Water dispensing apparatus and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040679-B2
Application number	US-201615000315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A water dispensing apparatus may include a dispenser housing at which a container accommodation part accommodating a container is formed to be recessed; a water nozzle provided at an inner surface of the dispenser housing which defines an upper surface of the container accommodation part; a water level detecting member provided at the inner surface of the dispenser housing close to the water nozzle and configured to detect a level of water filled in the container; a target water level input part provided to input the level of water filled in the container; and a water level indicating unit provided at an inner surface of the dispenser housing which defines a side surface of the container accommodation part to indicate a water level on the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water dispensing apparatus comprising:
a dispenser housing having a recess to support a container;
a water nozzle provided at an upper inner surface of the recess;
a water level detector provided at the upper inner surface and adjacent to the water nozzle, the water level detector configured to detect at least one of a level of liquid in the container or a bottom of container;
a target water level input interface provided to input the level of water to be filled in the container; and
a water level indicator provided on at least one of a first side surface or a second side surface of the recess,
wherein the water level indicator includes:
a target water level indicator provided at the first side surface of the recess and indicating a target water level input through the target water level input interface on an outer surface of the container;
a current water level indicator provided at the second side surface of the recess and indicating a current level of water filled in the container on the outer surface of the container;
a light source which emits light toward the outer surface of the container; and
a driver connected to the light source and configured to move the light source vertically to a height corresponding to a target water level or a current water level.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a color of the light emitted from the target water level indicator is different from a color of the light emitted from the current water level indicator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an elongated opening which extends vertically along at least one of first surface or the second surface corresponding to a path along which the light source is moved up and down,
wherein light emitted from the light source passes through the elongated opening and radiates on the outer surface of the container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a cover covering the elongated opening.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a plurality of slits are provided on the cover to be vertically spaced apart from each other, and the light emitted from the light source passes through at least one of the plurality of slits and radiates on the outer surface of the container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water level detector comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the target water level input interface includes at least one among a dial knob enabling a rotating and pressing function, a touch pad enabling a touching and dragging function, and a plurality of input buttons enabling a touching or pressing function.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a target water level input through an operation of the target water level input interface is indicated on an outer surface of the container by the target water level indicator.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the target water level input interface includes the plurality of input buttons enabling a touching or pressing function, and wherein the input buttons correspond to water level values that are different from each other.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the target water level input interface includes the touch pad, and the touch pad is formed in a bar shape which extends vertically, and provided at an outside of the dispenser housing adjacent to the water level indicator.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the target water level input interface includes the touch pad, and the touch pad is configured such that a height corresponding to a vertically dragged height of the touch pad sets a target water level.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an input selector to allow selection of at least one of purified water or cold water.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Choi Byoungsuk
• Park Shinhyun
• Kim Sun

Classifications

• B67D2001/1259

  Fluid level control devices · CPC title

• B67D2210/00036

  for use with or in refrigerators · CPC title

• B67D1/1238 Primary

  comprising means for detecting the liquid level in vessels to be filled, e.g. using ultrasonic waves, optical reflexion, probes · CPC title

• B67D1/0871

  Level gauges for beverage storage containers (level indicators in general G01F) · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title