Controlled, dynamic lighting of interior of appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702619-B2
Application number	US-201313955018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2013
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method of illumination relative to an appliance. A programmable controller activates one or more light sources automatically based on a trigger or sensed condition. The controller dynamically adjusts the one or more light sources in a closed loop fashion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance having at least one learning loop which recalibrates or provides automatic adjustment of sensors relative to a changed environment relating to an appliance, the appliance comprising: a. a housing; b. an illumination source on or in the housing; c. a triggering component; d. one or more sensors d. a programmable controller operatively connected to the triggering component and illumination source to instigate a controlled dynamic passive illumination control loop in reaction to one or more triggers;
wherein once the dynamic passive illumination control loop is activated by one or more triggers, an algorithm is instigated that goes through a closed learning loop of steps which provide more than one lighting scheme or change in response to the control loop running through all stages in response to the trigger;
wherein the programmable intelligent controller is programmed to automatically execute a plurality of illumination controls which alter an event or sequence of events by discontinuing, bypassing or ignoring sensor input using the at least one learning loop; thus providing an enhanced level of product interaction, relative to a changed environment around the appliance.

2. A method of illuminating the appliance of claim 1 comprising:
a. sensing the presence of one or more triggers,
b. automatically instigating a first controlled dynamic passive illumination control loop in reaction to the one or more triggers to alter an event or sequence of events through the use of closed learning loops; and
c. dynamically adjusting the lighting event; and
d. automatically instigating a second controlled dynamic passive illumination control loop in reaction to one or more triggers through the use of closed learning loops.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a refrigerated cabinet.

4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the illumination source comprises one or more LEDs.

5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the trigger comprises: a. ambient light level; b. proximity of a user; c. an open door; d. sound level e. temperature, or f. expiration of a period of time.

6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the dynamic passive illumination control comprises one or more of: a. automatic activation or deactivation of one or more elements of the illumination source; b. increase or decrease in intensity of the illumination source; c. flashing of the illumination source; d. changing color of illumination.

7. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the illuminate source is associated with: a. an exterior badge; b. a ground light; c. an ice/water dispenser well light; d. a door handle; e. a water filter status indicator; f. an interior shelf light.

8. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the illumination control comprises a plurality of sequenced illumination effects and audio output.

9. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is a graduated distance proximity sensor that can sense proximity regarding a plurality of zones of different distances from the sensor.

10. The appliance of claim 9 wherein the variable distance proximity sensor is adjustable regarding sensing distances.

11. The appliance of claim 9 wherein the variable distance proximity sensor instigates different lighting effects based on different sensed distances.

12. The appliance of claim 9 further comprising a timer to time triggering of the variable distance proximity sensor at each sensing distance and using triggered time to alter lighting event or sequence of events through the at least one closed learning loop.

13. The appliance of claim 1 in combination of one or more additional set appliances networked together in a communication network.

14. The appliance of claim 13 wherein a triggering event at one appliance instigates a dynamic passive illumination control loop and response to the trigger at that appliance or one or more of the other appliances in the communication network.

15. The appliance of claim 14 wherein data regarding triggering events or states of the appliances are monitored and used for a learned sequence of lighting effects at one or more of the network of appliances.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the first lighting event comprises activating one or more light sources.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the dynamically adjusting comprises altering the driving of the one or more light sources.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising activating an audio output before, during, or after the first lighting event.

19. The method of claim 2 further comprising instigating a first lighting event by graduated distance proximity sensing wherein the first lighting event is triggered by a first sensed distance and a second lighting event is triggered by sensing of a second distance.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising monitoring for a condition indicative of other than a conventional human user of the appliance after triggering by the graduated distance proximity sensor and, if so, altering the lighting event or sequence of lighting events.

21. The method of claim 2 further comprising networking a plurality of said appliances and upon a triggering event at one appliance instructing a lighting event at a second appliance.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kendall James W
• Jeffery Randell L
• Seeley Michael S

Classifications

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title

• H05B47/16

  by timing means · CPC title

• F25D2327/001

  Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box · CPC title

• F25D2700/06

  Sensors detecting the presence of a product · CPC title