Patent Application
20090183796
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to a sensor system employed in a dispenser mounted in a refrigerator door.
2. Description of the Related Art
Refrigerators having built-in ice/water dispensers are well known in the art. In general, the dispensers are mounted to a door of the refrigerator for the purpose of dispensing ice and/or water without requiring a user to access a refrigerator compartment. A typical dispenser includes a dispenser well into which a container is placed. Once the container is in position, an actuator is operated to release the ice and/or water into the container.
In many cases, the actuator is a pressure sensitive mechanical switch. Typically, the switch is operated by pushing the container against, for example, a lever. The lever, in turn, operates the switch that causes the ice and/or water to be dispensed. A number of dispensers employ multiple actuators, one for ice and another for water, while other dispensers employ a single actuator. Dispensers which employ a single actuator typically require additional control elements that enable a user to select between ice and water dispensing operations. Several manufacturers have converted from mechanical switches to electrical or membrane switches. Functioning in a similar manner, a container is pushed against the membrane switch to initiate the dispensing operation. Still other arrangements employ actuator buttons provided on a control panel of the dispenser. With this arrangement, the user continuously depresses a button to release ice and/or water into the container. In yet another arrangement, sensors are mounted in the dispenser well and function to sense a presence and size of the container. The dispenser automatically begins dispensing ice or water based on the presence of the container and stops dispensing before the container overfills. In this case, the level of liquid or ice dispensed is dependent on the container in this case, and cannot be altered by a consumer based on the amount of liquid or ice desired.
Over time, mechanical and membrane switches wear out. Physical interaction with the switches results in wear and tear on contact points, springs, levers and the like, which eventually require replacement. Another drawback with existing systems is the lack of an automatic cut-off feature. More specifically, once activated, the dispenser will discharge water or ice until the pressure is removed from the actuator. If the user is momentarily distracted or if the dispenser is operated by an inexperienced individual such as a child, the level of ice or water can overflow the container.
There also exist drawbacks with the systems that employ automatic actuators. Most active sensors cannot differentiate between a container and a child's hand. Thus, in such systems, the mere act of a child inserting a hand or other object into the dispenser well will initiate a dispensing operation. In addition, active sensors require both the sending and receiving of signals. Sensors of this type may require periodic alignment and necessitate the use of multiple components which further add to the overall cost and complexity of the appliance.
Therefore, despite the existence of refrigerator dispensers in the prior art, there still exists a need for an enhanced refrigerator dispensing system. More specifically, there exists a need for a refrigerator dispensing system that can be utilized regardless of the shape or size of the container to be filled, and that allows for a hands-free dispensing event.
The present invention is directed to a refrigerator including a cabinet within which is defined at least one refrigerated compartment. A door is pivotally mounted to the cabinet to provide access to the refrigerated compartment. A dispenser assembly is provided in the door to enable users to obtain ice and/or water without requiring access to the refrigerated compartment. The dispenser includes a main body portion, a control portion including a plurality of control elements for selecting a desired dispensing operation, a dispenser well provided in the main body portion, and a sensor system.
In accordance with the invention, the presence of a container within a dispenser well is sensed by a container recognition sensor. Additionally, a touch sensor is mounted in the dispenser well and is configured to sense the selection of a desired product level by a consumer. Initially, upon sensing the presence of a container in the dispenser well, a control illuminates a feedback array associated with the touch sensor, thereby prompting a user to select the desired product level. To select a fill level, a user simply touches the touch sensor strip at a level corresponding to the desired product level within the container. Upon selection of a desired product level, at least one of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDS) on the feedback array remain illuminated to indicate the selected fill level. After the presence of the container is detected and the product level is selected, a control initiates the product dispensing event, and product is dispensed into the container until the product level within the container reaches the corresponding selected product level indicated on the feedback array. A product level sensor is provided for continuously sensing the level of product dispensed into the container. In a preferred embodiment, the product level sensor is an ultrasonic sensor that also acts as the container recognition sensor. Also in the preferred embodiment, light emitting diodes in the feedback array are illuminated as the container is filled, thereby progressively illuminating successive ones of the plurality of vertically spaced light emitting diodes and allowing a user to track the progress of the dispensing event. With this system, a variable volume, hands-free product dispensing event is enabled, regardless of the volume or height of container utilized.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
With initial reference to
In accordance with the invention, refrigerator 2 includes a dispenser assembly 40 having a main housing 44 and a control panel 49. Control panel 49 includes first and second rows of control buttons 53 and 54 which enable a user to select various program parameters and operations. Control panel 49 further includes a display 57 which, in addition to functioning in cooperation with dispenser assembly 40, enables the user to select particular operational parameters for refrigerator 2, such as desired temperatures for freezer compartment 11 and fresh food compartment 12. Additionally, dispenser assembly 40 includes a dispenser well 63 having a base or container support portion 65 and a recessed, upstanding wall section 68.
Turning to
In accordance with the present invention, sensor system 69 further comprises a means for sensing the level of ice and/or water within container 76, i.e., a product level sensor indicated at 80 in
In use, container recognition device 86 detects the presence of container 76 and feedback array 74 is illuminated, thereby prompting a user to select a desired product fill level. A consumer then makes a product fill level selection by touching touch sensor 70 at a height level corresponding with the desired fill level for container 76. The particular LED(s) associated with the selected fill level will remain illuminated, while the remaining LEDs will dim or be extinguished. In accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, control 82 automatically initiates a dispensing operation after container 76 is sensed and upon receipt of the product fill level selection. Control 82 will continue the dispensing of water from a spout 84 and/or ice through a chute (not shown) until product level sensor 80 detects that the fill level has reached the selected product level, at which point the dispensing operation is automatically terminated. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, feedback array 74 tracks the product level within container 76. More specifically, as the product level in container 76 rises, the LEDs within feedback array 74 are illuminated to track the progress of the fill event as depicted in
Based on the above description, it should be readily apparent that dispenser assembly 40 of the present invention advantageously provides a hands-free method of filling a container with water and/or ice to a desired level, regardless of the particular size or shape of the container utilized and without the need for a user to calculate the volume of water and/or ice desired. Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, although shown on the same side wall portion of the dispenser assembly, the feedback array and touch sensor may be located on different portions of the dispenser assembly. In addition, sensor system 69 may include overflow prevention, such as in the form of a software algorithm that utilizes the rate of water level change sensed by the product level sensor to determine when water and/or ice has begun to spill over the side of a container.
Upon sensing an overflow event, sensor system 69 will automatically terminate the dispensing operation. Furthermore, it should be realized that the invention can be employed in connection with dispensing various liquid, e.g., water or flavored beverages, and ice, e.g., cubed, crushed or shaved, products. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
