Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including adjusting cut-in and cut-out temperatures of the cooling system to control.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. The control system can also use correlations in determining appropriate temperatures for different compartments within the refrigerator.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including by monitoring state of an ice maker associated with the ice compartment and controlling temperature within compartments of the refrigerator based on the ice maker state. A heater is controlled by the control system to increase energy efficiency of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A door mounted dispenser for a refrigerator includes rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a cavity, a release mechanism for dispensing ice and/or water and a light for illuminating the cavity. The cavity light can be operated in one of three distinct modes, i.e., in a first mode wherein the cavity light is continuously illuminated, in a second mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated only through activation of the release mechanism, and in a third mode wherein the cavity light is illuminated based upon a sensed level of ambient light present at or near the refrigerator. In the third mode, the cavity light is illuminated at a first level based upon ambient light and a second, higher level when the release mechanism is operated. The level of ambient light necessary to activate the cavity light can be set by a consumer through control panel inputs.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has an improved water fill tube for the ice maker.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The icemaker has improved air impingement to enhance ice making.

Abstract: A control system for a refrigerator ice/water dispenser includes an actuation switch, at least one drive unit for releasing either ice or water, a motor activation relay that controls operation of the drive unit, and a power system having multiple power supplies for operating the control system, motor activation relay and drive unit(s). Preferably, the dispenser includes multiple actuation switches, e.g. a water activation switch and a water/ice activation switch, each having an associated activation relay for independently controlling the release of water and/or ice respectively. Current for initiating the drive unit activation relays must pass through a corresponding actuation switch in order to prevent unintended release of water and/or ice. Multiple processor circuits are preferably employed, with one processor circuit relaying to another processor circuit to enable drive unit activation.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates a variable speed refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a variable speed evaporator fan, a variable speed fresh food compartment stirring fan and a variable position damper. Various temperature sensors are provided to sense system parameters which are used by a controller to regulate each of the variable components in order to compensate for temperature changes within at least one refrigerator compartment in a highly effective, energy efficient and synergistic manner.

Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.

Abstract: An insulated ice making compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The ice making compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the ice making compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice making compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the ice making compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the ice making compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The refrigerator has a modular water tank assembly housed in a cavity in the back wall of the cabinet.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates a variable speed refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a variable speed evaporator fan, a variable speed fresh food compartment stirring fan and a variable position damper. Various temperature sensors are provided to sense system parameters which are used by a controller to regulate each of the variable components in order to compensate for temperature changes within at least one refrigerator compartment in a highly effective, energy efficient and synergistic manner.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance includes a power interrupt system for detecting an out-of-range temperature condition in a fresh food or freezer compartment after a power interruption. The power interrupt system includes a central processor including a memory storage module and a plurality of temperature sensors. In operation, the power interrupt system compares sensed temperature values with stored temperature variables. If, after a power interruption, a compartment temperature exceeds a stored temperature variable by a defined amount, an over-temperature flag is triggered. Preferably, a display unit flashes an indication of the highest temperature reached by each compartment intermittently with the current compartment temperatures and an indication that a power interruption has occured. In this manner, a consumer can make an informed determination whether food stored within the appliance has been exposed to temperatures high enough to cause spoilage.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance includes a power interrupt system for detecting an out-of-range temperature condition in a fresh food or freezer compartment after a power interruption. The power interrupt system includes a central processor including a memory storage module and a plurality of temperature sensors. In operation, the power interrupt system compares sensed temperature values with stored temperature variables. If, after a power interruption, a compartment temperature exceeds a stored temperature variable by a defined amount, an over-temperature flag is triggered. Preferably, a display unit flashes an indication of the highest temperature reached by each compartment intermittently with the current compartment temperatures and an indication that a power interruption has occured. In this manner, a consumer can make an informed determination whether food stored within the appliance has been exposed to temperatures high enough to cause spoilage.

Abstract: A refrigerator, having freezer and fresh food compartments, includes a temperature sensor arranged to sense an average temperature in the fresh food compartment, a multi-position damper interposed in an intake duct leading from the freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment stirring fan. The stirring fan receives a flow of air from each of the intake duct and a plurality of recirculation ducts exposed to different portions of the fresh food compartment. A control system regulates the stirring fan and the opening of the damper based on the sensed temperature in order to minimize temperature stratification within the fresh food compartment, while maintaining an energy efficient and noise reducing operation.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates a variable speed refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, an evaporator fan, a fresh food compartment stirring fan and a multi-position damper. Various temperature sensors are provided to sense system parameters which are used by a controller to regulate each of the variable components in order to compensate for temperature changes within a refrigerator compartment and, maintain the compartment within a confined temperature band, in a highly effective, energy efficient and synergistic manner.

Abstract: A defrost control system for a refrigerator having freezer and fresh food compartments includes a plurality of temperature sensors, a plurality of door sensors to provide signals indicative of the occurrence of a door opening condition, a memory to store the signals in a plurality of usage blocks, and a CPU or controller to categorize the usage blocks into periods of high and low usage. When a defrost cycle is required, the control system establishes the cycle at an upcoming period designated as one of low usage. Additionally, prior to activating the system, the controller lowers the temperature of at least the freezer compartment to below a set point. The controller establishes the defrost cycle for a period based upon the time duration of previously completed cycles.

Abstract: A water filtering system for a refrigerator determines a need for a filter change by timing the period of actuation of at least one valve used to regulate the flow of filtered water to both a water dispenser and an ice maker. Based on a known flow rate, a volume of filtered water associated with the duration of valve actuation is calculated. A summing device determines an accumulated, filtered water volume. When the accumulated, filtered water volume reaches or exceeds a threshold value, an indicator is used to signal that the water filter needs to be replaced. As water filtering system of the invention is capable of being operated without a water filter in place, a switch assembly is incorporated to sense the presence of the water filter and the system only senses the valve actuation time when the filter is in place. In addition, provisions are made to reset the accumulated, filtered water volume upon replacement of the water filter.

Abstract: A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. A temperature sensor is mounted within the inner housing, with signals from the sensor being sent to a control unit used to regulate the operation of a damper for controlling the flow of cooling air into the food storage system and a fan for distributing the cooling air within the food storage system. The control system also operates the damper and fan based on signals indicative of the opening and closing of the receptacle, the opening and closing of a door associated with the fresh food compartment and also the overall operation of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A water filtering system for a refrigerator determines a need for a filter change by timing the period of actuation of at least one valve used to regulate the flow of filtered water to both a water dispenser and an ice maker. Based on a known flow rate, a volume of filtered water associated with the duration of valve actuation is calculated. A summing device determines an accumulated, filtered water volume. When the accumulated, filtered water volume reaches or exceeds a threshold value, an indicator is used to signal that the water filter needs to be replaced. As water filtering system of the invention is capable of being operated without a water filter in place, a switch assembly is incorporated to sense the presence of the water filter and the system only senses the valve actuation time when the filter is in place. In addition, provisions are made to reset the accumulated, filtered water volume upon replacement of the water filter.

Abstract: In an appliance having a nominally required product load and control components for controlling functions not directly related to those of the nominally required product load, the control components operating at voltages which are relatively low in comparison with those utilized by the nominally required product load, a portion of the nominally required product load is connected in series with the control components to serve as a voltage step down circuit whose output corresponds to the relatively low voltages required by the control components.