Refrigerator having power outage duration feature
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsNelson J. Ferragut, II, John L. McNamara, Louis Montuoro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for monitoring power outages in a household appliance such as a refrigerator are disclosed. According to the method, a household appliance determines a prior occurrence of a power outage to the appliance. The household appliance then computes a duration of the power outage. Further, the household appliance alerts a user of the duration of the power outage.
Claims16
A method of monitoring power outages in a household appliance, comprising:
- determining by the household appliance of a prior occurrence of a power outage to the appliance;
- computing by the household appliance of a duration of the power outage;
- alerting a user of the duration of the power outage;
- and
- receiving an acknowledgement from the user after alerting the user of the duration of the power outage.
A method of monitoring power outages in a household appliance, comprising:
- storing a time prior to the power outage;
- determining by the household appliance of a prior occurrence of a power outage to the appliance;
- computing by the household appliance of a duration of the power outage;
- and
- alerting the user of the time prior to the power outage.
A method of monitoring power outages in a household appliance, comprising:
- periodically storing a time prior to a power outage;
- maintaining a current time during the power outage;
- determining by the household appliance of a duration of the power outage;
- alerting a user of the duration of the power outage;
- and
- receiving an acknowledgement from the user after alerting the user of the duration of the power outage.
A refrigerating appliance, comprising:
- a refrigeration system powered by an external power source;
- an intelligent control operatively connected to the external power source;
- a clock operatively connected to the intelligent control;
- a user interface operatively connected to the intelligent control;
- a second power source operatively connected to the clock;
- the intelligent control adapted for determining a duration of a power outage;
- and
- the user interface including an input for receiving a user acknowledgement of the power outage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.