# US 10,371,438 B2 · Refrigerator having interior lighting used for synchronized user feedback of zone selection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,438 B2 - Document ID: US10371438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/142,330 - Filed: 2016-04-29 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-29 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Jason Ammerman; Jae Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371438B2 ## CPC - F25D 27/005: {combined with control means} - F21V 33/0044: {Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners} - F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21) - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} - F21W 2131/305: for refrigerators - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F25D 2400/361: Interactive visual displays - F25D 2600/00: Control issues - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A refrigerator is provided having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone may be independently controlled using a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment; a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed proximate to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights may be separately controlled for visually identifying each of the refrigeration zones; and a controller configured to receive a zone selection input from the user interface, identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed proximate the selected refrigeration zone, and control the identified group of the plurality of lights to visually confirm the selected refrigeration zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone may be independently controlled; a door pivotally coupled to the cabinet and associated with the at least one internal refrigerated compartment, wherein when the door is opened, access is provided for a user to the associated at least one internal refrigerated compartment and to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones provided therein; a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed along at least two sides of the perimeter of each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights are configured to be separately controlled for visually identifying boundaries of each of the refrigeration zones; a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment and indicating a parameter that changes the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; and a controller coupled to the plurality of lights and the user interface, the controller is configured to: receive a zone selection input from the user interface; identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed about the boundary of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; control the identified group of the plurality of lights in a manner so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; and control at least one component so as to adjust the parameter and thereby change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a temperature setting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a use setting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the color of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the brightness of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by modulating the intensity of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the user interface is disposed within the internal refrigerated compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones includes a shelf that divides the at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 9 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having at least one internal refrigerated compartment in which a plurality of refrigeration zones are provided, wherein an environment in each refrigeration zone is configured to be independently controlled using a user interface configured to receive a zone selection input from a user indicating at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones in which the user desires to adjust the environment, and wherein at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones includes a shelf that divides the at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; a door pivotally coupled to the cabinet and associated with the at least one internal refrigerated compartment, wherein when the door is opened, access is provided for a user to the associated at least one internal refrigerated compartment and to each of the plurality of refrigeration zones provided therein; a plurality of lights provided in the internal refrigerated compartment and disposed along at least two sides of the perimeter of each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein groups of the plurality of lights are configured to be separately controlled for visually identifying each of the refrigeration zones; and a controller coupled to the plurality of lights and in communication with the user interface, the controller is configured to: receive a zone selection input from the user interface; identify a group of the plurality of lights that are disposed proximate the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones; and control the identified group of the plurality of lights in a manner so as to visually confirm the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9 and further comprising a wireless interface coupled to the controller for wirelessly communicating with the user interface, which is remote from the refrigerator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the user interface is disposed within the internal refrigerated compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the plurality of lights are disposed around boundaries of each of the plurality of refrigeration zones, wherein the groups of the plurality of lights may be separately controlled for visually identifying the boundaries of each of the refrigeration zones. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the color of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by changing the brightness of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the group of lights that is associated with the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones by modulating the intensity of the group of lights so as to visually confirm the boundaries of the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a first input for selection of at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones and a second input for adjustment of a parameter that changes the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a temperature setting. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the parameter that may be adjusted to change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones is a use setting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a second input for adjustment of a parameter; and in response to the second input for adjustment of a parameter, control at least one component so as to adjust the parameter and thereby change the environment in the selected at least one of the plurality of refrigeration zones.