Window assembly for an appliance panel incorporating a glazing member having a conductive/resistive coating

• US 10,440,782 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kobos, Duane M., Moore, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baillargeon, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US14/976,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20170176095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 219209, 219202, 219203, 219522, 219483, 362612
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/04 Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2327/001 Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields

Abstract

A panel member for an appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner that define a panel opening therethrough, a panel window disposed in the opening and having at least one glazing member that is disposed within a glazing frame, a conductive coating applied to at least one surface of the at least one glazing member and at least one electrical conductor disposed proximate a portion of the glazing frame, the electrical conductor in communication with the conductive coating.

Claims

1. A panel member for an appliance, the panel member comprising:

an outer wrapper and an inner liner that define a panel opening therethrough, wherein a hinge is coupled to the outer wrapper for rotational operation of said panel member;

a panel window disposed in the panel opening and having at least one glazing member that is disposed within a glazing frame;

a single continuous conductive coating applied to at least one surface of the at least one glazing member;

at least one electrical conductor disposed in engagement with a portion of the glazing frame, the at least one electrical conductor in communication with the conductive coating, wherein electrical wiring is delivered to the at least one electrical conductor via the hinge;

a dynamic diode harness having at least one diode, wherein the dynamic diode harness defines a forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state, wherein the dynamic diode harness is in communication with the at least one electrical conductor and the conductive coating; and

at least one selectively activated electrical component in communication with the dynamic diode harness, wherein the dynamic diode harness in the forward voltage bias state activates the at least one selectively activated electrical component, and wherein the dynamic diode harness in the reverse voltage bias state deactivates at least one selectively activated electrical component, wherein;

the conductive coating is an electrically resistive coating;

when an electrical current is delivered from the at least one electrical conductor to the conductive coating, the conductive coating defines a defogging condition and condensation present on the at least one glazing member is at least partially evaporated by the conductive coating in the defogging condition;

the at least one electrical conductor includes first and second conductors, and wherein the first and second conductors are connected with the conductive coating and the dynamic diode harness, and wherein the defogging condition is activated in both the forward voltage bias state and the reverse voltage bias state.

2. The panel member of claim 1, wherein the conductive coating is in communication with an electrical component disposed adjacent to the panel window, wherein the conductive coating places the at least one electrical conductor in communication with the electrical component.

3. The panel member of claim 2, wherein the electrical component includes at least one of a lighting element and a user interface and wherein the conductive coating includes first and second conductors.

4. The panel member of claim 1, wherein the at least one glazing member includes first and second glazing members that are separated by a spacing structure, and wherein the at least one electrical conductor is disposed adjacent to the spacing structure.

5. The panel member of claim 4, wherein the first and second glazing members and the spacing structure define an interior space of the panel window, wherein the conductive coating is disposed on an interior surface that at least partially defines the interior space.

6. The panel member of claim 1, wherein the at least one selectively activated electrical component includes a lighting fixture.

7. The panel member of claim 1, wherein a diode is in communication with the at least one electrical conductor, and wherein the defogging condition is activated in the forward voltage bias state, and wherein the defogging condition is deactivated in the reverse voltage bias state.

8. The panel member of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface in communication with a utility system of the appliance; and

a diode bridge coupled to the user interface and the first and second conductors, wherein the user interface receives electrical current from at least one of the first and second conductors via the diode bridge, wherein the diode bridge delivers the electrical current in a non-switching polarity such that the user interface is activated in both the forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state.

9. A panel electrical system for a panel member of an appliance having a panel window disposed therein, the panel electrical system comprising:

at least one glazing member that is disposed within a glazing frame;

an electrical conductor in engagement with a portion of the glazing frame, the electrical conductor in communication with an electrical system of the appliance, wherein the electrical conductor is coupled to the electrical system of said appliance via at least one of a drawer glide and a door hinge;

at least one electrical component disposed at least near the at least one glazing member;

a single and continuous conductive coating applied to at least one surface of the at least one glazing member, wherein the electrical conductor defines an electrical communication between the conductive coating and the at least one electrical component;

a dynamic diode harness having at least one diode, wherein the dynamic diode harness defines a forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state, wherein the dynamic diode harness is in communication with at least one of the electrical conductor and the conductive coating; and

at least one selectively activated electrical component in communication with the dynamic diode harness, wherein the dynamic diode harness in the forward voltage bias state activates at least one selectively activated electrical component, and wherein the dynamic diode harness in the reverse voltage bias state deactivates at least one selectively activated electrical component, wherein;

the conductive coating is an electrically resistive coating;

when an electrical current is delivered from the electrical conductor to the conductive coating, the conductive coating defines a defogging condition;

the dynamic diode harness is in direct engagement with at least one of the electrical conductor and the conductive coating; and

the defogging condition is activated in both the forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state.

10. The panel electrical system of claim 9, wherein condensation present on the at least one glazing member is at least partially evaporated by the conductive coating in the defogging condition.

11. The panel electrical system of claim 9, wherein the at least one electrical component includes at least one of a lighting element and a user interface.

12. The panel electrical system of claim 9, wherein the at least one glazing member includes first and second glazing members that are separated by a spacing structure, and wherein the electrical conductor is disposed adjacent to the spacing structure.

13. The panel electrical system of claim 9, wherein the conductive coating is disposed between the electrical conductor and the dynamic diode harness, and wherein the defogging condition is activated in both the forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state.

14. The panel electrical system of claim 9, wherein the dynamic diode harness is in direct engagement with the electrical conductor, and wherein the defogging condition is activated in both the forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state.

15. The panel electrical system of claim 9, further comprising:

a user interface in communication with a utility system of the appliance; and

a diode bridge coupled to the user interface and at least one of the dynamic diode harness and the electrical conductor, wherein the user interface receives electrical current from at least one of the dynamic diode harness and the electrical conductor via the diode bridge, wherein the diode bridge delivers the electrical current in a non-switching polarity such that the user interface is activated in both the forward voltage bias state and a reverse voltage bias state.