Refrigerator temperature control method and apparatus

Abstract

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator is described. The refrigerator includes a single temperature sensor associated with a freezer compartment that is separate from an ice compartment and electrically connected to an electronic control system.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 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, the ice compartment being separate from the freezer compartment;   an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control temperature in the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment, and the ice compartment;   a fresh food compartment temperature sensor associated with the fresh food compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system; and   a single temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system.   
     
     
         2 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is adapted for sensing the ice compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is on. 
     
     
         3 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is adapted for sensing the freezer compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is off 
     
     
         4 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the electronic control system is adapted to actuate the fan associated with the ice compartment on when the control system needs to determine the ice compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is off. 
     
     
         5 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the electronic control system is adapted to actuate the fan associated with the ice compartment off when the control system needs to determine the freezer compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is on. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is located in the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator as in  claim 6 , further comprising a return duct in communication between the ice compartment and the freezer compartment, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to the return duct. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is located in the return duct between the ice compartment and the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigerator as in  claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator as in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control system utilizes dual sampling speeds to track both ice compartment temperature and freezer compartment temperature. 
     
     
         11 . A method for adjusting the temperature of a refrigerator, comprising:
 adjusting the temperature of the refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising:   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, the ice compartment being separate from the freezer compartment;   an electronic control system associated with the refrigerator and adapted to monitor and control temperature in the fresh food compartment, the freezer compartment, and the ice compartment;   a fresh food compartment temperature sensor associated with the fresh food compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system; and   a single temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment and electrically connected to the electronic control system.   
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is adapted for sensing the ice compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is on. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is adapted for sensing the freezer compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is off 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the electronic control system is adapted to actuate the fan associated with the ice compartment on when the control system needs to determine the ice compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is off. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising a fan associated with the ice compartment, wherein the electronic control system is adapted to actuate the fan associated with the ice compartment off when the control system needs to determine the freezer compartment temperature when the fan associated with the ice compartment is on. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is located in the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16 , further comprising a return duct in communication between the ice compartment and the freezer compartment, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to the return duct. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor associated with the freezer compartment and ice compartment is located in the return duct between the ice compartment and the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the electronic control system utilizes dual sampling speeds to track both ice compartment temperature and freezer compartment temperature.