Controlled defrost for chilled environments
US11221173B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2700/111
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
In one implementation, a system for controlling defrost of a chilled environment includes a camera configured to capture images of one or more objects located in the chilled environment and a defrost control unit. The defrost control unit is configured to: receive an image of the one or more objects from the camera, analyze the image of the one or more objects to quantify an amount of frost formation on the one or more objects, determine when to initiate a defrost cycle in the chilled environment based on the amount of frost formation on the one or more objects, and in response to determining to initiate the defrost cycle, initiating the defrost cycle by sending a defrost control signal to a defroster. The defroster is configured to perform the defrost cycle within the chilled environment in response to receiving the defrost control signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.