; and a relay coupled to mutually exclusively couple the compressor or defrost heater to a power supply, the relay having a normally closed contact which is in series with said compressor and a normally open contact coupled in series with said defrost heater.

A defrost cycle controller for a refrigerator or freezer having a compressor and a defrost heater, comprising a relay operatively connected to the compressor and the defrost heater via contacts to couple one or the other to a power supply, the relay having a normally closed contact to which said compressor is connected and a normally open contact to which said defrost heater is connected; and a control circuit operatively connected to the compressor, defrost heater and relay and configured to implement the following algorithm: (a) first, energize the relay; (b) second, monitor the relay contacts; (c) third, if the contacts do not change states, de-energize the relay; and (d) fourth, rest for a predetermined period, and then commence the algorithm.

Growing community of inventors

Benton, MI, United States of America

Donald E Janke