Methods for operating sensors of refrigerator appliances

Abstract

Methods for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance are provided. In the methods, at least one of a detection threshold of the sensor, a power output of a transducer of the sensor, or a gain of an amplifier of the sensor can be adjusted. Through such adjustments, accuracy and precision of measurements taken with the sensor can be improved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance, the sensor directed towards a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:
 arranging the dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance in an empty configuration;   receiving a baseline measurement of the dispenser recess from the sensor with the dispenser recess in the empty configuration; and   adjusting a detection threshold of the sensor based at least in part upon the baseline measurement from the sensor,   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the detection threshold of the sensor such that the detection threshold of the sensor is greater than the baseline measurement from the sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor having an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic detector, said step of receiving comprising receiving the baseline measurement of the dispenser recess from the ultrasonic detector of the ultrasonic sensor with the dispenser recess in the empty configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic sensor is deactivated during said step of receiving. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detection threshold comprises an upper detection threshold and a lower detection threshold, the upper detection threshold being greater than the lower detection threshold, 
     
     
         6 . A method for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance, the sensor directed towards a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance, the sensor having a transducer and a detector, the method comprising:
 arranging the dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance in an empty configuration;   receiving a baseline measurement of the dispenser recess from the detector of the sensor with the dispenser recess in the empty configuration; and   adjusting a power output of the transducer of the sensor based at least in part upon the baseline measurement of the dispenser recess.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the power output of the transducer in order to set a response of the detector to signals from the transducer within a detection threshold of the sensor, 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, the transducer of the sensor is an ultrasonic transducer, and the detector of the sensor is an ultrasonic detector. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the transducer of the sensor is deactivated during said step of receiving. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance, the sensor directed towards a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance, the sensor having a detector and an amplifier for amplifying a response of the detector, the method comprising:
 directing a first reference input to the detector of the sensor;   determining an offset of the detector based at least in part on a response of the detector to the first reference input during said step of directing;   sending a second reference input to the detector of the sensor; and   adjusting a gain of the amplifier based at least in part upon a response of the detector to the second reference input d said step of sending.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first reference input is a null input. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second reference input is greater than the first reference input. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor and the detector of the sensor is an ultrasonic detector. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the gain of the amplifier in order to tune the response of the detector to a reference response when the detector receives the second reference input. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a sensor of a refrigerator appliance, the sensor directed towards a dispenser recess of the refrigerator appliance, the sensor having a detector and a transducer, the method comprising:
 directing a first reference input to the detector of the sensor;   determining an offset of the detector based at least in part on a response of the detector to the first reference input during said step of directing;   sending a second reference input to the detector of the sensor; and   adjusting a power output of the transducer based at least in part upon a response of the detector to the second reference input during said step of sending.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first reference input is a null input. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second reference input is greater than the first reference input. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor, the transducer of the sensor is an ultrasonic transducer, and the detector of the sensor is an ultrasonic detector. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of adjusting comprises adjusting the power output of the transducer in order to set the response of the detector to signals from the transducer within a detection threshold of the sensor.