Patent ID: 7568358
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: F25C,F25D

Abstract:
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for exposing an interior compartment of the refrigerator; a control panel having a plurality of control elements for inputting operating parameters for the refrigerator; a dispenser formed in the door, said dispenser including a housing having bottom, rear and opposing side walls that collectively define a cavity, a mechanism for dispensing at least one of ice and water, and a light for selectively illuminating the cavity; a sensor for sensing a level of ambient light; and a means for controlling the light cavity in three distinct modes wherein, in a first mode the light cavity is continuously illuminated, in a second mode the light cavity is illuminated only through activation of the dispensing mechanism and, in a third mode the light cavity is illuminated based upon whether the level of ambient light is less than a predetermined level, wherein: a) said predetermined level is adjustable; b) when in the third mode, the controlling means activates the light cavity at a first level based upon the level of ambient light and at a second level upon activation of the dispensing mechanism; and c) the light cavity is illuminated at gradually decreasing levels following deactivation of the dispensing mechanism.