Select fill sensor system for refrigerator dispensers
US9908768B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
41References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 2015 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2400/361
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.