Ice level and quality sensing system employing digital imaging

A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin (40). The sensing system employs a digital image capture device (47) that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system (50) which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin (40)...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser:	CHAN, KITMAN, MEDORE, DAN, NIBBELINK, MATTHEW J, GILGALLON, ANDREW, COHEN, JORDAN, CHASE, KEVIN M, PHOUAPANYA, SURISACK, JEFFERY, RANDELL L
Format:	Patent
Sprache:	eng ; fre ; ger
Schlagworte:	BLASTING COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS HEATING LIGHTING LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE REFRIGERATION OR COOLING WEAPONS
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin (40). The sensing system employs a digital image capture device (47) that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system (50) which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin (40) captured by the digital image capture device (47) to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin (40). Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin (40) and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker (38). The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality.