Patent ID: 6898942
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: F25B,F25D,G05D,G07F,H02M

Abstract:
1. A refrigerated appliance for use with a power source to dispense items, said system comprising: a cooling system; power control circuitry that selectively provides electrically coupling of at least one component of said cooling system to said power source; a controller, operably coupled to said power control circuitry, that is adapted to control said power control circuitry in at least one power-conserving mode of operation and in a normal-operation mode, said controller automatically transitioning between said at least one power-conserving mode and said normal-operation mode based upon at least one dispensing event signal supplied to said controller by one of (i) a dispensing port sensor that senses items passing through a dispensing port of said refrigerated appliance, (ii) an occupancy sensor that senses occupancy of a user that opens a door to said refrigerated appliance, and (iii) an open door sensor that senses opening of a door to said refrigerated appliance.