Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a storage compartment, a user interface controller, and a user interface arranged in the storage compartment. The user interface is a stacked arrangement including a sensor assembly carrier, a graphic overlay, a light guide, and a printed circuit board (PCB) with a user interface controller and a self-capacitive electrode sensor. The main controller receives a signal from the user interface with self-capacitive electrode sensor and adjusts the temperature of the storage compartment based on the signal from the self-capacitive electrode sensor. A method controlling a refrigeration appliance with a stacked user interface is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a storage compartment, a user interface controller, and a user interface arranged in the storage compartment. The user interface is a stacked arrangement including a sensor assembly carrier, a graphic overlay, a light guide, and a printed circuit board (PCB) with a user interface controller and a self-capacitive electrode sensor. The main controller receives a signal from the user interface with self-capacitive electrode sensor and adjusts the temperature of the storage compartment based on the signal from the self-capacitive electrode sensor. A method controlling a refrigeration appliance with a stacked user interface is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for a refrigerator having a dispenser housing; a dispenser frame pivotally mounted within the dispenser housing, the dispenser frame with a front face and two side faces and a first gear disposed on one of the side faces; an actuator with a paddle and a lever, the lever interlocking with the dispenser frame such that when the paddle is pushed, the lever causes the dispenser frame to pivot forward; a flexible tube; a fixed compression jaw mounted onto the dispenser housing behind the flexible and compressible tube; a movable compression jaw having a jaw end and a pivot end, the jaw end mounted in front of the flexible tube, the pivot end having a second gear which interlocks with the first gear, such that when the paddle is pushed the first gear rotates the second gear moving the movable jaw away from the flexible tube is provided.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker disposed in a fresh food compartment. An air handler assembly conveys cooling air through the ice maker. An insulated air duct is disposed between an evaporator and a fan for preventing the migration of ice from the evaporator to the fan. The insulated duct has an opening extending from an end adjacent the evaporator to an end adjacent the fan. A lower inner wall of the air duct has a first ramped portion on the end adjacent the evaporator. In another example, the icemaker includes a sensor assembly positioned to detect a level of ice in the ice bin. The sensor assembly includes an emitter for sending photons along a predetermined path, and a receiver for detecting the photons when the photons are reflected off an object disposed in the predetermined path.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance that includes a cabinet defining a storage compartment. A door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet and movable between a closed position for closing the storage compartment and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment. A dispensing assembly is disposed on at least one of the cabinet and the door for supplying water and/or ice. The dispensing assembly includes a dispensing tube fluidly connected to a source of water and having an outlet opening for allowing a stream of water to exit the dispensing tube upon command and an illumination system for illuminating a predetermined target location that corresponds to a position of a terminal end of the stream of water exiting from the dispensing tube.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet that defines a storage compartment. A door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet and is movable between a closed position for closing the storage compartment and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment. The door includes an inner surface and an outer surface. An opening extends between the inner surface and the outer surface. A window is disposed within the opening. The window optionally includes a lower portion that is non-transparent. A storage bin is attachable to a lower portion of the inner surface of the door wherein the non-transparent portion of the window obstructs viewing of the storage bin when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes an ice maker disposed in a fresh food compartment. An air handler assembly conveys cooling air through the ice maker. An insulated air duct is disposed between an evaporator and a fan for preventing the migration of ice from the evaporator to the fan. The insulated duct has an opening extending from an end adjacent the evaporator to an end adjacent the fan. A lower inner wall of the air duct has a first ramped portion on the end adjacent the evaporator. In another example, the icemaker includes a sensor assembly positioned to detect a level of ice in the ice bin. The sensor assembly includes an emitter for sending photons along a predetermined path, and a receiver for detecting the photons when the photons are reflected off an object disposed in the predetermined path.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet that defines a storage compartment. A door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet and is movable between a closed position for closing the storage compartment and an open position for allowing access to the storage compartment. The door includes an inner surface and an outer surface. An opening extends between the inner surface and the outer surface. A window is disposed within the opening. The window optionally includes a lower portion that is non-transparent. A storage bin is attachable to a lower portion of the inner surface of the door wherein the non-transparent portion of the window obstructs viewing of the storage bin when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A shelf unit is disposed adjacent the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported by the shelf unit. A fill mechanism is positioned vertically above the container and the container is configured to receive liquid from the fill mechanism. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container. A control is in communication with the sensor and regulates a dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property. The sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. The sensor utilizes a magnetic sensing element located adjacent to the container.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. In one example, the sensor is resiliently biased into contact with the container to sense a property of the container. In another example, the control indicates a stale liquid condition if a timer expires before the container has been removed from the door.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. In one example, the sensor is resiliently biased into contact with the container to sense a property of the container. In another example, the control indicates a stale liquid condition if a timer expires before the container has been removed from the door.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and including an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed. A liquid dispenser is arranged on the interior surface of the door, and a container is supported on the door and configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser. A sensor is configured to sense a property of the container, and a control is in communication with the sensor. The control is configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property of the container. In one example, the sensor is resiliently biased into contact with the container to sense a property of the container. In another example, the control indicates a stale liquid condition if a timer expires before the container has been removed from the door.

Abstract: Provided is an ice maker that includes a mold including a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces, a driver operatively connected to the mold for adjusting a position of the mold to a plurality of different locations during an ice making cycle, and a controller. A limit switch is located at a plurality of different positions along a range of travel of the mold to be actuated and transmit a signal indicative of the mold's arrival at the different locations. The mold can travel along path including first portion having a first axis of rotation and a substantially vertical portion, and can be driven by a motor with a drive shaft rotatable about a single axis of rotation. The motor can drive both the mold and a bail arm, and the mold can be leveled upon reaching a predetermined location. The ice maker can perform a Dry Cycle in response to detecting an anomaly during ice making.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for forming ice pieces with an ice maker that includes a mold defining a plurality of cavities for receiving water to be frozen into ice pieces. A processor controls delivery of a refrigerant to freeze water received in the plurality of cavities into ice pieces. A freeze signal transmitted by a temperature sensor embedded within the mold is received by the processor, the freeze signal indicating that a temperature of a portion of the mold adjacent to the temperature sensor has reached a freeze temperature where the water in at least one of the cavities has achieved a frozen state to initiate harvesting of the frozen ice pieces. Defrosting a system evaporator can also be coordinated with operation of the ice maker.