Select fill sensor system for refrigerator dispensers
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B67D-007/30
B67D-001/00
B67D-001/08
B67D-001/12
F25C-005/00
F25D-023/12
F25D-029/00
B67D-003/00
F25D-031/00
출원번호
US-0723588
(2015-05-28)
등록번호
US-9908768
(2018-03-06)
발명자
/ 주소
Ashrafzadeh, Farhad
Chase, Kevin M.
Janke, Brian P.
Kanchanavally, Shreecharan
출원인 / 주소
Whirlpool Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Diederike & Whitelaw, PLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
40
초록▼
A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well base
A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well based on image data. The image data can used to detect at least one of a presence of a container in the dispenser well, a height of liquid within the container, a height of ice within the container and a shape of the container within the dispenser well, as well as to adjust a dispensing rate of product.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerator comprising: a dispenser assembly for selectively releasing at least one of a liquid and ice into a container during a dispensing operation, said dispenser assembly including: a controller for regulating the dispensing operation of the dispenser assembly; anda camera adapted to send
1. A refrigerator comprising: a dispenser assembly for selectively releasing at least one of a liquid and ice into a container during a dispensing operation, said dispenser assembly including: a controller for regulating the dispensing operation of the dispenser assembly; anda camera adapted to send image data to the controller, wherein the controller regulates the dispensing operation based on the image data, and the controller varies a rate at which a product is dispensed multiple times throughout the dispensing operation. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a dispenser well, wherein the camera is exposed to the dispenser well. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising: at least one refrigerated compartment; anda door mounted for selectively providing access to the at least one refrigerated compartment, said dispenser well being provided, at least partially, in the door. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the at least one refrigerated compartment constitutes a freezer compartment. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the door constitutes a freezer door. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the camera is located within the dispenser well. 7. A refrigerator comprising: a dispenser assembly for selectively releasing at least one of a liquid and ice into a container during a dispensing operation, said dispenser assembly including:a dispenser wella controller for regulating the dispensing operation of the dispenser assembly; anda camera located within and exposed to the dispenser well, the camera being adapted to send image data to the controller, wherein the controller regulates the dispensing operation based on the image data, wherein the camera is positioned for imaging a height of ice within a container in the dispenser well or the camera is positioned for imaging a shape of a container within the dispenser well. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs video processing of the image data. 9. A dispenser assembly for selectively releasing at least one of a liquid and ice into a container during a dispensing operation, said dispenser assembly including: a controller for regulating the dispensing operation of the dispenser assembly; anda camera adapted to send image data to the controller, wherein the controller regulates the dispensing operation based on the image data, and the controller varies a rate at which a product is dispensed multiple times throughout the dispensing operation. 10. The dispenser assembly according to claim 9, further comprising: a dispenser well, wherein the camera is exposed to the dispenser well. 11. The dispenser assembly according to claim 10, wherein the dispenser well is provided in a door of a refrigerator. 12. The dispenser assembly according to claim 11, wherein the camera is located within the dispenser well. 13. The dispenser assembly according to claim 10, wherein the camera is positioned for imaging at least one of a height of ice within a container in the dispenser well and a shape of the container within the dispenser well. 14. The dispenser assembly according to claim 9, wherein the controller performs video processing of the image data. 15. A method of dispensing a product from a refrigerator dispenser assembly including a dispenser well, the method comprising: transmitting image data from a camera mounted in the dispenser well to a controller;regulating dispensing of the product by the controller based on the image data;varying a rate at which the product is dispensed during a dispensing event; andvarying the rate multiple times throughout the dispensing event. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the product is constituted by at least one of water and ice. 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: regulating the dispensing of the product based on video image data. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the image data is directed to at least one of a height of ice within a container in the dispenser well and a shape of the container within the dispenser well. 19. A refrigerator comprising: a dispenser assembly for selectively releasing at least one of a liquid and ice into a container during a dispensing operation, said dispenser assembly including:a controller for regulating the dispensing operation of the dispenser assembly; and a camera adapted to send image data to the controller, wherein the controller regulates the dispensing operation based on the image data, wherein the controller performs video processing of the image data and performing video processing of the image data includes performing video processing of real-time video image data. 20. The dispenser assembly according to claim 14, wherein performing video processing of the image data includes performing video processing of real-time video image data.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (40)
Olson Gary R L ; Ham Eardley L. ; Pichotta Andrew J., Apparatus and method for detecting an object using digitally encoded optical signals.
Stembridge William F. (618 Camelot Dr. College Park GA 30349) Sturrock James C. (Rte. 1 ; Box 389 Espanola NM 87532) Stembridge W. Frank (1821 Farris St. East Point GA 30344), Automatic control system for filling beverage containers.
Stembridge William F. (College Park GA) Stembridge W. Frank (East Point GA) Sturrock James C. (Espanola NM), Automatic control system for filling beverage containers.
Stembridge William F. (College Park GA) Sturrock James C. (Espanola NM) Stembridge ; III W. Frank (East Point GA), Automatic control system for filling beverage containers.
Stembridge William F. (College Park GA) Sturrock James C. (Espanola NM) Stembridge W. Frank (East Point GA), Automatic control system for filling beverage containers.
Stembridge William F. (College Park GA) Sturrock James C. (Espanola NM) Stembridge W. Frank (East Point GA), Automatic control system for filling beverage containers.
Farmer M. Zane (12 Christman Tree Dr. Ashburnham MA 01430) Farmer Diane B. (12 Christman Tree Dr. Ashburnham MA 01430), Automatic level sensing system.
Farmer M. Zane (12 Christmas Tree Dr. Ashburnham MA 01430) Farmer Diane B. (12 Christmas Tree Dr. Ashburnham MA 01430), Automatic level sensing system.
Daniel G. Skell ; Eric D. Skell ; Thomas D. Tagliapietra ; Michael A. Manthei, Control method and apparatus to detect the presence of a first object and monitor a relative position of the first or subsequent objects such as container identification and product fill control.
Skell Daniel G. ; Skell Eric D. ; Tagliapietra Thomas D. ; Manthei Michael A., Control method and apparatus to detect the presence of a first object and monitor a relative position of the first or subsequent objects such as container identification and product fill control.
Skell Daniel G. ; Skell Eric D. ; Tagliapietra Thomas D. ; Manthei Michael A., Control method and apparatus to detect the presence of a first object and monitor a relative position of the first or subsequent objects such as container identification and product fill control.
Skell Daniel G. (Cedarburg WI) Skell Eric D. (Cedarburg WI) Manthei Michael A. (Cedarburg WI), Dispensing method and apparatus that detects the presence and size of a cup and provides automatic fill control.
Abadi Meyer (Abanico a Maturin ; Edificio Optipro #19 Parraquia ; Altagracia ; Caracas VEX) Hueso Ernesto (Av. Sucre de los Dos Caminos ; Edificio Yutaje ; Apto. A-214 Caracas VEX), System for providing a supply of chilled fluid.
Stembridge William F. (College Park GA) Stembridge W. Frank (East Point GA) Sturrock James C. (Espanola NM), Ultrasonic automatic cup filling method operating adjacent valves on different A.C. half cycles.
Koblasz Arthur (Atlanta GA) Hollister James K. (Richardson GA) Alexander Douglas J. (Canton GA) Kirschner Jonathan (Marietta GA), Ultrasound level detector and container counter.
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