US 2011/0214441 A1 · SELECT-FILL DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A select-fill dispensing system and method for a dispenser assembly utilizes a camera to sense a desired fill level based on the location of a user's finger with respect to a container. In use, a consumer places his or her finger along a container to indicate the desired fill level of the container. Image data from the camera is transmitted to a controller and processed for distortion correction, edge based image segmentation and morphological operations are carried out to remove background noise. The processed image data is utilized to detect the presence of the container, as well as the shape of the container, the position of the container opening, and the top and bottom points of the container. The controller provides a means for controlling the dispensing operation, including a fill rate, based on the desired fill level and the shape of the container.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet;
at least one refrigerated compartment arranged within the cabinet;
a door mounted to the cabinet for selectively providing access to the at least one refrigerated compartment;
and
a dispenser assembly for selectively releasing at least one of a liquid and ice into a container during a dispensing operation, said dispenser assembly including:
a dispenser well including a base section and an upstanding wall section;
a controller for regulating the dispensing operation of the dispenser assembly;
and
an optical sensing system in communication with the controller, the optical sensing system comprising:
a camera exposed to the dispenser well and adapted to send image data from the dispenser well to the controller to sense a presence of an indicating object placed in the dispensing well and pointing to a side wall portion of the container in selecting a desired fill level for the container, with the controller regulating the dispensing operation based, at least in part, on the desired fill level.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Select-fill dispensing system

Life of this patent

Select-fill dispensing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20