Refrigerator with automatic liquid dispenser

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment;
• a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed;
• a shelf unit adjacent the interior surface of door, the shelf unit comprising a support shelf;
• a liquid dispenser;
• a container supported on the support shelf, wherein the liquid dispenser is part of the shelf unit and wherein the container is configured to receive liquid from the liquid dispenser;
• a sensor configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container;
• and
• a control in communication with the sensor and configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property,
• wherein the sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor coupled to a dielectric plate located adjacent to the container and the dielectric plate is resiliently biased into engagement with the container.

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment;
• a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and comprising an interior surface in communication with the fresh food compartment when the door is closed;
• a shelf unit adjacent the interior surface of door, the shelf unit comprising a support shelf and a plurality of walls that define a bounded geometry;
• a container supported on the support shelf, the container having a shape corresponding to the bounded geometry such that, when the container is in a stored position, the container nests within the shelf unit;
• a liquid dispenser comprising a spout that is positioned vertically above the support shelf;
• a sensor configured to sense a property of the container or liquid received in the container;
• and
• a control in communication with the sensor and configured to regulate dispensing of liquid into the container based upon the sensed property,
• wherein the sensor utilizes a capacitive sensor coupled to a dielectric plate located adjacent to the container and the dielectric plate is resiliently biased into engagement with the container, and
• wherein the container further comprises a cover to close off a top opening of the container, the cover comprising a fill cup fluidly connected to an interior of the container whereby the container is configured to receive liquid from the spout via the fill cup.