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:
Feb. 28, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2001
John Steven Holmes, Sellersburg, IN (US);
Jerry J. Queen, Ii, New Albany, IN (US);
Rollie Richard Herzog, Louisville, KY (US);
Mark Robert Mathews, Lombard, IL (US);
Robert Marten Bultman, Smithfield, KY (US);
John Steven Holmes, Sellersburg, IN (US);
Jerry J. Queen, II, New Albany, IN (US);
Rollie Richard Herzog, Louisville, KY (US);
Mark Robert Mathews, Lombard, IL (US);
Robert Marten Bultman, Smithfield, KY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus rectifies the signal; and phase-shifts the rectified signal so that it leads or lags the line voltage. The shifted output signal is fed to a processor that detects the opening of the door based upon the shifted signal. Signals output by a plurality of switches that generate a signal when activated mixed using an opto-coupler. Relative impedance of the lead and lag circuits may be adjusted to differentiate a phase shift of one shifted signal relative to another signal. The processor converts a value in degrees of phase shifting of the mixed signal to a time value, and based upon the time value, the processor determines which of the doors is open.