SENSOR SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR

• US 20140111118A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: KENDALL, JAMES W., LICHT, KEVIN EDWARD, SNYDER, JILL C., KINCAID, MICHAEL D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• 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: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2327/001 Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An interactive appliance is provided. The interactive appliance includes at least a housing, and an intelligent control disposed within the housing. One or more lighting devices are electrically connected to the intelligent control, as are one or more sensors. The sensors provide sensor data for the interactive appliance. The intelligent control is configured to alter operation of at least one of the one or more lighting devices based on data provided by the sensor to provide interactive feedback to a user of the interactive appliance. The feedback can include altering light intensity, color, consistency, or the like depending on the sensor data. Furthermore, the lighting device can be placed on a surface, such as an exterior surface of the housing of the appliance, or can be disposed within an interior portion of the appliance.

Claims

1. An interactive appliance comprising:

an appliance housing;

an intelligent control disposed within the appliance housing;

at least one lighting device electrically connected to the intelligent control;

at least one sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control for providing sensor data;

wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter operation of the at least one lighting device based on the sensor data to provide interactive feedback to a user of the interactive appliance.

2. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a surface of the interactive appliance.

3. The interactive appliance of claim 2 wherein the surface is an exterior surface.

4. The interactive appliance of claim 3 wherein the exterior surface is on a handle.

5. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the at least one lighting device provides for lighting one of a plurality of interior areas of the appliance.

6. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the at least one lighting device provides for lighting an exterior area of the appliance.

7. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter the operation of the at least one lighting device by altering lighting intensity.

8. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter the operation of the at least one lighting device by altering light color.

9. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter the operation of the at least one lighting device by altering light intensity or visible light color over time.

10. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one sensor is configured to sense movement of the user.

11. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is configured to determine a predicted usage of the interactive appliance based on the sensor data and wherein the intelligent control is further configured to alter operation of the at least one lighting device to facilitate the predicted usage.

12. The interactive appliance of claim 1 wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter operation of the at least one lighting device based on the sensor data and convey information about the sensor data to the user.

13. An interactive refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator cabinet;

a door for providing access to a compartment within the refrigerator cabinet;

an intelligent control;

at least one lighting device electrically connected to the intelligent control;

at least one sensor electrically connected to the intelligent control for providing sensor data;

wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter operation of the at least one lighting device based on the sensor data to provide interactive feedback to a user of the interactive refrigerator.

14. The interactive refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the compartment comprises:

a plurality of separate areas; and

wherein the at least one lighting device comprises a first lighting device associated with a first of the plurality of separate areas and a second lighting device associated with a second of the plurality of separate areas.

15. The interactive refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the at least one lighting device is operatively connected to a surface of the interactive refrigerator.

16. The interactive refrigerator of claim 15 wherein the surface is selected from a set consisting of a liner surface, a shelf surface, a door bin surface, an interior crisper surface, an air tower surface, a refrigerator cabinet surface, a base air vent surface, a dispenser well surface, a handle surface, and a dispenser mount fascia surface.

17. The interactive refrigerator of claim 13 wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter the operation of the at least one lighting device by altering lighting intensity or visible light color.

18. The interactive refrigerator of claim 13 wherein each of the at least one sensor is configured to sense movement of the user.

19. The interactive appliance of claim 13 wherein the intelligent control is configured to alter operation of the at least one lighting device based on the sensor data and convey information about the sensor data to the user.