Abstract:
A control assembly for a compact refrigeration unit and the like includes a display panel, a control board having an LED and a switch pad, a flexible extension extending between the switch and the display panel, and a mount supporting the display panel and control board and having a switch support laterally restraining the flexible extension and an open ended light guide directing light from the LED to the display panel. The mount can be a monolithic structure having a switch support and light guide for each of multiple switches and LEDs. The mount includes a removable back cover that clamps the control board in place.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   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 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to refrigerated food and drink storage units, and in particular, to the control assembly therefore, and even more particularly to the mounting arrangement for the control board and display panel. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   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-cabinet 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. 
   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. 
   One problem with controls having a display or illuminated buttons is to provide the proper lighting so that the display and/or buttons can be viewed easily. This can be simply a matter of selecting the appropriate level of cabinet lighting and/or selecting a suitably intense display component, such as an LCD or otherwise. However, it is often desired for to illuminate indicate engraved, embossed or printed on a glass panel with a back light. These illuminated “buttons” or “touch pads” provide an aesthetically pleasing interface and are readily visible when properly illuminated. 
   More and more, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used for this application because of their small size and low cost. Yet, it is important that the LEDs be positioned in the correctly in proximity to the display panel so that the proper amount of light is directed to the “button” so that it is properly illuminated. In correct positioning can lead to no or inadequate illumination or to the LED being visible to the consumer. And, when multiple “buttons” or in close proximity to one another, it is import that light for one does not corrupt that of another in color, intensity or otherwise. Proper positioning of the LEDs can thus make assembly of the control cumbersome and costly. 
   Another problem that arises with control interfaces of this type pertains to the activation of the button, which is usually achieved using a capacitive sensor triggered by a change in local capacitance or reaching a threshold capacitance at the location display panel. The display panel is typically glass or other non-electrically conductive material. The sensor is mounted to the control board behind the display panel. Thus, much like the LEDs, it is important for the sensor to be located properly in proximity to the button area of the display panel, especially when there are multiple “buttons” close together. Manufacturing and assembly is thus further complicated. 
   Accordingly, a control assembly and arrangement for mounting the control board and display panel is needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems and provides an improved control assembly and mount therefor. 
   Specifically, in one aspect the invention provides a mount for an electronic control having a display panel and a control board with an LED and a switch having a flexible extension extending to the display panel. The mount includes a housing for containing the board. The housing has two sets of spaced apart opposite walls extending about the board and defining an open side opening to the display panel. A switch support is disposed in the housing so as to laterally restrain the flexible extension. A light guide is disposed in the housing so as to be adjacent the LED and direct light from the LED to the display panel. 
   There can be a plurality of switch supports associated with a plurality of switches of the control board, and there can be a plurality of light guides associated with a plurality of LEDs. The mount can also be a monolithic structure, such as a single molded plastic piece, including the housing, one or more of the switch supports and one or more of the light guides as a single unitary piece. The mount can also have a back cover removably connected to the housing that clamps the control board against the switch support(s) and/or the light guide(s). One or more tabs on the back cover can fit into the housing and apply a clamping force on the control board. One or more of tabs can also be used to connect the back cover to the housing via a tab and slot connection. The back cover, or the housing, can have mounting tabs for securing the mount to a mounting surface. 
   The switch supports can have a pair of bridge walls extending between opposite walls of the housing and a pair of cross walls extending between the bridge walls so as to define an opening therebetween in which the flexible switch extensions fit. The switch supports thus restrain lateral movement of the extensions and ensure that the extension extend from the control board and contact the display panel. 
   The light guides can be a cylindrical wall, tubular structure or any other suitable configuration having open ends and defining a bounded pathway between the open ends so as to better guide the light from the LEDs to a particular location of the display panel, such as to illuminate a button indicia area of the display panel. 
   The housing walls can extend to a first plane at the open side of the housing and the switch supports and the light guides can extend to a second plane recessed within the housing from the first plane. This allows the switch supports and light guides to provide a back stop for the display panel, which can be recess fit inside the outer walls of the housing. Also, the switch supports can extend between the second plane and a third plane, and the light guides can extend between the second plane and a fourth plane spaced from the second plane a greater distance than the third plane. This allows the light guides to contact the control board surface, rather than the switch supports, to better ensure that the LED light is captured and directed by the light guides without light passing around the light guides and inside of the housing. 
   In another aspect the present invention provides a control assembly including a display panel, a control board with an LED and a switch, a flexible extension extending between the switch and the display panel, and a mount supporting the display panel and the control board and having a switch support laterally restraining the flexible extension and an open ended light guide directing light from the LED to the display panel. The assembly components can take the various forms and include the additional structure mentioned above. 
   The switch extensions can be conductive fabric encased foam structures that provide a conductive path between the metallic pad of a capacitive sensor on the control board and the display panel. The resilience and compressibility of the foam provides a force biasing the conductive fabric in abutment with the display panel without strict tolerances of the control board and display panel assembly. 
   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 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination refrigerator/freezer unit having the features of the present invention; 
       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; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view thereof with the cabinet door removed; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded assembly view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cube ice maker assembly of the combination unit; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker assembly; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view showing the user interface control unit; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded assembly of the user interface control unit; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the control board and mount thereof; 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the control board and mount; 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram of the refrigeration system of the combination unit; 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram of control system of the combination unit; and 
       FIG. 14  is a table of input codes for the user interface control unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   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. 
   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. 
   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). 
   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. 
   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 . 
   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 . 
   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. 
   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 . 
   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 . 
   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. 
   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 . 
   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 . 
   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. 
   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 . 
   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 to the input command  210 . The controller operations and input commands  210  are stored in the controller memory  134 . 
     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). 
   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 an 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 . 
   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. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               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 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   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, and 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. 
   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. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
               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 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   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. 
   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 . 
   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.