Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

General Electric Company

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co., Ltd.

Stephanos Kyriacou

Michael Goodman Schroeder

Choon Jae Ryu

Brent Alden Junge

Alan Joseph Mitchell

Vineeth Vijayan

Matthew R Hunter

John Keith Besore

Ronald Gary Foster

Stephen Bernard Froelicher

Bart Andrew Nuss

Louis Anthony Wantland

Jianwu Li

Bagawathkumar Chellappan

Bradley Nicholas Gilkey

Daniel Carballo

Jivko Ognianov Djerekarov

Brian Allgeier

Andrew Pierce

Umakant Suresh Katu

Kristin Marie Weirich

Jonah Connelly

An ice maker appliance includes an ice box. The ice maker appliance further includes a mold body and a frost collector positioned in the ice box. The ice maker appliance also includes a working fluid loop. The working fluid loop is in conductive thermal communication with the mold body and with the frost collector.

Ice maker appliance control methods

A method of operating an ice maker appliance includes determining an infused ice making mode of the ice maker appliance. The method also includes flowing a volume of liquid water through the pod in the pod receiver, whereby the additive mixes with the volume of liquid water. The volume of liquid water may be a predetermined volume of liquid water based on the infused ice making mode. The method further includes flowing the additive and the volume of liquid water into the mold cavity and retaining the additive and the volume of liquid water in the mold cavity to form an ice piece from the additive and the volume of liquid water. The method may also include operating the ice maker appliance to provide a predetermined temperature based on the infused ice making mode.

Convertible ice maker appliance for making infused ice or water ice

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; a dispenser provided on the cabinet, the dispenser defining a dispenser recess, the dispenser including a nozzle for dispensing liquid water or ice; a user input provided on the dispenser; and one or more controllers operably connected with the dispenser, the one or more controllers configured to perform an operation. The operation includes receiving a first input signal apart from the appliance, the first input signal including a first requested volume of liquid; storing the first requested volume of liquid within the dispenser; directing an emission of a notification via the user input in response to storing the first requested volume of liquid; and initiating a dispensing action from the nozzle after directing the emission of the notification.

Liquid dispenser with precise dispensation using a voice assistant

A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a freezer drawer, a camera module, and a controller. The freezer drawer may include a drawer body and a freezer door coupled to the drawer body to move therewith and provide selective access to a freezer chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include initiating an image capture sequence at the camera module to capture one or more two-dimensional images, identifying a first stored item based on the one or more two-dimensional images of the image capture sequence, determining an internal location of the first stored item within the freezer drawer based on the one or more two-dimensional images of the image capture sequence, and recording a descriptor of the first stored item and the internal location of the first stored item.

Refrigerator appliance and methods for tracking stored items in a freezer chamber

A refrigerator appliance including a sealed cooling system with an evaporator in a frozen food storage chamber is presented. The evaporator includes a cover with movable louvers to allow chilled air to flow to the frozen food storage chamber in a first position and to block the flow in a second position, and a method of operation for such a refrigerator appliance.

Refrigerator fan cover with active louvers and method of operation

A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a camera module, and a controller. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The door may be rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber. The camera module may be mounted to the cabinet within the chilled chamber. The controller may be operably coupled to the camera module. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation routine. The operation routine may include receiving one or more images for each of a plurality of capture sequences, detecting a pervasive obfuscation condition at the camera module based on the received one or more images, and directing a responsive action on the refrigerator appliance in response to detecting the pervasive obfuscation condition.

Refrigerator camera modules and methods for addressing persistent conditions on the camera lens

A refrigerator appliance is provided including a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet to provide selective access to the chilled chamber, and a camera assembly positioned within the chilled chamber and being rotatable between a first position and a second position. A controller is configured to obtain one or more images using the camera assembly, determine a position of the camera assembly, and generate a modified image by cropping the one or more images based on a field of view associated with the position of the camera assembly.

Adjustable camera assembly in a refrigerator appliance

A refrigerator is provided having a shelf assembly and a controller. The shelf assembly may include a shelf and a drive mechanism configured to move the shelf in at least a vertical direction. The refrigerator also includes an object detection system configured to detect an article placed adjacent to the shelf. The controller may be configured to determine the proximity of an article and the shelf using the object detection system, detect a shelf moving event, and move the shelf in response to the shelf moving event. The shelf moving event may be based, at least in part, on the proximity of the article and the shelf. The controller may also be configured to move the shelf in response to detecting a flow restriction above or below the shelf.

Smart adjustable shelves for refrigerator appliances

A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a door, a door opener, and a controller. The door opener may be attached to a cabinet and include a casing, a push rod, and a position sensor. The controller may be in operable communication with the door opener and configured to direct an opener operation. The opener operation may include receiving an opening prompt for the door opener, directing the push rod forward at a first extension speed in response to the received opening prompt, detecting the push rod at a first threshold between the retracted position and the extended position, and directing the push rod forward at a second extension speed in response to detecting the push rod at the first threshold, the second extension speed being less than the first extension speed.

Refrigerator with an assisted door opener

A method of operating an ice maker appliance includes directing liquid water to a mold body of the ice maker appliance. The method also includes determining that at least a portion of the liquid water escaped based on at least one of an ice making time, a harvest motor torque, or a temperature change rate. The method further includes providing a user notification in response to determining that at least the portion of the liquid water escaped.

Ice maker appliance leak detection

An appliance including a cabinet, a mount unit, and an ice tray is provided. The cabinet forms a freezer chamber and the mount unit is positioned in the freezer chamber. The mount unit forms a channel configured to releasably receive the ice tray. The ice tray includes a lip corresponding to the channel at the mount unit. The mount unit includes a rotor configured to rotate along a central axis.

Appliance with ice tray and mount unit

A refrigeration appliance and method for operation are provided. The appliance includes a cabinet and a door. The cabinet includes a controller, a first communications device, and a magnetic device. the door includes an energy source, a first switch, a second switch, a second communications device, and a user interface device. The second switch is operably coupled to the second communications device and the user interface device. The second communications device is in selective operable communication with the first communications device. The first switch is configured to operably couple the energy source to the second switch to allow energy to flow to the second switch, the second communications device, and the user interface device when the door is open. The first switch is configured to discontinue energy flow to the second switch when the door is closed.

Refrigeration appliance and method for operation

A water filter for a refrigerator appliance with a sensor embedded in the water filter and related methods of detecting a leak in the refrigerator appliance are provided. Such methods include, and the refrigerator appliance may be configured for, measuring, by the sensor embedded in the water filter, at least one of water pressure in the water filter and flow through the water filter. A rate of change of the at least one of water pressure in the water filter and flow through the water filter over time is calculated. When there is no system demand for water, a leak is detected based on the increase in the rate of change over time.

Refrigerator appliance water filter with embedded leak sensor

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet forming a refrigerating compartment defining a plurality of cooling zones, an air circulation duct in fluid communication with the refrigerating compartment, an evaporator provided in the air circulation duct, and a damper assembly in fluid communication with the air circulation duct and the refrigerating compartment. The damper assembly includes a plurality of doors to selectively allow air to enter into selected cooling zones within the refrigerating compartment.

Selective air flow system for a refrigerator appliance

An appliance including a cabinet forming a chamber. A track is attachable to the cabinet in the chamber. The track includes a pair of track arms at which a sensor is attached. A member extends between the pair of track arms, and an opening is formed at the member. A shelf includes a pair of support arms at which a frame is positionable. A mounting end of the support arms forms a tooth insertable into the opening at the track.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Stephanos Kyriacou