Wireless system for preventing condensation on refrigerator doors and frames

Abstract

The present invention is an improved anti-sweat controller for removing condensation from glass doors that are used on refrigerators in retail stores. The anti-sweat controller comprises three components, a sensor to measure condensation and temperature, a control unit to adjust door heaters, and a command unit. The sensors, control unit, and command unit all communicate on a wireless peer-to-peer network using the ZigBee protocol. Moreover, the command unit is attached to the Internet and enables a user to adjust the various settings on the anti-sweat controller from a remote location if desired.

1 . A system for reducing energy consumption by a heater on a refrigerator door comprising: 
 a) a control unit comprising a computer processor having memory and a timer, the control unit connected to the heater;    b) a sensor attached to the refrigerator door that senses relative humidity and directs that the control unit turn on the heater when condensation is likely to be on the refrigerator door;    d) wherein the sensor and control unit are equipped with wireless communication devices that enable them to transmit and receive data.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a command unit that communicates wirelessly with both the sensor and the control unit.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the command unit is connected to the Internet and capable of transmitting data from the sensor and control unit over the Internet to a user.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the user can control and adjust the sensor and heater at a computer connected to the Internet that receives data from the command unit.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the sensor is capable of sensing temperature as well as humidity.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to claims  2  wherein the sensor, control unit, and command unit communicate on a ZigBee wireless network compliant to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.  
   
   
       8 . A system for reducing energy consumption by a heater on a refrigerator, the system comprising: 
 a) a heater;    b) a control unit connected to the heater that turns the heater on and off at predetermined times and transmits and receives data wirelessly;    c) at least one sensor that senses the presence of humidity or a change in temperature that transmits and receives data wirelessly;    d) a command unit that transmits and receives wireless data from the control unit and at least one sensor; and    e) a first computer connected to the command unit that transmits the data received from the control unit and sensor(s) to a second computer over the Internet.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the user can control the heater and adjust the predetermined times that the heater turns on and off by using the second computer to transmit data over the Internet to direct the control unit to adjust the predetermined times when the heater is turned on and off.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein at least one sensor is a capacitive sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein the heater and at least one sensor are located on the same refrigeration compartment door.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11  further comprising additional refrigeration compartment doors, each of which contains a separate heater and at least one sensor.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the command unit receives data from the control unit and at least one sensor on all the refrigeration compartment doors.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein the at least one sensor, control unit, and command unit communicate on a wireless peer-to-peer network.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein the command unit transfers the data received from the at least one sensor into a database.  
   
   
       16 . A method for remotely monitoring and controlling refrigerator door heaters comprising: 
 a) providing a first group of refrigeration compartments with at least one door wherein each door comprises a heater and a sensor that is capable of wireless data transmission to and from a control unit;    b) providing a first command unit that communicates wirelessly with at least one sensor and control unit;    c) connecting the first command unit to the Internet;    d) using the first command unit to transmit data from the control unit and at least one sensor over the Internet to a computer operated by a user; and    e) enabling the user to adjust the heating system from a remote location by transmitting commands entered by the user at the computer to the first command unit over the Internet.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a) providing a second group of refrigeration compartments in a different location than the first group of refrigeration compartments, wherein each door comprises a heater and a sensor that is capable of wireless data transmission to and from a control unit;    b) providing a second command unit that communicates wirelessly with at least one sensor and control unit on the second group of refrigeration compartments;    c) connecting the second command unit to the Internet;    d) using the second command unit to transmit data from the command unit and at least one sensor located on the second group of refrigeration compartments over the Internet to a computer operated by a user; and    e) enabling the user to individually adjust the heating system in either the first or second groups of refrigeration compartments from a remote location by transmitting commands entered by the user at the computer to the first and second command units over the Internet.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of providing a database that collects and stores data related to the operation of the control units and sensors that the user is able to access over the Internet.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising the step of providing a database that collects and stores data from the first and second command units that the user is able to access.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein all the wireless data transmission occurs on a ZigBee wireless network compliant to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.  
   
   
       21 . A method for remotely monitoring and controlling refrigerator door heaters comprising: 
 a) providing a first group of refrigeration compartments with at least one door wherein each door comprises a heater and a sensor that is capable of wireless data transmission to and from a control unit;    b) providing a first command unit that communicates wirelessly with at least one sensor and control unit;    c) connecting the first command unit to the Internet;    d) using the first command unit to transmit data from the control unit and at least one sensor over the Internet to a computer operated by a user; and    e) enabling the user to verify that the system is operating properly and to correctly identify whether a particular component is malfunctioning.