Refrigerator control including a hidden features menu
First Claim
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet within which is defined fresh food and freezer compartments;
a door pivotally mounted relative to the cabinet, said door selectively closing the fresh food compartment;
a display zone for selectively displaying operational parameters of the refrigerator; and
a control panel for establishing operational parameters of the refrigerator, said control panel including;
means for setting a status of a basic operational parameter; and
means for accessing a hidden features menu through the setting means, said hidden features menu enabling a consumer to set a status of at least one non-basic operational parameter of the refrigerator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cabinet within which is defined a fresh food compartment and/or a freezer compartment. The refrigerator further includes a control panel or user interface that enables a consumer to input desired operating parameters. The interface is also provided with a plurality of temperature control elements and at least one auxiliary control element. The temperature control elements enable a consumer to set compartment temperatures in a first or basic mode. The auxiliary control element, in addition to serving a function in the basic mode, provides access to a hidden or advanced features menu. Once the hidden menu is accessed, the temperature control elements enable a consumer to select and adjust advanced operating parameters, such as enabling a Sabbath mode, setting a temperature display, altering an intensity of ambient light required to activate a dispenser light, activating an audible warm alarm and initiating a super cool feature.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet within which is defined fresh food and freezer compartments; a door pivotally mounted relative to the cabinet, said door selectively closing the fresh food compartment; a display zone for selectively displaying operational parameters of the refrigerator; and a control panel for establishing operational parameters of the refrigerator, said control panel including; means for setting a status of a basic operational parameter; and means for accessing a hidden features menu through the setting means, said hidden features menu enabling a consumer to set a status of at least one non-basic operational parameter of the refrigerator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of setting operational parameters of a refrigerator comprising:
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accessing a basic features menu through selection of a predetermined one of a plurality of control elements; selecting a basic feature from the basic features menu; setting a status of the basic feature selected; activating a hidden features menu through activation of at least one of the plurality of control elements, said at least one of the plurality of control elements also having a function other than accessing the hidden features menu; selecting a hidden feature from the hidden features menu; and setting a status of the hidden feature selected. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification