Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a control system for an ice making system. The ice making system includes an ice maker, and an ice storage bin for receiving ice pieces formed by the ice maker. The control system controls the ice maker and includes optic elements for emitting and receiving a beam of light directed across the upper portion of the bin. The control system senses when the ice maker is ready to harvest ice pieces and then directs a beam of light or light signal from a first side of the ice storage bin, across the bin toward a second side of the ice storage bin. The control system senses for the light signal at the second side of the ice storage bin and if ice pieces block the path of the light signal, the control system prevents ice harvesting from the ice maker. The optic elements of the control system include a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

Abstract: An air conditioner having a controller configured to process multiple temperature inputs, to provide a cycle of operation to provide comfort during sleeping, to provide an automatic cycle of operation wherein a burst of cooling air is provided on demand and/or which is configured to receive and respond to remote signals having different protocols.

Abstract: The remote control unit for an air conditioner having a controller configured to process multiple temperature inputs, to provide a cycle of operation to provide comfort during sleeping, to provide an automatic cycle of operation wherein a burst of cooling air is provided on demand and/or which is configured to receive and respond to remote signals having different protocols. The remote control unit employs a multiple-way arrow icon and redefinable arrow keys associated with the icon, to enable a user to remotely control operation of the air conditioner.

Abstract: An air conditioner having a fan motor brown-out control algorithm for increasing the air conditioner fan speed upon sensing a brown-out under-voltage condition is provided. The air conditioner has a power supply connected to an AC line voltage, a fan motor, a multispeed fan driven by the fan motor and means for sensing a brown-out condition of the AC line voltage. The sensing means is connected to the power supply and provides a signal indicative of a brown-out condition. The air conditioner also has means for increasing the speed of the fan in response to the sensed brown-out condition signal provided by the sensing means. In an embodiment, the air conditioner further has a microprocessor and related circuitry for adjusting the speed of the fan. In another embodiment, logic circuitry is provided instead of a microprocessor. A brown-out control algorithm for an appliance having a multispeed fan and components for operating the fan is also provided.

Abstract: A remote control unit for an air conditioner having a controller configured to process multiple temperature inputs, to provide a cycle of operation to provide comfort during sleeping, to provide an automatic cycle of operation wherein a burst of cooling air is provided on demand and/or which is configured to receive and respond to remote signals having different protocols. The remote control unit has a housing with a contoured rib that extends between two support pads so as to provide strength, rigidity and stability to the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring validity of a volatile memory of a microcomputer in an electrical circuit supplied with electrical power. Loss of electrical power is sensed and upon sensing loss of power, counter is initialized. Data is obtained from a first critical memory location in the volatile memory and is stored in a second non-critical memory location in the volatile memory which is used for operating data storage during normal powered operation of the circuit. The circuit is then sensed for return of electrical power. Upon resumption of power, the data in the first memory location is compared with the data stored in the second memory location. If detection of a variance of data contents occurs between the first memory location and the second memory location, volatile memory is reset from a preset instruction. If no variance is detected, operation of the circuit is resumed utilizing the data stored in the first memory location.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of diagnostic test modes with a remote control for a room air conditioner. Program keys are selected and activated to allow a user to input a particular diagnostic test mode to the air conditioner. The user then monitors the actions of the room air conditioner to ensure that the room air conditioner successfully completes the selected diagnostic test. Two remote control units are utilized, one to operate the room air conditioner in a conventional way while a second remote unit transmits codes to cause the air conditioner to run a diagnostic test. The remote control units includes a microprocessor to accept and process the entered selections for the diagnostic tests.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a delayed operation cycle of a room air conditioner. A program set key is selected and activated to allow a user to input the delayed operation modes to the air conditioner. The user then enters the activation time of the delayed operation mode along with possible other operation parameters. The program set key is then again activated to complete the delayed operation program. A start key and program stop key respectively enable or disable the previously entered delayed operation parameters. A remote control including a microprocessor is utilized to process the entered delayed operation cycle.

Abstract: A cooking appliance or an electronic control for a cooking appliance or an electronic control for a cooking appliance and method of controlling the same includes a remote control unit having a built-in temperature sensor, positional switch and low-battery detection circuit is in two-way intermittent wireless communication with the appliance control unit. The appliance control unit includes a switch means for controlling the heating elements of the cooking appliance wherein the switch means for each heating element includes two power switches connected in series and coupled with a redundancy detection circuit for the detection of a failure of one of the two power switches. Two-way communication between the two control units of the present invention is constantly monitored to ensure proper operation of the cooking appliance and to provide a mechanism to report errors to the user or to shut down the cooking appliance, as appropriate, soon after an error is detected.

Abstract: An automatic control for an air conditioner having a compressor motor and a fan motor and a method for its operation are provided. While the control operates both motors to cool an enclosed space, a temperature indicative of the air temperature in the space is sensed and compared with a first preselected temperature value. When the sensed temperature is no longer greater than the preselected temperature, operation of the compressor motor is terminated. Thereafter the fan motor is operated for a first preselected time period. During the first time period, a currently sensed temperature indicative of the air temperature in the space is compared with a second preselected temperature value. When the sensed temperature is no longer less than the second preselected temperature during the first time period, operation of the compressor motor is resumed and the process described above with respect to cooling the space is repeated.

Abstract: An ice maker for use in a domestic refrigerator makes clear ice bodies. The ice maker comprises a support arranged to have an ice body formed thereon. The support is refrigerated to a below-freezing temperature and a container adapted to hold a body of water is moved to move liquid water contained therein uniformly about the support suitable to cause a clear substantially symmetrical ice body to build up outwardly on the refrigerated support.

Abstract: A control system for automatically changing the operational mode of appliances and the like, particularly environmental-affective appliances such as air conditioners, and in particular room air conditioners, as a function of the activity level prevalent in the environment being served, wherein the environmental activity level is monitored by detecting the level of ambient light and the detected light level is used to produce a signal for changing the previously-set operational parameter, e.g., room temperature. In a preferred embodiment, a lens system is utilized for focusing ambient light received at a detecting port upon a photodetector which is spaced from such port, and the resulting electrical signal is utilized in a circuit to control a heater mounted adjacent the appliance control, e.g., the air conditioner thermostat, to thereby vary the set-point in accordance with a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: An automatic washer is provided which includes a control for automatically operating an agitator drive motor at a speed or other parameter of agitator operation, dependent upon a selected liquid level for the wash cycle. Such an arrangement results in a uniform wash action at varying wash liquid levels.

Abstract: An automatic appliance includes a diagnostic system, wherein a user is alerted to request servicing for major operational errors, and error data is stored for later retrieval by service personnel. A special overlay template is provided for the service personnel to execute special routines via standard operational parameter input keypads of the appliance.

Abstract: A control for controlling the time at which ice is harvested from an ice maker as a function of the temperature conditions within a below-freezing compartment in which the ice maker is located. The control includes sensing means for sensing the temperature within the compartment, first calculating means for calculating at preselected time intervals a time-related number based on a first temperature-dependent function when the temperature sensed by the sensing means is above a predetermined temperature, and second calculating means for calculating at the preselected time intervals a time-related number based on a second temperature-dependent function when the temperature sensed by the sensing means is at or below the predetermined temperature. The control further includes means for accumulating temperature-dependent time increments based on said calculated numbers and comparing the accumulated sum to a predetermined amount to determine whether an ice harvesting operation should be initiated.