Refrigerator and ice maker methods and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a fresh food compartment;
a freezer compartment separated from said fresh food compartment by a mullion;
a door movably positioned to cover said freezer compartment when in a closed position;
a water supply comprising at least one valve and a turbine ratemeter in flow communication with said valve;
at least one of;
an ice maker positioned within said freezer compartment coupled to said water supply; and
a through the door water dispenser coupled to said water supply; and
a controller operationally coupled to said valve and said turbine ratemeter, said controller configured to;
open said valve to allow water flow therethrough;
receive a plurality of pulses from said ratemeter, each pulse representative of a quantity of water flow therethrough; and
close said valve upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment separated from the fresh food compartment by a mullion, a water dispenser coupled to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, a user interface coupled to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and a controller operationally coupled to the water dispenser. The controller is configured to receive a signal representative of a user desired amount of water, and dispense an amount of water equal to the desired amount.
43 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a fresh food compartment;
a freezer compartment separated from said fresh food compartment by a mullion;
a door movably positioned to cover said freezer compartment when in a closed position;
a water supply comprising at least one valve and a turbine ratemeter in flow communication with said valve;
at least one of;
an ice maker positioned within said freezer compartment coupled to said water supply; and
a through the door water dispenser coupled to said water supply; and
a controller operationally coupled to said valve and said turbine ratemeter, said controller configured to;
open said valve to allow water flow therethrough;
receive a plurality of pulses from said ratemeter, each pulse representative of a quantity of water flow therethrough; and
close said valve upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An ice maker comprising:
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a mold comprising at least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice;
a water supply comprising at least one valve for controlling water flow into said mold;
a turbine ratemeter in flow communication with said valve; and
a controller operationally coupled to said valve and said ratemeter and configured to;
open said valve to allow water flow therethrough;
receive a plurality of pulses from said ratemeter, each pulse representative of a quantity of water flow therethrough; and
close said valve upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A refrigerator comprising:
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a fresh food compartment;
a freezer compartment separated from said fresh food compartment by a mullion;
an ice maker positioned within said freezer compartment, said ice maker comprising;
a mold comprising at least one cavity for containing water therein for freezing into ice;
a water supply comprising at least one valve for controlling water flow into said mold; and
a turbine ratemeter in flow communication with said valve; and
a controller operationally coupled to said valve and said ratemeter, and configured to;
open said valve to allow water flow therethrough;
receive a plurality of pulses from said ratemeter, wherein each pulse representative of a quantity of water flow therethrough; and
close said valve upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A refrigerator comprising:
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a fresh food compartment;
a freezer compartment separated from said fresh food compartment by a mullion;
a door movably positioned to cover said freezer compartment when in a closed position;
a water supply comprising at least one valve and a turbine ratemeter in flow communication with said valve;
a through the door water dispenser coupled to said water supply; and
a controller operationally coupled to said valve and said turbine ratemeter, said controller configured to;
open said valve to allow water flow therethrough;
receive a plurality of pulses from said ratemeter, wherein each pulse representative of a quantity of water flow therethrough; and
close said valve upon receipt of a predetermined number of pulses. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A refrigerator comprising:
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a fresh food compartment;
a freezer compartment separated from said fresh food compartment by a mullion;
a water dispenser coupled to at least one of said fresh food compartment and said freezer compartment;
a user interface coupled to at least one of said fresh food compartment and said freezer compartment, said user interface configured to receive a numerical quantity relating to a desired amount of water;
a turbine ratemeter configured to determine a quantity of water flow therethrough; and
a controller operationally coupled to said water dispenser and said turbine ratemeter, said controller configured to;
receive a signal representative of a user entered numerical quantity relating to the desired amount of water; and
dispense an amount of water equal to the entered amount. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification