Refrigerator Fluid Dispenser With Dual-Sensor Volume Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator water dispensers lack accurate measurement of dispensed water volume, especially when a dispenser incorporates a fluid storage receptacle, leading to inconsistencies in user-selected quantities and automatic shut-off functionality.
Innovation Solution
A dual-sensor system is employed, with a flowmeter upstream of the fluid storage receptacle to measure water entering and a water level sensor downstream to measure water exiting, with a controller calculating the dispensed volume using signals from both sensors, allowing for accurate determination and display of the volume dispensed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensor is used to measure water volume in a dispenser with storage receptacle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately track water entering and exiting the receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is segmented into two separate sensors: a first sensor upstream of the storage receptacle to measure water entering, and a second sensor downstream to measure water exiting. This segmentation allows each sensor to focus on a specific measurement task, improving overall measurement precision while keeping individual sensors relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage receptacle acts as an intermediary element between the two sensors. It temporarily holds water and allows the system to calculate dispensed volume by comparing the difference between water entered (first sensor) and water exited (second sensor), enabling accurate measurement despite the complex dispensing architecture.
2Measurement precision
If no flow sensors are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of dispensed water volume deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensors are integrated into existing components of the dispenser system. The first flow sensor is incorporated into the water inlet valve assembly, and the second flow sensor is incorporated into the dispensing valve assembly. This allows the same valve components to serve dual functions: water control and volume measurement, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fluid storage receptacle is incorporated in the dispenser, then the adaptability of the dispenser is improved, but the measurement precision of dispensed volume deteriorates due to volume tracking difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors water volume entering the storage receptacle (via first sensor) and water volume exiting (via second sensor). The controller uses this feedback information to dynamically calculate and track the actual dispensed volume, adjusting for any variations in storage receptacle filling and dispensing operations, thereby maintaining high measurement precision despite the added complexity of the storage receptacle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables precise measurement and control of water dispensed, ensuring accurate user-selected quantities and automatic shut-off, even when the dispensed volume exceeds the storage receptacle capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a flowmeter in upstream fluid communication with the inlet of the water storage receptacle to generate a first signal representative of a volume of water entering the water storage receptacle
Implementation Method 2
a water level sensor positioned to generate a second signal representative of a level of water in the water storage receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator and method utilize first and second sensors to determine a volume of fluid dispensed by a fluid dispenser that incorporates a fluid storage receptacle. The first sensor is disposed in upstream fluid communication with the fluid storage receptacle to generate a first signal representative of a volume of fluid entering the fluid storage receptacle and the second sensor is disposed downstream of the first sensor to generate a second signal representative of a volume of fluid exiting the fluid storage receptacle, and a controller determines the volume of fluid dispensed using the first and second signals output by the first and second sensors.