Patent ID: 7131284

Claim:
A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a first refrigerated compartment within the cabinet having a door; a second refrigerated compartment within the cabinet; a dividing wall separating the first refrigerated compartment from the second refrigerated compartment; a duct connecting the first refrigerated compartment for airflow communication with the second refrigerated compartment; a damper movable between an open position and a closed position for controlling airflow within the duct; a refrigeration apparatus having a refrigeration cycle being measured from a first starting of the refrigeration apparatus to a second consecutive starting of the refrigeration apparatus, and an off cycle being a time within said refrigeration cycle during which the refrigeration apparatus is not operating; a controller for controlling the damper; and a door sensor connected to the controller for detecting when the door is open; wherein if the controller determines that the door has remained closed for a set number of refrigeration cycles, the controller maintains the damper in the closed position during a subsequent consecutive off cycle.