Automatic liquid dispenser and refrigerator with the same

• US 7,661,448 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Hwan, Yun, Ju Hwan, Lee, Young Hyun, You, Dong Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust; Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US11/924,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 141/83, 141 94- 96, 141/192, 141/198, 141/351, 141/360, 732/90.R, 250/227.11, 340618-619
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0005 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0857 Cooling arrangements cooling systems per se F25B
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1236 comprising means for detecting the size of vessels to be filled
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1238 comprising means for detecting the liquid level in vessels to be filled, e.g. using ultrasonic waves, optical reflexion, probes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves

Abstract

An automatic liquid dispenser and a refrigerator with the same is disclosed wherein a level of liquid to be ejected into a receptacle can be established, and a display module is mounted to thereby enhance a user convenience, and wherein the automatic liquid dispenser is mounted on the refrigerator to allow being independently driven and manufactured.

Claims

1. An automatic liquid dispenser comprising:

a liquid dispensing module measuring a liquid height, dispensing liquid into a receptacle and measuring a level of the liquid ejected into the receptacle;

a display module indicating the level of the liquid inside the receptacle; and

a controller controlling an operation of the liquid dispensing module and the display module,

wherein the display module comprises;

a level establisher provided for establishing the level of the liquid dispensed by the liquid dispensing module; and

a level indicator for indicating the level of the liquid inside the receptacle,

wherein the level indicator has a cross-sectional shape of the receptacle, and is divided therein by a plurality of regions for indicating the level of the liquid inside the receptacle.

2. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing module comprises:

a receptacle height and liquid level measurer for measuring a receptacle height and the level of the liquid inside the receptacle; and

a liquid supplier for supplying the liquid into the receptacle.

3. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the level establisher is a level raising and lowering key provided for establishing the level of the liquid inside the receptacle.

4. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the level indicator indicates the established level of the liquid.

5. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the level indicator displays the level of the liquid by using variable pictures, colors, bars or numbers.

6. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display module further comprises a level indicator for indicating the divided regions of the receptacle-shaped level indicator corresponding to the levels established by the level establisher.

7. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a detector for detecting whether the receptacle has been accommodated.

8. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the display module further comprises a receptacle state display unit indicating whether or not the receptacle is present and whether or not the receptacle has been accommodated.

9. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm generating an alarm sound at a point where the ejection of the liquid into the receptacle has been completed.

10. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a liquid ejection pause unit for forcibly stopping the ejection of the liquid by a user.

11. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an additional progress requesting unit for additionally performing the ejection of the liquid by the user.

12. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the level indicator displays the levels of liquid inputted beforehand inside the receptacle.

13. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing module further comprises a receptacle accommodator for accommodating the receptacle, wherein an identifying mark is further installed on the receptacle accommodator for arranging the receptacle.

14. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein the identifying mark is made of water-proof material.

15. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

at least one or more light sources on the identifying mark.

16. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing module is disposed on a main body of a refrigerator including a main board unit for driving the refrigerator, and the display mode further indicates

an operation state of the refrigerator.

17. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the liquid dispensing module is driven independently from a main board unit.

18. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the liquid dispensing module includes an ultrasonic sensor.

19. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the liquid dispensing module includes an ultrasonic emission/reception circuit unit.

20. The automatic liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 19, wherein the display module comprises an ultrasonic circuit analyzing unit for analyzing a signal output from the ultrasonic emission/reception circuit unit.