Low voltage bus for an appliance

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention a control system for an appliance includes a plurality of peripheral devices and a plurality of sensors and a controller. A first communications/DC power bus is coupled to the plurality of sensors and peripheral devices and coupled to the controller. A second communications/ac power bus is coupled to the plurality of sensors and peripheral devices and coupled to the controller. Wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the sensors over the either communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data.

1 . A control system for an appliance including a plurality of peripheral devices and a plurality of sensors, the control system comprising:
 a controller;   a first communications/DC power bus coupled to the plurality of sensors, or peripheral devices and coupled to the controller; and   a second communications/AC power bus coupled to the plurality of sensors, or peripheral devices and coupled to the controller;   wherein the controller is configured to: receive data from the sensors over either communications bus; and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data.   
   
   
       2 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein said communications bus comprises a serial communications bus. 
   
   
       3 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a human machine interface board, the human machine interface board coupled to a human machine interface. 
   
   
       4 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 3 , wherein the human machine interface comprising a touch screen device. 
   
   
       5 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power-conditioning device. 
   
   
       6 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of peripheral devices comprises a variable speed compressor of a vapor compression circuit. 
   
   
       7 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of peripheral device comprises variable speed fans configured to move air past an evaporator to cool a compartment. 
   
   
       8 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostic communications port and a collision detection system. 
   
   
       9 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the serial communications bus comprises an asynchronous serial communications bus. 
   
   
       10 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of devices includes an icemaker. 
   
   
       11 . A control system for an appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sensors and peripheral devices are each configured to be assigned a unique address. 
   
   
       12 . A refrigerator comprising a control system for a plurality of peripheral devices, said control system comprising:
 a controller;   a first communications/DC power bus coupled to the plurality of sensors, or peripheral devices and coupled to the controller; and   a second communications/AC power bus coupled to the plurality of sensors, or peripheral devices and coupled to the controller;   wherein the controller is configured to: receive data from the sensors over either communications bus; and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data.   
   
   
       13 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein said communications bus comprises a serial communications bus. 
   
   
       14 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , further comprising a human machine interface board, the human machine interface board coupled to a human machine interface. 
   
   
       15 . A refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the human machine interface comprising a touch screen device. 
   
   
       16 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , further comprising a power-conditioning device. 
   
   
       17 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of peripheral devices comprises a variable speed compressor of a vapor compression circuit. 
   
   
       18 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of peripheral device comprises variable speed fans configured to move air past an evaporator to cool a compartment. 
   
   
       19 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , further comprising a diagnostic communications port and a collision detection system. 
   
   
       20 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the serial communications bus comprises an asynchronous serial communications bus. 
   
   
       21 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of devices includes an icemaker. 
   
   
       22 . A refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of peripheral devices are each configured to be assigned a unique address.