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. 05, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2010
Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Louisville, KY (US);
Jeffrey Martin Wood, Louisville, KY (US);
Martin Christopher Severance, Louisville, KY (US);
Jason Andrew May, Prospect, KY (US);
Kenneth Joseph Hanley, Louisville, KY (US);
Jeffrey Martin Wood, Louisville, KY (US);
Martin Christopher Severance, Louisville, KY (US);
Jason Andrew May, Prospect, KY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A refrigerator and a method of operating a refrigerator to determine the time at which to initiate a defrost cycle is provided. Changes in the voltage provided to an evaporator fan are used to determine and/or predict when to initiate a defrost cycle. Adjustments to the timing of the defrost cycle can be made based on known periods of peak energy demand and/or the increased costs associated with operating the defrost cycle during such peak energy demand periods.