Envolve Engineering, LLC

Envolve Intellectual Property LLC

Li Yi Situ

Michael Edward Stagg

Patrick J Boarman

Gregory Gene Hortin

Kyle Carter Edmondson

An icemaker control circuit may include an icemaker module and a DC motor. The icemaker module may include a control board that receives an AC power signal directly from an AC source that is external to the icemaker control circuit. The module may also include self-contained electronics and controls that allows icemaker operation without a need to interface to any signals other than AC power signal. The DC motor is provided for moving an output drive and is controlled by a DC output of the control circuit of the icemaker module in response to applying the AC signal to the icemaker module.

Control circuit

A system comprising a gear having at least one slot, wherein the gear is connected to an icetray and a motor so that when the motor rotates the gear, the icetray twists, and an optical sensor that detects when the gear has rotated the slot over the optical sensor. The icetray twists while the gear is rotated in a first direction away from a home position to a reverse twist position. The rotation of gear then reverses to twist the icetray to a harvest position in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction until ice in the icetray is dislodged.

Systems and methods for harvesting ice from an icemaker tray

A circuit allows an energy efficient DC design to drop in to an AC application and interface directly with the AC signals in a cost effective manner. The circuit is implemented without any use of mechanically switched contacts. All switching of current is done through solid state devices. Positional feedback and speed of the motor is provided through an optically encoded output gear eliminating the need for mechanical position switches to determine motor rotational position.

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Evansville, IN, United States of America

Li Yi Situ