DIGITAL CONTROL OF ICE MAKING APPARATUS AND OUTPUT OF OPERATING STATUS

Abstract

The subject application relates to a remote control system and method for an ice maker machine. The system, for example, can monitor and regulate the operations of a plurality of ice maker components. An output display can also be employed in order to output relevant operating statuses to a user remotely or at a distance from the ice maker machine. The system can receive user input as well as sensor input and control the operation of the ice maker according to both types of input. As a result, a user can remotely determine failure modes and efficiently troubleshoot them as well as maintain an overall awareness of the operation status of the ice maker without physical interaction with the machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A brief description of each drawing is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a remote digital control system as employed in conjunction with an ice maker machine that facilitates monitoring and controlling the machine in a remote manner.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another aspect of a remote digital control system as employed with an ice maker machine which allows the machine to be monitored and controlled in a remote manner.

FIG. 3 is a diagram representing exemplary types of input that the remote digital control system of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 can use to facilitate controlling an ice maker machine in a remote manner.

FIG. 4 continues from FIG. 3 and is a diagram representing exemplary outputs that can be visually displayed to assist a user in ascertaining the status of various parts of the ice maker machine.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary wiring diagram for a remote digital control system as used in conjunction with an ice maker machine in order to monitor and control the operation of the machine in a remote manner.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for monitoring and controlling an ice maker machine in a remote manner.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of another aspect of an exemplary method for monitoring and controlling an ice maker machine in a remote manner.

Claims

1. A remote ice maker control system comprising: a plurality of ice maker components that cooperatively function as an ice maker machine;a plurality of at least one of sensors and switches corresponding to at least one of the plurality of ice maker components;a central processor that monitors and controls operations of the plurality of ice maker components using, at least in part, input from at least one of: at least one sensor or at least one switch; andan output display remotely located from at least a portion of the ice-maker components that presents one or more visual indicators based on at least one of sensor input and switch input to facilitate maintaining user awareness of the operations of the ice maker components at a distance from the ice maker machine.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor communicates with the ice maker components, sensors, switches in a remote manner.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor receives at least one of sensor input and user input, wherein the user input is used in part to set a plurality of operational parameters for the ice maker components.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor processes the sensor input to determine whether at least one failure has occurred.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data store that comprises a plurality of operational parameters corresponding to the plurality of ice maker components.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor comprises: an operational monitor that monitors operation activity of one or more ice maker components and that receives sensor input from one or more activated sensors; anda component controller that regulates operation activity of the one or more ice maker components based on respective operational parameters, additional user input, and sensor input.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor automatically adjusts one or more operational parameters based at least in part on at least one of additional user input or a change in an operational parameter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor analyzes sensor input and presents one or more suggestions to adjust or repair affected ice maker components.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor comprises an artificial intelligence component that predicts a failure is likely to occur and provides a warning.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the warning is in a form of a flashing indicator and the flashing indicator comprises at least one of a message or a light.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processor triggers a fault when an attempt to disable at least one of a sensor or a switch is detected, thereby prohibiting further operation of the ice maker machine until the fault is cleared by an authorized technician.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ice maker components comprises an auger motor, a compressor, an ice level feature, a feed water level feature, a reset feature, a high pressure feature, a low pressure feature, and an ice clog feature.

13. A method that facilitates remote control of an ice maker machine comprising: monitoring a state of one or more ice maker components;detecting at least one state change;analyzing state change according to one or more set operational parameters to determine an occurrence of at least one failure mode; andremotely displaying at least one visual indicator corresponding to the at least one state change to facilitate maintaining user awareness of the ice maker machine at a distance from the machine.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting one or more operational parameters via a remote control which mitigates direct physical interaction with ice maker machine.

15. A method that facilitates remote control of an ice maker machine comprising: monitoring ice maker component activity relative to corresponding operational parameters;receiving a change to at least one operational parameter; anddetermining effects to unchanged operational parameters.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically adjusting one or more other parameters based on the change.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying suggestions of parameter changes for a user to accept, reject, or modify from a location remote from the ice maker.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: using artificial intelligence to learn from other failure occurrences and use conditions present at the time of those failures to predict when another similar failure might occur; anddisplaying a warning of one or more imminent failures that are likely to occur to mitigate undesirable consequences resulting from an actual failure.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the ice maker component activity occurs within an ice maker apparatus mounted in at least one of a marine vessel, a recreational vehicle, or a motorized home.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ice maker components are mounted in at least one of a marine vessel, a recreational vehicle, or a motorized home.