Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090293530 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR A REFRIGERATOR HAVING LIQUID CONDITIONING AND ENHANCEMENT COMPONENTS FOR ENHANCED BEVERAGE DISPENSING - Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided. | 12-03-2009 |
20090293735 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR A REFRIGERATOR HAVING LIQUID CONDITIONING AND ENHANCEMENT COMPONENTS FOR ENHANCED BEVERAGE DISPENSING - Apparatuses and methods for conditioning a liquid stream with a liquid dispensing system associated with a refrigerator, preparing an enhanced beverage using one or more of the individually conditioned liquid streams and a liquid enhancement device and minimizing the potential for back contamination of the liquid dispensing system are provided. | 12-03-2009 |
20110302935 | LIQUID DISPENSING AND AUTOMATIC ICEMAKING ON NON-PLUMBED REFRIGERATOR - The present invention is directed towards a refrigerator including a door, a liquid reservoir, a dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing liquid, the dispenser having an outlet located above the liquid reservoir, and a pump in communication with the dispenser. Further provided is a method of operating a refrigerator including the steps of providing a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet, a door attached to the refrigerator cabinet, a liquid reservoir, and a dispenser mounted at the door for dispensing liquid through the door, the dispenser having an outlet located above the liquid reservoir, providing a pump having an inlet in communication with the liquid in the liquid reservoir and an outlet in communication with the dispenser, and providing a user interface in communication with the pump, whereby selectively entering a dispensing function input into the interface actuates the pump. | 12-15-2011 |
20120102993 | BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH USER CUSTOMIZABLE INPUTS - A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first compartment, a second compartment, a first door providing access to the first compartment, a second door providing access to the second compartment, and a beverage dispensing system operatively connected the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet, the user interface having a display and being configured to identify a user of the beverage dispensing system and customize beverage settings and preferences associated with the user. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103197 | BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH MULTI-CHAMBERED CAROUSEL AND AUTOMATIC COORDINATION OF FLAVORANT FLOW RATE - An appliance includes a dispenser for dispensing a mixture of a diluent and a consumable. The mixture may be a beverage wherein the diluent is water and the consumable is a flavorant. The dispenser includes a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the diluent at the inlet. The rate at which the consumable is added to the diluent is dependent upon the pressure of the diluent at the inlet. The consumable may be provided in a single container, or a user may specify a particular type of consumable from a plurality of containers provided on a rotation carousel. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104021 | BEVERAGE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES FOR REFRIGERATORS - A refrigerator with a liquid conditioning system providing a variety of levels and types of conditioned liquid streams for outputting to a refrigerator dispenser is disclosed. A liquid conditioning circuit having means for outputting ambient, cold, heated, filtered, and carbonated liquid streams for use in combination with a refrigerator is also disclosed. A finished beverage made from a conditioned liquid stream or combination of conditioned liquid streams is enhanced with one or more liquid enhancements components provided by a liquid enhancement system. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104026 | BEVERAGE-MAKING INSERT WITH BUILT-IN WATER BYPASS - An apparatus, method, and system of dispensing beverages. A dispensing module includes a body, a mixing chamber in the body, and a conduit in the body whereby the mixing chamber and conduit have separate inlets and outlets. The separate inlets can be translated selectively between a discharge end of a diluent source such that from the single module either diluent directly from the diluent source can be dispensed or diluent through the mixing chamber can be dispensed to a container. The mixing chamber can be pre-loaded with concentrate or flavoring for mixing with the diluent or concentrate or flavoring can be added to the mixing chamber from a separate source. Thus, the two flow paths are isolated from one another but allow at least two beverage choices through the same module. | 05-03-2012 |
20140144822 | FILTER UNIT WITH FLOW REGULATOR - A filtration system for an appliance includes a water source coupled with the appliance to provide an intake water flow. A filter unit is coupled with water source to receive the intake water flow and dispense a filtered water flow. An isolation valve is coupled between the water source and the filter unit and movable between a first position and a second position. A distribution valve is coupled with an ice maker and a water dispenser of the appliance. The distribution valve receives the filtered water flow when the isolation valve is in the first position, and the distribution valve receives the intake water flow via a bypass line when the isolation valve is in the second position. The isolation valve is configured to move to the second position upon expiration of the service life of the filter unit | 05-29-2014 |
20140150456 | REFRIGERATOR WITH ICEMAKER CHILLED BY THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE COOLED BY FRESH FOOD COMPARTMENT AIR - An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150457 | REFRIGERATOR WITH ICEMAKER CHILLED BY THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE COOLED BY FRESH FOOD COMPARTMENT AIR - An icemaker is mounted remotely from a freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A flow pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. In one aspect, a fan is operatively positioned to move air from the fresh food compartment across the warm side of the thermoelectric device and a pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold air, such as from a refrigerator compartment, may be used to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold of the icemaker. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150459 | CONVERTIBLE ICE STORAGE - A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, an ice maker disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice storage bucket and a drain positioned to capture water from the ice as it is melted. Ice may melt due to air from the refrigeration compartment or elsewhere, the ambient temperature within the ice storage bucket, or a heater thermally coupled to the ice storage bucket to melt ice stored in the ice storage bucket. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150460 | APPARATUS WITH ICE MAKER - An apparatus that has a housing with an icemaker disposed within the housing is disclosed. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided having a warm side and an opposite cold side. The cold side is thermally coupled to the icemaker. A flow pathway is configured in communication with the warm side of the thermoelectric device. A heat carrier is communicated through the flow pathway. The heat carrier transfers heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to support operations of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a refrigerator wherein the refrigerator is configured to transfer the heat carrier from the warm side of the thermoelectric device to a compartment of the refrigerator. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150462 | REFRIGERATOR WITH THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE CONTROL PROCESS FOR AN ICEMAKER - A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold with an icemaking cycle having a liquid to ice phase change. A thermoelectric device has a cold side and a warm side. A controller is in operable communication with an input to the thermoelectric device. A sensor is in operable communication with the input to the thermoelectric device and the controller. A feedback response from the input to the thermoelectric device monitors the liquid to ice phase change of the icemaking cycle. | 06-05-2014 |
20140150466 | REFRIGERATOR WITH ICE MOLD CHILLED BY FLUID EXCHANGE FROM THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE WITH COOLING FROM FRESH FOOD COMPARTMENT OR FREEZER COMPARTMENT - A refrigerator that has a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, and a door that provides access to the fresh food compartment is disclosed. An icemaker is mounted remotely from the freezer compartment. The icemaker includes an ice mold. A thermoelectric device is provided and includes a warm side and an opposite cold side. A fluid pathway is connected in communication between the cold side of the thermoelectric device and the icemaker. A pump moves fluid from the cold side of the thermoelectric device to the icemaker. Cold fluid or air may be taken from the freezer compartment to dissipate heat from the warm side of the thermoelectric device for providing cold fluid to and for cooling the ice mold or cool/warm fluid to other cooling or warming applications in the refrigerator compartment or on the refrigerator compartment door. | 06-05-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120262194 | THERMALLY ACTIVATED MAGNETIC AND RESISTIVE AGING - Examples of the present invention include apparatus and methods for monitoring aging of an item. A solid-state structure is located within, adjacent to, or otherwise proximate the item, the solid-state structure including nanostructures. The electrical resistance and/or magnetization of the solid-state structure is determined to determine the degree of aging of the item. In representative examples, the solid-state structure includes nanostructures of a metal, such as a ferromagnetic metal, within a non-magnetic matrix, such as a semimetal, semiconductor, or insulator. | 10-18-2012 |
20140292355 | THERMALLY ACTIVATED MAGNETIC AND RESISTIVE AGING - Examples of the present invention include apparatus and methods for monitoring aging of an item. A solid-state structure is located within, adjacent to, or otherwise proximate the item, the solid-state structure including nanostructures. The electrical resistance and/or magnetization of the solid-state structure is determined to determine the degree of aging of the item. In representative examples, the solid-state structure includes nanostructures of a metal, such as a ferromagnetic metal, within a non-magnetic matrix, such as a semimetal, semiconductor, or insulator. | 10-02-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090056775 | Umbrella Apparatus - An umbrella apparatus includes a pole portion, a canopy portion hingedly coupled to the pole portion, the canopy portion having a plurality of support ribs and a plurality of support struts, and at least one lamp module mounted to the canopy portion, each lamp module having a plurality of light emitting diodes, each light emitting diode being aimed in a selected fixed direction, at least one of the light emitting diodes being aimed in a direction that is not normal to the support rib to which the lamp module is mounted. | 03-05-2009 |
20090090404 | Umbrella Apparatus - A lawn or patio umbrella with an integral lighting system that utilizes cold cathode ray tubes, light emitting diodes (LED's), or florescent lights, to provide relatively bright outdoor light for reading and other activities that require relatively high light intensities is provided. In one embodiment, a modular, electrically powered lawn or patio umbrella in which lighting systems, such as those utilizing cold cathode tubes, LED's, or florescent lights; cooling systems, such as those utilizing electric fans or misting systems; and motorized retraction systems; can be selectively interchanged is provided. | 04-09-2009 |
20090277393 | SOLAR BIRD HOUSE - A solar powered bird house having solar energy system for powering an electrical subsystem is disclosed. The electrical subsystem may include lighting elements for illuminating the bird house and the area around the bird house in a decorative and functional manner. | 11-12-2009 |
20100253090 | Solar Wind Chime - A solar wind chime having a structure that supports a solar energy system, a electrical subsystem, a cage, and a chime. The solar energy system includes a rechargeable electrical power source conductively coupled to a solar energy collection system. The rechargeable electrical power source powers one or more electrical subsystems. The electrical subsystem having at least one light for illuminating the solar wind chime. The cage is configured for protecting an ornamental object. The chime includes a bracket disposed within the chime. A wire extends through the chime and is at least partially supported by the bracket. | 10-07-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090010495 | Vulnerable Road User Protection System - A range map of a visual scene generated by a stereo vision and associate image processing system, and is filtered to remove objects beyond a region of interest and for which a collision is not possible, and to remove an associated road surface. Objects clustered in range bins are separated by segmentation. A composite range map is generated using principle components analysis and processed with a connected components sieve filter. Objects are identified using one or more of a harmonic profile and other features using an object recognition processor using a combination of inclusive, exclusive and harmonic networks to generate a classification metric. | 01-08-2009 |
20120045119 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AN OBJECT IN A VISUAL SCENE - A plurality of features determined from at least a portion of an image containing information about an object are processed with an inclusive neural network, and with a plurality of exclusive neural networks, so as to provide a plurality of inclusive probability values representing probabilities that the portion of the image corresponds to at least one of at least two different classes of objects, and for each exclusive neural network, so as to provide first and second exclusive probability values representing probabilities that the portion of the image respectively corresponds. or not. to at least one class of objects. The plurality of inclusive probability values, and the first and second exclusive probability values from each of the exclusive neural networks, provide for identifying whether the portion of the image corresponds, or not, to any of the at least two different classes of objects. | 02-23-2012 |
20120242819 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING DRIVER ALERTNESS - A driver alertness detection system includes an imaging unit configured to image an area in a vehicle compartment where a driver's head is located; an image processing unit configured to receive the image from the imaging unit, and to determine positions of the driver's head and eyes; and a warning unit configured to determine, based on the determined position of the driver's head and eyes as output by the image processing unit, whether the driver is in an alert state or a non-alert state, and to output a warning to the driver when the driver is determined to be in the non-alert state. | 09-27-2012 |
20140037145 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AN OBJECT IN A VISUAL SCENE - A profile of an object is extracted from an image of a visual scene and a center of the profile is then determined. A measurement vector is determined comprising a plurality of distances to the profile from the center, at a plurality of angles relative to and through the center. The measurement vector is filtered with a central moving average filter, and then compared with at least one stored vector representative of at least one type of reference object, wherein the central moving average filter is responsive to the type of the at least one type of reference object, responsive to which a determination is made as to whether or not the object corresponds to at least one reference object, so as to provide for identifying the object in the visual scene. | 02-06-2014 |
20140044310 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AN OBJECT IN A VISUAL SCENE - An image of a visual scene, comprising a plurality of pixels. is acquired and an associated range map is either determined therefrom or separately acquired. Elements of the range map comprise distances from the camera for each pixel of the image. In one aspect, either the image or the range map is processed with a connected-components sieve filter that locates clusters of pixels or elements that are connected to one another along either adjacent rows, columns or diagonally. In another aspect, a cross-range value of range-map element is compared with a down-range-responsive cross-range threshold of a boundary of a collision-possible space and the pixel or element is nulled or ignored if associated with a location that is not in the collision-possible space. The collision-possible space is responsive to an operating condition of a vehicle from which the image is acquired. | 02-13-2014 |