Temperature-controlled drawer in a refrigerator
A refrigerator including a controller for controlling a cooling system of the refrigerator. The controller configured to have at least two modes, wherein in a first mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within a fresh food compartment without respect to a temperature in a temperature-controlled drawer, and in a second mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer without respect to the temperature in the fresh food compartment.
1. A refrigerator comprising
a fresh food compartment for storing food, the fresh food compartment comprising a temperature sensor disposed therein;
a temperature-controlled drawer positioned within the fresh food compartment; the temperature-controlled drawer including:
a display including a plurality of lights each indicative of a different storage temperature for the temperature-controlled drawer, and
an input device for allowing a user to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights,
wherein the temperature-controlled drawer is configured to have a temperature that is a predetermined temperature differential from a temperature in the fresh food compartment during steady state operation of the refrigerator; and
a cooling system configured for introducing cold air into the fresh food compartment; and
a controller for controlling the cooling system of the refrigerator, the controller configured to have at least two modes, wherein
in a first mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the fresh food compartment without respect to the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer,
in a second mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer based on the temperature sensor in the fresh food compartment and the predetermined temperature differential, and
a flow path for cold air flowing to the temperature-controlled drawer is free of a damper.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein the temperature-controlled drawer is free of a temperature sensor.
3. A refrigerator comprising:
a fresh food compartment for storing food, the fresh food compartment comprising a temperature sensor disposed therein;
a temperature-controlled drawer positioned within the fresh food compartment; the temperature-controlled drawer including:
a display including a plurality of lights each indicative of a different storage temperature for the temperature-controlled drawer, and
an input device for allowing a user to selectively illuminate the plurality of lights,
wherein the temperature-controlled drawer is configured to have a temperature that is a predetermined temperature differential from a temperature in the fresh food compartment during steady state operation of the refrigerator; and
a cooling system configured for introducing cold air into the fresh food compartment; and
a controller for controlling the cooling system of the refrigerator, the controller configured to have at least two modes, wherein
in a first mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the fresh food compartment without respect to the temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer,
in a second mode the controller controls the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer without respect to the temperature in the fresh food compartment, and
a flow path for cold air flowing to the temperature-controlled drawer is free of a damper.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is disposed in the refrigerator.
5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature differential is about 0° C. to about 2° C.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transition to the second mode based on actuation of the input device.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to remain in the second mode for a predetermined period of time.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transition from the second mode to the first mode based on receipt of a command from a user.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the command from the user is a selection of a desired temperature for the fresh food compartment.
10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to remain in the first mode for an indefinite period of time.
11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lights is a different color.
12. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lights include a first light corresponding to a deli temperature, a second light corresponding to a dairy temperature and a third light corresponding to a meat temperature for the temperature-controlled drawer.
13. A method for controlling operation of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a fresh food compartment for storing food, a temperature sensor disposed in the fresh food compartment, a temperature-controlled drawer positioned within the fresh food compartment, a cooling system configured for introducing cold air into the fresh food compartment, and a controller for controlling the cooling system of the refrigerator, the method comprising:
operating the controller in a first mode wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the fresh food compartment without respect to a temperature in the temperature-controlled drawer, and
upon actuation of an input device, transitioning the controller to a second mode wherein the controller is configured to control the cooling system to achieve a desired temperature within the temperature-controlled drawer based on the temperature sensor in the fresh food compartment and a predetermined temperature differential between the temperature in the fresh food compartment and in the temperature-controlled drawer,
wherein a flow path for cold air flowing to the temperature-controlled drawer is free of a damper.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the temperature-controlled drawer is configured to have a temperature that is a predetermined temperature differential from a temperature in the fresh food compartment during steady state operation of the refrigerator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined temperature differential is about 0° C. to about 2° C.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transitioning the controller from the second mode to the first mode after a predetermined period of time.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transitioning the controller from the second mode to the first mode upon command by a user.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the command from the user is a selection of a desired temperature for the fresh food compartment.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to remain in the first mode for an indefinite period of time.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein actuation of the input device indexes a display between a plurality of lights.