# US 7,607,312 B2 · Insulated ice compartment for bottom mount refrigerator with temperature control system

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- Number: US 7,607,312 B2
- Document ID: US7607312B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/421,777
- Filed: 2006-06-02
- Published: 2006-11-30
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2005-05-27
- Assignees: Maytag Corporation
- Inventors: Robert L. Wetekamp; Kyle B. Van Meter; Alan G. Tarrant; Ryan D. Schuchart; Mauro M. Oliveira; Alvin V. Miller; Brent A. Koppenhaver; Carl J. Franken; Nelson J. Ferragut, II; Tim L. Coulter; Greg Berardi; Thomas Carl Anell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607312B2

## CPC

- F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures}
- F25C 5/22: {particularly adapted for household refrigerators}
- F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B 2600/0251: with on-off operation
- F25B 2600/112: of evaporator fans
- F25D 17/045: {Air flow control arrangements}
- F25D 2317/0666: from the freezer
- F25D 2317/067: characterised by air ducts
- F25D 2400/02: Refrigerators including a heater
- F25D 2400/04: Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
- F25D 2700/02: Sensors detecting door opening
- F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature
- F25D 2700/121: of particular compartments
- F25D 2700/122: of freezer compartments
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- 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)
- F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet, an ice compartment disposed within the cabinet, and an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment. The control system provides for energy efficient control and operation through various means, including adjusting cut-in and cut-out temperatures of the cooling system to control.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator, comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet;
a compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
a cooling system within the refrigerator cabinet;
an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control temperature within the compartment, the electronic control system adapted to cycle on and off the cooling system based on a cut-in temperature and a cut-out temperature associated with the compartment, the electronic control system further adapted to adjust the cut-in temperature and the cut-out temperature during operation of the refrigerator to thereby improve temperature performance and energy efficiency of the refrigerator;
a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet;
an ice compartment with an ice maker disposed within the cabinet;
the electronic control system adapted to monitor and control temperature in the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment;
an ice compartment temperature sensor associated with the ice compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system;
a fresh food compartment temperature sensor associated with the fresh food compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system;
a freezer compartment temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system; and
an ambient temperature sensor electrically connected to the electronic control system.

### Claim 2

A refrigerator, comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet;
a compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
a cooling system within the refrigerator cabinet;
an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control temperature within the compartment, the electronic control system adapted to cycle on and off the cooling system based on a cut-in temperature and a cut-out temperature associated with the compartment, the electronic control system further adapted to adjust the cut-in temperature and the cut-out temperature during operation of the refrigerator to thereby improve temperature performance and energy efficiency of the refrigerator;
a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet;
an ice compartment with an ice maker disposed within the cabinet;
the electronic control system adapted to monitor and control temperature in the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment;
an ice compartment temperature sensor associated with the ice compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system;
a fresh food compartment temperature sensor associated with the fresh food compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system;
a freezer compartment temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system; and
wherein the electronic control system being further adapted to synchronize cooling of the ice compartment, fresh food compartment, and freezer compartment to thereby provide consistent power consumption and eliminate non-uniform temperature patterns.

### Claim 3

A refrigerator, comprising:
a refrigerator cabinet;
a compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet;
a cooling system within the refrigerator cabinet;
an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control temperature within the compartment, the electronic control system adapted to cycle on and off the cooling system based on a cut-in temperature and a cut-out temperature associated with the compartment, the electronic control system further adapted to adjust the cut-in temperature and the cut-out temperature during operation of the refrigerator to thereby improve temperature performance and energy efficiency of the refrigerator;
a freezer compartment disposed within the cabinet;
an ice compartment with an ice maker disposed within the cabinet;
the electronic control system adapted to monitor and control temperature in the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment and the ice compartment;
a damper for controlling air flow between the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment; and
an electronic control system adapted for monitoring damper state and if the damper state indicates the damper is not properly operating, pulsing a motor associated with the damper to heat and thereby free the damper.