Abstract:
A cooling unit has a refrigeration control system configured to receive coded user inputs to control functions of the unit. The coded user input is a combination of at least two user inputs and evokes a command signal in the control system that is different from either of the command signals corresponding to the constituent user inputs. The constituent user input signals come from input to different control buttons. The coded user input signal comes from input to a combination of the different control buttons, for example, a hold input to one button and a monetary touch or repeated touching input to another button.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/823,961 filed on Aug. 30, 2006, and entitled “Cooling Unit,” hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to refrigerated food and drink storage units, and in particular, to the user interface and operational control thereof. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Refrigerators and coolers for the cold storage of food and beverages are well known and can come in full-size standup units or compact, under-counter units. Modern unit typically have electronic controls for setting and regulating interior temperatures as well as for controlling ancillary features such as lighting, ice making and system monitoring functions. 
         [0007]    Such controls are typically mounted inside the cabinet at a location attempting to make the user interface (control buttons, displays, etc) readily accessible and visible to the consumer. However, it is often the case the control interface is not user-friendly for the consumer. 
         [0008]    One problem with such controls is that the user interface typically has very few input controls. This can be due to the need to keep the control physically small in size or to a small profile or footprint so as not to occupy significant space in the cooling compartment, especially true for compact, under-counter units. It can also be to present a clean interface with simple controls that is designed to reduce consumer confusion in operating the control. 
         [0009]    Regardless of the reason, the down side of the control having limited input controls is that the user consequently has less control over the operation of the cooling unit. Operational control beyond the basic power on and temperature settings is thus largely unavailable in conventional cooling units. 
         [0010]    This is especially problematic when servicing the cooling unit because the limited control and operational feedback of the unit make diagnosing the source of a problem difficult. Without adequate control of settings and sub-systems of the system the service technician may not be able to adequately isolate the failed component or system. The lack of historical operational feedback of systems of the unit further frustrate diagnostic efforts. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, a control user interface for a cooling unit having expanded input control and diagnostic features is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems and provides a cooling unit with improved user control of system functions. 
         [0013]    Specifically, one aspect of the invention provides a cooling unit that has a controller for controlling a refrigeration system having an evaporator mounted within an interior chamber, a compressor receiving return refrigerant from the evaporator, a condenser coupled to the compressor and to the evaporator through a restriction. The controller is configured to generate a first command signal in response to a first user input and a second command signal in response to a second user input. The controller is further configured to generate a third command signal different from the first and second command signals in response to a coded user input including at least one of the first user input and at least one of the second user input. 
         [0014]    The two user inputs can be initiated from different input controls or buttons so as to effect two different command signals when activated. In one form, the first user input can be a sustained input and the second user input can be a momentary input or repeated multiple momentary inputs. For example, the coded user input can be achieved by the user supplying a hold input to one button and maintain the hold input while a second button is touched momentarily one or more times. Capacitive switches or proximity sensors can be used for as the input buttons. 
         [0015]    The command signal generated in response to the coded user input can be any type of suitable electronic signal for performing an operation of the cooling unit refrigeration and control systems. For example, and without limitation, the command can be to display various temperatures, initiate a showroom mode in which the display scrolls and flashes, enter a service mode, toggle the display, black out all system lights, force defrost, shutdown the unit, check relay status, turn the icemaker off, force harvest of the ice maker, clean the ice maker and control ice thickness. 
         [0016]    The controller can have a memory, a display and two processors. The memory stores a plurality of command signals and a plurality of coded user inputs. Each of the stored command signals corresponding to one of the stored coded user inputs. One processor is configured to receive the coded user input, generate the associated command signal, and communicate it to the other processor which executes the command to perform the desired function. 
         [0017]    The controller can also be configured to monitor the refrigeration system, generate logged data corresponding to operation of the refrigeration system and store the logged data in the memory. The command signal associated with the coded user input can be a data log command for displaying the logged data. 
         [0018]    The controller can be further configured to generate an additional command signal in response to at least one further user input received after the coded user input generated command signal. The coded user input generated command signal can be a service menu mode command and the additional command signal can be a service menu option command. Among other things, the service menu option command can be used to display temperature sensor status, adjust temperature sensor setpoint, adjust temperature sensor offset, display an error log, display defrost information, display compressor runtime and adjust defrost length. 
         [0019]    A plurality of error conditions can be stored in the memory and the controller can be configured to compare the logged data to the plurality of error conditions to detect whether one of a plurality of error conditions has occurred. Then, it can log in the memory an error code corresponding to one of the plurality of error conditions when the one of the plurality of error conditions has been detected, and display an error code indicator on the display. 
         [0020]    Another aspect of the invention is a method of controlling a cooling unit. The controller of the cooling system receives at least two user inputs and generates a command signal in response to a coded user input including at least the two user inputs. The controller can receive the same type of inputs and generate the same type of command signals to control a wide range of system functions, as mentioned above. 
         [0021]    These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as the preferred embodiment is not intended as the only embodiment within the scope of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination refrigerator/freezer unit having the features of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view thereof similar to  FIG. 1  albeit with its cabinet door open so that the interior of the cabinet is visible; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view thereof with the cabinet door removed; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exploded assembly view thereof; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cube ice maker assembly of the combination unit; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker assembly; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view showing the user interface control unit; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is an exploded assembly of the user interface control unit; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the control board and mount thereof; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the control board and mount; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a diagram of the refrigeration system of the combination unit; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram of control system of the combination unit; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a table of input codes for the user interface control unit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , in one preferred form, a combination refrigerator/freezer unit  30  includes a cabinet  32  defining a cavity with a forward opening  34  that is divided by horizontal and vertical partition walls  36  and  38 , respectively, into a refrigerator section  40  and an ice section  42 . The refrigerator section  40  is an L-shaped chamber having a molded insert liner  44  with grooves that support shelves  46  (two are shown in the drawings). The shelves  46  are supported by corresponding grooves formed in the vertical partition wall  38 . Molded insert liner  44  includes a pair of grooves that support a lower support shelf  48  and defines a recess for a crisper drawer  50 . The ice section  42  is a rectangular chamber having a foam insulated, molded insert  52  containing a cube ice maker assembly  56  and an ice storage bin  58 . The ice section  42  is closed by a door  60  that is hinged to insert  52  along one vertical side thereof. The cabinet opening  34  is closed by a door  64  that is hinged to the cabinet  32  (with self-closing cams) along one vertical side thereof. Both the cabinet  32  and the door  64  are formed of inner molded plastic members and outer formed metal members with the space filled in with an insulating layer of foam material, all of which is well known in the art. The door  64  has a handle (not shown) and can include one or more door shelves. 
         [0037]    Along the back wall of the ice section  42  is an evaporator  62  with serpentine refrigerant tubes running through thin metal fins, which is part of the refrigeration system of the unit  30 . With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 12 , the evaporator  62  has an outlet line  66  which is connected to the inlet of a compressor  70 . A discharge line  72  connected to the outlet of the compressor  70  is connected to the inlet of a condenser  74  having an outlet line  76  connected to a dryer  78 . A capillary tube  80  leads from the dryer  78  an inlet line  82  of the evaporator  62 . A bypass line  84  leads from the dryer  78  to the inlet line  82  of the evaporator. A hot gas bypass valve  86  controls communication between the dryer  78  and the evaporator  62 . Bypass valve  86  can be an electronically controlled solenoid type valve. An evaporator fan  89  is positioned near the evaporator  62  and a condenser fan ( 90 ) is positioned near the condenser  74 . An evaporator pan  92  is positioned beneath the evaporator  62  and is configured to collect and drain water. An evaporator pan heater  94  is beneath the evaporator pan  92  to heat the evaporator pan  92 . The compressor  70 , condenser  74  and condenser fan (see  FIG. 13 ) are located at the bottom of the cabinet  32  below the insulated portion. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the cube ice maker assembly  56  is positioned in the upper part of the ice section  42  of the cabinet  32 . The ice storage bin  58  is positioned in the lower part of the ice section  42  of the cabinet  32 . The cube ice maker assembly  56  includes a housing  100 , water inlet (not shown), drive assembly  104  and cube ice mold  106 . The water inlet is connected to an electronic water valve  103  that controls the flow of water into the cube ice maker assembly  56 . The water inlet is connected to a water transport mechanism (not shown) of the ice maker assembly  56  that transports water to the cavities of the cube ice mold  106  in order to fill the cube ice mold  106  with water when the electronic water valve  103  (see  FIG. 13 ) is opened. The drive assembly  104  comprises a cover  108  that surrounds an electric motor  110 . A plurality of ejector blades  112  are configured to be rotated by the electric motor  110  in order to engage ice formed in the cube ice mold  106  and carry the ice out of the cube ice mold  106 , the ice stripped by a plurality of strippers  114  formed on a stripper plate  116 , the ice dropping below into the ice storage bin  58 . A mold heater  118  is in thermal communication with the cube ice mold  106  and is configured to provide heat to the cube ice mold  106  to loosen the ice from the cube ice mold  106  to aid the ejector blades  112  in ejecting the ice. A pivotably mounted ice level sensing arm  120  extends downwardly above the ice storage bin  58  to sense the level of the ice in the ice storage bin  58 . Switches or sensors can be used to detect the position of the ejector blades  112  and/or motor  110  as well as the state of the cube ice maker assembly  56  (e.g., water fill, freeze and harvest stages). 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 13 , a controller  128  is attached below the cabinet and adjacent a kickplate  130  positioned below the cabinet door  64 . The controller  128  comprises a microprocessor  132  that is connected to a memory  134 . Alternatively, the microprocessor can include a memory. A plurality of connectors and lines (not shown) connect the controller  128  to sensors (discussed below) and relays associated with the other electrical components (not shown) of the refrigeration unit  30 . A door sensor  136  is connected to the cabinet  32  adjacent to the door  64 , the door sensor  136  configured to sense if the door  64  is opened or closed and to signal to the controller  128  whether the door  64  is opened or closed. The door sensor  136  can comprise a reed switch that senses a magnet (not shown) mounted on the door  64 . A light  137  is mounted within the refrigerator section  40 , the light  137  activated when the door sensor  136  senses that the door  64  is open. A refrigerator section temperature sensor  138  is attached to refrigerator section  40  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and senses the temperature of refrigerator section and provides refrigerator section temperature information to the controller  128 . An ice section temperature sensor  140  is attached to the ice section  42  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and senses the temperature of the ice section  42  and provides ice section temperature information to the controller  128 . An evaporator pan temperature sensor  142  is attached to the evaporator pan  92  (see  FIG. 4 ) and senses the temperature of the evaporator pan  92  and provides evaporator pan temperature information to the controller  128 . A cube ice mold temperature sensor  144  (see  FIG. 5 ) is positioned within the cube ice mold  106  to measure the temperature of the cube ice mold  106  at a position adjacent to a cavity of the cube ice mold  106  where the ice is formed, the cube ice mold temperature sensor  144  providing cube ice mold temperature information to the controller  128  and/or to the cube ice maker assembly  56 . The temperature sensors  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and  144  can comprise thermistors or other appropriate temperature sensors. The controller  128  is configured to control refrigeration, ice making, defrost and other aspects of the refrigeration unit  30  as will be described hereinafter. The controller  128  is also configured to monitor data relating to the operation of the refrigeration unit  30  and to log the data in the controller memory  134  for access by a service technician as discussed hereinafter. The logged data can include error codes. 
         [0040]    As is known, the compressor  70  draws refrigerant from the evaporator  62  and discharges the refrigerant under increased pressure and temperature to the condenser  74 . The hot, pre-condensed refrigerant gas entering the condenser  74  is cooled by air circulated by the condenser fan  90 . As the temperature of the refrigerant drops under substantially constant pressure, the refrigerant in the condenser  74  liquefies. The smaller diameter capillary tube  80  maintains the high pressure in the condenser  74  and at the compressor outlet while providing substantially reduced pressure in the evaporator  62 . The substantially reduced pressure in the evaporator  62  results in a large temperature drop and subsequent absorption of heat by the evaporator  62 . The evaporator fan  89  can draw air from inside the ice section  42  across the evaporator  62 , the cooled air returning to the ice section  42  to cool the ice section  42 . At least one air passage (not shown) connects the ice section  42  and the refrigerator section  40  so that the refrigerator section  40  is cooled by the ice section  42 , the temperature of the refrigerator section  40  related to the temperature of the ice section  42 . The compressor  70 , condenser fan  90  and evaporator fan  89  are controlled by the controller  128  to maintain the ice section  42  at an ice section setpoint. The ice section setpoint is based on a refrigerator section setpoint (e.g., ice section setpoint is minus 30° Fahrenheit of the refrigerator section setpoint), the refrigerator section setpoint being inputted by a user as described below. The controller  128  logs the compressor runtime between defrost cycles and stores the compressor runtime in the controller memory  134 . 
         [0041]    As mentioned, the refrigeration system includes a hot gas bypass valve  86  disposed in bypass line  84  between the dryer  78  and the evaporator inlet line  82 . Hot gas bypass valve  86  is controlled by controller  128 . The evaporator  62  is defrosted for a defrost time up to a maximum defrost time after a certain amount of compressor runtime. When the hot gas bypass valve  86  is opened, hot pre-condensed refrigerant will enter the evaporator  62 , thereby heating the evaporator  62  and defrosting any ice buildup on the evaporator  62 . The evaporator pan heater  94  heats the evaporator pan  92  when the hot gas bypass valve  86  is opened so that ice in the evaporator pan  92  is melted at the same time that the evaporator  62  is defrosted. The hot gas bypass valve  86  and evaporator pan heater  94  are controlled by the controller  128  (i.e., the defrost cycle is controlled by the controller  128 ). The controller  128  logs the defrost runtime and stores the defrost runtime in the controller memory  134 . The interval between defrost cycles can be adjusted by the controller  128 . 
         [0042]    The controller  128  can initiate an ice making cycle of the cube ice maker assembly  56  if the ice level sensing arm  120  does not prevent an ice making cycle from being initiated. Alternatively, the cube ice maker assembly  56  can initiate the ice making cycle if so authorized by the controller  128  and if the ice level sensing arm  120  does not prevent an ice making cycle from being initiated The cube ice maker assembly  56  includes a microcontroller  193  that controls the operation of the ice maker assembly  56 . The ice making cycle begins with filling of the cube ice mold  106  with water. The cube ice mold  106  can be heated by the mold heater  118  before water filling. The microcontroller  193  opens the water valve  103  thereby filling the cube ice mold  106  with an appropriate amount of water and then shuts off the water valve  103 . The water is then frozen into cubes. The temperature of the cube ice mold temperature sensor  144  is monitored by the controller  128 , the controller  128  initiating ice harvest when an ice mold temperature setpoint is reached (i.e., 15° Fahrenheit). Alternatively, the microcontroller  193  could monitor the temperature of the cube ice mold  106  and decide when to initiate ice harvest. During ice harvest, the microcontroller  193  causes the mold heater  118  (see  FIG. 13 ) to heat the cube ice mold  106  and causes the ejector blades  112  to rotate thereby pushing the ice out of the cube ice mold  106  and into the ice storage bin  58 . Limit switches can monitor when the ejector blades  112  have fully rotated so that another ice making cycle can be initiated if the ice level sensing arm  120  does not sense that the ice storage bin  58  is full of ice. The compressor  70  can be on or off during the freezing and harvest stages of the ice making cycle and should be off during the water fill stage. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a user interface control unit  160  is mounted to the top of the refrigerator molded insert liner  44  within the cabinet  32  for receiving user commands and forwarding input signals to the main controller  128 . The control unit  160  includes a display panel  162  and an input control board  164 . The display panel  162  has a translucent display window  167 , having power indicia  168 , a warmer indicia  170 , a cooler indicia  172  and a light indicia  174 . The control board  164  includes an electronic display  176 , a power switch  178 , a warmer switch  180 , a cooler switch  182 , a light switch  184  and a plurality of LEDs  186 ,  188 ,  190 , and  192 , associated with the switches, respectively. The display panel window  166  is positioned in front of the display  176  on the control board  164  and allows for a user to view whatever is displayed on the display  176 . The power indicia  168 , warmer indicia  170 , cooler indicia  172  and light indicia  174  are positioned in front of the power switch  178 , warmer switch  180 , cooler switch  182 , and light switch  184 , respectively. The switches  178 ,  180 ,  182 , and  184  comprise capacitive proximity sensors which include flexible extension pads  194  positioned adjacent the corresponding indicia  168 ,  170 ,  172 , and  174 . The pads  194  are preferably adhered to the conductive contacts of the switches on the control board  164  and touch against the back side of the display panel  162 . The pads  194  are made of foam cores encased in conductive fabric that provides an electrical pathway from the switch contact on the control board  164  to the display panel  162 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , the display panel  162  and the control board  164  are mounted inside of an outer control housing  195  via mount  197 . The mount  197  has two parts, a main housing  199  and a back cover  201 . The housing  199  is a monolithic structure formed of a molded plastic to include a plurality of integral switch supports  203  and light guides  205  as a single unitary part, four of each are shown. The housing has pairs of long  207  and short  209  outer walls that form the perimeter of the mount  197  framing the control board  164 . The long walls  207  have two slots  220  therein for attaching the back cover  201 . The switch supports  203  span the long walls  207  with their two spaced apart bridge walls  211  across which extend two spaced apart cross walls  213 . The intersection of these walls  211  and  213  form a generally square opening  215  which surrounds each flexible extension pad  194  to restrain it from excessive lateral movement that could cause it to lose contact with the control board  164  and the display panel  162 . The light guides  205  are cylindrical walls that intersect the upper cross wall of each switch support  203 . 
         [0045]    While the disclosed embodiment shows square openings  215  and cylindrical light guides  205  other suitable configurations could be used provided the extension pads  194  are adequately supported at their sides and light from the LEDs  186 ,  188 ,  190  and  192  is effectively isolated from the interior of the housing  199  and directed from the control board  164  to the associated indicia of the display panel  162  to illuminate the indicia. 
         [0046]    The outer side of the switch supports  203  and light guides  205  are generally co-planar and recessed back from the front plane of the housing  199  so that the display panel  162  can be recess mounted inside the front opening for the housing  199  and by supported at its back side by the switch supports  203  and the light guides  205 . The back side of the switch supports  203  extend to a plane that extends into the housing  199  a lesser distance than does the back side of the light guides  205 . This helps ensure that the light guides  205  extend down against the control board  164  to better surround the LEDs  186 ,  188 ,  190  and  192  to prevent light from leaking around the light guides  205 . 
         [0047]    The control board  164  is secured into the housing  199  by tabs  221  on the back cover  201  that extend into the housing  199  and contact the back side of the control board  164  to apply a clamping force holding the control board  164  against the light guides  205 , thus securing the position of the control board  164  and further reducing the chance of light leaking around the light guides  205 . Four of the tabs  221  have catches  223  that engage the slots  220  in the long walls  207  of the housing  199  to attach the back cover  201 . The back cover  201  also has two ears  225  with openings therein that provide for mounting of the mount to a support surface, such as the outer control housing  195 . The display panel  162  is secured within the housing  199  by abutment with the front wall of the outer control housing  195 . 
         [0048]    The switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  are each configured to independently sense when they are activated by a user. In order to simplify discussion of the operation of the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184 , activation of a switch will be described as touching and/or holding of the indicia on the display panel  162  associated with one of the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  which is then activated by a change in capacitance, or upon reaching a certain threshold level of capacitance. 
         [0049]    The control board  164  further includes an input processor  196  connected to the controller  128  and to the display  176 ; switches  178 ,  180 ,  182 , and  184 ; and LEDs  186 ,  188 ,  190 , and  192 . The input processor  196  is connected to a memory  198 . Alternatively, the input processor  196  can include a memory. The input processor  196  receives signals from the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  when the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  are touched. Additionally, when one of the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182 , and  184  is touched, the corresponding LED  186 ,  188 ,  190 , or  192  is lit and a beep sound is produced by at least one sound component (not shown) mounted to the controller  128  and/or control unit  160 . The input processor  196  is connected to the controller  128  and the controller  128  controls what is displayed on display  176 . 
         [0050]    The input processor  196  receives a power signal  200 , a warmer signal  202 , a cooler signal  204 , and a light signal  206  when switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184 , respectively, are touched and/or held. The input processor  196  can determine if the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  are touched or held, and can determine the length of the hold. The input processor  196  analyzes a sequence and/or combination of signals  200 ,  202 ,  204 , and  206  as a coded input  208 . The input processor  196  decodes the coded input  208  and provides an input command  210  to the controller  128 . The input processor memory  198  includes the coded inputs  208 . The controller  128  then performs a controller operation corresponding the input command  210 . The controller operations and input commands  210  are stored in the controller memory  134 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 14  shows coded inputs  208  and their corresponding input commands  210 . Note that the input commands include commands for cooling units including various combinations of at least one refrigerator section, a cube ice maker, a clear ice maker, and a freezer section. Holding the power switch  178  for ten seconds corresponds to a power command that will cause the display to turn on and off. Touching the light switch  184  one time corresponds to a light toggle command that causes the light mode to be toggled (i.e., light  137  on/off when a glass door is open/closed or light  137  on all the time). Holding the warmer switch  180  for five seconds corresponds to a view actual temperature of the temperature sensor  138  command that causes the actual temperature of the temperature sensor  138  being displayed on display  176 . Holding both the warmer switch  180  and the cooler switch  182  corresponds to a view actual temperature of the other temperature sensors command that results in the actual temperature of the temperatures sensors  140 ,  142  and  144  being scrolled on the display  176 . Holding the light switch  184  while touching the cooler switch  182  three times corresponds to a toggle temperature units command that results in toggling the temperature units used (i.e., Celsius or Fahrenheit). Holding the cooler switch  182  while touching the light switch  184  three times corresponds to a turn showroom mode on command that results in enabling the showroom mode. Holding the warmer switch  180  while touching the power switch  178  three times causes the display mode to be toggled (i.e., display  176  and/or LEDs  186 ,  188 ,  190 , or  192  on/off when a glass door is open/closed). Holding the light switch  184  for ten seconds corresponds to a blackout mode command that results in light  137 , display  176 , and LEDs  186 ,  188 ,  190 , or  192  being turned off for  36  hours or until light switch  184  is again held for ten seconds. Holding the power switch  178  while touching the light switch  184  three times corresponds to a cleaning mode command the results in running the cleaning mode for cooling units with clear ice cube makers. Holding power switch  178  while touching the warmer switch  180  three times corresponds to a icemaker on/off command that results in turning the ice maker assembly  56  on and off. Holding the power switch  178  while touching the cool switch  182  corresponds to a forced harvest command that results in a forced harvest of the ice in the ice maker assembly  56 . Holding the light switch  184  while touching the power switch  178  three times corresponds to a forced defrost command that results in a forced defrost of the refrigeration system. Holding the cooler switch  182  while touching the warmer switch  180  three times corresponds to a temporary shutdown command that results in a temporary shutdown of the cooling unit  30  for three hours. Holding the cooler switch  182  while touching the power switch  178  three times corresponds to a relay status command that results in the status of the relays being scrolled on the display  176  (i.e., single digit relay number and 1/0 for on/off). 
         [0052]    Depending on the input command  210 , after an input command  210  has been sent to the controller  128  the input processor  196  can wait for further signals from the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  and then decode or directly send a corresponding further input command the controller  128 . For example, once an input command  210  has been sent to the controller  128 , touching the temperature adjustment switches  180  and  182  can scroll though a displayed menu of menu options and touching the light switch  184  can select the menu option currently displayed (i.e., the light switch  184  acts as a return or enter key). Holding the warmer switch  180  while touching the light switch  184  three times corresponds to a service mode command which results in a service mode menu list to be displayed on the display  176  as discussed below. Touching one of the temperature adjustment switches  180  and  182  corresponds to a cooling unit setpoint set mode command that causes the input processor  196  to send temperature adjustment command signals to the controller  128  when the temperature adjustment switches  180  and  182  are touched thereafter so that the refrigerator unit setpoint can set by a user by scrolling to a setpoint and selecting the setpoint. Holding the warmer switch  180  while touching the cooler switch  182  corresponds to a ice thickness adjustment command that allows for an ice thickness of clear ice to be selected by scrolling to an ice thickness and selecting the ice thickness. Holding each of the warmer switch  180 , cooler switch  182 , and light switch  184  while a jumper (not shown) is placed on the controller  128  corresponds to a change model number command that allows for changing the model number by selecting a model scrolled on the display  176 . 
         [0053]    The service mode input command causes the controller  128  to execute a service mode operation that causes the display of service mode menu options on the display  176 . Examples of service mode menu options are summarized in TABLE 1 below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Service Mode Menu Options 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Option Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Light all LED Segments 
               
               
                 2 
                 Temperature sensor #1 status (Temp, E1 or E2) 
               
               
                 3 
                 Error log 
               
               
                 4 
                 Defrost info 
               
               
                 5 
                 Compressor runtime (based on last cycle) 
               
               
                 6 
                 Defrost Length (adjustment - up to 99 minutes 
               
               
                 7 
                 Light switch status (0 or 1) 
               
               
                 8 
                 Display toggle status (0 or 1) 
               
               
                 9 
                 Restore factory defaults 
               
               
                 10 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #1 offset (−10 to +10) 
               
               
                 11 
                 Data download 
               
               
                 12 
                 Clear error log 
               
               
                 13 
                 Clear download memory 
               
               
                 14 
                 Model number display 
               
               
                 15 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #1 differential 
               
               
                 16 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #2 offset 
               
               
                 17 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #3 offset 
               
               
                 18 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #4 offset 
               
               
                 19 
                 View temperature sensor #2 status 
               
               
                 20 
                 View temperature sensor #3 status 
               
               
                 21 
                 View temperature sensor #4 status 
               
               
                 22 
                 Automatic toggle through relays (switch on or off) 
               
               
                 23 
                 Defrost interval adjust (3 to 24 hours) 
               
               
                 24 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #2 setpoint 
               
               
                 25 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #3 setpoint 
               
               
                 26 
                 Adjust temperature sensor #4 setpoint 
               
               
                 27 
                 Display software version 
               
               
                 99 
                 Exit Service Mode 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0054]    A service technician can scroll through the service menu option numbers by touching temperature adjustment switches  180  and  182  and select the option displayed in the display  176  by touching the light switch  184 . The service technician can select a service mode menu option that will result in the display of cooling unit operational data that has been logged by the controller  128  (e.g., temperature sensor status/temperature, defrost information, compressor runtime, light switch status). The operational data is sensed by sensors and/or the controller  128  and logged by the controller  128  in the controller memory  134 . Other service menu options will result in the controller  128  performing a function (e.g., light all LEDs, restore factory defaults, clear error log, clear download memory, automatic toggle through relays). Additionally, the selected service mode menu option may require further input from the service technician, and the service technician can touch and/or hold the switches  178 ,  180 ,  182  and  184  to provide that input. For example, the service technician can select the defrost length service mode menu option and then set the length of the defrost cycle, which is saved into controller memory  134 . The service technician can also adjust temperature sensor setpoints, offsets and differential. 
         [0055]    The service technician can also select the error log service mode menu option and the error codes stored in the controller memory  134  will be displayed on the display  176 . The service technician may choose to view the error codes displayed in the memory because the controller  128  displays a generic error indicator (not shown) on the display  176  when an error has been detected and an error code logged. The generic error indicator does not indicate the specific error code (e.g., the generic error code can be “Er”). The service technician can scroll through the error codes from the most recent error code to the last error code by touching temperature adjustment switches  180  and  182 . Alternatively, the error codes can be scrolled in sequence automatically by the controller  128 . Examples of error codes are summarized below in TABLE  2 . The summary of error codes includes error codes for cooling units including various combinations of at least one refrigerator section, a cube ice maker, a clear ice maker, and a freezer section. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Error Code 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 E1 
                 Temperature Sensor #1 open 
               
               
                 E2 
                 Temperature Sensor #1 shorted 
               
               
                 E3 
                 Door #1 open longer than 20 minutes 
               
               
                 E5 
                 Temperature Sensor #1 out of range (+10) 
               
               
                   
                 for more than 12 hours 
               
               
                 E6 
                 Temperature Sensor #1 out of range (−10) 
               
               
                   
                 for more than 12 hours 
               
               
                 E7 
                 Temperature Sensor #2 open or shorted 
               
               
                 E8 
                 Temperature Sensor #3 open or shorted 
               
               
                 E9 
                 Temperature Sensor #4 open or shorted 
               
               
                 E10 
                 Door #2 (drawer) open longer than 20 minutes 
               
               
                 E11 
                 EE Memory Error 
               
               
                 P1 
                 Pump circuit open due to high water level in ice bin 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0056]    The service technician can view the error code displayed on the display  176  and determine the corresponding error. The error codes are generated by controller  128  when an error condition has been detected. The error conditions are stored in the controller memory  134 . One error code is a door open error code that is detected and logged when the controller  128  determines that the door  64  has been open for longer than a period of time stored in memory (e.g., twenty minutes), the controller  128  also producing an error message on the display  176  and generating an audible alert. Other error codes relate to the temperature sensors  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and  144 , the controller  128  monitoring and storing error codes when a temperature sensor is open, shorted, or out of range for a period of time. Other components of the cooling unit  30  can be monitored by the controller  128  and error codes can be logged by the controller  128  when an error has been detected. 
         [0057]    The controller  128  can include a connector (not shown) to which a service technician can connect a computer. The functions of the controller  128  can be accessed through the computer and the computer can download the data logged by the controller  128 . 
         [0058]    It should be appreciated that merely a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above. However, many modifications and variations to the preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the described embodiment. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced.