Sensor system for refrigerator
First Claim
1. An interactive appliance comprising:
- an appliance housing having an exterior;
a door having a handle;
a plurality of lighting devices electrically and interactively connected to a plurality of proximity sensors that each acquire sensor data within a separate sensor field that extends a distance away from the exterior of the appliance housing; and
wherein each of the plurality of lighting devices perform a programmed function and are responsive to a disruption of one or more of the sensor fields; and
wherein a disruption in at least one of the sensor fields activates at least one of the plurality of lighting devices proximate the bottom of the refrigerator and the lighting device proximate the bottom of the refrigerator illuminates a general boundary area proximate the bottom of the refrigerator;
wherein the plurality of lighting devices are integrated into a user facing surface of the exterior of the interactive appliance; and
wherein at least one of the plurality of lighting devices is positioned on a surface of the handle facing the appliance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive appliance is provided. The interactive appliance includes at least a housing, and an intelligent control disposed within the housing. One or more lighting devices are electrically connected to the intelligent control, as are one or more sensors. The sensors provide sensor data for the interactive appliance. The intelligent control is configured to alter operation of at least one of the one or more lighting devices based on data provided by the sensor to provide interactive feedback to a user of the interactive appliance. The feedback can include altering light intensity, color, consistency, or the like depending on the sensor data. Furthermore, the lighting device can be placed on a surface, such as an exterior surface of the housing of the appliance, or can be disposed within an interior portion of the appliance.
51 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An interactive appliance comprising:
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an appliance housing having an exterior; a door having a handle; a plurality of lighting devices electrically and interactively connected to a plurality of proximity sensors that each acquire sensor data within a separate sensor field that extends a distance away from the exterior of the appliance housing; and wherein each of the plurality of lighting devices perform a programmed function and are responsive to a disruption of one or more of the sensor fields; and wherein a disruption in at least one of the sensor fields activates at least one of the plurality of lighting devices proximate the bottom of the refrigerator and the lighting device proximate the bottom of the refrigerator illuminates a general boundary area proximate the bottom of the refrigerator; wherein the plurality of lighting devices are integrated into a user facing surface of the exterior of the interactive appliance; and wherein at least one of the plurality of lighting devices is positioned on a surface of the handle facing the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An interactive refrigerator, comprising:
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a refrigerator cabinet having an exterior surface and a dispenser on the exterior surface that dispenses water and ice; a door for providing access to a compartment within the refrigerator cabinet; at least one dispenser lighting device associated with the dispenser and operably connected to a plurality of dispenser proximity sensors associated with and positioned on a dispenser well wall of the dispenser where the dispenser proximity sensors have a loop sensor field associated therewith that extends away from and through a recessed dispensing area of the dispenser and wherein the at least one dispenser lighting device illuminates the recessed dispensing area of the dispenser upon a disruption in the sensor field; a plurality of door proximity sensors positioned on the exterior surface of the door, each proximity sensor having an associated exterior sensor field loop that extends outward and back toward the proximity sensor, wherein disruption of one of the exterior sensor fields activates at least one exterior appliance lighting device that illuminates an area proximate the appliance; and a plurality of interior proximity sensors wherein each of the plurality of interior proximity sensors senses motion within an interior volume of the refrigerator and a plurality of interior lighting devices wherein an interior lighting device is associated with each defined subvolume with the interior of the appliance such that movement sensed by one of the interior proximity sensors alters the lighting intensity of the defined subvolume. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification