General Electric Company

Kerr Corporation

Piezotech LLC

Ramesh Janardhanam

Natarajan Venkatakrishnan

Abdel Hamad

Andrew Reinhard Krause

Steven Keith Root

Scott Russell King

James Lee Armstrong

John Kenneth Hooker

Eric Scott Johnson

David N Cook

Samuel Vincent DuPlessis

Martin Mitchell Zentner

Steven James Gray

Frans Lautzenhiser

Krzysztof Struminski

Lorina June White

Anil Kumar Tummala

Daniel Stephen Renz

Anthony A Cooper

Pravin Sadashiv Naphade

Kenneth Joseph Hanley

Balaji Parthasarathy

Eric Paez

Michael H Phillips

David M Cook

Samuel V Duplessis

Matthew Christopher Oren

Fredric Bernard Grossman

Thomas R Lindsey

Ravi Varanasi

Ashok Kumar Sannasi

Martin M Zenter

Steven J Gray

Venkat N Venkatakrishnan

Rotational alignment apparatus and methods for interchangeable loupe telescope(s) are provided. Some embodiments include an indexing ring including a projection. The ring is fixed to the telescope upon rotational alignment of the telescope. The alignment may involve use of a laser and test fixture. The projection mates with a corresponding indexing notch of a loupe anchoring device. Loupes may comprise one or more anchor assemblies, and one or more interchangeable telescope assemblies. The interchangeable telescope assemblies are held to the anchor assemblies by magnetic attraction between one or more magnets and/or one or more magnetic components affixed to corresponding surfaces of the corresponding assemblies. Mating of the projection with the notch ensures appropriate relative rotational alignment of the assemblies.

Rotational alignment of interchangeable loupes

A buzzer includes a piezoelectric diaphragm and a housing enclosing the diaphragm and defining a resonating chamber. The chamber includes a sound port and has an optimal resonating frequency fat a temperature T defined by f=(v/2&#x3c0;)(&#x221a;(A/vL)) were vis the velocity of sound waves in air at a temperature T, A is the effective area of the sound port, vis the volume of the resonating chamber, and L is the effective length of the sound port. A temperature compensating member moves in response to changes in temperature to change the value of &#x221a;(A/voL) at a rate and in a manner that balances the change in 1/vacross that same temperature range, thereby reducing changes in the product (v/2&#x3c0;)(&#x221a;(A/vL)) and consequently reducing any changes that would otherwise occur in facross that temperature range, thereby holding the value of fsubstantially constant across the temperature range.

Temperature compensated piezoelectric buzzer

A water dispensing system for a refrigerator comprising a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly, a monitoring device coupled to the manifold assembly and including at least one sensor, and a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly. The filter assembly is configured to be compatible with a plurality of suitable filter media. At least two indicators are in signal communication with the at least one sensor when the filter housing is mounted onto the manifold assembly. A controller is operatively coupled to the monitoring device. The controller is configured to identify the filter assembly and the filter medium based on a signal received from the at least one sensor and operate the water dispensing system based on the identification of the filter assembly and the filter medium.

Apparatus and method for identifying a filter assembly

A water filter identification system for a refrigerator including a refrigeration compartment includes a manifold assembly positioned within the refrigeration compartment and operatively coupled to a water dispensing system, and a monitoring device positioned with respect to the manifold assembly. The system also includes a filter assembly including a filter housing removably mounted to the manifold assembly and at least one indicator coupled to the filter housing. The at least one indicator is in signal communication with the monitoring device for facilitating identification of the filter assembly.

A touchless dispensing system includes a dispenser configured to dispense at least one of ice and at least one liquid. A detection device is positioned with respect to the dispenser. The detection device is configured to detect a container positioned with respect to the dispenser without contacting the container. The detection device is further configured to generate a signal confirming a position of the container with respect to the dispenser. The dispenser is activated to dispense an amount of ice and/or an amount of the at least one liquid into the container in response to the signal generated by the detection device.

Method and system for dispensing ice and/or a liquid

A refrigerator includes a housing defining a freezer storage compartment, an evaporator operatively coupled to the freezer storage compartment and configured to cool the freezer storage compartment, and an evaporator fan positioned to move air across the evaporator. The refrigerator also includes an ice maker positioned within the freezer storage compartment, a dispenser in flow communication with the ice maker and configured to dispense ice, and a control system configured to receive a signal from said dispenser indicating dispensing of a first amount of ice from the dispenser, the control system configured to activate the evaporator fan in response to the signal, the evaporator fan operating continuously for a time period upon activation.

Apparatus and method for increasing ice production rate

A water dispenser assembly used for a dispensing system includes an inlet configured to receive water from a water supply, and a flow meter in communication with the inlet. The flow meter is configured to measure an amount of water passing therethrough. A first valve is arranged in communication with the flow meter, and the first valve is configured to enable and restrict water flow to an outlet. A controller is operatively coupled to the flow meter and the first valve. The controller is configured to control the dispensing of water based on the measured amount of water passing through the flow meter and based upon a volume error factor correction.

Water dispenser assembly and method of assembling same

An ice-dispenser assembly for a refrigerator includes a crusher, an auger, a motor configured to drive the auger, and a sorting device operatively coupled to the auger. The sorting device is configured to deliver ice to the crusher when rotated in a first direction and have ice bypass the crusher when rotated in the opposite direction.

Ice dispenser assembly and method of assembling same

A fluid storage tank includes a wall defining a cavity therewithin. An inlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between a fluid source and the cavity. A projection and at least one obstruction are positioned within the cavity. The projection directs a flow of a fluid entering the cavity through the inlet opening towards the obstruction. The obstruction interferes with and disperses the flow within the cavity. An outlet opening is formed through the wall and provides communication between the cavity and a fluid dispenser.

Method and apparatus for water dispensing systems within a refrigerator

An ice maker assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an ice bucket that has a bottom wall, opposing side walls extending from the bottom wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The bottom wall, side walls, front wall, and back wall define an ice collection cavity. The ice bucket also includes a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom wall into the ice collection cavity, and a rotatable auger extending between the front and back walls.

Refrigerator and ice maker apparatus

An apparatus and method for operating an appliance in an energy conservation mode is described. The appliance includes a number of peripheral devices and auxiliary components ancillary to main operation of the appliance, and the method includes reducing power to at least some of the peripheral devices and auxiliary components in an energy conservation mode, thereby reducing energy consumption by the peripheral devices and auxiliary components.

Low energy appliance control apparatus and method

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Ramesh Janardhanam