The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 27, 1997
James M Ralson, Naperville, IL (US);
Gregory Jay Ramsey, Barrington, IL (US);
Gabriel, Inc., Elgin, IL (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is an electronics device for use with a refrigerator/freezer for controlling the dispensing of ice cubes by an ice auger through a door flap when a cradle is pressed. The electronics device comprises a solenoid in operative connection with the door flap, and the solenoid is powerably connectable to a 120 Volt AC line power source. The electronics device also comprises a relay switch controlled by two NPN bipolar transistors in a Darlington configuration which are in parallel connection with a diode and a capacitor. The relay switch is also connected to the power source and connects the power source to the solenoid when the cradle is pressed causing the door flap to open. The power source powers the ice auger to dispense ice cubes through the door flap, and the capacitor causes the transistors to be biased on while the capacitor is charged to a voltage greater than a voltage of the diode. When the cradle is pressed, the capacitor begins to de-charge and when the capacitor de-charges to a voltage less than the voltage of the diode, the relay switch disconnects the power source from the solenoid causing the door flap to close.