Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a thermodynamic assembly, an air conduit, a heat pipe, a conductive ice mold, and a water dispenser. The liner may define an icebox (IB) compartment. air conduit may be disposed within the IB compartment. The air conduit may define a conduit path between a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet downstream from the conduit inlet. The heat pipe may be mounted to the air conduit and extend therefrom outside of the conduit path. The conductive ice mold may be mounted to the heat pipe within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity outside of the air conduit. The water dispenser may be positioned below the conductive ice mold to direct an ice-building spray of water to the mold cavity.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a liner, a thermodynamic assembly, an air conduit, a heat pipe, a conductive ice mold, and a water dispenser. The liner may define an icebox (IB) compartment. air conduit may be disposed within the IB compartment. The air conduit may define a conduit path between a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet downstream from the conduit inlet. The heat pipe may be mounted to the air conduit and extend therefrom outside of the conduit path. The conductive ice mold may be mounted to the heat pipe within the IB compartment. The conductive ice mold may define a mold cavity outside of the air conduit.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a chilled chamber defining a plurality of cooling zones and a lighting assembly comprising a plurality of lighting zones corresponding to the plurality of cooling zones. A climate control system generates and selectively directs a flow of cooling air into the plurality of cooling zones such that the temperature in each zone is independently regulated and the lighting assembly selectively illuminates the plurality of lighting zones to provide user feedback regarding the operation of the climate control system, e.g., by indicating which zones are receiving the flow of cooling air, by notifying a user when a zone has reached a setpoint temperature, or by identifying the presence and location of a flow restriction.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a chilled chamber defining a plurality of cooling zones and a lighting assembly comprising a plurality of lighting zones corresponding to the plurality of cooling zones. A climate control system generates and selectively directs a flow of cooling air into the plurality of cooling zones such that the temperature in each zone is independently regulated and the lighting assembly selectively illuminates the plurality of lighting zones to provide user feedback regarding the operation of the climate control system, e.g., by indicating which zones are receiving the flow of cooling air, by notifying a user when a zone has reached a setpoint temperature, or by identifying the presence and location of a flow restriction.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a controller and a plurality of food storage compartments. The method includes identifying a food item, such as in response to a user input. The method also includes retrieving optimal or preferred storage conditions for the identified food item. The method may include modifying the conditions of a selected food storage compartment and/or providing instructions to modify the conditions of the selected food storage compartment.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a controller and a plurality of food storage compartments. The method includes identifying a food item, such as in response to a user input. The method also includes retrieving optimal or preferred storage conditions for the identified food item. The method may include modifying the conditions of a selected food storage compartment and/or providing instructions to modify the conditions of the selected food storage compartment.

Abstract: Ice maker assemblies for freezers, as well as refrigerator appliance which include ice maker assemblies, are provided. A freezer includes a power source. An ice maker assembly includes a mold tray including a plurality of mold pockets, and a motor, the motor electrically connectable to the power source. The ice maker assembly further includes a housing generally surrounding the motor, and a light coupled to the housing, the light electrically connectable to the power source.

Abstract: An assembly for filtering water includes a housing, a water inlet for supplying unfiltered water to the housing, and a water filter including an outer casing attached to the housing in communication with the water inlet and a filter medium within the outer casing, the water filter filtering the unfiltered water through filter medium to provide filtered water. A water outlet is attached to the housing for transferring filtered water from the outer casing to a device via the housing. Some sort of indicia is located on the outer casing, and an optical device detects a feature of the indicia to determine if the water filter is properly installed in the housing. Related refrigeration appliances incorporating such devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided to improve the refrigeration system by precisely controlling refrigerator compartment and heat exchanger temperatures through continuous modulation of device speeds or positions to match capacity with instantaneous load. A controller in a refrigerator is configured to provide a plurality of control loops to control various operational aspects of selected components in the refrigerator. A first loop controls the operating speed of a compressor based on temperature of the evaporator or based on the desired speed of an evaporator fan. A second control loop controls speed of an evaporator fan to maintain a prescribed freezer compartment temperature. A third control loop maintains a prescribed temperature in a fresh food compartment. In certain embodiments selected of the control loops may be thermodynamically coupled by way of thermal interaction between the various cooled compartments rather than being electrically coupled.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance with a hot water dispenser includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispenser area, a cabinet water inlet in the refrigerated cabinet connectable to a premises water line, and a hot water storage tank. The tank has a tank body, a heater in the tank body, an inlet for admitting water into the tank body supplied via the cabinet water inlet, and an outlet for providing water via a dispensing conduit to a dispenser in the dispenser area. The inlet includes a venturi portion for creating a reduced pressure within the hot water storage tank via flow of water into the hot water storage tank. The reduced pressure communicates with the dispensing conduit via the outlet so that, after dispensing water remaining in the dispensing conduit is drawn toward the tank body. Refrigeration devices with premises line pressure water distribution systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance with a hot water dispenser includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispenser area, a cabinet water inlet in the refrigerated cabinet connectable to a premises water line, and a hot water storage tank. The tank has a tank body, a heater in the tank body, an inlet for admitting water into the tank body supplied via the cabinet water inlet, and an outlet for providing water via a dispensing conduit to a dispenser in the dispenser area. The inlet includes a venturi portion for creating a reduced pressure within the hot water storage tank via flow of water into the hot water storage tank. The reduced pressure communicates with the dispensing conduit via the outlet so that, after dispensing water remaining in the dispensing conduit is drawn toward the tank body. Refrigeration devices with premises line pressure water distribution systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of operating a refrigerator to determine the time at which to initiate a defrost cycle is provided. Changes in the voltage provided to an evaporator fan are used to determine and/or predict when to initiate a defrost cycle. Adjustments to the timing of the defrost cycle can be made based on known periods of peak energy demand and/or the increased costs associated with operating the defrost cycle during such peak energy demand periods.

Abstract: An assembly for filtering water includes a housing, a water inlet for supplying unfiltered water to the housing, and a water filter including an outer casing attached to the housing in communication with the water inlet and a filter medium within the outer casing, the water filter filtering the unfiltered water through filter medium to provide filtered water. A water outlet is attached to the housing for transferring filtered water from the outer casing to a device via the housing. Some sort of indicia is located on the outer casing, and an optical device detects a feature of the indicia to determine if the water filter is properly installed in the housing. Related refrigeration appliances incorporating such devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided to improve the refrigeration system by precisely controlling refrigerator compartment and heat exchanger temperatures through continuous modulation of device speeds or positions to match capacity with instantaneous load. A controller in a refrigerator is configured to provide a plurality of control loops to control various operational aspects of selected components in the refrigerator. A first loop controls the operating speed of a compressor based on temperature of the evaporator or based on the desired speed of an evaporator fan. A second control loop controls speed of an evaporator fan to maintain a prescribed freezer compartment temperature. A third control loop maintains a prescribed temperature in a fresh food compartment. In certain embodiments selected of the control loops may be thermodynamically coupled by way of thermal interaction between the various cooled compartments rather than being electrically coupled.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided to monitor temperature from at least two locations on an evaporator in a refrigeration system. Operational characteristics of one or more of the compressor, condenser and evaporator cooling fans are adjusted based on the difference in temperature between the two locations on the evaporator. In some systems a second evaporator may be provided along with a refrigerant control valve. Cooling air flow across the second evaporator and refrigerant distribution between the plural evaporators may also be control.

Abstract: A refrigerator and a method of operating a refrigerator to determine the time at which to initiate a defrost cycle is provided. Changes in the voltage provided to an evaporator fan are used to determine and/or predict when to initiate a defrost cycle. Adjustments to the timing of the defrost cycle can be made based on known periods of peak energy demand and/or the increased costs associated with operating the defrost cycle during such peak energy demand periods.

Abstract: A consumer refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a refrigeration system charged with a refrigerant and further having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. At least one of the evaporator or condenser is a spine fin heat exchanger having a defined length of tube with a spine fine material configured around at least a portion of tube. The tube has a reduced refrigerant side diameter that provides a reduced refrigerant side area defined by the tube length and refrigerant side diameter. The refrigeration system has a reduced refrigerant charge mass.