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:
May. 25, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 12, 2003
Kenneth E. Davis, Berwyn, IL (US);
Alvin V. Miller, Swisher, IA (US);
Joseph H. Ryner, New Windsor, IL (US);
Kyle B. VanMeter, Galesburg, IL (US);
Robert L. Wetekamp, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Maytag Corporation, Newton, IA (US);
Abstract
A defrost control system for a refrigerator having freezer and fresh food compartments includes a plurality of temperature sensors, a plurality of door sensors to provide signals indicative of the occurrence of a door opening condition, a memory to store the signals in a plurality of usage blocks, and a CPU or controller to categorize the usage blocks into periods of high and low usage. When a defrost cycle is required, the control system establishes the cycle at an upcoming period designated as one of low usage. Additionally, prior to activating the system, the controller lowers the temperature of at least the freezer compartment to below a set point. The controller establishes the defrost cycle for a period based upon the time duration of previously completed cycles.