Method and system for dispensing ice and/or a liquid

• US 7,743,801 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Janardhanam, Ramesh, Venkatakrishnan, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson; Gregory L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NIESZ, JASON KAROL
• Application Number:
  US11/647,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 141/83, 141/94, 141/95, 141/96, 141/192, 141/206, 141/351
• US Class Current: 141/351
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product

Abstract

A touchless dispensing system includes a dispenser configured to dispense at least one of ice and at least one liquid. A detection device is positioned with respect to the dispenser. The detection device is configured to detect a container positioned with respect to the dispenser without contacting the container. The detection device is further configured to generate a signal confirming a position of the container with respect to the dispenser. The dispenser is activated to dispense an amount of ice and/or an amount of the at least one liquid into the container in response to the signal generated by the detection device.

Claims

1. A touchless dispensing system comprising:

a dispenser configured to dispense at least one of ice and at least one liquid; and

a detection device positioned with respect to a recess defined within a housing, wherein the recess comprises at least one wall, said detection device configured to detect a container positioned with respect to the dispenser without contacting the container and to detect a presence of a person positioned with respect to said dispenser, said detection device further configured to determine a distance between the container and said at least one wall and to determine a distance between the person and said at least one wall and to generate a signal confirming a position of the container with respect to the dispenser and confirming a position of the person with respect to said dispenser, said dispenser activated to dispense at least one of an amount of ice and an amount of the at least one liquid into the container in response to said signal generated by said detection device confirming the position of the container with respect to the dispenser and confirming the position of the person with respect to said dispenser.

2. A touchless dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detection device further comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor module configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and receive a corresponding reflected ultrasonic signal.

3. A touchless dispensing system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said ultrasonic sensor module further comprises an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit ultrasonic signals along a selected signal path and an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive ultrasonic signals.

4. A touchless dispensing system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said at least one ultrasonic sensor module further comprises a first ultrasonic sensor module configured to detect a relative position of the container with respect to said dispenser.

5. A touchless dispensing system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said at least one ultrasonic sensor module further comprises a second ultrasonic sensor module configured to detect a fill level within the container.

6. A touchless dispensing system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a controller in operational control communication with said detection device and said dispenser, said controller configured to activate said dispenser in response to a signal received from said detection device.

7. A touchless dispensing system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said controller is configured to activate said dispenser with the container at a first position with respect to said detection device and deactivate said dispenser when said fill level reaches a maximum fill level.

8. A refrigeration appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining at least one refrigeration compartment;

a first door coupled to said cabinet and movable between an open position and a closed position, in the closed position said door configured to sealingly enclose said at least one refrigeration compartment, said first door comprising at least one wall defining a recess;

a dispenser positioned within said cabinet, said dispenser configured to dispense at least one of an amount of ice and an amount of a liquid into a container positioned within said recess;

a detection device positioned with respect to said recess, said detection device configured to detect a container positioned within said recess without contacting the container and configured to detect a presence of a person, said detection device further configured to;

determine a distance between the container and said at least one wall and a distance between the person and said at least one wall, and

generate a signal confirming a position of the container within said recess and the presence of the person; and

a controller in operational control communication with said detection device and said dispenser, said controller configured to activate said dispenser in response to a signal received from said detection device confirming the position of the container within said recess and the presence of the person.

9. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 8 wherein said detection device further comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor module configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and receive a corresponding returned ultrasonic signal redirected by the container.

10. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one ultrasonic sensor module further comprises a first ultrasonic sensor module configured to detect at least one of a distance of the container with respect to said detection device and a height of the container with respect to a support surface formed within said recess.

11. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one ultrasonic sensor module further comprises a second ultrasonic sensor module configured to detect a fill level within the container.

12. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 11 wherein said controller is configured to deactivate said dispenser when the fill level reaches a maximum fill level.

13. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one ultrasonic sensor module further comprises an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit the ultrasonic signal into said recess.

14. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 13 wherein said at least one ultrasonic sensor module further comprises an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive a redirected ultrasonic signal indicating the container positioned within said recess, said controller configured to initiate activation of said dispenser with the container substantially interfering with the transmitted acoustic signal.

15. A method for dispensing at least one of an amount of ice and an amount of liquid into a container, said method comprising:

providing a dispensing system comprising a housing having at least one wall defining a recess, a detection device positioned with respect to the recess, and a dispenser positioned with respect to the recess;

detecting a container positioned within the recess;

detecting a person positioned with respect to the dispensing system;

determining a distance between the container and the at least one wall;

determining a distance between the person and the at least one wall;

generating a signal confirming a position of the container within the recess and a position of the person; and

activating the dispenser in response to the signal received from the detection device to dispense at least one of an amount of ice and an amount of liquid into the container, wherein the signal confirms the position of the container and the position of the person.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said detecting a container positioned within the recess further comprises:

positioning at least one ultrasonic sensor module with respect to the recess;

operatively coupling the at least one ultrasonic sensor module with a controller;

transmitting an ultrasonic signal into the recess; and

receiving a reflected ultrasonic signal through the ultrasonic sensor module.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said positioning at least one ultrasonic sensor module with respect to the recess further comprises positioning a first ultrasonic sensor module with respect to the recess, the first ultrasonic sensor module configured to detect a fill level within the container.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising de-deactivating the dispenser in response to a signal received from the first ultrasonic sensor module.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said positioning at least one ultrasonic sensor module with respect to the recess further comprises positioning a second ultrasonic sensor module with respect to the recess, the second ultrasonic sensor module configured to detect a relative position of the container with respect to the recess.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 further comprising activating the dispenser in response to a signal received from the second ultrasonic sensor module.

21. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein, upon activating the dispenser to dispense at least one of ice and liquid into the container, said method further comprising detecting a level of the at least one of ice and liquid within the container.