Patent ID: 6622503
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: F25B,F25D

Abstract:
An evaporator fan control system for a multi-compartment refrigerator having a damper controlling an opening between compartments to allow cooling from a first compartment to be transferred to a second compartment, comprising:a first thermostat positioned to sense temperature in the first compartment; a second thermostat positioned to sense temperature in the second compartment; an adaptive defrost timer control module operably coupled to the first and the second thermostat to determine when each compartment requires cooling, the adaptive defrost timer control module providing an energization output to an evaporator fan; wherein the adaptive defrost timer control module energizes the evaporator fan when the second thermostat indicates that the second compartment requires cooling; and wherein the multi-compartment refrigerator includes a damper that controls a flow of air between the first and the second compartments and that opens when the second thermostat indicates that the second compartment requires cooling, wherein the adaptive defrost timer control module further includes a time delay between indication from the second thermostat that the second compartment requires cooling and energization of the evaporator fan of a duration sufficient to allow the damper to open.