US6715302B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Menu-based control system for refrigerator that predicts order and replace dates for filters
Assignee: Maytag Corp
•
Filing: 2002-07-15
•
Granted: 2004-04-06
•
Expires: 2022-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerator includes a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment, the cabinet having a door for providing access to the refrigerating compartment, a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet having a display for displaying refrigerator function selections and a plurality of buttons for selecting refrigerator functions and a control unit operatively connected to the user interface and adapted to control a plurality of refrigerator functions. The control unit can be adapted for determining refrigerator filter information and displaying refrigerator filter information, the refrigerator filter information can include a date associated with the refrigerator filter.
Inventors
- 👤 II Nelson J. Ferragut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; F; F25; F25D; F25D29/00; F25C; F25C2400/00; F25C2400/10; F25C2400/14; F25D23/00; F25D23/12; F25D23/126; F25D2323/00; F25D2323/121; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/06; F25D2400/36; F25D2400/361
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment, the cabinet having a door for providing access to the refrigerating compartment; a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet having a display for displaying refrigerator function selection screens and a plurality of buttons for selecting refrigerator functions associated with the refrigerator function selection screens; and a control unit operatively connected to the display and the plurality of buttons and adapted to control a plurality of refrigerator functions; the refrigerator function associated with each of the plurality of buttons based on the refrigerator function selection screen being displayed; and the plurality of buttons being physical buttons positioned near the display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment, the cabinet having a door for providing access to the refrigerating compartment; a user interface operatively connected to the cabinet having a display for displaying refrigerator function selection screens and a plurality of buttons for selecting refrigerator functions associated with the refrigerator function selection screens; and a control unit operatively connected to the display and the plurality of buttons and adapted to control a plurality of refrigerator functions; the refrigerator function associated with each of the plurality of buttons based on the refrigerator function selection screen being displayed; and the plurality of buttons being physical buttons positioned near the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of buttons includes a menu button to select one of the refrigerator function selection screens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of buttons includes at least three buttons for selecting refrigerator functions associated with a menu screen displayed on the display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include a message recording function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include a message playback function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include an air filter replacement function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include a water filter replacement function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include an ice dispensement function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include a water dispensement function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the refrigerator functions include a clock function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment; a display operatively connected to the cabinet; a control unit electrically connected to the display adapted for determining refrigerator filter information and displaying refrigerator filter information on the display; the refrigerator filter information including an estimated replacement date and an ordering date associated with the refrigerator filter; a plurality of buttons operatively connected to the control unit and positioned proximate the display; and the control unit adapted to receive a button press from the plurality of buttons daring display of the refrigerator filter information to indicate replacement of a refrigerator filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment; a display operatively connected to the cabinet; a control unit electrically connected to the display adapted for determining refrigerator filter information and displaying refrigerator filter information on the display; the refrigerator filter information including an estimated replacement date and an ordering date associated with the refrigerator filter; a plurality of buttons operatively connected to the control unit and positioned proximate the display; and the control unit adapted to receive a button press from the plurality of buttons daring display of the refrigerator filter information to indicate replacement of a refrigerator filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the refrigerator filter information includes remaining capacity of the filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The refrigerator of claim 11 wherein the refrigerator filter information is air filter information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The refrigerator of claim 11 further comprising: a dispensement screen stored in the memory for displaying at least one dispensement function selection; and the control unit adapted to receive a button press from the plurality of buttons during display of the at least one dispensement function selection and perform an associated dispensement function.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for providing user control of a refrigerator, comprising: providing a menu button on the refrigerator for selecting one of a plurality of refrigerator function screens; receiving a selection from a user of one of the plurality of refrigerator function screens; displaying the selected refrigerator function screen an the display, the selected refrigerator function screen providing a plurality of refrigerator function selections; receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of refrigerator function selections by receiving a button press from one of a plurality of buttons positioned proximate the display such that the plurality of refrigerator function selections are associated with the plurality of buttons; and performing the selected refrigerator function.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for providing user control of a refrigerator, comprising: providing a menu button on the refrigerator for selecting one of a plurality of refrigerator function screens; receiving a selection from a user of one of the plurality of refrigerator function screens; displaying the selected refrigerator function screen an the display, the selected refrigerator function screen providing a plurality of refrigerator function selections; receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of refrigerator function selections by receiving a button press from one of a plurality of buttons positioned proximate the display such that the plurality of refrigerator function selections are associated with the plurality of buttons; and performing the selected refrigerator function.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of receiving a selection from a user of one of the plurality of refrigerator function screens is receiving one or more menu button presses from the user to select one of the plurality of refrigerator function screens.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for providing refrigerator filter information comprising: providing a display on a refrigerator and a plurality of buttons positioned near the display; displaying on the display a date associated with a refrigerator filter; and receiving a button press from the plurality of buttons during display of the date associated with the refrigerator filter to indicate replacement of the refrigerator filter.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for providing refrigerator filter information comprising: providing a display on a refrigerator and a plurality of buttons positioned near the display; displaying on the display a date associated with a refrigerator filter; and receiving a button press from the plurality of buttons during display of the date associated with the refrigerator filter to indicate replacement of the refrigerator filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the date is an estimated replacement date for the filter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the date is an ordering date associated with the filter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the refrigerator filter is an air filter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the refrigerator filter is a water filter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-06 | 2007-10-06 | 2008-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-06 | 2011-10-06 | 2012-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-06 | 2015-10-06 | 2016-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |