Sensor system for a refrigerator dispenser

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a dispenser, a dispenser well, a control for regulating a dispensing operation, and a sensor system for automatically initiating and terminating the dispensing operation. The sensor system includes at least one capacitive-type sensor mounted in the dispenser well. The sensor is configured to detect the presence of a container in the dispenser well, an upper edge portion of the container and a level of liquid filling the container during the dispensing operation. The sensor signals the control to automatically cease the dispensing operation before the level of liquid reaches the upper edge portion of the container. The control is configured to differentiate between animate and inanimate objects, while preventing any release of water or ice when an animate object is detected.

1 . 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 provided in the door for selectively releasing at least one of water and ice to a consumer, said dispenser assembly including:
 a main body portion; 
 a control portion provided on the main body portion, said control portion including a plurality of control elements for selecting a desired dispensing operation; 
 a dispenser well provided in the main body portion, said dispenser well including a base section and an upstanding wall section; 
 a control operatively connected to the plurality of control elements for regulating the dispensing operation; and 
 a sensor system including at least one passive sensor mounted along the wall section of the dispenser well, said at least one passive sensor being configured to detect an upper rim portion of a container within the dispensing well and a level of the at least one of water and ice released into the container during the dispensing operation wherein, after initiating a dispensing operation with the container in the dispenser well, said control automatically terminates the dispensing operation before the level of the at least one of water and ice reaches the upper rim portion of the container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passive sensor is constituted by a capacitive-type sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein a capacitive-type sensor includes a plurality of discrete sensing zones. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the capacitive-type sensor extends vertically along the wall section of the dispenser well. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the capacitive-type sensor includes first and second capacitive strips extending substantially vertically, at spaced locations, along the wall section of the dispenser well. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one passive sensor is further configured to detect the container within the dispensing well. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the control is configured to prevent the dispensing operation unless the container is detected within the dispensing well. 
     
     
         8 . 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 provided in the door for selectively releasing at least one of water and ice to a consumer, said dispenser assembly including:
 a main body portion; 
 a control portion provided on the main body portion, said control portion including a plurality of control elements for selecting a desired dispensing operation; 
 a dispenser well provided in the main body portion, said dispenser well including a base section and an upstanding wall section; 
 a control operatively connected to the plurality of control elements for regulating the dispensing operation; and 
 a sensor system including at least one passive sensor mounted along the wall section of the dispenser well, said at least one passive sensor being configured to detect at least one of a container placed within the dispensing well, an upper rim portion of the container and a level of the at least one of water and ice released into the container during the dispensing operation, said control being configured to perform at least one of automatically initiating a dispensing operation based on the presence of the container in the dispenser well and automatically terminating the dispensing operation before the level of the at least one of water and ice reaches the upper rim portion of the container. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein said control is further configured to differentiate between an animate object and an inanimate object introduced into the dispenser well based on signals from the at least one passive sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the control is further configured to automatically terminate the dispensing operation if an animate object is introduced into the dispenser well. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one passive sensor is constituted by a capacitive-type sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein a capacitive-type sensor includes a plurality of discrete sensing zones. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the capacitive-type sensor extends vertically along the wall section of the dispenser well. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , wherein the capacitive-type sensor includes first and second capacitive strips extending substantially vertically, at spaced locations, along the wall section of the dispenser well. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one passive sensor is configured to detect at least two of the container placed within the dispensing well, the upper rim portion of the container and the level of the at least one of water and ice released into the container during the dispensing operation. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein said control is configured to automatically terminate the dispensing operation before the level of the at least one of water and ice reaches the upper rim portion of the container based on signals from said at least one passive sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method of dispensing from a refrigerator mounted dispenser assembly including a dispensing zone comprising:
 initiating a dispensing operation by introducing at least one of water and ice into a container arranged in the dispensing zone;   passively detecting a fill level associated with the dispensing operation; and   automatically terminating the dispensing operation before the fill level reaches the upper edge portion of the container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 passively sensing a presence of the container in the dispensing zone; and   only permitting the dispensing operation when the presence of the container is sensed in the dispenser zone.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein passively sensing the presence of the container includes differentiating between an animate object and an inanimate object introduced into the dispenser zone, said method further comprising: automatically terminating the dispensing operation if an animate object is introduced into the dispenser zone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the passively sensing and the passively detecting of the dispensing method are both performed with a pair of spaced, substantially vertically extending, spaced capacitive sensor arrays.