Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber. The fresh food door includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The fresh food door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The refrigerator appliance further includes a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door, and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment. The compartment door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The passive storage compartment maintains a temperature greater than a fresh food chamber temperature and less than an ambient temperature when the fresh food door and compartment door are closed and the refrigerator appliance is operational.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a method for dispensing baby formula at a refrigerator appliance. The method includes loading a baby formula module with baby formula, mounting the baby formula module within a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance, detecting the baby formula module with a sensor of the refrigerator appliance, measuring a temperature of water within a hot water tank of the refrigerator appliance, flowing water from the hot water tank to the baby formula module when the temperature of water within the hot water tank is no greater than a temperature limit, and directing a mixture of baby formula and water out of the baby formula module into the dispenser recess. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A stand-alone ice making appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The appliance includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker including a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. The appliance includes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume. The appliance includes a heating element, the heating element activatable to heat the casing.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a fresh food door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber. The fresh food door includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The fresh food door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The refrigerator appliance further includes a passive storage compartment defined within the fresh food door, and a compartment door coupled to one of the inner surface or the outer surface for accessing the storage compartment. The compartment door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The passive storage compartment maintains a temperature greater than a fresh food chamber temperature and less than an ambient temperature when the fresh food door and compartment door are closed and the refrigerator appliance is operational.

Abstract: Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance further includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The appliance further includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker including a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. The appliance further includes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume.

Abstract: Stand-alone ice making appliances are provided. An appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, and a water tank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowing water from the water tank. The appliance further includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank, and an ice maker. The ice maker includes a sealed refrigeration system, the sealed refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, an evaporator, and a bypass valve, the bypass valve configured to selectively direct refrigerant to bypass the throttling device and flow from the condenser through the bypass valve to the evaporator.

Abstract: A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. The docking station includes a base and an ultraviolet light emitter. The ultraviolet light emitter is positioned and/or configured to direct ultraviolet light into the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. Ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light emitter may assist with treating water within the reservoir of the beverage dispenser.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of projections integrally formed with a conduit. The plurality of projections is configured such that the plurality of projections conforms to at least one of a first projection arrangement or a second projection arrangement. A gap between adjacent projections of the plurality of projections along an axial direction changes along a length of the conduit in the first projection arrangement, and a length of a first group of the plurality of projections is different than a length of a second group of the plurality of projections in the second projection arrangement. A related method for forming a heat exchanger is also provided.

Abstract: A component for a refrigerator appliance including a body is provided. The body includes a surface and the component further includes an electrically conductive path positioned on the surface of the body. The electrically conductive path is formed using a laser direct structuring process, such that when the electrically conductive path is provided with electrical power, the electrically conductive path may provide heat to the surface of the body of the component.

Abstract: Refrigerator appliances and mullions therefor are provided. A mullion includes a body formed from an unfoamed thermopolymer material. The body includes an outer non-porous barrier and an inner porous media, the inner porous media including a matrix and one or more voids defined in the matrix.

Abstract: Refrigerator appliances and active air filter assemblies therefor are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a main controller configured to control refrigerator appliance operations, and a connector port in communication with the main controller and accessible within a fresh food chamber, the connector port configured to provide at least one of data communication with the main controller or electrical power. The refrigerator appliance further includes an active air filter assembly which includes a housing, an inlet aperture defined in the housing, an outlet aperture defined in the housing, and a fan disposed within the housing and operable to actively flow air through the inlet aperture and outlet aperture. The air filter assembly further includes a connector plug connectable to the connector port to receive the at least one of data communication with the main controller or electrical power.

Abstract: Appliance systems and methods for using visual cues to improve appliance audio recognition are provided. One example method performed by an appliance includes identifying one or more visual cues included in imagery captured by a camera of the appliance. The one or more visual cues indicate that a user of the appliance is seeking to provide a voice command to the appliance. The method includes communicating with one or more devices over a network to reduce background noise associated with the one or more devices upon identifying the one or more visual cues. The method includes receiving the voice command from the user. The method includes determining that the user has finished providing the voice command. The method includes communicating with the one or more devices over the network to resume standard operations upon determining that the user has finished providing the voice command.

Abstract: A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. A spout configured for selectively directing a flow of water into the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. A water level sensor is configured for assessing a level of water within the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. The flow of water from the spout may automatically fill the reservoir of the beverage dispenser based at least in part upon signals from the water level sensor.

Abstract: A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. The docking station includes an inlet conduit that extends from a pressurized water source to a spout of the docking station. A removable water filter is coupled to the inlet conduit in order to filter the flow of water through the inlet conduit.

Abstract: An evaporator cover that includes a cover body integrally formed with a plurality of materials is provided. Each material of the plurality of materials has a different hardness. An air handler is mounted to the cover body. A related method for forming an evaporator cover with an additive process is also provided.

Abstract: Conduits having improved flow modification features are provided. A conduit includes a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior. The conduit further includes a flow regulation assembly disposed within the interior. The flow regulation assembly includes an integral component that is monolithic with the body. The flow regulation assembly is configured to permit fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a first direction and restrict fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: Generally the present disclosure is directed to appliances that provide a user-specific response to a received voice command. In particular, the appliance can store a plurality of voice samples respectively associated with a plurality of users. The appliance can also store one or more preferences for each of the plurality of users. For example, the preferences can be input by the user and/or learned or inferred over time. When the appliance receives a human speech signal or voice command, it can match the received speech signal against one or more of the plurality of voice samples to identify the user. The preferences stored and associated with the identified user can then be obtained and the appliance can perform any requested operations in accordance with the obtained preferences. In such fashion, the appliance can provide a user-specific response to a received voice command.

Abstract: Refrigerator appliances are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber, and a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door including an inner surface and an outer surface. The refrigerator appliance further includes a compartment defined in the inner surface of the door, the compartment defining an interior chamber and including a compartment door providing access to the interior chamber. The compartment is selectively operable at a first temperature below approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit and a second temperature above approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abstract: A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. The docking station includes an inlet conduit that extends from a pressurized water source to a spout of the docking station. A removable water filter is coupled to the inlet conduit in order to filter the flow of water through the inlet conduit.

Abstract: A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. The docking station includes a base and an ultraviolet light emitter. The ultraviolet light emitter is positioned and/or configured to direct ultraviolet light into the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. Ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light emitter may assist with treating water within the reservoir of the beverage dispenser.