Refrigeration monitor unit

• US 6,453,687 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Carr, D. Mitchell, Sharood, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US09/755,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 622/30, 621/75, 340/585, 236/51, 236/94, 165/11.1
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 : Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 : Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

A unit is attached to a refrigeration appliance, such as a freezer, or refrigerator, to alert the user of a sensed condition within the appliance that food spoilage may occur. The unit can monitor temperature within the compartment and determine how long until food spoilage occurs. The unit also can alert a user, monitoring service, or call a repairperson. The unit may be retrofit into existing appliances.

Claims

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:

a compartment;

an appliance controller configured to control operating conditions of the compartment;

a sensor configured to sense a condition within the compartment;

a power supply configured to receive power from a power source; and

a retrofit device including

a first coupler configured to connect to the power supply and to receive the power;

a second coupler configured to supply the power to the appliance controller; and

a monitoring circuit connected to the first coupler and the second coupler, the monitoring circuit being configured to monitor the sensed condition and to use the first coupler to transmit data based on the sensed condition.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the compartment is a freezer.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the sensed condition is temperature.

4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the monitoring circuit includes a processor configured to determine a time when food spoilage will occur based on the sensed condition.

5. The appliance of claim 4 wherein the data includes the time when food spoilage will occur.

6. The appliance of claim 4 wherein the data includes an indication that the processor has determined that food spoilage has occurred.

7. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a battery connected to the monitoring circuit, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to monitor power supplied to the appliance, and to send a signal if the supplied power is interrupted.

8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein the signal indicates that no power is being supplied.

9. The appliance of claim 7 wherein the signal indicates when food spoilage will occur.

10. A retrofit device configured to monitor a refrigeration appliance including a power supply, the retrofit device comprising:

an interface configured to receive a sensed condition of the appliance;

a first coupler configured to receive power from a power source;

a second coupler configured to provide the received power to the power supply; and

a monitoring circuit connected to the first coupler and the second coupler, the monitoring circuit being configured to monitor the sensed condition and to use the first coupler to transmit data based on the sensed condition.

11. The retrofit device of claim 10 wherein the sensed condition is temperature.

12. The retrofit device of claim 10 wherein the monitoring circuit includes a processor configured to determine a time when food spoilage will occur based on the sensed condition.

13. The retrofit device of claim 12 wherein the data includes the time when food spoilage will occur.

14. The retrofit device of claim 10 wherein the data includes an indication that the processor has determined that food spoilage has occurred.

15. The retrofit device of claim 10 further comprising a battery connected to the monitoring circuit wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to monitor power supplied to the appliance and to send a signal if supplied power is interrupted.

16. The retrofit device of claim 15 wherein the signal indicates that no power is being supplied.

17. The retrofit device of claim 15 wherein the signal indicates when food spoilage will occur.

18. A retrofit system configured to monitor a refrigeration appliance including a power supply, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a condition within the appliance;

a first coupler configured to receive power from a power source;

a second coupler configured to provide the received power to the power supply; and

a monitoring device connected to the sensor, the first coupler, and the second coupler, the monitoring device including a monitoring circuit configured to monitor the sensed condition and to use the first coupler to transmit data based on the sensed condition.

19. The retrofit system of claim 18 wherein the monitoring device is mounted on the appliance.

20. The retrofit system of claim 18 wherein the sensed condition is temperature.

21. The retrofit system of claim 18 wherein the monitoring circuit includes a processor configured to determine a time when food spoilage will occur based on the sensed condition.

22. The retrofit system of claim 21 wherein the data includes the time when food spoilage will occur.

23. The retrofit system of claim 21 wherein the data includes an indication that the processor has determined that food spoilage has occurred.

24. The retrofit system of claim 18 further comprising a battery connected to the monitoring circuit, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to monitor power supplied to the appliance and to send a signal if supplied power is interrupted.

25. The retrofit system of claim 24 wherein the signal indicates that no power is being supplied.

26. The retrofit system of claim 24 wherein the signal indicates when food spoilage will occur.

27. A retrofit appliance monitoring system comprising:

a refrigeration appliance including a power supply;

a sensor configured to sense an appliance condition; and

a retrofit plug including

a first coupler configured to receive power from a power source;

a second coupler configured to provide the received power to the power supply; and

a monitoring circuit connected to the first coupler and the second coupler, the monitoring circuit being configured to monitor the sensed condition and to use the first coupler to transmit data based on the sensed condition.

28. The retrofit appliance monitoring system of claim 27 further comprising:

an interface configured to receive the transmitted data from the first coupler;

a control server connected to the interface and configured to generate a message in response to the transmitted data; and

a user interface configured to display the message.

29. The retrofit appliance monitoring system of claim 28 wherein the sensed condition is temperature and the transmitted data indicates a time until food spoilage occurs.

30. The retrofit appliance monitoring system of claim 28 wherein the sensed condition is temperature and the transmitted data includes an indication that no power is supplied to the refrigeration appliance.