Patent Publication Number: US-2022221219-A1

Title: Temperature-controlled drawer in a refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/856,484 filed on Apr. 23, 2020. This application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is related to a temperature-controlled drawer in a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional refrigeration appliances, such as domestic refrigerators, typically have both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment or section. The fresh food compartment is where food items, such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages, are stored. The freezer compartment is where food items that are to be kept in a frozen condition are stored. Refrigerators are provided with refrigeration systems that maintains the fresh food compartment at temperatures above 0° C., such as between 0.25° C. and 4.5° C. and the freezer compartments at temperatures below 0° C., such as between 0° C. and −20° C. 
     The arrangements of the fresh food and freezer compartments with respect to one another in such refrigerators vary. For example, in some cases, the freezer compartment is located above the fresh food compartment and in other cases the freezer compartment is located below the fresh food compartment. Additionally, many modern refrigerators have their freezer compartments and fresh food compartments arranged in a side-by-side relationship. Whatever arrangement of the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment is employed, typically, separate access doors are provided for the compartments so that either compartment can be accessed without exposing the other compartment to the ambient air. 
     Typically, a controlled temperature drawer inside the fresh food compartment is used to best preserve different types of food at an optimum temperature. This temperature-controlled drawer may be located in the fresh food (FF) cavity of the refrigerator and may take cold air from the refrigerator or the cooling ducts. Different temperature settings can be provided depending on the items to be stored in the drawer. 
     The controlled temperature drawer can be used to store deli trays, fresh meat, leftovers, beverages or other food items that, for an optimum storage, require different (e.g., colder) temperatures than what is usually present inside the overall fresh food cavity. Usually, the controlled temperature drawer is not to be used for vegetables. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A refrigerator including a fresh food compartment for storing food. The fresh food compartment includes a temperature sensor disposed therein. A temperature-controlled drawer is positioned within the fresh food compartment. The temperature-controlled drawer includes a display including a plurality of lights each indicative of a different storage temperature for the temperature-controlled drawer. An input device is provided for allowing a user to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights. The temperature-controlled drawer is configured to have a temperature that is a predetermined temperature differential from a temperature in the fresh food compartment during steady state operation of the refrigerator. A cooling system is configured for introducing cold air into the fresh food compartment. A controller is provided for controlling the cooling system of the refrigerator. The controller is configured to have at least two modes, wherein in a first mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the fresh food compartment without respect to the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer, and in a second mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer without respect to the temperature in the fresh food compartment. 
     In the refrigerator, the temperature-controlled drawer may be free of a temperature sensor. 
     In the refrigerator, a flow path for cold air flowing to temperature-controlled drawer may be free of a damper or other flow controlling device. 
     In the refrigerator, the controller may be disposed in the refrigerator. 
     In the refrigerator, the predetermined temperature differential may be about 0° C. to about 2° C. 
     In the refrigerator, the controller may be configured to transition to the second mode based on actuation of the input device. 
     In the refrigerator, the controller may be configured to remain in the second mode for a predetermined period of time. 
     In the refrigerator, the controller may be configured to transition from the second mode to the first mode based on receipt of a command from a user. 
     In the refrigerator, the command from the user may be a selection of a desired temperature for the fresh food compartment. 
     In the refrigerator, the controller may be configured to remain in the first mode for an indefinite period of time. 
     In the refrigerator, each of the plurality of lights may be a different color. 
     In the refrigerator, the plurality of lights may include a first light corresponding to a deli temperature, a second light corresponding to a dairy temperature and a third light corresponding to a meat temperature for the temperature-controlled drawer. 
     There is also provided a method for controlling operation of a refrigerator. The refrigerator including a fresh food compartment for storing food. A temperature sensor is disposed in the fresh food compartment. A temperature-controlled drawer is positioned within the fresh food compartment. A cooling system is configured for introducing cold air into the fresh food compartment. A controller is provided for controlling the cooling system of the refrigerator. The method including operating the controller in a first mode wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the fresh food compartment without respect to a temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer, and upon actuation of an input device, transitioning the controller to a second mode wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer without respect to a temperature in the fresh food compartment. 
     In the method, the temperature-controlled drawer may be configured to have a temperature that is a predetermined temperature differential from a temperature in the fresh food compartment during steady state operation of the refrigerator. 
     In the method, the predetermined temperature differential may be about 0° C. to about 2° C. 
     In the method, the controller may transition from the second mode to the first mode after a predetermined period of time. 
     In the method, the controller may transition from the second mode to the first mode upon command by a user. 
     In the method, the command from the user may be a selection of a desired temperature for the fresh food compartment. 
     In the method, the controller may be configured to remain in the first mode for an indefinite period of time. 
     In the method, actuation of the input device may index a display between a plurality of lights. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a prior art household French door bottom mount refrigeration appliance showing doors of the fresh food compartment and drawer of a freezer compartment in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the prior art refrigeration appliance of  FIG. 1  showing the doors of the fresh food compartment in opened positions and the drawer of the freezer compartment removed. 
         FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a temperature-controlled drawer. 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a display of the temperature-controlled drawer. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a switch of the temperature-controlled drawer. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a control algorithm for the controller of  FIG. 1 , according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals, there is shown in the figures an embodiment, that is currently preferred, of the temperature-controlled drawer  100  for a refrigerator. In general, temperature-controlled drawer  100  includes a display  140 , and a light  160  (located on an inside surface of the drawer—not shown). 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a refrigeration appliance in the form of a domestic refrigerator, indicated generally at  10 . Although the detailed description that follows concerns a domestic refrigerator  10 , the invention can be embodied by refrigeration appliances other than a domestic refrigerator  10 . An embodiment is described in detail below, and shown in the figures as a bottom-mount configuration of a refrigerator  10 , including a fresh food compartment  14  disposed vertically above a freezer compartment  12 . However, the refrigerator  10  can have any desired configuration including at least a fresh food compartment  14  and/or a freezer compartment  12 , such as a top mount refrigerator (freezer disposed above the fresh food compartment), a side-by-side refrigerator (fresh food compartment is laterally next to the freezer compartment), a standalone refrigerator or freezer, etc. 
     One or more doors  16  shown in  FIG. 1  are pivotably coupled to a cabinet  19  of the refrigerator  10  to restrict and grant access to the fresh food compartment  14 . The door  16  can include a single door that spans the entire lateral distance across the entrance to the fresh food compartment  14 , or can include a pair of French-type doors  16  as shown in  FIG. 1  that collectively span the entire lateral distance of the entrance to the fresh food compartment  14  to enclose the fresh food compartment  14 . 
     For the latter configuration, a center flip mullion  21  ( FIG. 2 ) is pivotally coupled to at least one of the doors  16  to establish a surface against which a seal provided to the other one of the doors  16  can seal the entrance to the fresh food compartment  14  at a location between opposing side surfaces  17  ( FIG. 2 ) of the doors  16 . The mullion  21  can be pivotably coupled to the door  16  to pivot between a first orientation that is substantially parallel to a planar surface of the door  16  when the door  16  is closed, and a different orientation when the door  16  is opened. The externally exposed surface of the center mullion  21  is substantially parallel to the door  16  when the center mullion  21  is in the first orientation and forms an angle other than parallel relative to the door  16  when the center mullion  21  is in the second orientation. The seal and the externally exposed surface of the mullion  21  cooperate approximately midway between the lateral sides of the fresh food compartment  14 . 
     A dispenser  18  ( FIG. 1 ) for dispensing at least ice pieces, and optionally water, can be provided on an exterior of one of the doors  16  that restricts access to the fresh food compartment  14 . The dispenser  18  includes an actuator (e.g., lever, switch, proximity sensor, etc.) to cause frozen ice pieces to be dispensed from an ice bin  23  ( FIG. 2 ) of an ice maker  25  disposed within the fresh food compartment  14 . Ice pieces from the ice bin  23  can exit the ice bin  23  through an aperture  26  and be delivered to the dispenser  18  via an ice chute  22  ( FIG. 2 ), which extends at least partially through the door  16  between the dispenser  18  and the ice bin  23 . 
     The freezer compartment  12  is arranged vertically beneath the fresh food compartment  14 . A drawer assembly (not shown) including one or more freezer baskets (not shown) can be withdrawn from the freezer compartment  12  to grant a user access to food items stored in the freezer compartment  12 . The drawer assembly can be coupled to a freezer door  11  that includes a handle  15 . When a user grasps the handle  15  and pulls the freezer door  11  open, at least one or more of the freezer baskets is caused to be at least partially withdrawn from the freezer compartment  12 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the ice maker is located within the freezer compartment. In this configuration, although still disposed within the freezer compartment, at least the ice maker (and possible an ice bin) is mounted to an interior surface of the freezer door. It is contemplated that the ice mold and ice bin can be separate elements, in which one remains within the freezer compartment and the other is on the freezer door. 
     The freezer compartment  12  is used to freeze and/or maintain articles of food stored in the freezer compartment  12  in a frozen condition. For this purpose, the freezer compartment  12  is in thermal communication with a freezer evaporator (not shown) that removes thermal energy from the freezer compartment  12  to maintain the temperature therein at a temperature of 0° C. or less during operation of the refrigerator  10 , preferably between 0° C. and −50° C., more preferably between 0° C. and −30° C. and even more preferably between 0° C. and −20° C. 
     The refrigerator  10  includes an interior liner  24  ( FIG. 2 ) that defines the fresh food compartment  14 . The fresh food compartment  14  is located in the upper portion of the refrigerator  10  in this example and serves to minimize spoiling of articles of food stored therein. The fresh food compartment  14  accomplishes this aim by maintaining the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14  at a cool temperature that is typically above 0° C., so as not to freeze the articles of food in the fresh food compartment  14 . It is contemplated that the cool temperature preferably is between 0° C. and 10° C., more preferably between 0° C. and 5° C. and even more preferably between 0.25° C. and 4.5° C. 
     According to some embodiments, cool air from which thermal energy has been removed by the freezer evaporator can also be blown into the fresh food compartment  14  to maintain the temperature therein greater than 0° C. preferably between 0° C. and 10° C., more preferably between 0° C. and 5° C. and even more preferably between 0.25° C. and 4.5° C. For alternate embodiments, a separate fresh food evaporator can optionally be dedicated to separately maintaining the temperature within the fresh food compartment  14  independent of the freezer compartment  12 . 
     According to an embodiment, the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14  can be maintained at a cool temperature within a close tolerance of a range between 0° C. and 4.5° C., including any subranges and any individual temperatures falling with that range. For example, other embodiments can optionally maintain the cool temperature within the fresh food compartment  14  within a reasonably close tolerance of a temperature between 0.25° C. and 4° C. 
     The refrigerator  10  includes a controller  200  ( FIG. 1 ) for receiving input from various sensors and input devices (e.g., a user interface device) and is configured to control the operation of various components of the refrigerator  10  (for example a cooling system  300  ( FIG. 1 ) of the refrigerator  10  that is configured to introduce cold air into the freezer compartment  12  and the fresh food compartment  14  based on those inputs. It is contemplated that the cold air in the fresh food compartment  14  may diffuse into the temperature-controlled drawer  100  via gaps between the temperature-controlled drawer  100  and the fresh food compartment  14  It is contemplated that the controller  200  may be a single control device that is disposed within the refrigerator  10  or a series of interconnected control devices that communicate with each other to control the operation of the refrigerator  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , an embodiment of the temperature-controlled drawer  100 , as used herein, refers to, for example, an open container, with or without a lid, slidably mounted within the fresh food compartment  14  of the refrigerator  10 . The temperature-controlled drawer  100  is operatively connected to refrigerator  10  to take cold air from the refrigerator or the cooling ducts, as is well known. 
     In one embodiment, a temperature sensor  120  may be disposed within the temperature-controlled drawer  100  and be any conventional temperature sensor. The sensor  120  may be located within the temperature-controlled drawer  100 , for example, on an inside surface thereof. The temperature of the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is influenced primarily by (and/or has a known relationship to) the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14 . The sensor  120  only measures the temperature and its output is not used by the controller  200  to directly control the temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . The sensor  120  produces an output signal that is received by the controller  200 . 
     The display  140  may be any display. The display  140  may include lights (e.g., LEDs) to illuminate the interior of the temperature-controlled drawer  100  and/or a LCD display. The display  140  shows three exemplary temperature ranges: Deli, dairy, or meat (these temperature ranges are well known in the art). The output signal from the sensor  120  may be sent to the controller  200  that translates the signal to a temperature (as is well known). The controller  200  may then communicate with the display  140  to cause that temperature by, as shown, activating a light within the temperature-controlled drawer  100  and/or on the display  140 . The temperature indicated is the best temperature for the food-type indicated on the display  140  to be stored within the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . The controller  200  may operate as follows: the controller  200  receives an output from the temperature sensor  120 , determines what food type would be best suited for the temperature within said temperature-controlled drawer  100  based on said temperature sensor output, and indicates via the display  140  what type of food it has determined is best for storage therein. It is contemplated that when the controller  200  determines the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is not suitable for any of the foregoing food types, the controller  200  may be configured to cause none of the lights on the display  140  to be illuminated. It is also contemplated that the controller  200  may be configured to cause all the lights on the display  140  to blink at a predetermined interval when the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is not suitable for any of the foregoing food types. 
     A light  160  may be disposed within the temperature-controlled drawer  100  for illuminating the interior of the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . The light  160  may be any light source. In one embodiment the light  160  is a LED. The LED may one that emits different colors, based on input (e.g., voltage), as is well known. In one embodiment, the wavelength of the light  160  is chosen based on the temperature, it being understood that some light wavelengths may have properties beneficial to the temperature range, e.g., better bacteria destroying properties for a given temperature range of product stored at that temperature range. The light  160  may be place on an interior surface of the temperature-controlled drawer  100  and/or may be on an exterior surface or part of the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . The light  160  is operatively coupled to the display  140 , so that the color on the display  140  and the color of the light  160  match. Additionally, the light  160  is activated when the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is open and is extinguished when the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is closed, as is well known. It is further contemplated that the color emitted by the light  160  may be a neutral color, e.g., white, when the controller  200  determines that the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is not suitable for any particular food type. 
     An input device  180 , e.g., a button, on the temperature-controlled drawer  100  may be used by the user to change the temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . The input device  180  is operatively connected to the controller  200 . Upon receipt of the signal from the input device  180 , the controller  200  may control components of the refrigerator to change the temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer  100  to that selected by the user. It is contemplated that the input device  180  may be configured such that repeated actuation of the input device  180  allows the user to index through the preset temperature ranges of the food-type indicated on the display  140 , e.g., a deli temperature, a dairy temperature and a meat temperature. 
     In a second embodiment, a flow path for cold air flowing to the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is free of a flow controlling device (e.g., a damper) and the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is free of a temperature sensor. Instead, a temperature sensor  210  ( FIG. 2 ) may be located within the fresh food compartment  14  for measuring a temperature therein. In this embodiment the temperature-controlled drawer  100  may be configured so that during steady state operation of the refrigerator  10  a difference between the temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer  100  and the temperature within the fresh food compartment  14  may be a predetermined temperature differential. That is, the temperature-controlled drawer  100  may be relatively colder than the fresh food compartment  14  by the predetermined temperature differential. It is contemplated that this predetermined temperature differential may be about 2° C., preferably about 1° C. It is also contemplated that there may be a negligible or insignificant temperature differential between the fresh food compartment  14  and the temperature-controlled drawer  100  during steady state operation of the refrigerator  100 . In this embodiment, the predetermined temperature differential may be about 0° C. Regardless of whether there is a predetermined temperature differential or a negligible temperature differential, in this embodiment, it is not required that the temperature-controlled drawer  100  include a temperature sensor because the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is generally known based on the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14 . In other words, the controller  200  may be configured to use the known temperature in the fresh food compartment  14  and temperature differential between the fresh food compartment  14  and the temperature-controlled drawer  100  (if it is not negligible) to calculate the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . 
     In this embodiment, the controller  200  may be configured to have two different control modes for controlling the temperatures in the fresh food compartment  14  and the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , initially the controller  200  may be in a first mode (Step  250 ) wherein the fresh food compartment  14  is the primary control for the cooling system  300 , and the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is the secondary control. In the first mode, the controller  200  is programmed to control the temperature within the fresh food compartment  14  based on a user-selected temperature for the fresh food compartment  14 . It is understood that this user-selected temperature could be a direct temperature value, i.e., 0.5° C.-4.5° C., or could be an indirect substitute temperature value (low, medium, high or 0-10, etc.). This user-selected temperature may be selected by the user using an input device, e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI) (not shown) or a button on the refrigerator  10 . In the first mode, the temperature of the temperature-controlled drawer  100  will achieve a temperature that is offset from the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14  by the predetermined temperature differential (discussed in detail above). The controller  200  is configured to not control the refrigerator  10  to achieve a desired temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . Instead the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100  merely follows the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14 . 
     It is contemplated that the controller  200  may remain in this first mode for an indefinite period of time until the user provides an input that causes the controller  200  to change modes. At Step  260  the controller  200  is programmed to monitor for such inputs. In the present invention, the actuation of the input device  180  by the user causes the controller  200  to change to a second mode (Step  270 ) wherein the temperature-controlled drawer  100  is the primary control for the cooling system  300 , and the fresh food compartment  14  is the secondary control for the cooling system. In the second mode, the controller  200  is programmed to adjust the operation of the refrigerator  10  so that the user selected temperature is achieved in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . Contrary to the first mode wherein the controller  200  is programmed to make adjustments to reach and maintain a desired temperature in the fresh food compartment  14 , in the second mode the controller  200  is programmed to make adjustments to reach and maintain a desired temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . In this embodiment, the user selected temperature for the fresh food compartment  14  is not taken into consideration by the controller  200  as it makes adjustments to reach and maintain the requested temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . As there is no temperature sensor in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 , the controller  200  uses the temperature sensor  210  and the known predetermined temperature differential to calculate the temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . In this respect, the controller  200  is configured to not control the refrigerator  10  to achieve a desired temperature in the fresh food compartment  14 . Instead the temperature in the fresh food compartment  14  merely follows the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . 
     In Step  280 , the controller  200  is programmed to continue to monitor for the user to input another command (i.e., a cancel command or a re-selection of the fresh food temperature) that will cause the controller  200  to exit the second mode and return to the first mode. It is also contemplated that the controller  200  may be programmed to have a timer that limits the amount of time that the controller  200  stays in the second mode. The timer may be programmed to allow the controller  200  to stay in the second mode for a predetermined period of time that may be on the order of hours, e.g., 2 hours, or days, e.g., 2 days. 
     It is contemplated that the second mode may be used when the user wishes to store an expensive food item in the temperature-controlled drawer  100  for a short duration of time. In other words, the second mode is intended to be used occasionally for a temporary period of time when the user wishes to store specialty food items within the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . 
     As explained in detail, this embodiment has a first mode wherein the controller  200  controls the cooling system  300  of the refrigerator  10  to achieve and maintain the desired temperature primarily in the fresh food compartment  14 , and a second mode wherein the controller  200  controls the cooling system  300  of the refrigerator  10  to achieve and maintain the desired temperature primarily in the temperature-controlled drawer  100 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.