Method for operating a refrigerator appliance

• US 9,638,461 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Wait, Keith Wesley, Gardner, William Everette
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Application Number:
  US14/181,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0014 the beverage being supplied from water mains
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices

Abstract

Refrigerator appliances and methods for operating refrigerator appliances are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a user'"'"'s presence, associating the user'"'"'s presence with a heated beverage preference, and initiating heating of a liquid stored in the refrigerator appliance. The detecting step, the associating step and the initiating step are performed by a controller of the refrigerator appliance.

Claims

1. A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s presence;

associating the user'"'"'s presence with a heated beverage preference; and

initiating heating of a liquid stored in the refrigerator appliance,

wherein the detecting step, the associating step and the initiating step are performed by a controller of the refrigerator appliance, and wherein the initiating step occurs automatically in response to the associating step without an additional user prompt.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the heated beverage preference associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing a single serve dispenser associated with the heated beverage preference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step utilizes one of biometric detection, audio detection, radio frequency identification detection, or near field communication detection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the user when the liquid is heated.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence; and

associating the time with the heated beverage preference.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence.

8. A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s presence;

determining a time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence;

associating the user'"'"'s presence and the time with a heated beverage preference;

initiating heating of a liquid stored in the refrigerator appliance; and

storing the heated beverage preference and the time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence,

wherein the detecting step, the determining step and the associating step are performed by a controller of the refrigerator appliance, and

wherein the initiating step occurs automatically in response to the associating step without an additional user prompt.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the heated beverage preference and the time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence are stored in the controller.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the heated beverage preference and the time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence are stored in an independent storage device.

11. A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s presence utilizing biometric detection, audio detection, radio frequency identification detection, or near field communication detection;

determining a time associated with the detection of the user'"'"'s presence;

associating the user'"'"'s presence with a heated beverage preference;

associating the time with the heated beverage preference;

initiating heating of a liquid stored in the refrigerator appliance; and

releasing a single serve dispenser automatically, the single serve dispenser being associated with the heated beverage preference,

wherein the detecting step, the associating step and the initiating step are performed by a controller of the refrigerator appliance, and wherein the initiating step occurs automatically in response to the associating step without an additional user prompt.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically notifying the user when the liquid is heated.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising releasing a single serve dispenser associated with the heated beverage preference.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting step utilizes one of biometric detection, audio detection, radio frequency identification detection, or near field communication detection.