Methods and apparatus for controlling refrigerators

US7000407B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Debra Miozza · Louisville, US
• Martin Mitchell Zentner · Prospect, US
• Anand Ganesh Joshi · Savanuru, IN
• Sanjay Manohar Anikhindi · Savanuru, IN
• Venkataramana Rachakonda · Darsi, IN
• Venkata Ramakrishna Ramayanam · Richmond Heights, US
• John Kenneth Hooker · Louisville, US
• Omar Haidar · Louisville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 22, 2003
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25D2400/28
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment, a refrigerator door coupled to the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator door has an inner surface. The refrigerator further includes a bin for storing items therein mounted to the inner surface of the refrigerator door and at least one thermoelectric module operationally coupled to the bin, such that the bin is temperature controlled independent of the refrigerator compartment.