Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system having a refrigeration compartment and a quick chill/thaw pan. A main controller board, electrically connected to a temperature adjustment board and a dispenser board through the serial communications bus, controls the temperature of the refrigeration compartment and the quick chill/thaw pan. The control system accepts a plurality of inputs to determine a refrigeration mode and to execute a plurality of software algorithms to control the refrigeration compartment as both a chill pan to rapidly chill food and beverage items without freezing and a thaw pan to timely thaw frozen items at controlled temperature levels.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus rectifies the signal; and phase-shifts the rectified signal so that it leads or lags the line voltage. The shifted output signal is fed to a processor that detects the opening of the door based upon the shifted signal. Signals output by a plurality of switches that generate a signal when activated mixed using an opto-coupler. Relative impedance of the lead and lag circuits may be adjusted to differentiate a phase shift of one shifted signal relative to another signal. The processor converts a value in degrees of phase shifting of the mixed signal to a time value, and based upon the time value, the processor determines which of the doors is open.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a first refrigeration chamber, a second refrigeration chamber in flow communication with said the first refrigeration chamber, a sealed system for producing desired temperature conditions in the first refrigeration chamber and the second refrigeration chamber, and a controller operatively coupled to the sealed system. The controller is configured to accept a plurality of user-selected inputs including at least a first refrigeration chamber temperature and a second refrigeration chamber temperature, and to execute a plurality of algorithms to selectively control the first refrigeration chamber at a temperature above the second refrigeration chamber and at a temperature below the second chamber. Various control algorithms are provided for maintaining desired temperature conditions in the refrigeration chambers.

Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system having a refrigeration compartment and a quick chill/thaw pan. A main controller board, electrically connected to a temperature adjustment board and a dispenser board through the serial communications bus, controls the temperature of the refrigeration compartment and the quick chill/thaw pan. The control system accepts a plurality of inputs to determine a refrigeration mode and to execute a plurality of software algorithms to control the refrigeration compartment as both a chill pan to rapidly chill food and beverage items without freezing and a thaw pan to timely thaw frozen items at controlled temperature levels.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a refrigeration control system that is modular and contains an algorithm to control the energy and temperature performance of side-by-side, top mount, and bottom mount type refrigerators. The control algorithm uses a two-dimensional control grid to determine the state of the refrigeration system based on the temperature of the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment. The control algorithm then controls the rate of the fresh food fan, evaporator fan, and the damper and to bring the refrigerator-freezer to a desired state and maintain that state.

Abstract: A defrost control system for a self-defrosting refrigerator is configured to monitor a compressor load, determine whether at least a first defrost cycle is required based on the compressor load, execute at least one defrost cycle when required; and regulate the defrost cycle to conserve energy. A controller is operatively coupled to a compressor, a defrost heater, and a refrigeration compartment temperature sensor. The controller makes defrost decisions based on temperature conditions in the refrigeration compartment in light of other events, such as refrigerator door openings, completed defrost cycles, and power up events. Defrost cycles are automatically adjusted as operating conditions change, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption that would otherwise occur in a fixed defrost cycle.

Abstract: A vehicle antilock brake system provides an adaptive apply bump period at the beginning of the apply phase of a antilock brake pressure cycle that provides rapid recovery of the correct amount of pressure for all braking conditions. The apply bump period is established based upon the wheel acceleration and the peak acceleration attained by the wheel during recovery from an incipient wheel lock condition. In particular, the apply bump is initiated when recovery from an incipient wheel lock condition is first sensed and thereafter terminated when the wheel acceleration decreases to below a threshold value that is a predetermined function of the peak acceleration of the wheel during recovery from an incipient wheel lock condition in the ABS pressure cycle.

Abstract: An antilock brake controller provides an adaptive pressure hold period that interrupts the release of brake pressure during the pressure release phase of an antilock braking pressure control cycle of a vehicle wheel by holding the brake pressure constant while the wheel slip rate is below a threshold that is adjusted as a predetermined function of wheel slip for the front wheels and as a predetermined function of wheel acceleration for the rear wheels.