Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR WITH INTEGRATED
PRESENTATION MODE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the present
invention relates to refrigerators having an integrated presentation mode that
is used to play
audio-visual messages.
Refrigerators store food as their primary function. Yet, modern day
refrigerators
can have numerous additional features that can serve as major selling points
of the
refrigerator. Sales personnel who sell the refrigerators may not always be
aware of these
features, thus cannot communicate this information to potential buyers. Also,
potential
buyers may simply not want to talk with sales personnel. Information about the
refrigerators can be posted or otherwise made available to potential buyers,
but potential
buyers will not necessarily read this information. Furthermore, printed
information about
operation of a refrigerator is easily separated from the refrigerator, both on
the show room
floor, of after the refrigerator has been purchased and installed.
Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to improve upon the
state
of the art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator
capable of
presenting information to potential buyers or a user about the refrigerator.
Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that
presents
information about a refrigerator after interest has been expressed in the
refrigerator.
Yet another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable
of
playing audio-visual messages.
These and/or other objects, features, and/or advantages of the present
invention will
be apparent from the following specification and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for an appliance, such as a refrigerator,
adapted for
communicating a presentation. According to one aspect of the present
invention, a
refrigerator includes a cabinet, a refrigerating compartment disposed within
the cabinet, a
display operatively connected to the cabinet, an intelligent control
electrically connected to
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the display, the intelligent control being adapted to provide a product
message related to the
refrigerator on the display.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the invention provides
for a
method for providing product information. The method includes the steps of
providing a
refrigerator adapted for communicating an audio-visual message containing
product
information about the refrigerator, playing an audio portion of the message,
and
displaying a visual portion of the message. The message can be about functions
of the
refrigerator or other selling points of the refrigerator or about how to
properly use the
refrigerator.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for a refrigerator that
includes a
cabinet for enclosing a refrigerating compartment, the cabinet having a door
for providing
access to the refrigerating compartment, a display operatively connected to
the cabinet, an
intelligent control electrically coimected to the display, a speaker
operatively connected to
the intelligent control, and the intelligent control being adapted to provide
an audio visual
presentation about the refrigerator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a refrigerator of the
present
invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the
refrigerator with the doors open.
Figure 3A is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the
present invention where the display illustrates a visual portion of a
presentation about the
refrigerator.
Figure 3B is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the
present invention where the display illustrates water and ice dispensement
refrigerator
functions.
Figure 3C is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the
present invention where the display illustrates air filter replacement
information.
Figure 3D is a diagram of a user interface according to one embodiment of the
present invention where the display illustrates water filter replacement
information.
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Figures 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a refrigerator 10 having a side by
side
configuration. The refrigerator 10 includes a housing or cabinet 11. There is
a
refrigeration compartment door 12 and a freezer compartment door 14 to provide
access to
compartments within the cabinet 11. The freezer compartment door 14 contains a
water
and ice dispenser, generally shown at 16. The water and ice dispenser 16
include a lower
receptacle 18 for receiving cups and dispensing water and ice. Above the
receptacle 18 is a
user interface panel 20. The panel 20 includes a display 22, one or more
manual inputs
such as button 30, and an LED 34.
Figure 2 illustrates the refrigerator 10 with an open refrigeration
compartment door
12 and an open freezer compartment door 14. The open refrigeration compartment
door 12
exposes the refrigeration compartment 13 within the cabinet 11. The open
freezer door 14
exposes the freezer compartment 15 within the cabinet 11. As used herein the
term
"refrigerating compartment" can refer to either a refrigeration compartment or
a freezer
compartment. Although it is preferable to place the user interface panel 20
and receptacle
16 in the freezer compartment door 14, the present invention is not limited to
any particular
placement of either the water and ice dispenser 16 or the user interface panel
20 or the
various elements of the user interface panel 20.
Figure 3A shows one view of the user interface panel 20. The user interface
panel
20 includes a plurality of manual inputs, including buttons 24, 26, and 28 as
well as a menu
button 30 and a message/play button 32. The message/play button 32 and the LED
34 are
used in conjunction with an electronic message center used to store and
retrieve audio
messages. Where the electronic message center is used to record audio
messages, a
microphone (not shown) is also used. The display 22 is adapted for displaying
a visual
presentation portion 36 of a product message. The product message can be about
various
features of the refrigerator 10, how to operate the refrigerator 10, or other
information
related to the refrigerator 10. A speaker (not shown in Figure 3A) can provide
for an audio
portion of the presentation such that the presentation about the refrigerator
is an audio-
visual presentation. The visual portion 36 of the presentation can include
text, graphics,
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and can be an animation. For example, the visual portion 36 can be an
animation showing
how different features of the refrigerator 10 operate or are used.
Figures 3B-3D show how the display 22 need not be solely used for the audio-
visual presentation. Preferably, the display 22 is also adapted for displaying
refrigerator
operation information. In Figure 3B, three icons are present. A first icon 38
is associated
with dispensement of crushed ice. A second icon 40 is associated with
dispensement of
cubed ice. A tlurd icon 42 is associated with dispensement of water. Each of
the icons 38,
40, and 42 and its associated function is also associated with one of the
buttons 24, 26, and
28, respectively such that pressing one of the buttons 24, 26, and 28, results
in performing
the associated refrigerator function. As shown, each of the icons 38, 40, and
42 also
includes a textual label beneath it, "CRUSHED", "CUBED", and "WATER",
respectively.
The menu button 30 can be used to display any number of screens. Preferably,
the use of
the manual input buttons 24, 26, 28 is menu-driven so that the buttons allow
for the
selection of different functions based upon the currently displayed
information on the
display 22. Other display screens can provide for selecting a language in
which to display
information, setting date and time information, adjusting volume information,
setting a
timer, checking the status of a water filter, checking the status of an air
filter, or other
refrigerator functions.
Figure 3C illustrates another embodiment of the display 22 of the user
interface
panel 20 which is adapted to provide a user interface for air filter
replacement. The display
22 includes air filter information 44. This information 44 can include the
remaining
capacity of an air filter andlor an estimated replacement date. Thus, the
display 22
provides for the display of refrigerator operation information in addition to
a visual
presentation 36 (Figure 3A) about refrigerator information.
Figure 3D illustrates another embodiment of the display 22 of the user
interface
panel 20 being adapted to provide a user interface for water filter
replacement. The display
22 includes water filter information 46. This information can include the
remaining
capacity of a water filter, an estimated order date by which the water filter
should be
ordered in order to obtain it prior to an estimated replacement date, and/or
the estimated
replacement date. This is another example of how the display 22 provides for
the display
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of refrigerator operation information in addition to being used to provide for
displaying a
visual portion 36 (Figure 3A) of a product message.
Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the invention. The
refrigerator 10 includes an intelligent control 48. The intelligent control 48
preferably
includes a microcontroller or microprocessor, or application specific
integrated circuit
(ASIC), however, the present invention contemplates that any type of
intelligent control
can be used as appropriate in a particular design. The intelligent control 48
is electrically
connected to a display 22. The display 22 can be used to display either
refrigerator
operations or functions or messages about the refrigerator including sales
messages,
product information messages, or promotional messages. Preferably, the display
22 is a
LCD panel type display, however, the present invention contemplates that other
types of
displays may be used, such as may be appropriate or desirable in a particular
application.
The intelligent control 48 is also electrically connected to manual inputs 50.
The
manual inputs 50 can include the buttons 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 (as shown in
Figures 3A-
3D). The manual inputs 50 need not be separate buttons, but can be
incorporated into a
touch screen display, or otherwise provided. The intelligent control 48 can
also be used to
control refrigerator functions. The intelligent control 48 is electrically
connected to the
refrigeration system 56 such that the intelligent control 48 can control the
dispensement of
ice, the dispensement of water, or other refrigerator functions. The
intelligent control 48 is
also electrically comlected to a speaker 52 which is used to play an audio
portion of a
presentation. The intelligent control 48 is also electrically connected to a
memory 54. The
memory 54 is used to store one or more audio portions or visual portions of a
product
presentation. The present invention contemplates that more than one type of
memory can
be used. For example, the audio portion of the presentation can be stored on
an integrated
circuit from Integrated Storage Devices, Inc. (ISD) that can be a part of the
intelligent
control 48, while the visual portion of the presentation can be stored in a
separate memory
associated with a microcontroller or processor. The present invention
contemplates that the
visual portion of the presentation can include an animation.
An activation input 58 is also shown that is electrically connected to the
intelligent
control 48. The activation input 58 can be a switch associated with a door of
a refrigerating
compartment. When potential buyers are examining refrigerators on the showroom
floor,
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they may open the door of a refrigerator or otherwise express interest in a
particular
refrigerator. When the activation input 58 is associated with a door of the
refrigerator, the
intelligent control 48 is adapted to start playing a presentation upon the
opening of the
door. Thus, the presentation is only played once a potential buyer has
expressed interest in
the refrigerator. The present invention also contemplates that the activation
input 58 can be
otherwise located and may be used for other purposes as well when the
refrigerator is not
within a sales or presentation mode.
For example, the activation input 58 can be associated with the ice dispenser
such
that when the refrigerator is in a presentation mode, instead of dispensing
ice, the
refrigerator provides information about ice dispensing features of the
refrigerator. Thus the
present invention can determine a user or potential buyer's interest in the
refrigerator or
particular features of the refrigerator and can select an appropriate
presentation based on
the interest expressed. The present invention further contemplates that the
activation input
58 can be a switch associated with a proximity detector such that when a
person walks by
the refrigerator, the presentation begins. The intelligent control 48 can also
include a timer
so that the presentation can be restarted after a duration of time. When the
refrigerator is
displayed on a showroom floor, it may be desirable to play the presentation
periodically
instead of sensing the interest of a user by their passing by the
refrigerator, opening a door,
or using a particular feature of the refrigerator.
Thus, a refrigerator having an integrated presentation mode has been
disclosed.
The present invention contemplates variations including the type of display,
the type of
refrigerator functions performed, the placement of the display, the number and
placement
of manual inputs, the manner in which a particular presentation is selected,
the content of
presentations, and other variations within the spirit and scope of the
invention. Also, the
user interface panel can be incorporated into other appliances and be used in
conjunction
with the functions of a particular appliance.
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