Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a water circulation system and a replaceable water filter. The refrigerator includes a sensor that determines if a water filter is present, and a user interface that prompts a user to purge a water filter upon installation of a new water filter in the refrigerator. The water filter may include a memory storage device that stores information concerning the allowable life of the water filter, the remaining life of the water filter, and other information. Information concerning the remaining life of the water filter and other information can be displayed or otherwise communicated to a user by the user interface.

Abstract: A method of dynamically allocating usage of a shared resource between user A and user B includes the steps of establishing an initial allocation percentage for user B for using the shared resource and establishing a threshold allocation percentage for user B. The allocation percentage is modified for user B based on the availability of the shared resource to user A. If the shared resource is unavailable to user A, the allocation percentage for user B is decreased. If the shared resource is available to user A, the allocation percentage for user B is increased. Usage of the shared resource by user B is allocated in accordance with the modified allocation percentage provided that the modified allocation percentage is less than a pre-set threshold level. The method is particularly useful in dynamically allocating telephone calls into call centers.

Abstract: A low cost method and apparatus for indicating when to replace a water filter in a water and ice delivery system for a refrigerator. The invention uses a low cost microprocessor and senses the operational condition of an ice maker water valve, a water dispenser valve to monitor and track water usage. The microprocessor has a built-in memory to retain water usage and other data during a power outage. The invention also senses the status of a door switch to permit user input of a reset message indicating that the filter has been changed as well as an input indicating a different type of filter has been installed. The microprocessor controls a tri-color light emitting diode to display the status of the filter as “good”, “order” or “change” which is determined based on the selection of the type of filter system, the amount of time since the last filter change, and the amount of water usage since the last filter change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining when a replaceable filter for a refrigerator needs replacing based on the volume of water passing through the water filter as determined by the product of the time that water has passed through the filter and the flow rate of an accessory being supplied the filtered water.

Abstract: A low cost method and apparatus for indicating when to replace a water filter in a water and ice delivery system for a refrigerator. The invention uses a low cost microprocessor and senses the operational condition of an ice maker water valve, a water dispenser valve to monitor and track water usage. The microprocessor has a built-in memory to retain water usage and other data during a power outage, The invention also senses the status of a door switch to permit user input of a reset message indicating that the filter has been changed as well as an input indicating a different type of filter has been installed. The microprocessor controls a tri-color light emitting diode to display the status of the filter as “good”, “order” or “change” which is determined based on the selection of the type of filter system, the amount of time since the last filter change, and the amount of water usage since the last filter change.

Abstract: An ice maker for use in a refrigeration apparatus as well as a method of optimizing ice production in an ice maker. The ice maker has a mold and a fan selectively operable to direct moving cold air past the mold during the ice formation process. In the preferred embodiment, the fan does not operate during the harvest portion of the cycle. A fan assembly consisting of a fan or blower, a motor, a switch in series with the motor and leads for electrically interconnecting the motor and in switch with the icemaker power supply is preferably assembled as a module removably interconnectable with the icemaker as an optional feature. The icemaker has an increased the rate of ice production due to the increased rate of convective heat transfer.

Abstract: A multilayered circuit board assembly which includes a plurality of layered subassemblies each having electrically conducting wiring and at least one through hole therein. A first of these subassemblies possesses a greater wiring dnesity than the others while a second subassembly possesses a lesser resistance (and wiring density) than the others. In one example, several (e.g. at least four) such layered subassemblies may be included in the overall assembly such that those layers located along one side of the board may possess substantially greater wiring densities than the layers on the other side of the board while those layers on said other side will in turn possess lesser resistance (and greater current capacities). There are also described at least three methods for making the above multilayered circuit board assembly. Such a structure may be utilized in supercomputer applications.

Abstract: A broadband omnidirectional antenna comprises a figure of revolution having an axis and two axially spaced coaxial elements with rolled radially outer edge portions and defining therebetween an antenna aperture. One element has a conically-shaped aperture-defining surface radially diverging from a plane aperture-defining surface on the other element extending perpendicular to the axis, the outer edge portions of both surfaces being curved away from each other and back toward the axis. This antenna operates over a 500 MHz to 7 GHz band with a VSWR of approximately 3:1. The invention also comprehends a method of forming the antenna elements in metallically coated molds with a fiberglass-resin mix.

Abstract: An improved circuit board structure and method of forming the same are provided. The circuit board includes an insulating core and has plated through holes connecting the circuitry on both sides and intermediate layers of the core. A permanent dielectric material is applied on at least one surface of the board covering the circuitry and plated through holes. Vias are formed through the dielectric material and signal lines are formed on the top of the dielectric material connected to the circuitry onto the board through the vias. Additional layers of dielectric material with additional wiring and vias can also be formed for multi-level wiring.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting several coaxial cables to a circuit board such that the center conductors of each cable are inserted within a conductive hole which forms part of the board structure. The assembly includes a common housing which may be electrically conductive or insulative and a spring contact member which serves as part of the grounding means to effectively ground the shield members of the coaxial cables to the board's ground. The spring contacts may be in the form of resilient springs which extend from the assembly or of compressible members coupled to a conductive layer which in turn is connected to the shield members. An apparatus for positioning more than one such assembly on a common board structure is also shown and described, as is an assembly designed for positioning the cables therein in a substantially compact orientation.

Abstract: An improved circuit board structure and method of forming the same are provided. The circuit board includes an insulating core and has plated through holes connecting the circuitry on both sides and intermediate layers of the core. A permanent dielectric material is applied on at least one surface of the board covering the circuitry and plated through holes. Vias are formed through the dielectric material and signal lines are formed on the top of the dielectric material connected to the circuitry onto the board through the vias. Additional layers of dielectric material with additional wiring and vias can also be formed for multi-level wiring.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a new and improved Tape Automated Bonding package which admits of certain advantages that are not available with the packages as used in the past, and it overcomes some limitations with the previous packages which permits a significant step forward in realizing these advantages.Briefly, the disclosure describes a division of the dielectric support used to package integrated circuit chips in order to separate the power conductors and the signal conductors into different parts of the support. The conductors formed on at least one of these parts, preferably the part used to connect input/output signals to and from a chip, are arranged in radially extending rows to achieve more than twice the number of such connections.

Abstract: A process for providing circuit lines on a substrate having a non-planar surface is provided. The process includes applying a layer of photoresist material to the substrate, selectively screen printing on non-planar areas of the substrate a screen-printable coating, photoprocessing the layer of photoresist material, and providing electrical conductive pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a multilayer integrated circuit substrate having improved via connection. A first layer M1 of chrome-copper-chrome is applied to a ceramic substrate and the circuits etched. A polyimide layer is then applied, cured, and developed and etched to provide via holes in the polyimide down to the M1 circuitry. The top chrome is now etched to expose the M1 copper in the via holes. A second layer M2 of copper-chrome is evaporated onto the polyimide at a high substrate temperature to provide a copper interface at the base of the vias having no visable grain boundaries and a low resistance. M2 circuitization is then carried out.

Abstract: In a field-accessed magnetic domain device package assembly, the magnetic domain device carrier or support, the circuit line or conductor carrier, and the magnetic bias field source are integrally and coactively provided by a common substrate member. The member is a planar permanent magnetic insulator ceramic and carries a bonded conductor or wiring pattern. The input/output (I/O) terminals of the domain device, also referred to in the art as a chip, are selectively bonded to the conductors of the pattern thereby providing mechanical support of the chip directly to the substrate in a superimposed relationship, input/output electrical connection to the chip, and mounting of the chip in close proximity to the bias field source, the flux of which passes through the superimposed mounted chips to a high permeability member at least part of which is disposed on the opposite side of the chip.