Abstract: An ice maker assembly is disposed in the ice compartment of a refrigerator, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with an ice maker tray portion, and a tray temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the ice maker tray portion. A controller is configured to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance based on the temperature sensed by the tray temperature sensor. The tray temperature sensor is the only temperature sensor used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance. Alternatively, an additional temperature sensor can be disposed inside an ice maker assembly gear box for sensing a temperature of a housing of the gear box. In that case, the tray temperature sensor and the additional temperature sensor are the only temperature sensors used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. The plies and/or the treads and/or other surfaces of the tire include one or more resonators that respond to being interrogated by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of electrically-conducting materials are disposed (e.g., printed) on the plies and/or tread and/or other surfaces of the tire. Each of a group of multiple resonators can be individually configured to respond to different frequencies of the excitation signal such that the presence of a response (e.g., a measured attenuation of the excitation signal return) or lack of response (e.g., based on comparison of the excitation signal return to calibration curves) from individual ones of the multiple resonators can be combined to form a serial number that is unique to the tire or other elastomer-containing component (e.g., belts, hoses, etc.) being interrogated.

Abstract: An ice maker for mounting into a household cooling appliance, the ice maker includes an ice producer for producing ice; a storage container for storing ice; a driving unit for driving the storage container, the driving unit having a drive housing; and an air duct formed in the drive housing. The air duct has an air duct outlet configured in a front wall of the drive housing which faces towards the storage container and an air duct inlet provided in a side wall of the drive housing which faces towards the ice producer. A fan is arranged in the air duct. The fan generates an air stream from the ice producer to the storage container through the air duct.

Abstract: An ice compartment of a household cooling appliance has a driving unit for driving an ice storage container of an ice maker. The driving unit has a drive housing and at least one drive motor. A first receiving duct accommodates a first fastening part and extends completely through the drive housing. The drive housing can be fastened by the first fastening part to an inner liner wall of the refrigeration compartment. The first receiving duct extends across the entire depth of the drive housing and is open at a front end and a rear end. A second receiving duct extends completely through the drive housing. The drive housing can be fastened by the second fastening part to the same inner liner wall of the refrigeration compartment. The second receiving duct extends across the entire depth of the drive housing and is open at a front end and a rear end.

Abstract: An ice maker for mounting into a household cooling appliance includes a storage container for ice that is formed with an opening which is accessible from the top. A fan generates an air stream in the ice maker. An air guiding duct above the storage container is bounded by a first lateral duct wall, which is oriented in the depth direction of the ice maker and extends in the height direction, and is bounded by a second duct wall, which is a roof wall. The air guiding duct has a first opening towards the bottom so that an air stream escapes towards the bottom. The first opening of the air guiding duct is arranged offset viewed in the width direction of the ice maker so that the air stream exiting from the first opening of the air guiding duct flows along an outer side of the storage container.

Abstract: A clear ice maker assembly for use in a home refrigerator appliance, the clear ice maker assembly including: an evaporator plate that is cooled via contact with a refrigerant tube; at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part disposed below the evaporator plate and having one or more walls that together with a surface of the evaporator plate form an ice mold cavity; a spray bar having at least one opening for introducing water vertically into the ice mold cavity such that a clear ice piece forms on the surface of the evaporator plate inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part; a water reservoir system configured to supply water to the spray bar; and an ejection system configured to eject the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part.

Abstract: An ice maker for installation in a household refrigeration apparatus includes a housing with an opening, a storing bowl for ice, wherein the storing bowl is formed with an opening, which is accessible from the top. The storing bowl can be inserted into the housing through the opening of the housing and the storing bowl is arranged in a final position at the housing in the inserted state. A position identifier captures the position of the storing bowl, wherein the position identifier includes a capturing sensor. A control electronic, which is arranged in a front area in depth direction of the ice maker, includes a circuit board. The capturing sensor is arranged on the circuit board.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker including an ice tray, an ice maker evaporator, and a cooling tube which is disposed between the ice maker tray and the ice maker evaporator, such that the cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray and the ice maker evaporator; and a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant valve, the ice maker evaporator, and a freezer compartment evaporator. The refrigerant valve directs a refrigerant to one of a first path or a second path of the refrigeration circuit, the first path causing the ice maker evaporator to work in series with the freezer compartment evaporator, and the second path causing the refrigerant to bypass the ice maker evaporator to the freezer compartment evaporator.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker including an ice maker tray, a separate fin evaporator, and a cooling tube which is assembled between the ice maker tray and the fin evaporator, such that the cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray and the fin evaporator; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker including an ice maker tray, a separate fin evaporator, and a cooling tube which is assembled between the ice maker tray and the fin evaporator, such that the cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray and the fin evaporator; and an ice bucket for storing ice, the ice bucket being disposed in the ice compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment; at least one shelf disposed in the fresh food compartment, the at least one shelf being supported by at least one shelf support bracket; and a water dispenser integrated with the at least one support bracket and accessible from the fresh food compartment.

Abstract: An ice maker assembly is disposed in the ice compartment of a refrigerator, the ice maker assembly including an ice maker tray/evaporator having an evaporator cooling tube which is in direct contact with an ice maker tray portion, and a tray temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the ice maker tray portion. A controller is configured to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance based on the temperature sensed by the tray temperature sensor. The tray temperature sensor is the only temperature sensor used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance. Alternatively, an additional temperature sensor can be disposed inside an ice maker assembly gear box for sensing a temperature of a housing of the gear box. In that case, the tray temperature sensor and the additional temperature sensor are the only temperature sensors used to control ice making, ice harvesting, and ice maintenance.

Abstract: A dispensing unit is operatively associated with a refrigeration appliance for selectively dispensing water and ice at a dispensing station. The dispensing unit includes an actuator that is movable to selected positions in order to support the dispensing of the water and ice. The dispensing unit can include a passageway through which ice is dispensed, and an ice door can be provided for selectively opening and closing the passageway to the dispensing of ice. In one aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed mechanically and in another aspect, the ice door can be opened and closed electromechanically. The dispensing unit also can provide for the position of a water-dispensing nozzle to be adjusted for the purpose of dispensing water to receptacles outside a recessed area at which the nozzle is located and to provide for the activation of illuminating devices to indicate operating conditions at the refrigeration appliance.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. In some implementations, the plies and/or the tread include a resonator that generates a resonant signal in response to being activated by locally generated power or by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of carbon-containing materials are distributed in the plies and/or tread to respond to changes to the tire by altering a characteristic of the resonant signal. Such alterations include frequency shifting of the resonant signal and/or attenuation of the resonant signal. The resonator can be configured to resonate at a first frequency when a structural characteristic of a respective ply or tread is greater than a level, and to resonate at a second frequency different than the first frequency when the structural characteristic of the respective ply or tread is not greater than the level.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. In some implementations, the plies and/or the tread include a resonator that generates a resonant signal in response to being activated by locally generated power or by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of carbon-containing materials are distributed in the plies and/or tread to respond to changes to the tire by altering a characteristic of the resonant signal. Such alterations include frequency shifting of the resonant signal and/or attenuation of the resonant signal. The resonator can be configured to resonate at a first frequency when a structural characteristic of a respective ply or tread is greater than a level, and to resonate at a second frequency different than the first frequency when the structural characteristic of the respective ply or tread is not greater than the level.

Abstract: A clear ice maker assembly for use in a home refrigerator appliance, the clear ice maker assembly including: an evaporator plate that is cooled via contact with a refrigerant tube; at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part disposed below the evaporator plate and having one or more walls that together with a surface of the evaporator plate form an ice mold cavity; a spray bar having at least one opening for introducing water vertically into the ice mold cavity such that a clear ice piece forms on the surface of the evaporator plate inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part; a water reservoir system configured to supply water to the spray bar; and an ejection system configured to eject the clear ice piece formed inside the ice mold cavity of the at least one thermally non-conductive ice mold part.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a fresh food compartment; a freezer compartment; an ice compartment disposed in the fresh food compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment, the ice maker including an ice tray, an ice maker evaporator, and a cooling tube which is disposed between the ice maker tray and the ice maker evaporator, such that the cooling tube is in direct contact with the ice maker tray and the ice maker evaporator; and a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant valve, the ice maker evaporator, and a freezer compartment evaporator. The refrigerant valve directs a refrigerant to one of a first path or a second path of the refrigeration circuit, the first path causing the ice maker evaporator to work in series with the freezer compartment evaporator, and the second path causing the refrigerant to bypass the ice maker evaporator to the freezer compartment evaporator.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an ice compartment region disposed in at least one of a fresh food compartment or a freezer compartment; an ice maker disposed in the ice compartment region and configured to make ice pieces; and an ice bucket assembly configured to store the ice pieces made by the ice maker. The ice bucket assembly includes a mechanism for producing nugget ice from the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly, the nugget ice being smaller in size as compared to the ice pieces made by the ice maker and stored in the ice bucket assembly.

Abstract: An ice maker for a household refrigeration apparatus includes a housing with an opening through which ice is dispensable from an interior of the housing out of the housing. A crushing device for crushing ice is provided at the opening. A flap is movably disposed at the opening and switchable between a closed position for dispensing crushed ice and an opened position for dispensing uncrushed ice through the opening. A drive unit is coupled to the flap by a coupling device for moving the flap. The flap has a pivot axis about which the flap pivots and a first flap arm coupled to the coupling device and a second flap arm movable relative to the opening, extend radially away from the pivot axis. A household refrigeration apparatus includes an apparatus housing having a receiving space for food, and an ice maker.