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. 06, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2007
Kevin M. Chase, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Randell L. Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nibbelink, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Kitman Chan, East Lansing, MI (US);
Jordan Cohen, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Andrew Gilgallon, Commerce, MI (US);
Dan Medore, Clio, MI (US);
Surisack Phouapanya, Holland, MI (US);
Kevin M. Chase, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Randell L. Jeffery, Stevensville, MI (US);
Matthew J. Nibbelink, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Kitman Chan, East Lansing, MI (US);
Jordan Cohen, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Andrew Gilgallon, Commerce, MI (US);
Dan Medore, Clio, MI (US);
Surisack Phouapanya, Holland, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The sensing system employs a digital image capture device that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin captured by the digital image capture device to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin. Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker. The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality.