Patent Publication Number: US-6993485-B2

Title: Method and system for refrigerator with integrated presentation mode

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/305,691 filed on Jul. 16, 2001, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the present invention relates to refrigerators having an integrated presentation mode that is used to play audio-visual messages. 
   Refrigerators store food as their primary function. Yet, modem day refrigerators can have numerous additional features that can serve as major selling points of the refrigerator. Sales personnel who sell the refrigerators may not always be aware of these features, thus cannot communicate this information to potential buyers. Also, potential buyers may simply not want to talk with sales personnel. Information about the refrigerators can be posted or otherwise made available to potential buyers, but potential buyers will not necessarily read this information. Furthermore, printed information about operation of a refrigerator is easily separated from the refrigerator, both on the show room floor, of after the refrigerator has been purchased and installed. 
   Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of presenting information to potential buyers or a user about the refrigerator. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that presents information about a refrigerator after interest has been expressed in the refrigerator. 
   Yet another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of playing audio-visual messages. 
   These and/or other objects, features, and/or advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides for an appliance, such as a refrigerator, adapted for communicating a presentation. According to one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a cabinet, a refrigerating compartment disposed within the cabinet, a display operatively connected to the cabinet, an intelligent control electrically connected to the display, the intelligent control being adapted to provide a product message related to the refrigerator on the display. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the invention provides for a method for providing product information. The method includes the steps of providing a refrigerator adapted for communicating an audio-visual message containing product information about the refrigerator, playing an audio portion of the message, and displaying a visual portion of the message. The message can be about functions of the refrigerator or other selling points of the refrigerator or about how to properly use the refrigerator. 
   Another aspect of the present invention provides for a refrigerator that includes a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment, the cabinet having a door for providing access to the refrigerating compartment, a display operatively connected to the cabinet, an intelligent control electrically connected to the display, a speaker operatively connected to the intelligent control, and the intelligent control being adapted to provide an audio visual presentation about the refrigerator. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a refrigerator of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the refrigerator with the doors open. 
       FIG. 3A  is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention where the display illustrates a visual portion of a presentation about the refrigerator. 
       FIG. 3B  is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention where the display illustrates water and ice dispensement refrigerator functions. 
       FIG. 3C  is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention where the display illustrates air filter replacement information. 
       FIG. 3D  is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention where the display illustrates water filter replacement information. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a refrigerator  10  having a side by side configuration. The refrigerator  10  includes a housing or cabinet  11 . There is a refrigeration compartment door  12  and a freezer compartment door  14  to provide access to compartments within the cabinet  11 . The freezer compartment door  14  contains a water and ice dispenser, generally shown at  16 . The water and ice dispenser  16  include a lower receptacle  18  for receiving cups and dispensing water and ice. Above the receptacle  18  is a user interface panel  20 . The panel  20  includes a display  22 , one or more manual inputs such as button  30 , and an LED  34 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the refrigerator  10  with an open refrigeration compartment door  12  and an open freezer compartment door  14 . The open refrigeration compartment door  12  exposes the refrigeration compartment  13  within the cabinet  11 . The open freezer door  14  exposes the freezer compartment  15  within the cabinet  11 . As used herein the term “refrigerating compartment” can refer to either a refrigeration compartment or a freezer compartment. Although it is preferable to place the user interface panel  20  and receptacle  16  in the freezer compartment door  14 , the present invention is not limited to any particular placement of either the water and ice dispenser  16  or the user interface panel  20  or the various elements of the user interface panel  20 . 
     FIG. 3A  shows one view of the user interface panel  20 . The user interface panel  20  includes a plurality of manual inputs, including buttons  24 ,  26 , and  28  as well as a menu button  30  and a message/play button  32 . The message/play button  32  and the LED  34  are used in conjunction with an electronic message center used to store and retrieve audio messages. Where the electronic message center is used to record audio messages, a microphone (not shown) is also used. The display  22  is adapted for displaying a visual presentation portion  36  of a product message. The product message can be about various features of the refrigerator  10 , how to operate the refrigerator  10 , or other information related to the refrigerator  10 . A speaker (not shown in  FIG. 3A ) can provide for an audio portion of the presentation such that the presentation about the refrigerator is an audio-visual presentation. The visual portion  36  of the presentation can include text, graphics, and can be an animation. For example, the visual portion  36  can be an animation showing how different features of the refrigerator  10  operate or are used. 
     FIGS. 3B–3D  show how the display  22  need not be solely used for the audio-visual presentation. Preferably, the display  22  is also adapted for displaying refrigerator operation information. In  FIG. 3B , three icons are present. A first icon  38  is associated with dispensement of crushed ice. A second icon  40  is associated with dispensement of cubed ice. A third icon  42  is associated with dispensement of water. Each of the icons  38 ,  40 , and  42  and its associated function is also associated with one of the buttons  24 ,  26 , and  28 , respectively such that pressing one of the buttons  24 ,  26 , and  28 , results in performing the associated refrigerator function. As shown, each of the icons  38 ,  40 , and  42  also includes a textual label beneath it, “CRUSHED”, “CUBED”, and “WATER”, respectively. The menu button  30  can be used to display any number of screens. Preferably, the use of the manual input buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28  is menu-driven so that the buttons allow for the selection of different functions based upon the currently displayed information on the display  22 . Other display screens can provide for selecting a language in which to display information, setting date and time information, adjusting volume information, setting a timer, checking the status of a water filter, checking the status of an air filter, or other refrigerator functions. 
     FIG. 3C  illustrates another embodiment of the display  22  of the user interface panel  20  which is adapted to provide a user interface for air filter replacement. The display  22  includes air filter information  44 . This information  44  can include the remaining capacity of an air filter and/or an estimated replacement date. Thus, the display  22  provides for the display of refrigerator operation information in addition to a visual presentation  36  ( FIG. 3A ) about refrigerator information. 
     FIG. 3D  illustrates another embodiment of the display  22  of the user interface panel  20  being adapted to provide a user interface for water filter replacement. The display  22  includes water filter information  46 . This information can include the remaining capacity of a water filter, an estimated order date by which the water filter should be ordered in order to obtain it prior to an estimated replacement date, and/or the estimated replacement date. This is another example of how the display  22  provides for the display of refrigerator operation information in addition to being used to provide for displaying a visual portion  36  ( FIG. 3A ) of a product message. 
     FIG. 4  provides a block diagram illustrating structure of the present invention. The refrigerator  10  includes an intelligent control  48 . The intelligent control  48  preferably includes a microcontroller or microprocessor, or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), however, the present invention contemplates that any type of intelligent control can be used as may be appropriate in a particular design. The intelligent control  48  is electrically connected to a display  22 . The display  22  can be used to display either refrigerator operations or functions or messages about the refrigerator including sales messages, product information messages, or promotional messages. Preferably, the display  22  is a LCD panel type display, however, the present invention contemplates that other types of displays may be used, such as may be appropriate or desirable in a particular application. 
   The intelligent control  48  is also electrically connected to manual inputs  50 . The manual inputs  50  can include the buttons  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32  (as shown in  FIGS. 3A–3D ). The manual inputs  50  need not be separate buttons, but can be incorporated into a touch screen display, or otherwise provided. The intelligent control  48  can also be used to control refrigerator functions. The intelligent control  48  is electrically connected to the refrigeration system  56  such that the intelligent control  48  can control the dispensement of ice, the dispensement of water, or other refrigerator functions. The intelligent control  48  is also electrically connected to a speaker  52  which is used to play an audio portion of a presentation. The intelligent control  48  is also electrically connected to a memory  54 . The memory  54  is used to store one or more audio portions or visual portions of a product presentation. The present invention contemplates that more than one type of memory can be used. For example, the audio portion of the presentation can be stored on an integrated circuit from Integrated Storage Devices, Inc. (ISD) that can be a part of the intelligent control  48 , while the visual portion of the presentation can be stored in a separate memory associated with a microcontroller or processor. The present invention contemplates that the visual portion of the presentation can include an animation. 
   An activation input  58  is also shown that is electrically connected to the intelligent control  48 . The activation input  58  can be a switch associated with a door of a refrigerating compartment. When potential buyers are examining refrigerators on the showroom floor, they may open the door of a refrigerator or otherwise express interest in a particular refrigerator. When the activation input  58  is associated with a door of the refrigerator, the intelligent control  48  is adapted to start playing a presentation upon the opening of the door. Thus, the presentation is only played once a potential buyer has expressed interest in the refrigerator. The present invention also contemplates that the activation input  58  can be otherwise located and may be used for other purposes as well when the refrigerator is not within a sales or presentation mode. 
   For example, the activation input  58  can be associated with the ice dispenser such that when the refrigerator is in a presentation mode, instead of dispensing ice, the refrigerator provides information about ice dispensing features of the refrigerator. Thus the present invention can determine a user or potential buyer&#39;s interest in the refrigerator or particular features of the refrigerator and can select an appropriate presentation based on the interest expressed. The present invention further contemplates that the activation input  58  can be a switch associated with a proximity detector such that when a person walks by the refrigerator, the presentation begins. The intelligent control  48  can also include a timer so that the presentation can be restarted after a duration of time. When the refrigerator is displayed on a showroom floor, it may be desirable to play the presentation periodically instead of sensing the interest of a user by their passing by the refrigerator, opening a door, or using a particular feature of the refrigerator. 
   Thus, a refrigerator having an integrated presentation mode has been disclosed. The present invention contemplates variations including the type of display, the type of refrigerator functions performed, the placement of the display, the number and placement of manual inputs, the manner in which a particular presentation is selected, the content of presentations, and other variations within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the user interface panel can be incorporated into other appliances and be used in conjunction with the functions of a particular appliance.