Refrigerator having interior lighting used for synchronized user feedback of zone selection

• US 10,371,438 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Ammerman, Jason, Kim, Jae
• Primary Examiner(s): Tefera, Hiwot E
• Application Number:
  US15/142,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20170314848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 362 92, 362253, 62264, 62125, 62127
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0044 Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/00 Control issues
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone may be independently controlled using a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment; a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed proximate to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights may be separately controlled for visually identifying each of the refrigeration zones; and a controller configured to receive a zone selection input from the user interface, identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed proximate the selected refrigeration zone, and control the identified group of the plurality of lights to visually confirm the selected refrigeration zone.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone may be independently controlled;

a door pivotally coupled to the cabinet and associated with the at least one internal refrigerated compartment, wherein when the door is opened, access is provided for a user to the associated at least one internal refrigerated compartment and to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones provided therein;

a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed along at least two sides of the perimeter of each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights are configured to be separately controlled for visually identifying boundaries of each of the refrigeration zones;

a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment and indicating a parameter that changes the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of lights and the user interface, the controller is configured to;

receive a zone selection input from the user interface;

identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed about the boundary of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones;

control the identified group of the plurality of lights in a manner so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; and

control at least one component so as to adjust the parameter and thereby change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a temperature setting.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a use setting.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the color of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the brightness of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by modulating the intensity of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the user interface is disposed within the internal refrigerated compartment.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones includes a shelf that divides the at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

9. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone is configured to be independently controlled using a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment, and wherein at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones includes a shelf that divides the at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones;

a door pivotally coupled to the cabinet and associated with the at least one internal refrigerated compartment, wherein when the door is opened, access is provided for a user to the associated at least one internal refrigerated compartment and to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones provided therein;

a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed along at least two sides of the perimeter of each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights are configured to be separately controlled for visually identifying each of the refrigeration zones; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of lights and in communication with the user interface, the controller is configured to;

receive a zone selection input from the user interface;

identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed proximate the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; and

control the identified group of the plurality of lights in a manner so as to visually confirm the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 and further comprising a wireless interface coupled to the controller for wirelessly communicating with the user interface, which is remote from the refrigerator.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the user interface is disposed within the internal refrigerated compartment.

12. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed around boundaries of each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein the groups of the plurality of lights may be separately controlled for visually identifying the boundaries of each of the refrigeration zones.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the color of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

14. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the brightness of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

15. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by modulating the intensity of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

16. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a first input for selection of at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones and a second input for adjustment of a parameter that changes the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a temperature setting.

18. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a use setting.

19. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a second input for adjustment of a parameter; and

in response to the second input for adjustment of a parameter, control at least one component so as to adjust the parameter and thereby change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.