Patent · US Expired

Internal communications system for refrigerator and wiring structure thereof

US5555189A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
38References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1995
Grant dateSep 10, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25D2700/12
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A communication system is provided in electric devices such as refrigerators. Refrigerators include a plurality of output units such as electric fans, electric dampers, and output units such as sensors, thermistors, etc. The communication system is provided in the vicinity of the input and output units. The communication system includes a plurality of sub-control sections for controlling operations of the output units, a main control section for controlling the electric device by controlling operations of each sub-control section, a single communication-use cable for connecting the main control section and the sub-control sections so as to permit communications between them. The communication system permits a reduction in the number of cables required for connecting the main control section to the input and output units and simplified processes for routing the cables. As a result, compact size electric devices and reduction in manufacturing costs are enabled. Also included in refrigerators and cold guide members in the form, for example, of a pipe. Communication lines and wiring members can be located, for example, in the pipe itself or the wall of the pipe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.