Abstract: An air flow control arrangement for a side-by-side refrigerator which results in temperature variations, both spatial and temporal, of approximately about .+-.1.degree. F. in the fresh food compartment, is described. Such air flow control also is believed to even further reduce the internal "sweat" in the fresh food compartment. In one embodiment, and with respect to a side-by-side refrigerator, the middle duct in the center mullion wall is closed off, and a duct is added in the center mullion wall, or could be installed as a separate duct outside the mullion, connecting a supply port in the top, back, left hand corner in fresh food compartment to a position in the evaporator chamber. The added duct also seals off direct airflow between the evaporator chamber and the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: An ultrasonic ranging system for providing a distance to a subject signal for use in positioning a movable imaging element support structure with respect to a subject of examination includes a collar assembly disposed around a portion of the imaging element structure disposed towards an imaging region; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed in a sensing pattern around the collar assembly; and an ultrasonic ranging processing unit coupled to the transducers to control processing of ultrasonic ranging signals from the transducers. The transducers are typically disposed in one or more rows on the surface around the circumference of the collar assembly such that the lobes of ultrasonic signals generated provide a desired ranging field.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes at least a first compartment cooled to a first temperature and a second compartment cooled to a second temperature, and a multiplex damper system disposed in a cooling-air passage so as to selectively direct the cooling-air flow from the refrigeration apparatus to the compartments. The multiplex damper system comprises a single movable control damper mounted in the cooling-air passage and a drive control system responsive to the cooling demands of the respective compartments and that is coupled to the single control damper so as to selectively dispose the control damper in a plurality of respective air flow positions. The range of air flow positions includes a first compartment-only air flow position, a second compartment-only air flow position, and at least one divided-flow position in which cooling air flow is proportionally directed into both the first and the second compartments.