Refrigerator dispenser control technology
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorDae-Jone KANG
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Refrigerator dispenser control technology, in which user input related to moving a dispensing unit between a received position and a dispensing position is received and it is detected whether a dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position. The dispensing unit is driven based on the user input and the detection of whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position. The dispensing unit may be driven from the received position to the dispensing position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position. The dispensing unit also may be from the dispensing position to the received position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position.
Claims25
A method for controlling a refrigerator having a dispenser that includes a dispensing unit that is configured to move between a received position at which a dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of a surface of a refrigerator door where a compartment opened and closed by the refrigerator door is positioned and a dispensing position at which the dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of the surface of the refrigerator door opposite of the compartment, the method comprising:
- receiving user input related to moving the dispensing unit between the received position and the dispensing position;
- detecting whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position;
- and
- driving the dispensing unit based on the user input and the detection of whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position, including at least one of:
- driving the dispensing unit from the received position to the dispensing position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position, and
- driving the dispensing unit from the dispensing position to the received position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a compartment;
- a refrigerator door configured to open and close at least a portion of the compartment;
- a dispensing unit that is configured to move between a received position at which a dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of a surface of the refrigerator door where the compartment is positioned and a dispensing position at which the dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of the surface of the refrigerator door opposite of the compartment;
- an input unit configured to receive user input related to moving the dispensing unit between the received position and the dispensing position;
- a detection unit configured to detect whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position;
- and
- a driving mechanism configured to drive the dispensing unit based on the user input and the detection of whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position, including at least one of:
- driving the dispensing unit from the received position to the dispensing position based on the detection unit detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position, and
- driving the dispensing unit from the dispensing position to the received position based on the detection unit detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a compartment;
- a refrigerator door configured to open and close at least a portion of the compartment;
- a dispensing unit that is configured to move between a received position at which a dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of a surface of the refrigerator door where the compartment is positioned and a dispensing position at which the dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of the surface of the refrigerator door opposite of the compartment;
- an input unit configured to receive user input related to moving the dispensing unit between the received position and the dispensing position;
- means for detecting whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position;
- and
- means for driving the dispensing unit based on the user input and the detection of whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position, including at least one of:
- driving the dispensing unit from the received position to the dispensing position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position, and
- driving the dispensing unit from the dispensing position to the received position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.