Patent Publication Number: US-2015068233-A1

Title: Refrigerating apparatus and method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/526,078, which is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Phase application of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/53272 filed Feb. 7, 2008, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional application 60/888,761 filed Feb. 7, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus such as refrigerator, a freezer, a wine cabinet, or a combination thereof and a method of controlling cooling climate of the apparatus and displaying control elements. The refrigerating apparatus has an interactive, ergonomic cooling control system. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Prior art refrigerating appliances typically include one or more refrigerating or freezer compartments for the storage of fresh and frozen foods. Typically, the temperature settings for the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment were adjusted by manipulating an electromechanical mechanism such as a dial or a sliding switch. Usually these systems provided no apparent way to determine the actual temperature of the compartments and the temperature settings were often determined by user trial and error. 
     More recently, electronic controls have offered various control schemes the user including, for example, digitally displaying the temperature of a compartment. However, electronic controls can be confusing and, to a large extent, the setting of temperature of a particular compartment remains a trial and error operation. Also, while some refrigerating appliance have climate zones with fixed humidity for certain types of food, there is lack of appliances that permit the adjustment of the humidity. It should be readily apparent that adding adjustment of humidity to adjustment of temperature across multiple compartments increases the complexity and likelihood for potential user confusion in controlling a refrigerating appliance. Therefore, there is a need for a climate control system in refrigerating appliances that provides the user with an interface that is easy to use and easy to understand while at the same time capable of handling complex temperature and humidity adjustments for multiple compartments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a refrigerating apparatus, such as a refrigerator, freezer, or wine cabinet having two or more climate-controlled compartments. The refrigerating apparatus has a climate control device capable of controlling the climate of the compartments. The control device is electrically connected to an interactive display, wherein the display presents a compartment selection element to a user and, upon selection of a compartment by the user, the display presents a predetermined climate control element corresponding to the selected compartment. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the interactive display has a climate control activation element. The compartment selection element is not presented until the user activates the climate control activation element. The compartment selection element comprises a plurality of compartment icons corresponding to the climate controlled compartments of the refrigerating appliance. The climate control element may comprise, for example, a temperature control icon or a plurality of food-type icons, representing types of foods capable of being stored in the selected compartment. 
     The interactive display is preferably a touch-control device such as an LCD touch screen. Preferably, the elements of the display are presented sequentially as the user makes selections. For example, first, upon selection of the climate control activation element, the compartment selection element is displayed; second, upon selection of a compartment, the appropriate climate control element is displayed. It is also preferred that the user&#39;s selections be highlighted in some manner such as, for example, a color change of the selected icon within an element. 
     Upon selection of the desired parameters for a selected compartment, the control device will adjust the cooling climate of the compartment to correspond to the temperature adjustment or the humidity and temperature requirements of the food types intended to be stored in the compartment. 
     These and other features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in schematic form in the drawings and are described in greater detail below. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of exemplary embodiments of the refrigerating apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the interior compartments of the refrigerating apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the interactive control panel positioned on an insulation barrier; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of the interactive control panel; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4E  are perspective views of various refrigerating apparatuses that may be employed with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5 through 10B  are a variety of displays of an interface display in accordance with preferred embodiments of an interactive control panel; 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplary interface display for an interactive control panel for use on a wine cabinet; 
         FIG. 12  is an exemplary interface display for an interactive control panel for use on a freezer; 
         FIG. 13  is an exemplary interface display for an interactive control panel for use on a refrigerator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a refrigerating apparatus, such as a refrigerator, freezer, combination refrigerator and freezer, wine cabinet, or other similar refrigerating apparatus, comprising two or more climate-controlled compartments and a climate control device capable of controlling the climate of the compartments. The climate control device is electrically connected to an interactive display, wherein the display presents a compartment selection element to a user and, upon selection of a compartment by the user, the display presents a predetermined climate control element corresponding to the selected compartment. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the interactive display has a climate control activation element, and the compartment selection element is not presented until the user activates the climate control activation element. The compartment selection element comprises a plurality of compartment icons corresponding to the climate controlled compartments of the refrigerating appliance. The climate control element may comprise, for example, a temperature control icon or a plurality of food-type icons, representing types of foods capable of being stored in the selected compartment. Preferably, the elements of the display are presented sequentially as the user makes selections. For example, first, upon selection of the climate control activation element, the compartment selection element is displayed; second, upon selection of a compartment, the appropriate climate control element is displayed. In an alternative embodiment, all elements are displayed to the user upon activation of the climate control activation element. 
     The interactive display is preferably a touch-control device such as an LCD touch screen. It is also preferred that the user&#39;s selections be highlighted in some manner such as, for example, a color change of the selected icon within an element. Upon selection of the desired parameters for a selected compartment, the control device will adjust the cooling climate of the compartment to correspond to the temperature adjustment or the humidity and temperature requirements of the food types intended to be stored in the compartment. 
     With reference to the drawings in general and  FIGS. 1 through 13  in particular, the apparatus of the present invention is disclosed. In describing preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
       FIG. 1  shows perspective views of typical refrigerating apparatuses  10  according to various embodiments of the present invention. Refrigerating apparatus  10  has one or more doors  12  that open to one or more upper refrigerating compartments and door  13  that opens to a lower freezer drawer compartment.  FIG. 1A  depicts a refrigerating apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention having one upper refrigerating compartment door  12  and one lower freezer drawer compartment door  13 .  FIG. 1B  depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention having two upper refrigerating compartment doors  12  and one lower freezer drawer compartment door  13 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that any of various door arrangements may be employed consistent with the present invention. For example, the instant invention may also be employed with a refrigerating apparatus in which the freezer portion is above the refrigerator portion. 
       FIG. 2  shows the interior compartments of refrigerating apparatus  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Refrigerating apparatus  10  has a cabinet  20  having freezer compartment  22  and refrigerator compartments  24 ,  26 ,  28  separated by an insulated barrier (not shown). A control panel  32  is preferably positioned on the front edge of the insulated barrier and has an interface display  30  on which the display elements are presented. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , in a preferred embodiment, control panel  32  is positioned on the front perimeter surface  36  of insulated barrier  34 . Interface display  30  is preferably angled from vertical orientation  31  such that the display surface is positioned at an angle a to permit an optimal view of the display. While the interface display  30  may be located in a variety of positions on or in cabinet  20 , such as along the top of compartment  28 , it is preferred that interface display  30  be positioned toward the center of cabinet  20  so that it is easy for the user to reach. Thus, interface display  30  is preferably ergonomically positioned and oriented to optimize the viewing of the display and facilitate the operation of selection of inputs through the display. 
     Interface display  30  is preferably a touch-control device such as an LCD touch screen or a display surface using LEDs or light guides. As is described in greater detail below, various elements of the display such as climate control activation, compartment selection and climate control selections are displayed on the interface display. A user makes a selection by touching the appropriate icon on the displayed element. While touch controls are preferred, the interactive climate control system of the present invention may also be implemented by other activation technologies such as pressure sensitive buttons or a combination of buttons and screens. 
     The interface display is electrically connected to a climate control device that controls the temperature and humidity of the compartments. The control device may comprise a data processing system that provides for digital inputs from the interface display and other sources such as internal temperature sensors, external temperature sensors, evaporator temperature sensors, and the like. The control device will also provide outputs to the various component devices of the refrigerating appliance which regulate the climate of a compartment as is known in the art. 
       FIGS. 4A through 4E  depict various refrigerating apparatuses that may be used in conjunction with the various embodiments of the instant invention.  FIG. 4A  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the refrigerating apparatus  10  is a stand-alone refrigerator having multiple climate-controlled refrigerator compartments  24 ,  26 ,  28 . In this embodiment, refrigerator compartments  24  and  26  are separated from refrigerator compartment  28  by insulated barrier  34 , on which control panel  32  is positioned. It is to be appreciated that in varying embodiments control panel  32  need not be mounted on insulated barrier  34 . Control panel  32  may also be located at any desirable position in refrigerating apparatus  10 .  FIG. 4B  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the refrigerating apparatus  10  is a stand-alone freezer having an upper freezer compartment  21  and lower freezer compartments  23 ,  25 .  FIGS. 4C and 4D  depict further embodiments of a refrigerating apparatus  10  according to the instant invention.  FIG. 4E  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the refrigerating apparatus  10  is a wine cabinet having climate-controlled compartments  27 ,  29 . In a preferred embodiment, upper climate-controlled compartment  27  is separated from lower climate-controlled compartment  29  by an insulated barrier (not shown), thereby permitting variations in temperature or humidity between upper compartment  27  and lower compartment  29 . Control panel  32  is preferably positioned on the insulated barrier. One of skill in the art will appreciate that these embodiments are only exemplary and may be combined or modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIGS. 5 through 10B  show an exemplary interface display  30  for a four-compartment refrigerator-freezer combination such as that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that a variety of compartment configurations are possible. By way of further example,  FIG. 11  shows an exemplary interface display  70  for a three-compartment wine cabinet,  FIG. 12  shows an exemplary interface display  72  for a freezer, and  FIG. 13  shows an exemplary interface display  74  for a three-compartment refrigerator. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 through 10B , interface display  30  has a climate control activation element  42 . The display elements may be any suitable icon or icons, graphical depictions, pictograms, text, or the like. The selection of icons may vary with language and culture of the region where the refrigerating appliance is intended to be used. In this preferred embodiment, the climate control activation element is a graphical depiction of a thermometer. 
     In a preferred embodiment, interface display  30  comprises compartment selection element  41 . In this embodiment, compartment selection element  41  comprises four pictogram icons  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47  representing compartments  28 ,  24 ,  26 ,  22 , respectively. In alternative embodiments, the refrigerating device may have two or more compartments with compartment icons of compartment selection element  41  corresponding to each compartment of the device. Preferably, interface display  30  additionally has two climate control elements  43 ,  48 . Climate control element  43  is a temperature control icon having a numeric temperature display sub-icon  52  and temperature adjustment sub-icons  51 ,  53 . Activation of the temperature adjustment sub-icons causes the device to adjust the temperature of the selected compartment. Climate control element  48  is a presentation of a plurality of food-type icons  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 , and  66 . In this embodiment, each icon is textual: FRUIT, MEAT, DELI, DAIRY, FISH, and VEG, representing the specific food types of fruit, meat, deli products, dairy products, fish, and vegetables, respectively. In varying embodiments, climate control element  48  may comprise any variety of preset food type icons. Activation of a selected food-type icon causes the system to adjust the climate of the selected compartment to predetermined climate conditions associated with the selected food type. In a preferred embodiment, at least one compartment permits activation of more than one food-type icon, and the device is capable of adjusting the climate of the selected compartment to predetermined climate conditions associated with the combination of selected food types. In preferred embodiments, the predetermined climate conditions are temperature, humidity, or both temperature and humidity. Interface display  30  may also have icons for functionalities other than climate control of specific compartments. For example, icon  55  (SUPER) activates a supercooling function when selected in conjunction with climate control change. Icons  56 ,  57 , and  58  (ICE, ALARM, and FILTER, respectively) may actuate an ice-making function, an alarm function, and a filter function, respectively. 
     In the operation of a preferred embodiment, the elements of the interface display are presented sequentially as user selections are made.  FIG. 6A  illustrates the display of only the activation element  42 . When the user selects activation by touching activation element  42 , compartment selection element  41  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 6B . Also, preferably, activation element  42  changes color to indicate that its has already been selected.  FIG. 7A  illustrates the display icon  44  of compartment selection element  41  is selected. In this case, temperature control icon  43  is displayed and the compartment icon  44  is changed in color to indicate selection. Also in this case, the food-type icons  48  are not displayed, because compartment  28  corresponding to icon  44  is not designed to permit a variance of humidity. Upon actuation of sub-icon  51 , the temperature setting is reduced to the temperature displayed in the temperature display sub-icon  52  as shown for example in  FIG. 7B .  FIG. 7C  illustrates the selection of the supercooling function in conjunction with the temperature change selection. The SUPER icon  55  preferably changes color upon actuation. 
     Any suitable colors may be used to indicate selection choices. For example, prior to selection (or if an icon is not selected), the icon may be displayed in white and, upon selection, the icon may be displayed in yellow. While the preferred embodiment illustrates the combination of sequential display and color changes to indicate the selection sequence and selection choices, respectively, it will be readily appreciated that other highlighting methodologies may also employed such as a first color change for selection sequence and a second color change for selection choices. Other graphical indicators may also be used for selection sequence and selection choices. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the plurality of food-type icons is displayed when either of icons  45  or  46 , corresponding to compartments  24  and  26 , are actuated. In this embodiment, these compartments are designed to effect temperature and humidity changes depending on the type of food to stored in the compartment.  FIG. 8A  illustrates that compartment  24  was selected and icon  45  has changed color. Similarly,  FIG. 8B  illustrates that compartment  26  has been selected and icon  46  has changed color. 
       FIGS. 9A ,  9 B, and  9 C illustrate a preferred embodiment of interface display  30  when food-type icons  62  (MEAT),  65  (FISH), and  66  (VEG) have been sequentially selected for compartment  26 . In the case where multiple food types have been selected, the control device will alter the temperature and humidity to predetermined levels to take into consideration the optimal temperature and humidity levels for the selected combination. Thus, there is no need for the user to experiment through trial and error to determine the optimum temperature and humidity values for one food type or any combination of food types. The interface provides an intuitive and user-friendly means to make complex climate control decisions for individual compartments of the refrigerating appliance. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a preferred embodiment of interface display  30  when icon  47 , corresponding to freezer compartment  22 , is activated. In this case, temperature control icon  43  is displayed and compartment icon  47  is preferably changed in color to indicate selection. Also in this case, the food-type icons  48  are not displayed, because freezer compartment  22  corresponding to icon  47  is not designed to permit a variance of humidity. In  FIG. 10B , SUPER icon  55  is activated and, in a preferred embodiment, changes color. 
       FIG. 11  shows an exemplary interface display  70  for a three-compartment wine cabinet,  FIG. 12  shows an exemplary interface display  72  for a freezer, and  FIG. 13  shows an exemplary interface display  74  for a three-compartment refrigerator. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the number of compartments may be varied depending on the type of refrigerating apparatus. Accordingly, interface display  30  may be modified such that compartment selection element  41 , temperature control icon  43 , and food-type icons  48  appropriately correspond to the climate control compartments of the particular refrigerating apparatus. 
     The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed above. Modifications and variations of the methods and devices described herein will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description. Such modifications and variations are intended to come within the scope of the following claims.