Method and system for refrigerator with integrated presentation mode

• US 20030014259A1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Ferragut, Nelson J. II, McNamara, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,993,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/272
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A method and system for a refrigerator having an integrated presentation mode is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet, a refrigerating compartment disposed within the cabinet, a display operatively connected to the cabinet, an intelligent control electrically connected to the display, wherein the intelligent control is adapted to provide a product message related to the refrigerator on the display. The method includes providing a refrigerator adapted for communicating an audio-visual message containing product information about the refrigerator, playing an audio portion of the message, and displaying a visual portion of the message.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet;

a refrigerating compartment disposed within the cabinet;

a display operatively connected to the cabinet;

an intelligent control electrically connected to the display; and

wherein the intelligent control is adapted to provide a product message related to the refrigerator on the display.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a speaker electrically connected to the intelligent control and wherein the product message further includes audio content and wherein the intelligent control is adapted to play the audio content over the speaker.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a switch electrically connected to the intelligent control for initiating the product message.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3 wherein the switch is associated with a door of the cabinet such that opening the door initiates the product message.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control includes a timer.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising at least one manual input electrically connected to the intelligent control.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the product message includes an animation.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the product message is an informational message describing a feature of the refrigerator.

9. A method for providing product information, comprising:

providing a refrigerator adapted for communicating an audio-visual message containing product information about the refrigerator;

playing an audio portion of the message; and

displaying a visual portion of the message.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the refrigerator includes a display and a speaker.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining an occurrence of an event associated with user interest in the refrigerator.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of playing is playing the audio portion of the message upon the occurrence of the event.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of displaying is displaying the visual portion of the message upon the occurrence of the event.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the event is opening of a door of the refrigerator.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the intelligent control is adapted to provide the audio visual presentation upon activation of a switch electrically connected to the intelligent control.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16 wherein the switch is associated with the door.

18. The refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the intelligent control includes a timer and the intelligent control is adapted to replay the audio visual presentation after a duration of time associated with the timer.

15. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment, the cabinet having a door for providing access to the refrigerating compartment;

a display operatively connected to the cabinet;

an intelligent control electrically connected to the display;

a speaker operatively connected to the intelligent control;

wherein the intelligent control is adapted to provide an audio visual presentation about the refrigerator.