Patents by Inventor Dan Medore

Dan Medore has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Ice level and quality sensing system employing digital imaging
    Patent number: 8713949
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The sensing system employs a digital image capture device that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin captured by the digital image capture device to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin. Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker. The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Chase, Randell L. Jeffery, Matthew J. Nibbelink, Kitman Chan, Jordan Cohen, Andrew Gilgallon, Dan Medore, Surisack Phouapanya
  • ICE LEVEL AND QUALITY SENSING SYSTEM EMPLOYING DIGITAL IMAGING
    Publication number: 20080264074
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The sensing system employs a digital image capture device that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin captured by the digital image capture device to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin. Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker. The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin M. Chase, Randell L. Jeffery, Matthew J. Nibbelink, Kitman Chan, Jordan Cohen, Andrew Gilgallon, Dan Medore, Surisack Phouapanya